We explore its most unusual side
1. JACKSON SQUARE
It's the closest thing San Francisco has to an old town. In this area, which comprises a few blocks, some of the oldest buildings in the city are preserved and have survived the many earthquakes that have hit it. And, for some strange reason, it is an area that usually escapes from the obligatory stops of tourists . Strolling through Jackson Square is almost like being transported to New Orleans or some other Europeanized and charming city.
Jackson Square: European Flavor
two. THE FREE HITCHCOCKIAN ROUTE
Nob Hill and Union Square are two of the most central corners of the city, but you can get a completely different impression of them with this guided tour of some of the locations in the Alfred Hitchcock movie Vertigo in the area. Nothing like seeing the Fairmont hotel or the Grace Cathedral under the Hitchcockian prism.
3. JAPANTOWN
Chinatown is certainly more famous and admittedly has a bit more character. But Japantown is worth a visit. Both its main pedestrian street surrounded by establishments, as well as its shopping center. The offer abounds: restaurants, patisseries and all kinds of little shops to go crazy buying Japanese products.
Japantown? Oh yeah
Four. YODA'S FOUNTAIN
A must see for any fan of Star Wars. The Jedi Master's Fountain is in Presidio Park, right outside the complex of the digital effects company Industrial Light & Magic. Entering ILM is complicated, but taking a most curious photo with Yoda is perfectly possible if you know how to find him.
The Jedi Master's Fountain is in Presidio Park.
5. PUBLIC SPACES IN PRIVATE BUILDINGS DISTRIBUTED THROUGH THE CITY CENTER
If you actually visit the area soma It is in itself a full-fledged recommendation, if you want to see how the typical tech office worker differs from the rest of the office workers (the techie will be given away by the sweatshirt and backpack with the logo of the company he works for). You can also go to South of Market just to visit its many POOPS ( Privately-Owned Public Open Spaces ), spaces in private buildings that anyone can access at certain times, and where, in addition to some vegetation, you can find art. We recommend the glass-enclosed lobby at 101 Second to sit down and devour some takeout, the sculpture garden at 555 Mission, or the terrace at 100 First Street. In this link you can see all the other spaces available.
Aerial view of SoMa in San Francisco
6. THE ARMORY AND ITS HISTORICAL AND SEXY TOUR
This historic building in the heart of the Mission neighborhood it dates from the beginning of the 20th century and served as an ammunition depot. After going through several different functions throughout his life, in 2006 he was acquired by the Internet pornographic film production company Kink.com. The company, in addition to using the building as a center for its productions, offers 90-minute tours that cover everything from the Armory's historical origins to its current function.
One of the rooms you can visit in the Armory
7. THE STAIRCASE HIDDEN BETWEEN THE GROVE THAT LEADS TO THE COIT TOWER
There are many ways to climb this tower that reigns over Telegraph Hill And all of them involve a bit of a sweat. But we recommend that you climb up to it by finding the stairs that emerge from Filbert Street, a little above Sansome . Their rustic appearance and the fact that they are sheltered among the trees will make you wonder if you are really still in the city.
The Coit Tower is 64 meters high
8. MUSEE MECANIQUE
The museum offer in San Francisco ranges from various commitments to modern and contemporary art (SFMOMA or de Young), to entities dedicated to science (Exploratorium and California Academy of Sciences) or photography (Pier 24). But if you fancy a room a bit different, nothing like the Musée mécanique. They have a collection of coin-operated musical instruments and arcade machines. Entry is free but you will have to pay for those machines you want to play on. And yes, they also have the typical machine that predicts the future that seems straight out of the movie Big.
Grimbling and fun
9. THE CLIFF HOUSE CHAMBER OBSCURE
If you go to the westernmost end of the city and you like photography, stop by its Camera Obscura. The building that houses it was part of a disused amusement park built in the city in the mid-20th century and of which no more buildings are preserved. Although beyond the architecture, what is interesting is to see the images of the ocean and the environment that surrounds the building reflected inside the structure of the camera obscura.
10. THE BEACH THAT IS NO SUCH THING AND THE SUMMER THAT IS LESS
We know that California is often seen as synonymous with beach, sun and surf. But, especially in summer, you may not find any of those ingredients in San Francisco. The closest thing to a beach that San Francisco has is in fact the lake tahoe either Santa Cruz (both several hours apart) because the wind, clouds and cold often hit the city's Pacific coast. As for summer, when you are packing your suitcase and wondering whether or not to pack long pants and a jacket, remember the phrase falsely attributed to Mark Twain: “The coldest winter I have ever spent was a summer in San Francisco” . If you don't listen to us, you'll end up like just another tourist buying an ultralight down jacket at Uniqlo in the middle of August...
lake tahoe