It's a totally weird and unique San Francisco thing ( here's a list of a bunch of other weird San Francisco quirks). In addition to this outing, you can also take our free guided walking tour of The Castro. These beautiful, colorful homes exemplify Friscos funky culture and are a great way to start your journey. My Boyfriend and I booked an all Day SF tour with Christofer and had an amazing time! On my self-guided walking tour, you will see where history was made for the LGBTQ community. Check out our favorite local recommendations listed in the app and stop for a bite. Lisbon Damien was the best! This tour takes you along to visit many of San Francisco's must-see places while you are in control behind the wheel of our own vehicle. Guide Name: Chinatown Walking Tour Guide Location: USA San Francisco (See other walking tours in San Francisco) Guide Type: Self-guided Walking Tour (Sightseeing) # of Attractions: 8 Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s) Travel Distance: 1.2 Km or 0.7 Miles Author: doris Sight(s) Featured in This Guide: Simply put, Action Tour Guide is an audio guide, map, and tour book all in one app! As we drive past, we'll admire these striking buildings and learn about how they came to be painted in such vivid colors. Tour Types; Tours by Region; Tours by Activity; About; Contact; USA Guide; . Table of contents. The signs have a seagull featured on the top left corner. One important thing for you to note if youre taking this drive intentionally, however, is that the signs are often stolen and it takes awhile to replace them so youll want the map with you in addition to following the signage! If you dont spend too much time taking photos and waiting in bathroom lines, you could visit all 7 sites we talk about in this article in under 3 hours. 2. Here, youll get the inside scoop on how Hollywood uses this building as a stand-in for Washington, D.C.s Capitol building in all sorts of films. Take a deep dive into everything Haight-Ashbury and the Castro District have to offer. And our professional guides will help you find each of the most notable landmarks in the neighborhood. Looking upwards you will see how high these earthquake protected buildings are! North Beach: There is a lot of history in the North Beach district. Closed Christmas and Thanksgiving Day. London These houses called the Painted Ladies can be seen on San Francisco postcards. Lined with low historic buildings this leafy alley is very different from the deep canyons all around it. It's a day of gorgeous art and tasty treats. Subscribe to our newsletter below. Parking, however, may cause problems, but we found good solutions for that which I will share. Wine Tasting in Napa or Sonoma: If you love trying different wines, then a trip to either Napa or Sonoma is only an hour away. Lowest price guarantee Reserve now & pay laterFree cancellation. This is Grant Avenue, the Chinatowns main street. After youve seen enough of Pacific Heights, turn south to see a totally different neighborhood. Our app deals help you to save on trips so you can travel more and manage it all on the go. Chinatown is pretty close to Fishermans Wharf and North Beach, so you may want to consider taking multiple self-guided tours on the same day if youve got enough time and energy. Explore all that San Francisco has to offer, from the twists and turns of Lombard Street, through the bustling streets of Chinatown, and to the top of Telegraph Hill! The Action Tour Guide app functions as a guide, an audio tour, and a map all in one. Visit Tours-USA.com. The exclusive neighborhood on Pacific Heights. This is a walk through the past and future of San Francisco. We still want you to have a great time here, so weve prepared these free self-guided tours that you can do on your own. Optional Barbary Coast Trail. Changing travel date? The residential area of Pacific Heights is on the next hill in order and offers great views to the city and the bay area. In addition to accommodations, our packages include information on suggested optional itineraries with stops along the way. Don't worry about other people - With the app, you can pause the tour, and check out the locations as long as you want. The original hands-on paranormal investigation tour. The story tellers were entertaining and I looked forward to hearing them talk about the next sight. To make driving easier, the most curved section of Lombard Street was made a one-way street (only down), and there is a strict speed limit (5 mph, 8km/hour). Of course fog can obscure the views youre seeking from the drive. The place at the end of Pier 39 is just perfect for these water mammals, there is a lot of food