Muir Beach Ovelook & Pelican Inn

On Muir Woods tours I frequently take my guests to the Muir Beach Overlook. This old army lookout is located just north of the village of Muir Beach off of Hwy. 1. A short walk out to the point overlooking the Pacific will reward you with panoramic views of the ocean from San Francisco to Point Reyes. Here is one of the best spots to witness the dramatic meeting of cliffs and ocean that is the northern California coastline. On really clear days you can see the Farallon Islands, which are about 25 miles offshore. Be forewarned that the Muir Beach Overlook is often fogged in during the summer. The sun can be shining at Muir Woods while the Overlook, which is about five miles away, is shrouded in fog.

You can combine a visit to the Overlook with lunch at the Pelican Inn in Muir Beach. This quaint bed and breakfast serves classic British food along with some American favorites. The pub has some great beers on tap, including cellar-temperature Guinness Stout. The Pelican Inn's restaurant is open for lunch daily. On Sundays freshly carved roast beef, ham, and turkey are served. The pub serves snacks and light food throughout the day.

If you would like to take a private tour that includes a visit to the Muir Beach Overlook and/or lunch at the Pelican Inn, please call me at (866) 326-4237 or e-mail me by clicking here. (The big scheduled tour operators do not include the Overlook on their tours.)

Tips for Riding San Francisco's Cable Cars

San Francisco's cable cars are one of the city's signature attractions. Invented in 1873, cable cars have traveled up and down San Francisco's hills ever since, except for two years in the 1980s when the system was closed for repairs.

Three lines remain in San Francisco: Powell-Hyde, Powell-Mason, and California Street. Tourists flock to ride the cable cars resulting in hour-long waits at the cable car turnarounds. Here are some tips to help you avoid the long waits:

Ride the California Street line. If you just want to ride a cable car and don't care about the views or don't need to go to either Union Square or Fisherman's Wharf, ride the California Street line. There are almost never lines to board the cars at the ends of the line at California Street & Van Ness Avenue and California & Market Streets. Many visitors find themselves at the foot of Market Street, near the Ferry Building, so can easily get to the Market Street end of the California Street line. If you want to go to Fisherman's Wharf or Union Square from this end, take the California Street Line to Powell Street and transfer to one of the two Powell Street lines. You will have to pay the $5 fee on both cars unless you buy a Muni Pass ($11/one day, $18/three days, $24/three days).

Ride the Powell Street lines before 9:00 a.m. or after 8:00 p.m. The Powell-Hyde line runs from Powell and Market Streets to Aquatic Park, near the Cannery and Ghirardelli Square. This is the most popular line as it passes by the top of "The Crookedest Street in the World," Lombard Street. Long waits are not uncommon at the ends of the line. By traveling early in the day or in the evening, you may avoid a long wait.

The Powell-Mason line travels from Powell and Market Streets to Taylor and Bay Streets, near Fisherman's Wharf. This line too has long waits, so try to ride the car in the early morning or evening.

Take the Powell-Mason line from Fisherman's Wharf to Union Square. If you want to travel from Fisherman's Wharf back to Union Square, the wait for the Powell-Mason cable car at Taylor and Bay Streets is usually shorter than the wait for the Powell-Hyde cable car at Aquatic Park.

Board the Powell Street lines away from the ends of the lines. There is frequently a long wait to board the cable cars at Powell and Market Streets. Sometimes you can squeeze on the cars by just walking a few blocks up Powell Street. The further you get away from the ends of the lines, the easier it is to squeeze on a car. Many riders disembark at California and Powell Streets, Hyde and Lombard Streets (Crooked Street), and the Cable Car Museum at Washington and Mason Streets, so these are good spots to board a cable car.

I hope this information helps you to enjoy your ride on the only cable cars in an American city. If you want to take a private San Francisco tour that includes a ride on a cable car, please call me at (866) 326-4237 (toll free) or e-mail me by clicking here.

Baseball is Back

The baseball season is with us again and our two local teams have begun to play. The Oakland A's are celebrating their 40th season on the west coast while the San Francisco Giants are celebrating their 50th.

The A's were founded in Philadelphia, spent many years in Kansas City, and moved to Oakland in 1968. Whether they will stay in Oakland or move to Fremont, as announced, is anyone's guess.

The Giants and the Dodgers moved west in 1958 from New York and Brooklyn respectively. Here's a good trivia question for baseball fans: of those cities that have never celebrated a World Series victory, which has suffered the longest? The answer - San Francisco. The Giants won in New York but never here. Cubs fans have suffered longer but they did win the Series in 1908.

The prospects for both teams aren't too hot in 2008, but attending a baseball game is a leisurely way to spend a few hours. If you are visiting San Francisco and want to take in a game, both stadiums are easy to get to.

The Oakland Coliseum is a 30-minute subway ride on BART. There are four BART stations along Market Street. Take a train going to Dublin/Pleasanton or Fremont and get off at the Coliseum stop. The stadium is a five-minute walk from the BART station. The weather in Oakland is warmer than in San Francisco, but take a sweater for an evening game.

AT&T Park is a 15-minute walk south of Market Street. You can also catch the N Judah streetcar at one of the MUNI Metro stops along Market Street and get off in front of the stadium. While AT&T Park is advertised as being warmer than the Giants' old home at Candlestick, evening games can be downright cold. You might need a heavy jacket if you sit in the upper deck at night.

