See the best of San Francisco (and Sausalito, its neighbor across the Golden Gate Bridge) in one trip—and enjoy an insider’s perspective as you go—on this small-group tour. Following the morning pickup, set off via vehicle to discover highlights ranging from Lombard Street and Golden Gate Park to Haight-Ashbury and Sausalito. As you go, your San Francisco-born guide will share their own stories and memories of the city.
This nearly private tour is capped at six to ensure a personal experience
Cross the Golden Gate Bridge, drive down the Lombard street, and much more
Enjoy the chance to visit scenic Sausalito, which many other tours miss
Your local guide’s stories will bring the city’s history to life
What To Expect
Fisherman’s Wharf
The tour begins and ends at Fisherman’s Wharf, an iconic and vastly entertaining neighborhood, with a rich history, and a great spot to grab lunch after the tour!
• Admission Ticket Included
Pier 39
Almost immediately, we take a turn around Pier 39, the second most popular attraction in California, and home to the City’s loudest residents – the sea lions!
• Admission Ticket Included
Ghirardelli Square
Almost immediately, we take a turn around Pier 39, the second most popular attraction in California, and home to the City’s loudest residents – the sea lions!
• Admission Ticket Included
Lombard Street
This point of interest is one of the City’s most popular: the famous “Crookedest Street in the World”. In addition to being generally very crowded, Lombard is closed to most tour vehicles, but we will take a quick spin down the 8 hairpin turns (though maybe not at “Bullitt” speed).
5 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
Pacific Heights
As we make our way towards the Golden Gate Bridge, we take a quick swing through Pacific Heights via “Billionaire’s Row”, a showplace for some of the biggest mansions, the best views, and a home made famous by a nanny named Mrs.Doubtfire.
• Admission Ticket Free
Lucasfilm Lobby
Upon entering the Presidio, we are treated to a brief photo stop at the statue of legendary Jedi Master Yoda, which is located at the Letterman Digital Arts Center (Lucasfilm): your guide has a lot to say about this – he worked there for years! On weekdays, the company lobby is open for a brief visit as well!
5 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
Palace of Fine Arts
Our last point of interest before the bridge is a drive-by viewing of a majestic relic of the 1915 World’s Fair, the Palace of Fine Arts. Featured in countless movies and TV shows, this icon is truly a breathtaking feature of the SF landscape.
• Admission Ticket Free
Golden Gate Bridge
Once we cross the most-photographed bridge in the world, guests will have the opportunity to stretch their legs, and take some photos of the world class views!
15 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
Sausalito
From the Golden Gate Bridge, we drop into the quiet beauty of Sausalito, the Bay’s own Mediterranean-type enclave of houseboats, hillsides and some of the most scenic views of the Bay, generally sunny, even on the foggiest of days!
10 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
Legion of Honor
The Legion of Honor Museum (formally known as “The California Palace of the Legion of Honor”) was a gift given to San Francisco by a legendary “Only in SF ” character, Alma Sperckels (along with a great deal of the artwork inside, A lake, another museum , and the most iconic statue in SF!) .
As we roll by, have a look through the pillars, and you’ll spot one of the original “Thinkers” by the artist, Rodin.
We do a brief photo stop just outside the museum at what is possibly the most stunning vista of the Golden Gate Bridge, literally between holes at the Presidio Golf Course.
• Admission Ticket Free
Lands End
After our trip back across the Bridge, we’ll end up at Land’s End Lookout – the most north-western point of SF, affording a spectacular view of the Pacific ocean, as well as the Golden Gate bridge – also, possibly, Snacks!
10 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
Golden Gate Park
Running literally, half the length of San Francisco, Golden Gate Park is a world unto itself. Completely man-made, the Park is home to literally dozens of points of interest!
• Admission Ticket Free
California Academy of Sciences
Originally built in the 1890’s, the renovated building featuring a living roof, and recycled denim insulation is the world’s first “Double Platinum” winner for environmentally friendly structures.
The interior of the museum, however, is what really sets it apart: it is among the largest museums of natural history in the world, housing over 46 million specimens, and would require a separate tour to really do it justice.
• Admission Ticket Free
de Young Museum
Sitting directly across the way from the Academy of Sciences, is the copper-clad de Young Museum, renowned both for its collections, and visiting shows. This museum is also a great way to spend an afternoon in the City.
• Admission Ticket Free
Japanese Tea Garden
The Japanese Tea Garden is holdover from the 1894 Midwinter Exposition, and has a unique history, well worth the retelling.
History also locates it the most likely birthplace of that uniquely American contribution to world cuisine: The Fortune Cookie (yes, you read that correctly!).
• Admission Ticket Free
Haight-Ashbury
Following a trip through Golden Gate Park, we step back in time to the Summer of Love, as we roll down Haight St. Famous for it’s time as ‘birthplace of the Hippies” in 1967 -The Haight is still a vibrant and thriving community, with coffee shops, boutiques, live music and more, to entertain both visitors and locals alike.
15 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
Painted Ladies
First introduced to a generation who grew up watching the tv show, “Full House”, these iconic houses, also known as the “seven Sisters”, are perhaps San Francisco’s most well known buildings – they have been photographed more than any other structures in the City (The Bridge excepted) and really convey the colorful spirit that says “San Francisco”.
5 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
Japantown
As we head to Nob Hill, we swing past Japantown, (one of only 3 in the US). Nihonmachi, as it is also called, is a slice of tokyo in the middle of SF, and well worth an afternoon’s exploration – it’s attractions range from traditional Japanese cuisine, and Japanese markets, to handmade stationary and multiple Japanese pop culture shops,
• Admission Ticket Free
Nob Hill
From City Hall, we go “Where Little Cable cars Climb Halfway to the Stars” and visit the statue of Tony Bennet in front of the Fairmont Hotel, where he first sang “I left My Heart in San Francisco” in 1961.
Among other things to see, from atop Nob Hill are the City’s own faux medieval masterpiece, Grace Cathedral, and the Mark Hopkins Hotel (the view from the penthouse lounge, The Top of The Mark, is likely the single best dinner view in the entire city).
5 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
Chinatown
This attraction is a personal favorite, and is truly worthy of an entire day’s exploration :San Francisco’s Chinatown. In addition to being the oldest, and most densely populated neighborhood in the City, is also the very *first* Chinatown in the world.
Following the destruction of the original in 1906, the community decide to rebuild, but in a manner that would draw visitors into the area – they added “pagoda” style roofs, and incorporated traditional designs, and suddenly San Francisco had it’s very first visitor attraction, and Chinese communities in cities around the world followed suit. As we drive through the area, we will see both the “public” side of Chinatown, as well as the more intimate “local side” Truly a highlight of the City.
• Admission Ticket Free
North Beach
San Francisco’s colorful Italian neighborhood is sometimes referred to as “Little Italy” which is incorrect – the locals all know it simply as North Beach: home to cafes, trattorias, and ristorantes. It’s a great place for a fantastic dinner on a Friday or Saturday night.
• Admission Ticket Free
Highlight
Confirmation will be received at time of booking
Not wheelchair accessible
Stroller accessible
Service animals allowed
Near public transportation
Infants must sit on laps
Most travelers can participate
This tour/activity will have a maximum of 6 travelers
Include
Bottled water
Snacks