in the water and the bay is sheltered from all winds and waves. DOWNTOWN SAN FRANCISCO TOUR. This picturesque, winding road has been another Hollywood staple for ages, but experiencing it for yourself is a whole different ball game. On especially foggy days you may not even be able to see key attractions like Alcatraz, the Golden Gate Bridge and the Transamerica Pyramid. What all nature lovers come here for is the Pier 39 with colonies of barking Californian sea lions. Explore the most photographed area of San Francisco, seen on the award-winning show Full House, the Painted Ladies are the iconic Victorian homes sitting on Alamo Square. We'll learn all about this building's strange history as we pass. San Francisco by car: driving itinerary on the map. The busy season falls around October through May, and entrance fees are $30 for a 7-day vehicle permit or $15 per person on foot. This website uses cookies to improve your browsingexperience and analyze the use of the website. Book now from $8! +1 646 4611355. Not all of the scenic drive is actually very scenic. My tours are one full day in each district. Go City | San Francisco All-Inclusive Pass. San Francisco is a technology hub without rival, and the upcoming Uber and Twitter headquarters prove it! We went to places tourist didnt go. Zion; Bryce; Capitol Reef; Arches . The onsite gallery hosts monthly exhibitions, as well as permanent work by current and past members. Our tour of SF brings us to one of the city's most active neighborhoods: Chinatown. Good news! This trail connects important historical sites throughout the streets of SF. Discover the hidden treasures of Central Park during this 2 hour guided tour. Haight-Ashbury was once the favorite hang-out spot of The Grateful Dead, the famous rock band from the 1970s. A self guided driving tour we did with our friends.. read more Andrew H 10/26/2019. I could start and stop the tour whenever I wanted to break and resume. Includes. Alamo Square Park, Steiner St, San Francisco, Tour of California Self-Guided Driving Bundle. My tour guide was very knowledgeable and friendly. If you have ever watched Full House, you will know what we are talking about. It is located about 20 miles (30 km) northeast of San Francisco , and approximately a half-hour drive (without traffic) from San Francisco. Self-Guided Tours View Floor Plans. Then well guide you all around, making sure you see everything this historic place has to offer! Next, we'll head up one of SF's famous hills: Theres a phenomenal view of the bay and of the city skyline once youre up there. See the top attractions such as Pier 39, Ghirardelli Square and the Hyde Street Pier. 7 Sites to Visit on a Driving Tour of San Francisco. It will let you visit a wide variety of tourist destinations in a short amount of time and without walking up a single hill! The streets here are so quiet and leafy that you couldnt imagine this is in a huge metropolis. He knew a ton of history which we loved and we were able to see a ton. 49 Miles of 100% San Francisco. My tours offer you a step-by-step route to make it easy to get around. Pick back up tomorrow when youre refreshed! Both days were fantastic and the natural beauty of the hilly metropolis surprised us. 29. This will finally bring us to the Embarcadero. It also has a map showing you where your next stop will be. Book a self-guided driving tour of San Francisco with route and audio instructions on your smartphone via an app. Book your San Francisco bay cruise service now and discover Alcatraz and the Golden Gate Bridge. Tour along Highway 1 by the towns of Santa Cruz and Capitola. We also cover this part of the city in a fully guided free walking tour of Downtown San Francisco. As we drive through the city, we'll learn all about San Francisco's realtionship with technology, Silicon Valley, and more. Limantour Beach to Olema. San Francisco sightseeing: driving down Lombard Street. from. Easy to tell that this is an exclusive neighborhood. Start this self-guided tour at the stunning Pantages Theater, before taking a stroll back through Hollywood history (via Amoeba Music Store) to some of the oldest studios in Los Angeles, where film-making began here. San Francisco City Self-Guided Driving Tour Through Golden Gate Bridge. Know about new tour launches, get exclusive access to sales and much more. There are a total of 19 stops to visit, and they are all in the same general location, so it shouldn't take longer than 1 - 2 hours to complete. Read reviews, compare customer ratings, see screenshots and learn more about San Francisco Audio Tour Guide. Enjoy Santa Barbara's quintessential downtown and then continue down to