I prefer baseball during the day, particularly in the Bay Area. You can enjoy a cold beer during a day game here. At night, you'll probably need a hot coffee. Tickets can be purchased at the teams' websites: www.giants.mlb.com and www.athletics.mlb.com.

Two North Beach Institutions

It had been over 20 years since I last saw "Beach Blanket Babylon," the only-in-San Francisco cabaret that spoofs modern culture. With my parents visiting, I decided to see how the show was holding up.

Beach Blanket Babylon has been running for over 30 years, so I probably last saw it during its first decade. The theme remains the same; the story of Snow White's efforts to find true love. About one-third of the show looked familiar. However, the majority of songs and skits were new since I last saw the show. The performance was completely up-to-date. There was even a musical number spoofing Hillary Clinton crying the day before the New Hampshire primary.

The singing is still good and the costumes are still zany. The satire is wacky and the hats remain the biggest you'll ever see. At least two of the performers, Val Diamond and Renee Lubin, were in the show when I last saw it. If you've never seen Beach Blanket, then I highly recommend seeing it on your next visit to San Francisco. If you've been before, you'll get a good laugh if you go again.

Beach Blanket Babylon performs at the Club Fugazi, 687 Beach Blanket Babylon Blvd. (Green Street) in North Beach. Shows are at 8:00 p.m. on Wednesday and Thursday and 6:30 and 9:30 p.m. on Friday and Saturday. Sunday matinées are at 2:00 and 5:00 p.m. and are the only performances that minors may attend.

While in North Beach, I decided to dine at another North Beach institution: North Beach Restaurant. I had never eaten here and figured, after living in San Francisco for 29 years, it was about time to give North Beach Restaurant a try. Walking into this restaurant was like time traveling back to the 1950s. Waiters were in tuxes and the menu looked like it hadn't changed since the restaurant first opened in 1970. While our waiter was very friendly and the food acceptable, I can't recommend dining at the North Beach Restaurant. There are far better Italian restaurants in San Francisco. Unfortunately, most of them are not in North Beach.

If you are planning a trip to San Francisco and want help planning your vacation, please call me at (866) 326-4237 (toll free) or e-mail me by clicking here.

See Mating Elephant Seals

The largest mainland breeding colony of northern elephant seals can be found at Año Nuevo State Reserve. You have not seen anything until you see two-ton elephant seals battling over a prospective mate. The reserve is located about 90 minutes south of San Francisco on Hwy. 1 between Half Moon Bay and Santa Cruz.

Elephant seals may be found at Año Nuevo throughout the year. The breeding season runs from December through March. Adult males begin arriving in December and begin to battle to become dominant. The winners of these fights do most of the mating. By late March, the adult seals leave the park and only the weaned pups remain. In the spring and summer, adults return to the park to molt. During the fall, yearlings come ashore.

Año Nuevo is worth visiting at any time. However, seeing the seals breed is particularly fascinating. The breeding season runs from December 15 through March 31. During this time, visitors may only see the park on a guided walk. Advance reservations are highly recommended and can be made by calling (800) 444-4445. The molting season runs from April 1 to August 31 and the fall haul-out season from September 1 to November 30. During these seasons, you will need to pick up a free permit for a self-guided hike from the entrance station. Try to arrive early to make sure you get a permit and have enough time for the hike.

A visit to Año Nuevo is a uniquely California experience. If you would like a private tour that includes a visit to Año Nuevo, please feel free to call me at (866) 326 - 4237 (toll free) or e-mail me by clicking here.

Haas-Lillienthal House

San Francisco is well known of its Victorian architecture. There are thousands of Italianate, Stick, and Queen Anne houses that can be seen from the outside, but there is only one home that is regularly open to the public as a museum.

Built in 1886, the Haas-Lillienthal House was a private residence until 1972. Today, the home is a museum, complete with period furnishings. A visit to the Haas-Lillienthal House includes a docent-led tour of the small garden and many of the rooms. You will also learn about the Haas and Lillienthal families who were (and are) prominent in San Francisco's Jewish community.

If you are interested in Victorian architecture and/or history, you will enjoy touring the Haas-Lillienthal House. The museum is open on Sunday, Wednesday, and most Saturday afternoons. More information is available on the museum's website or by calling (415) 441-3000. The museum is located at 2007 Franklin Street (between Washington and Jackson Streets).

Pacific Heights

In September, I wrote about Sea Cliff and mentioned that it and Pacific Heights are probably the two wealthiest neighborhoods in San Francisco. This post will talk about Pacific Heights.

Pacific Heights includes the hilly part of San Francisco from Van Ness Avenue on the east to Lyon Street and the Presidio wall on the west. The north and south boundaries are Green and Bush Streets. Some of San Francisco's wealthiest and most influential residents make their homes in Pacific Heights. Many of them have spectaculr views from their houses. While you may not be in a position to buy a home with such a view, you can approximate the views by walking up the Lyon or Baker Street steps. You'll also get a good workout.

Some of San Francisco's largest homes are in Pacific Heights. Currently, there are two houses on the market in Pacific Heights with asking prices of over $50 million. 2901 Broadway is listed for $55 million, while the owners of 2845 Broadway are asking $65 million. The Spreckels Mansion, at 2080 Washington, is one of the largest homes in San Francisco. Built by Alma and Adolph Spreckels in 1915, its current owner is Danielle Steele.

