City Walks: San Francisco: 50 Adventures on Foot

By Henry de Tessan

The revised and updated third edition of the classic walking guide to San Francisco.

This list of walking tours in San Francisco features brand new neighborhoods, restaurants, shops, and landmarks. Perfect for tourists exploring in the Bay Area, recent transplants, or even locals who want to become familiar with a new part of the city, this ebook shares the hidden gems of San Francisco.

Each walk, from The Presidio to Japantown to the Embarcadero and the Exploratorium, is detailed with a full-color map, walking directions, and highlighted stopping points.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Open Road Integrated Media
• Release date: Mar 13, 2018
• ISBN: 9781452165585

Book preview

1. THE FERRY BUILDING MARKETPLACE AND FARMERS’ MARKET

Visiting the Saturday-morning farmers’ market is a popular ritual for locals. With its historical building, waterfront views, and culinary delights, the bustling market is a feast for the eyes and stomach. Go early, as it gets crowded.

DIFFICULTY: EASY

Begin in front of the Ferry Building (1) (via bus #2, 6, 9, 14, 21, 31, or F train). This landmark was once one of the world’s busiest ferry terminals, but with the construction of the Golden Gate and Bay Bridges, the ferry business slowed. The building’s prominent role in city life declined, and the Embarcadero freeway went up in 1957. After the freeway was damaged in the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake, it was dismantled, and the building was restored to its former glory. Today, vendors stocked with high-end delicacies line its airy corridors (open daily); You’ll find local purveyors of cheese, olive oils, produce, meats, chocolate, bread, and more. Notable stops include Blue Bottle Coffee, Hog Island Oyster Company, Book Passage, Miette for sweet confections, Cowgirl Creamery for cheese, Recchiuti Confections, The Gardener for kitchen and garden objects, and Heath Ceramics. Take a lunch break at retro-inspired Gott’s Roadside, Mijita, or Out the Door, the Vietnamese takeout stall of the restaurant The Slanted Door. You can’t really go wrong here, though—it’s all tantalizing and delicious. The dazzling farmers’ market takes place outside on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays until 2 p.m. (there are fewer stands on weekdays). Don’t miss the Rancho Gordo heirloom beans, the Downtown Bakery sticky buns, or the Frog Hollow peaches (if they’re in season). At the far end, prepared foods—crab-cake sandwiches, rotisserie chickens with a cult following, and tacos—can be purchased and enjoyed at waterfront picnic tables. Work off lunch with a scenic stroll south along the Embarcadero. Admire the Cupid’s Span (2), then catch the N train.

2. SFMOMA AND YERBA BUENA

Not so long ago, this was a derelict stretch of blocks with little of interest to visitors. Today, it is a gleaming center of art and culture, home to several specialty museums, the massive Museum of Modern Art, and a vibrant green space.

DIFFICULTY: EASY

Begin at Fifth and Market (via bus #5, 6, 9, 14, 21, 27, 30, 31, 38, 45, 71, or F, J, M, N, or S train) and head south on Fifth. Turn right at Mint Plaza to fuel up at Blue Bottle Coffee (1; 66 Mint) or one of the food trucks set up here. Backtrack, continue, south, and turn left on Mission to reach the gleaming Contemporary Jewish Museum (2; 736 Mission), which hosts rotating exhibits on the Jewish experience. Note the historical brick building juxtaposed against the adjoining contemporary blue steel expansion, whose panels change color depending on the time of day. Beyond it, the Mexican Museum (3; #706) is home to the largest collection of Mexican and Latino art in the country (opening 2019). Cross into attractive Yerba Buena Gardens. Beneath the fountain south of the esplanade is a memorial to Martin Luther King Jr. The Yerba Buena Center for the Arts (4) hosts a range of multimedia exhibits and events. (Visit www.yerbabuenaarts.org for details.) Farther up Mission are two small specialty museums: the California Historical Society (5; 678 Mission) and the Museum of the African Diaspora (6; #685). Backtrack and turn left on Third to reach the greatly expanded San Francisco Museum of Modern Art (7; 151 Third), which hosts blockbuster temporary exhibits. In 2010, it acquired the Fisher Collection, one of the world’s most magnificent private collections of modern art. Even if you opt out of the full museum experience, check out the free public spaces featuring masterpieces by Richard Serra, Alexander Calder, and others. Catch the bus back on