Ventura and Malibu. Visit the fascinating San Francisco Modern Museum of Art, including seven floors of galleries and exhibits, three dining options, two museum stores, and more! Required fields are marked *. Charleston The app was super easy to use, and the content was really fun! To start exploring the Victorian quarters, first drive around Lafayette Park that has rows of pretty Victorians on all four sides. North Beach: This district is also called Little Italy. The tour works offline which means you do not need your phone network to enjoy the tour. Learn how your comment data is processed. You only need to book one tour per vehicle, not per person. And even if you do have more time to spend in the city (or even if you live there) its worth it to take the drive at least once to see all that San Francisco is known for, discovering a few of the gems that people sometimes miss like Mission Dolores. If you are craving a burrito, be sure to visit La Taqueria or Papalote. From the Powell Street cable car end stop you can take the cable car and travel to the Chinatown, Nob Hill and all the way to the other side of the hill where the Fishermans Wharf is. The app knew exactly where I was each time. The cable car ascends, passing Union Square and Nob Hill . You can download a (free, printable) up-to-date version of the San Francisco 49 Mile Drive Map to follow the whole drive. From there, head east along Haight Street . Review of: Golden Gate Bridge Bike Rental - Near the Golden Gate Bridge! However, if you don't plan to spend much time at each attraction or stop, you can cut the time down significantly. 2022Outdoor Activities in San Francisco. Bring your walking shoes we started at 10 am and finished at 6 pm, I highly recommend you do this tour. Chicago Double Bottom Assembly, Kaiser Shipyards, Richmond CA [RORI 1039_b] . Want to go back in time to the 1920's and 30's and the Golden Age of Hollywood? This self-guided tour starts by first visiting the Rosie the Riveter Visitor Education Center in Richmond, CA. Recommended: Purchase one tour per vehicle. 5648 Ebbshore St, Sacramento, CA 95835. I found the one in the picture on the left in the North Beach neighborhood. Visit the lavish Castro Theater building while you are there, or stop for the most delicious chocolate chip cookie you will ever have at the Hot Cookie Bakery. While a lot of people are happy just to see this beautiful bridge or even cross the historic structure, there is a lot more to see in the area which we cover on our self-guided tour. With its famous golden doors, beautiful stained glass windows, and gorgeous icons, youll be amazed. 5 Travel to Point Reyes National Seashore. This post will show you aSan Francisco sightseeing itinerary by car. Not bad, both tourists and locals like this. Alternatively, you may also want to consider taking our free, fully guided Chinatown walking tour. How many people know what San Francisco is like? Add to cart. Summer of Love in Height Ashbury, San Francisco. Explore all that SF has to offer with this ultimate self-guided experience! Online information on parking in San Francisco, Another provider of parking information in San Francisco. The Mission District. Recommended by 97% of travelers. Next, travel through the famous 17-Mile Drive and see Pebble Beach Golf Course. And this little car can go where the tour buses can't. Best of all, the sightseeing adventure happens at your pace. Yet the Painted Ladies are not the only houses like that in the big city, there are Victorian houses all over San Francisco. Changing travel date? Powell-Hyde Line: Cable Car Museum and Russian Hill. As we make our way to the waterfront, we'll dive into San Francisco's maritime history and it's (literal) gold-digging past. Then youll swing by the City Hall, which you might feel like you recognize because you probably do! The back of each card offers the address and a little information about each point of interest on the route. Expedia, Inc. is not responsible for content on external Web sites. Since 2012. Self-Guided Driving & Walking ToursAn audio guide, map, and tour book all in one! At that time the business people were miners that came here to weigh their gold and get a quote on it. Its super easy, yet its best to visit on a Saturday or Sunday when there is less traffic. Finally something like 100 000 hippies from all over the States and abroad gathered in Haight and the nearby parks of Panhandle and Golden Gate. San Francisco: D Some of the key attractions on the drive that can easily be enjoyed without getting out of the car include: Here are some of the attractions that the 49-Mile scenic drive will take you past but which may