If you are a movie buff, you can see the house that Sally Fields and Robin Williams called home in "Mrs. Doubtfire" on the southeast corner of Broadway and Steiner Street.

Fillmore Street between Post and Jackson Streets is the main shopping district for Pacific Heights. Along the street you will find many upscale shops and some very good restaurants. You can easily combine a stroll along Fillmore Street with a walk along the Union Street shopping district in Cow Hollow. Just make sure you visit Fillmore Street first so you walk down the steep hill to Union Street.

If you would like to take a private San Francisco tour that includes a visit to Pacific Heights, please call me at (866) 326-4237 (toll free) or e-mail me by clicking here.

Fisherman's Wharf IV - Pier 39's Sea Lions

Pier 39 has little connection with San Francisco. It's a collection of tourist-oriented shops that could be located almost anywhere in the U.S. However, any visit to Fisherman's Wharf must include a walk to the end of Pier 39 to see the hundreds of California sea lions that have been calling the pier home since late 1989.

Prior to the Loma Prieta Earthquake in October 1989, most sea lions lived at Seal Rocks, just off Land's End in the Pacific Ocean. Starting in September 1989, sea lions began hauling themselves out of the water onto the empty boat docks at Pier 39. After the earthquake, even more found their way to Pier 39. Whether the earthquake contributed to the sea lions' migration, we do not know. We do know that at Pier 39 they found a plentiful supply of herring to dine on and protection from the killer whales and sharks in the ocean. So they decided to stay.

Most sea lions live at Pier 39 for about 9 months per year. During the summer all but a few sea lions travel to the Channel Islands, off the Santa Barbara coast, to mate. After all, even sea lions need a little privacy.

Watching the sea lions bark and push each other around is great fun. If you would like to take a private tour of San Francisco that includes a visit to the sea lions, please call me at (866) 326-4237 (toll free) or e-mail me by clicking here.

This concludes my series on Fisherman's Wharf. San Franciscans tend to stay away from the wharf. However, I hope this short series has shown that the Wharf contains attractions for both locals and visitors.

Fisherman's Wharf III - SS Jeremiah O'Brien & USS Pampanito

Pier 45, where the Musee Mecanique is located (see November 12 post), is also home to the Liberty Ship SS Jeremiah O'Brien and the World War II era submarine USS Pampanito.

The Liberty Ship SS Jeremiah O'Brien transported soldiers and supplies during World War II. Most famously, it supported the D-Day invasion of Normandy, France in 1944. In 1979, the ship was rescued from the scrap heap and restored to its former glory. Of the 5,000 plus ships that participated in D-Day, the Jeremiah O'Brien was the only ship to return for the 50th anniversary celebration in 1994.

Today, visitors can take a self-guided tour of the ship. The ship welcomes guests daily, except on Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year's Day, and when cruising. Admission is $8/adult, $6/senior, and $4/junior. Children under the age of six may tour for free. A family may tour the ship for $20. The ship also cruises the Bay from time to time. If you'd like to see San Francisco Bay from the deck of a World War II Liberty Ship, check the ship's website to see if a cruise will occur during your visit to San Francisco.

The USS Pamapanito is a World War II-era submarine that berths next to the Jeremiah O'Brien. This Balao class Fleet submarine patrolled the Pacific during the war, sinking six Japanese ships and damaging four more. Self-guided audio tours enable visitors to understand what life was like aboard the Pampanito. The submarine opens daily at 9:00 a.m. From October 14 through May 23, the ship closes at 6:00 p.m., except on Fridays and Saturdays when it remains open until 8:00 p.m. During the balance of the year, the ship is open daily until 8:00 p.m., except on Wednesdays when it closes at 6:00 p.m. Admission costs $9/adult, $5/senior, $3/children between 6 and 12, and $20/family.

Touring the Jeremiah O'Brien and Pampanito is great fun for kids, especially on rainy days when indoor activities are preferable. A family can easily spend a few hours at Pier 45 by visiting these two ships and exploring the Musee Mecanique.

If you would like help planning a vacation that includes visits to the Jeremiah O'Brien and the Pampanito, feel free to call me at (866) 326-4237 (toll free) or e-mail me by clicking here.

Fisherman's Wharf II - Hyde Street Pier

The Hyde Street Pier houses a terrific collection of historic ships. Formally known as the San Francisco Maritime National Historic Park, the Pier's collection includes the Balclutha, an 1886 square rigger; C.A. Thayer, an 1895 schooner; Eureka, an 1890 steam ferry boat; and many other artifacts from our nautical history. On the Pier is the Small Boat Shop, where visitors can talk with the boat builders. Be sure to walk to the end of the Pier for a nice view of San Francisco Bay and the City.

The Pier is located at the end of Hyde Street, near Aquatic Park and the Hyde Street cable car turnaround. There is no charge to walk along the Pier or to see the exhibits on the Pier. The cost is $5 per person to walk through the historic ships docked at the Pier. Children under the age of 16, if supervised by an adult, may board the ships for free.

Across the street from the Pier, in the Argonaut Hotel, is the park's Visitor Center. Here you can see permanent and temporary exhibits on San Francisco's and the West's maritime history.

The park also has a museum on Beach Street, across from Ghirardelli Square. However, it is closed for renovation until 2009.

