Top 10 FREE Things To-Do in SF.
Each adventure will guide you to places many locals don't know about.
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Bike across the
Golden Gate Bridge
A step-by-step guide!
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Here’s another bike ride you might love. It’s really not a difficult ride and is more about the fun of it all, getting out on the water, having a little lunch and getting some exercise … and maybe a walk on the beach as a bonus.
Start by taking the ferry to Angel Island, which usually leaves from the Ferry Building, but check schedules to make sure. The Website is also a bit confusing; so be sure and double check everything … schedules change too.
If you need to rent a bike, it’ll be easier to make your way down to Pier 41, where you can nearly always catch the ferry to Angel Island, and there’s a Blazing Saddles bike rental shop there, OR, you can wait until you get to Angel Island and rent a bike there. I didn’t compare prices; so check to make sure. Then, you can board the ferry wherever it’s convenient and just have fun without the baggage of the bike … there and back.
If you want a truly quirky way to get around the island, try a Segway. We opted for a bike ride this trip, but next time. I’ll give the Segway a shot. It looks like fun.
AND, at the end of the ride, stop by Il Fornaio on Battery Street for an Affogado (espresso poured over ice cream and topped with whipped cream). YUM!
The Palace of Fine Arts isn’t downtown, but it’s easily accessible by bus … or bike, if you happen to take advantage of the FREE 43 page photo eBook available right here (look for the yellow and blue button on the left site of the home page). It’s titled Bike the Bay in 1/2 a day, your way. You’ll be able to ride a bike along the Embarcadero, Fisherman’s Wharf, through the Marina, and later, across the Golden Gate Bridge. Before the Presidio, you’ll see the Palace of Fine Arts on the left, which is currently being repaired, but the photo here was taken a few years ago, prior to the repairs, which shows off how beautiful it is.
The main building was part of the Panama Pacific Exposition of 1915. Berkeley architect Bernard Maybeck designed the Palace of Fine Arts.
It also contains a fun place for kids – the Exploratorium, which is filled with fun, educational exhibits that will entertain and occupy kids of all ages, and most adults too. Later, you could even go fly a kite across the street at Crissy Field.
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Ride a cable car from the foot of Powell Street, up the big hill to cross California Street at the top; then glide down the hill at a whopping 9 miles per hour. Keep going for a few blocks to make your way to the Cable Car Museum, which is known as the Cable Car Barn. You can board at the turnstyle stop which is very close to Market Street, across the street from the San Francisco Westfield Shopping Center. Often, there’s a long line for this world famous ride, but if you go early in the morning or during the week, you’ll have a shorter wait.
It’s just outside the Hyatt Regency Hotel (www.quirkysanfrancisco.com/36/the-foot-of-market-the-hyatt-regency); so while you’re in that part of the city, you can easily take advantage of those two sites since you’re so close. Be sure to at least check-out the lobby of the Hyatt Regency, which is the largest in the world (at least it was as of a few years ago … I did a quick search and see that Novotel Suvarnabhumi Airport Hotel in Bangkok Thailand boasts the largest with 5 stories inside, but the Regency is over 11 stories inside; so you be the judge … either way, it’s well worth a quick peak inside for that, and a few other surprises).
If you take the California Line, just get off at the top of the hill and you can either transfer at Powell to go down the hill (to your right, as you go up the hill), but sometimes the Powell Street cars are full and since it’s only a few blocks, and it’s downhill, you could walk.
After arriving at the Cable Car Barn/Museum (Washington and Mason), you’ll notice that there’s no admission fee. It’s true, there’s no charge … as in FREE. The museum is modest, but very interesting. There are trinkets for sale, which support it. I think the two most interesting parts are the video and the machines that move the cables through the streets of San Francisco. There are two videos and the one that shows how it all works is the best one. Try to forgive that fact that it’s really old and needs to be re-done. Apparently, there are some politics behind it all, and it’s not a high profit spot; so, it sits there as it is. Donate a few bucks and maybe it’ll happen?
Once you see the video, a lot of things become very clear, such as how the cables go around corners, and how two cable car lines can cross each other. It’s a short 15 minute video and well worth seeing; so you can understand how it all works.
In addition to the video and the cables, there are books, videos, sections of cables and a variety of other little things to see or buy.
This little stop doesn’t take much time, and since it’s near Chinatown, you can leave here and walk down toward Grant Street and take in another San Francisco site. San Francisco’s population is about 30% Asian; so our Chinatown isn’t just for tourists. It’s a real part of our city that is still very active with all cultures, but mostly Asians. If you’re interested in avoiding the touristy parts, forget Grant Street, and go to Stockton Street instead. It’s filled with markets selling unique fruits and vegetables and even live frogs. Be respectful of the people there, who are there to do some serious shopping. Most of the people in Chinatown don’t like to be photographed; so again, be respectful of them and their culture. You’re in their turf.
You’ll feel like you’re in a foreign country, which can be a lot of fun. If you’re in the mood for a snack, maybe pick up a BBQ pork bun, or a 1/2 pound of BBQ pork to eat while you’re walking around. (www.quirkysanfrancisco.com/20/the-real-chinatown) Have fun!
