Description
This spectacularly designed day in San Francisco starts near the architecturally pristine Ferry Building, once the busiest port in the world. After wandering through and seeing San Francisco's original port with views of Treasure Island and the Bay Bridge (Yep, that bridge that fell in the 1989 earthquake!), catch an iconic San Francisco Cable Car. It's one of Walk's favorite "in-the-know" stops, and you'll skip the massive lines and board without any of the crowds. As this moving piece of history climbs one of the many hills of San Francisco, the storefronts in the Financial District fade, and the opulent homes of Nob Hill begin to appear.
Ding! Ding! At the top of Nob Hill, learn about the industrial tycoons who helped fund the early city as you wander into Grace Cathedral with its striking Gothic interior and gem of artistic artifacts, including a bevy of stained-glass windows. Heading back down the hill, it's on to bustling, culturally-soaked Chinatown. As the largest Chinese enclave outside of Asia and the oldest in North America, your personal local will weave you through the most vibrant spaces and lesser-known sites. Take in the small Tin How Temple, peek into a traditional Eastern pharmacy to see the various herbs and medicinal powders and stop by the legendary Golden Gate Fortune Cookie Factory for insight into the art of fortune cookie making! Not only will you be able to try warm cookies just off the machine, but you will also take home a personalized treat just for you!
Whoa! This is great, but that fortune cookie made me hungry. It's time to eat! Luckily, you have reached the crossroads of two very different but complementary world cuisines. Take time on your own to get lunch in Chinatown or the thriving Italian district of North Beach. Reconvene with your guide at the doormat of a watering hole beloved by the revolutionary Beat Poets - it's time to get weird and talk about poetry and a bunch of Italians! Explore North Beach with all its delicacies, history, and a little bit of Marilyn Monroe.
It's time to work off a little of your lunch and climb a hill to see Lombard Street, the "Crookedest Street in the World". Then head down to Fisherman's Wharf for a full 'behind-the-scenes' tour. In the Wharf, explore the old docks by taking a local-led route through lesser-visited areas, smell the sourdough at Boudin bakery, and see the sea lions at Pier 39 from a special vantage point. Plus, don't forget your visit to Ghirardelli Square, where you'll sample some world-famous chocolate.
You've made it! But that's not it - your reward is a gorgeous bay cruise on the waters of San Francisco Bay. As your boat works its way to the Golden Gate Bridge with the sun shining on its way west, take in the beautiful surrounding views. Sail past the famed sea lions of Pier 39, under the Golden Gate Bridge (Instagrammers, get ready!), and return with a circle around Alcatraz Island, the closest you can get without having a proper ticket. A perfect end to a perfect San Francisco day.
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