The Pier and Visitors Center open daily at 9:30 a.m. The Pier closes at 5:30 p.m. between Memorial Day and September 30, while the Visitors Center closes at 7:30 p.m. During the balance of the year, both the Pier and Visitors Center close at 5:00 p.m.

If you are like me and enjoy old ships, then I highly recommend a visit to the Hyde Street Pier. If you would like to take a private San Francisco tour that includes a visit to the Pier and Fisherman's Wharf, please call me at (866) 326-4237 (toll free) or e-mail me by clicking here.

Fisherman's Wharf I - Musee Mecanique

Fisherman's Wharf seems a world apart from the rest of San Francisco. Tourists love it, while locals only venture there when friends or family visit. While much of the Wharf is tacky, there are some gems worth visiting.

My favorite place on Fisherman's Wharf is one of its most overlooked attractions: the Musee Mecanique. Located at Pier 45, Shed A, at the end of Taylor Street, the Musee Mecanique is home to one of the largest collections of mechanical musical instruments and antique arcade games.

Today's children are accustomed to playing video games. They can't imagine that their grandfathers and great-grandfathers played mechanical, rather than electric, games. A visit to the Musee will enable your children to play early 20th century arcade games, music boxes, and pin ball games. You will also get to see exhibits from San Francisco's old amusement park, Playland; the Sutro Baths; and Cliff House.

The Musee Mecanique is a great place to come with children, but adults also will enjoy seeing these old games. You are likely to go through a pile of quarters during your visit, but change is easily gotten from machines in the museum. The Musee Mecanique opens daily at 10:00 a.m. and closes at 7:00 p.m. on weekdays and at 8:00 p.m. on weekends and holidays.

Frank Lloyd Wright on Maiden Lane

Maiden Lane is an alley running between Kearny and Stockton Streets, just east of Union Square. Prior to the 1906 earthquake and fire, the alley was known as Morton Street and was one of the city's red light districts. Men would stroll the alley and select a companion from among the women sitting in their windows.

After the fire, the red light district moved to other parts of town and Morton Street became Maiden Lane. Today it is home to a number of fashionable stores, including Xanadu Gallery at 140 Maiden Lane. Take a good look at the front of the store and you will notice the absence of one feature that most shops have -- a picture window. Only Frank Lloyd Wright would design a street-level store without a window for the store to showcase its wares.

This building was constructed in 1948 and housed the V.C. Morris Gift Shop. Inside, you will see a spiral walkway up to the second floor. Wright was designing the Guggenheim Museum in New York at the same time and he is thought to have used the Morris Gift Shop as a test for the ramp he included in the Guggenheim. You can see the outside of the Xanadu Gallery at any time. To see the inside, visit the gallery Tuesday through Saturday between the hours of 10:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. You will also get to see an excellent collection of folk art.

If you would like to take a private San Francisco tour that focuses on some of San Francisco's unique architecture, please call me at (866) 326-4237 (toll free) or e-mail me by clicking here.

Alcatraz Update

I finally had a chance to visit Alcatraz and take the new audio tour. While the old tour was good, the new tour is even better. You now enter Alcatraz as the prisoners did -- through the shower room. The tour is slightly longer; about 40 minutes. It is still narrated by former prisoners, guards, and residents. When you are done with the audio tour, you can visit the expanded book shop in the cell block.

Don't limit yourself to just touring the cell block while you are on the island. If the Agave Trail is open, take a walk along the south and east shores for beautiful views of San Francisco.

The evening tour provides a more leisurely and less crowded way to see the island. You can check availability for the evening and day tours by visiting www.alcatrazcruises.com. Be sure to book your tour in advance as they sell out. During the summer, tours may sell out two weeks in advance.

Here are some answers to questions I frequently get asked about Alcatraz:

Has anyone swam from Alcatraz to San Francisco? Yes. One prisoner made the swim and was found hanging onto rocks under the Golden Gate Bridge. He was so weak from hypothermia that he could not lift himself out of the water. Earlier this year, some men celebrated their 500th swim from San Francisco to Alcatraz. Last year, the youngest person, a nine-year-old boy, made the swim. Two years ago the first dog, with his master, made the swim.

Are there sharks in the Bay? Yes. Leopard sharks are in the Bay. They are small and will not hurt you. Great whites do not enter the Bay. They are found in the ocean and WILL hurt you.

How big is Alcatraz? The island is 12 acres.

Did anyone successfully escape from Alcatraz? During the civilian period from 1934 - 1963, no prisoners are known to have successfully escaped. Frank Morris and the Anglin brothers did escape. Their flotation devices were found; however, they have never been seen. They are presumed to have drowned. During the military period, security was not as tight and prisoners did escape.

Private tours are prohibited on Alcatraz. If you would like to plan a visit to San Francisco that includes a visit to Alcatraz, Blue Heron Custom Tours can help. For more information, please call me at (866) 326-4237 (toll free) or e-mail me by clicking here.

Filbert and Greenwich Street Steps

The east side of Telegraph Hill was home to a quarry in the 19th century. The hillside was cut away without regard to people's homes and businesses. Often homeowners would find that their houses were no longer habitable as the land beneath them had been blasted out. The City would occasionally tell the quarry to stop dynamiting, but this never seemed to have much effect.