be worth getting out of the car and exploring in more depth: The 49-Mile scenic drive is a great experience and a terrific way to see a lot of what the city has to offer. San Francisco itself has much to offer the first-time visitor. All of these self-guided tours are designed to be easy to do using the San Francisco Metroor BART (for more information on navigating this sometimes confusing city read our articleHow to Use Transit in San Francisco). On weekdays the Financial District is hectic but on weekends theres simply nobody. Our guide Damien was so very knowledgeable about the area and history of SF. Hit the road whenever youre ready, stop as often as youd like, and just enjoy the journey! Pacific Heights surprised us: all streets are lined with old-style Victorian homes. We also offer a free walking tour of the Golden Gate Bridge which is fully guided, ensuring you wont get lost as you walk around the attraction. Our next San Francisco sight: the hippie suburb Haight Ashbury. I've used these in other cities too and they are great. The San Francisco Museum and Historical Society offers two self guided walks of the Barbary Coast Trail in San Francisco. Starting Point Address (Northbound) - LA to SF: 81-99 Colorado Ave, Santa Monica, CA 90401. Or, if you are in the mood for ice cream, the Bi-Rite Creamery salted caramelice cream is worth waiting in line for. San Francisco has water on three sides so you can imagine how useful the bridges were and still are. A self guided driving tour we did with our friends.. read more. Alternatively, we also offer a fully guided free walking tour of Fishermans Wharf. The point of a scenic drive is that you get to see a lot of things from the comfortable seat of your car. This website does not sell any personal information. Chinatown: This is one of the most visited neighborhoods in SF, since there is so much to see and do. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. There are apps and websites with up to date information on parking spaces and rates. The heyday of the Haight was the 1967 Summer of Love when thousands or young California dreamers flocked to the place and filled all quarters. Join us! We have put together a list of 7 must-see sites for San Francisco visitors. What follows is 1 of 17 walks from their book, "Walking San Francisco's 49 Mile Scenic Drive", edited and condensed for our website. The curves enable driving down but the turns are too sharp for any longer cars and buses. All rights reserved. Let California Tours take care of all of your accommodations on a self-guided driving road trip vacation. The self guided treks are 3.8 miles long and take you through several SF neighborhoods including Union Square, Chinatown, North Beach and Fisherman's Wharf. As the name suggests, the tour uses GPS to provide directions to each stop. For those who like to sit and relax, packages can be customized to include private city tours or even private road . Hop in your car and enjoy this self-guided audio tour along the Pacific Coast Highway. Our San Francisco self drive tour offers you complete flexibility and convenience. At the other end of Market Street is the old Ferry Building. Paris This comprehensive self-guided driving tour of San Francisco covers everything from the Painted Ladies to the Embarcadero. All individual tours come with lifetime validity. 17-Mile Drive entrance fee. San Francisco Aquarium of the Bay tickets. Perfect for photographers, the bridge offers stunning views of the city, even if the evening fog has already rolled in. All tours are valid for a lifetime. Starting Point Address (Southbound) - SF to LA: PG6H+8F Lakeshore, San Francisco, CA, USA. Spend more time at Twin Peaks, visit the Coit Tower, and take time to explore all the hilly, historical neighborhoods of SF. There is a parking garage on Lombard Street if you're driving in, 2 mins from the shop. The tour departs from Fisherman's Wharf, following the San Francisco waterfront until the entrance to the Golden Gate Bridge bike's path. By the way, the carousel below has two levels: Pier 39 is always packed with people and unlike elsewhere in the city, has a good choice of restaurants where to have lunch. The person I travel with is my husband and photographer Clas: Come and join the trip! Castro: This colorful district is one you do not want to miss. That is why these two adjoining neighborhoods are another must-see for your driving tour. Learn the history of this great city as you follow a navigated route in the app and listen to commentary. Read more. From Chinatown we took California Street up to Nob Hill. By 17 Mile Day Trips. GPS-activated audio app that plays on your phone.