What remains of the east side today provides beautiful vistas of San Francisco Bay and Treasure and Yerba Buena Islands. Many homes cover the hillside and are only accessible via the Greenwich and Filbert Street steps.

These steep stairways run between Sansome Street at sea level at the top of Telegraph Hill (275 feet). I highly recommend a walk along both of these pedestrian streets. Not only will you get spectacular views of the Bay, but you will stroll among some of the prettiest gardens in San Francisco. Flowers seem to be in bloom nearly year-round. If you are lucky, you'll also get to see the "Wild Parrots of Telegraph Hill" flying overhead.

You can ascend one of the steps and then descend the other. Beware; the ascent is steep and not for the unfit. If climbing the steps seems daunting, take a tour of San Francisco with Blue Heron Custom Tours and Travel. We'll drive to the top of Telegraph Hill where you can walk down one of the stairways. When you arrive at the bottom, we'll be waiting to continue your tour of San Francisco. For more information, call me at (866) 326-4237 or e-mail me by clicking here.

Summer in Muir Woods

Summer brings the crowds to Muir Woods, home to the coastal redwoods -- the tallest trees in the world. Parking can be difficult, especially on weekends when visitors may need to park a half-mile away from the entrance. Here are three tips for avoiding the crowds and making your visit more enjoyable:

1. Visit early or late. In the summer, Muir Woods is open from 8:00 a.m. until 8:00 p.m. If you arrive before 9:00 a.m. or after 6:00 p.m., not only will you avoid the crowds but you will not have to pay an entry fee. I recommend arriving before 9:30 a.m. or after 4:00 p.m. if you want to have a more peaceful experience.

2. Take a tour to the park. The scheduled tour operators all arrive around the same time, so you won't avoid the crowds. However, you will not have the hassle of finding a parking space. If you take a private tour, such as with Blue Heron Custom Tours and Travel, you can time your arrival so you are not there when the big tour buses are at the park.

3. Take public transit to the park. Golden Gate Transit runs shuttle buses to Muir Woods from Sausalito, Marin City, and the Manzanita parking lot at the Route 1 exit of US 101 on weekends and holidays through September 30. Buses that stop in Sausalito meet Golden Gate Transit's ferries to and from San Francisco.

Blue Heron provides private, custom tours that include Muir Woods. You also can visit Muir Woods as part of a tour of San Francisco or a tour of Wine Country. For more information, please call me at (866) 326-4237 (toll free) or e-mail me by clicking here.

Chomp!

The Conservatory of Flowers has banners around the city with the name of its new exhibit on carnivorous plants in large print: Chomp! Last week I finally had a chance to see this display of exotic plants.

I always find the Conservatory a peaceful respite from the hustle of the city. It's nice to walk around the Victorian-era greenhouse and see what flowers are in bloom and to view the many unusual plants.

As for "Chomp," I found it disappointing. The exhibit is much smaller than I expected. I also imagined that I would see plants devouring bugs as I walked by, but this was not to be.

The lighthearted displays describe how the plants attract and digest bugs and small animals and make the plants seem almost ferocious. However, the plants are quite tame. Most do not move. Rather, they attract the insects into a tube where the bugs get stuck and are then dissolved by enzymes secreted by the plant. Then the plant absorbs the nutrients from the remains of the insect. The only exception is the Venus Fly Trap, but no bug landed on any of these plants as I strolled by.

A visit to the Conservatory is always worthwhile if you enjoy flowers and plants. Just don't make a special trip just to see Chomp! The Conservatory is located on John F. Kennedy Drive in the eastern end of Golden Gate Park. It is open Tuesday - Sunday from 9:00 a.m. until 4:30 p.m.

If you would like to take a private tour of San Francisco that includes a visit to the Conservatory of Flowers and perhaps the nearby Japanese Tea Garden and/or the Arboretum, please call me at (866) 326-4237 (toll free) or e-mail me by clicking here.

Angel Island

Angel Island is a locals place. Visitors to San Francisco flock to Alcatraz Island, but far fewer visit Angel Island. Angel Island never captured the public's imagination like Alcatraz did when it housed notorious prisoners like Al Capone and the Birdman (Robert Stroud).

Today Angel Island is a state park. However, it's rich history includes periods when it was a military base, home to a quarantine station, and home to an immigration station where thousands of Chinese were detained for weeks and months between 1910 and 1940.

Cars are prohibited on Angel Island, so the park is a peaceful place for biking, hiking, and picnicking. If you chose to picnic, you may want to bring food with you as options are limited on the island.

If you walk the perimeter road, you will pass many of the island's historical sights including the immigration station. You can also hike to the top of Mt. Livermore for a 360 degree view of San Francisco Bay.

The Angel Island Immigration Station is currently being renovated. When the Immigration Station reopens in 2008, visitors will be able to learn more about the lives of those whose first home in America was Angel Island.

Angel Island is accessible by ferry from both San Francisco and Tiburon. More information about the island is available from the Angel Island association's excellent website: www.angelisland.org. More information on the Angel Island Immigration Station is available at www.aiisf.org.

"That's So Raven's" House

My last post told where visitors can see houses depicted on the television show "Full House." Young visitors are frequently fans of the Disney Channel's "That's So Raven" show. Like "Full House," most of the scenes in the program were taped in a studio. (The series is no longer in production.) However, the opening scenes show that Raven's home is at the corner of Page and Ashbury. The house is on the northwest corner of the intersection. It's address is 461 Ashbury Street. The high school that is frequently shown is not in San Francisco.

Two more San Francisco landmarks are just down the street from Raven's home. The intersection of Haight and Ashbury Streets is one block away. This is the corner that gave the neighborhood its name. It became synonymous with the Hippies, when thousands of young people flocked to the neighborhood during the Summer of Love in 1967. Further south on Ashbury is the Victorian house, number 710, where the Grateful Dead lived during this time.

If you would like to take a private San Francisco tour that includes a visit to Haight Ashbury, or as it is known today -- the Upper Haight -- please call me at (866) 326-4237 (toll free) or e-mail me by clicking here.

"Full House" House

Many times when I take guests on tours of San Francisco I get asked where certain movies or television shows were filmed. One of the most frequently asked questions is where the house in the television show "Full House" was located.

Most of the show was filmed in a studio. However, the opening scene in many of the episodes pictures the family picnicking in Alamo Square with the Queen Anne Victorians of "Postcard Row" in the background. This location is easy to get to. Alamo Square sits between Hayes, Fulton, Steiner, and Scott Streets. "Postcard Row" is located on Steiner Street between Hayes and Grove Streets."

When I took "Full House" fans to Alamo Square they would frequently ask which house was the Tanner family's home in the show. This was difficult to figure out, but due to some good sleuthing by a fellow tour guide, Craig Smith, we now know that the Tanner home is the house at 1709 Broderick Street, near Bush Street.

If you would like to take a private tour of San Francisco that includes visits to these "Full House" sites, please call me at (866) 326-4237 (toll free) or e-mail me by clicking here.

Cable Car Museum

The Cable Car Museum is one of my favorite museums in San Francisco. Located in the powerhouse where the motors turn the four cables that run under the streets, this free museum has much to see. Not only can you see the mechanics of the system, but also historic exhibits.

The cable car traces its heritage back to 1869 when Andre Hallidie witnessed a horse struggling to pull a cart up Nob Hill. According to local legend, the horse collapsed and the cart dragged the horse back down the hill. Four years later, on August 2, 1873, Hallidie demonstrated his new-fangled contraption -- the cable car. They have been going up and down San Francisco's hills ever since, except from 1982-1984 when the system was closed for renovation.

In the 1890s, there were eight cable car lines in the City. Today there are three: Powell-Hyde, Powell-Mason, and California Street.

The Cable Car Museum is a must stop if you have children between the ages of 7 and 13. It is open daily from 10:00 - 6:00, except from October 1 - March 31 when the museum closes at 5:00 p.m. The museum has a gift shop with interesting books and souvenirs.

If you would like to take a San Francisco tour that includes a stop at the Cable Car Museum, please call me at (866) 326-4237 (toll free) or e-mail me by clicking here.

Mecca for Foodies

San Francisco has always been a mecca for food aficionados. With a predominately male population during the Gold Rush, restaurants began cropping up to serve the many men who were clueless in the kitchen. Today San Francisco has over 3,000 restaurants. That's a lot for a city with just 750,000 residents.

In addition to the many restaurants, there are numerous stores to buy great produce, meats, and other foods. However, no place compares to the Marketplace at San Francisco's Ferry Building. Here you will find more purveyors of fine food than any place in the city.

People who love sweets will want to visit Scharfen Berger Chocolate Maker, Recchiuti Confections for divine truffles, and Miete Patisserie.

If you want to pick up bread, cheese, and wine for a picnic lunch, stop by Acme Bread Company, Cowgirl Creamery, and Ferry Plaza Wine Merchant. Acme is a local bakery that makes a variety of excellent breads. Cowgirl makes its own cheese and sells artisan cheeses from around the world. Ferry Plaza Wine Merchant has a large selection of wines from California and all over the world. They also have a nice tasting bar where you can sit down to have wine and cheese with friends.

Taylor's Automatic Refresher has great burgers, fries, and shakes, as well as a wine list.

I'm a big oyster fan. So I love sitting outside at Hog Island Oyster and lunching on raw oysters paired with a Sauvignon Blanc.

The list goes on and on.

On Tuesdays and Saturdays the permanent stores and restaurants are augmented by a large farmer's market. The Saturday market is the bigger of the two and runs from 8:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m. The Tuesday market's hours are 10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. If you visit on Saturday, have breakfast at the market. During the summer, there is a market on Thursday evenings.

The Ferry Building is one of the few spots in San Francisco where locals and tourists mix in large numbers. Don't miss it on your next visit. If you want to take a private San Francisco tour that includes a visit to the Ferry Building, please call me at (866) 326-4237 (toll free) or e-mail me by clicking here.

Wells Fargo History Museums

If you are a history buff like me, you enjoy visiting history museums. Even the smallest of towns often has a local history museum. San Francisco, being a city of 750,000, has a few museums that feature our unique history. One of my favorites is the Wells Fargo History Museum.

This little museum is open Monday - Friday from 9:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. Inside you will see a Concord Coach that was actually used by Wells Fargo. When you see stagecoaches today, it's hard to imagine that they seated up to 20 persons: 9 inside, 9 on top, driver, and shotgun. Imagine bouncing across the West in these vehicles; stopping only to change horses. While the Wells Fargo staff unhitched and hitched the horses, passengers usually dashed into a so-called restaurant to down awful to mediocre food. Mark Twain provides an excellent description of Western travel on a stagecoach in his book "Roughing It."

The museum also features exhibits on Wells Fargo's role in San Francisco's history from the Gold Rush of 1849 through the Earthquake of 1906. The museum is located at 420 Montgomery Street (near California Street). Admission is free.

There are also two Wells Fargo Museums in Sacramento. The larger of the two museums is at 400 Capitol Mall and also houses a Concord Coach. The museum is open from 9:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. on weekdays. A small storefront museum is at 1000 2nd Street in Old Sacramento, which is open every day form 10:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. Admission to both museums is free.

If you would like to take a private tour of San Francisco that focuses on the city's rich history, please call me at (866) 326-4237 (toll free) or e-mail me by clicking here.

Point Bonita Lighthouse

There's something romantic about lighthouses. I know the real story is that lighthouse keepers worked long hours, performed gruelling tasks -- often in miserable weather, and received little pay. Nevertheless, whenever I see a lighthouse I immediately want to visit it, learn the history, and fantasize about the keeper's life.

One of my favorite lighthouses is located at Point Bonita on the north side of the entrance to the Golden Gate. The original lighthouse, built in 1855, was the third on the West Coast. The site was too high and fog frequently obscured the beam. As a result, the lighthouse was moved to its current site in 1877.

Point Bonita, on a sunny day, provides one of the area's special views. On one side the Pacific crashes against the bluff. On the other side sits San Francisco, just across the Bay. Docents are available to tell you about the lighthouse, its keepers, and the area's history.

The drive to the lighthouse, along Conzelman Road in the Marin Headlands, offers spectacular vistas of the Golden Gate, the Bridge, and San Francisco. Stop at Battery Spencer and walk to the edge of the cliff for an up-close view of the Golden Gate Bridge. After arriving at the parking lot, you will walk along a half-mile trail through a hand-cut tunnel and across a narrow suspension bridge to get to the light. Unfortunately visitors hours are extremely limited. The lighthouse is open only Saturdays, Sundays, and Mondays from 12:30 a.m. until 3:30 p.m.

If you visit, make sure you bring a sweater as Point Bonita is frequently swept by strong winds. More information on the lighthouse can be found on the Golden Gate National Recreation Area's website: http://www.nps.gov/goga/pobo.htm.

If you would like a private tour of San Francisco and/or Muir Woods that includes a visit to the Point Bonita Lighthouse, please call me at (866) 326-4237 (toll free) or e-mail me by clicking here.

Free San Francisco Walking Tours

San Francisco is a compact city -- just 46 square miles. With 750,000 people calling the city home, some of the neighborhoods are quite congested. Chinatown has the densest population in the United States outside of Manhattan.

My half-day tours of San Francisco provide a good overview of the City and the full-day tours enable visitors to see more of the city's neighborhoods. However, many of the neighborhoods are best explored on foot.

If you enjoy walking and want to see San Francisco up close, I highly recommend taking one or more walking tours during your stay. Commercial walking tour companies operate in some neighborhoods. However, City Guides provides free walking tours throughout San Francisco.

Operating under the auspices of the San Francisco Public Library, City Guides' volunteer docents will lead you on explorations of neighborhoods as diverse as Pacific Heights, Haight Ashbury, and the Financial District. Tours are offered seven days per week in both the morning and afternoon. The summer schedule is more expansive than the winter schedule. Regardless of the date you chose for your tour, you are bound to find a one of interest. Full schedules are available on City Guides' website: www.sfcityguides.org.

If you would like some help planning your San Francisco vacation, and want to include a walking tour, I would be pleased to assist you. Feel free to phone me at (866) 326-4237 or e-mail me by clicking here.

Oldest Building in San Francisco

You can't believe everything you read. The sign outside the Officers Club in the Presidio says it is the oldest building in San Francisco. Yes, there is old adobe in some walls and in the foundation. But the bulk of the building is definitely 20th century.

The oldest building in San Francisco is Mission San Francisco de Asis, more commonly known as Mission Dolores. The original mission was built by the Spanish in 1776, along with the Presidio. The current building is about a block and a half from the site of the first mission building and dates back to 1791. Aside from the addition of electricity and some early 19th century furnishing, the mission looks little different from the way it did when founded. This sturdy building survived both the 1906 and 1989 earthquakes with little damage; although, the more modern parish church next door suffered extensive damage in 1906 and was torn down.

Aside the mission is one of only two cemeteries remaining in San Francisco. (Most cemeteries were removed from the city in the early 20th century to make room for the living. The other cemetery inside the city limits is the military cemetary in the Presidio.) There are many tombstones marking the final resting spot of early settlers and officials. Not marked are the graves of thousands of Native Americans buried in the cemetery and under the adjacent parking lot.

Mission Dolores is open daily from 8:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. A donation of $3.00 is requested upon admission. The church is located on the corner of Dolores and 16th Streets.

If you would like to take a San Francisco tour that includes a visit to Mission Dolores, call me at (866) 326-4237 or e-mail me by clicking here.

Visit the Newly Restored Grounds Surrounding the Palace of Fine Arts

The Palace of Fine Arts was the art museum in the 1915 Panama Pacific International Exposition. This world's fair commemorated the opening of the Panama Canal, but also showed the world that San Francisco had recovered from the 1906 Earthquake and Fire.

The Palace was the only building from the Fair that was allowed to stay in its original location after the fair closed. However, like all the buildings, the Palace was built with little more than chicken wire and plaster. So by the 1950s the Palace was in need of a major restoration. To save the Palace, the original was torn down and a replica was built of concrete. The replica opened in 1967.

Now the replica is in need of restoration. Recently the exterior of the dome was fixed. For the past year, extensive renovation of the lagoon and surrounding grounds was undertaken.

A few days ago, the chain link fence around the grounds came down. The end result is beautiful. No longer do you risk having the walkway crumble beneath your feet as you stroll around the lagoon, which looks great. Instead of green scum on the surface, their are birds swimming in clear water. Recently I saw migrating ducks taking a break in the lagoon.

Now is the perfect time to visit the Palace. Take a relaxing stroll around the colonnade and lagoon. Enjoy a picnic lunch on the lawn. The Palace sits along Lyon Street between Francisco Street and Marina Boulevard in the Marina District.

If you want to include a visit to the Palace of Fine Arts in a San Francisco private tour, please call me at (866) 326-4237 (toll free) or e-mail me by clicking here.

Beat Museum in San Francisco

Most folks seem to know about the 1967 Summer of Love and the hippies in San Francisco. But few remember their 1950s predecessors: the Beats or Beatniks. The latter term was coined by local journalist Herb Caen who said shortly after the Russians launched the first spacecraft, Sputnik, that they may have a Sputnik but we have Beatniks. Or something to that effect.

To inform the public about Jack Kerouac, Alan Ginsberg, and other Beat writers is the mission of The Beat Museum. Located in North Beach, this new museum contains a nice collection of books and poems written by Beats and other Beat-related items that may be purchased. There is also a small exhibit of historical photographs and documents that trace the history of the beats in San Francisco.

The Beat Museum is located at 540 Broadway (near Columbus). It is open from 10:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. from Tuesday through Sunday. Admission to the exhibit is $5.00. There is no charge to browse through the items for sale.

If you would like to take a private tour of San Francisco that includes a visit to North Beach, please call me at (866) 326-4237 (toll free) or e-mail me by clicking here.

Streetcars in San Francisco

While San Francisco is most famous for the cable cars that go up and down Nob Hill, we are becoming equally well known for our fleet of historic streetcars. Known as the F Line, these cars from around the country and the globe run from the Castro District (Castro and Market Streets) to Fisherman's Wharf (Taylor and Jefferson Streets) via Market Street and the Embarcadero.

Now you can learn about the history of streetcars in San Francisco and our historic fleet by visiting the new San Francisco Railway Museum at the Steuart Street streetcar stop (77 Steuart Street, between Market and Mission Streets). Operated by the non-profit Market Street Railway, the inaugural exhibit is "Vehicles of Recovery: How San Francisco’s Street Railways Led the City’s Response to the 1906 Earthquake and Fire." The museum also contains streetcar artifacts, videos on San Francisco's street railway systems, and a gift shop. The museum is open Wednesday through Sunday from 10:00 a.m. until 6:00 p.m. Admission is free; although, donations are appreciated.

The Market Street Railway is the City's nonprofit partner that does much of the restoration work on the historic streetcars. In addition, the group advocates for the expansion of the streetcar system. In the near future, streetcars may run directly from the CalTrain Terminal and AT&T Park to Fisherman's Wharf. Longer term plans call for expanding the streetcar line from Fisherman's Wharf through the Fort Mason tunnel to lower Fort Mason. You can learn more about this wonderful organization by visiting their website at www.streetcar.org.

If you would like to take a private San Francisco tour that includes a stop at the San Francisco Railway Museum, call me at (866) 326-4237 (toll free) or e-mail me by clicking here.

Diego Rivera Murals in San Francisco

The great Mexican muralist, Diego Rivera, painted his first commissioned mural outside of Mexico in San Francisco starting in 1930. "Allegory of California" was completed in 1931 and is located in The City Club of San Francisco, 155 Sansome Street, 10th Floor. The mural is usually open to the public from 3:00 - 5:00 p.m. on weekdays, if there are no events scheduled. The Mexican Museum offers excellent docent-led tours of the mural from 3:00 - 4:00 p.m. on the first Wednesday of each month.

Shortly after completing "Allegory of California," Rivera began work on "The Making of a Fresco Showing the Building of A City." This mural is located in the Diego Rivera Gallery of the San Francisco Art Institute, 800 Chestnut Street (between Leavenworth and Jones). The most accessible of the three Rivera murals in San Francisco; the gallery is open daily from 8:00 a.m. until 9:00 p.m. and is located just two blocks from the bottom of the "Crookedest Street in the World" (Lombard Street).

Perhaps the most impressive of the three murals painted by Rivera is "Pan American Unity." This mural is "about the unity of the North and the South on this continent," according to Rivera. Originally painted in 1940 at the Golden Gate International Exposition, the mural is now housed in the Diego Rivera Theatre at San Francisco City College. Hours to visit the mural vary from sememster to semester. You can check the mural's website, www.riveramural.com, for current hours. A guided tour of the mural can be arranged by calling (415) 239-3127.

Admission to all three murals is free.

If you would like to take a private San Francisco tour that includes stops at one or more of these murals, please call me at (866) 326-4237 (toll free) or e-mail me by clicking here.