San Francisco Tours: which one should I pick?

In recent years the number of San Francisco tour options has increased exponentially. Some are definetly better than others. My following comments are personal reflections, largely based on the feedback of our guests, my own experience and what I hear in Alamo Square or from our property on "Postcard Row".

1. Mr Toad's Wild Ride. I love this company. What a lovely way to see the city. The vehicles are restored antique touring cars. They are all pre-1930 vehicles, covered, but open on the sides so you can really see alot. Because they are small the interaction with the driver is more immediate. The drivers actually know their stuff which is not always the case with many of the larger companies. http://www.mrtoadstours.com/ 415-205-3303 Tours depart from the corner of Mason and Jefferson Streets at the Wharf.

2. Segway Tours. Though these can be a bit annoying for cars, they look like lots of fun. They are not cheap as most tours are $70 per person. The gyroscope keeps you in balance and believe it or not, keeps you from falling over. You get a helmet just for good measure. Tours leave from 757 Beach Street near Hyde. The company offers a variety of Segway tours as well as electric bikes for a Golden Gate Bridge experience. http://www.electrictourcompany.com/ 415-474-3130

3. Hop on Hop Off. Someone was using their head when they thought this one up. These double-decker buses simply drive all over the city. You can stay on the whole way or get on and off where you like. Stay as long as you like at each stop as there are many buses and they pass quite frequently. There are many companies that have purchased these double-decker English-style buses. The red ones are the best! http://www.sightseeingworld.com/ 1-866-431-1634, or 925-434-9000

4. Duck Tours. Ride around San Francisco in (what looks like), a boat on wheels. The end of the tour actually concludes with a ride in the bay (in the same vehicle). Amphibious fun! Departs from Geary Street opposite Macy's in Union Square or at the Wharf at Taylor and Jefferson Streets. 415-596-9929 http://www.sanfrancisco.ridetheducks.com/ Savings when you book online.

5. Go Carts. These 2 seater vehicles look like fun, through GPS and a pre-recorded message you can drive the city at your own pace. I know nothing of their safety record but they just don't seem safe to me. As a driver of a regular car I have seen many of them out in traffic in some questionable situations. That aside- looks like a fun ride. Tours avaliable in 5 languages. 2715 Hyde, 431 Beach, and 321 Mason are the three locations. http://www.gocartours.com/ 1-800-914-6227 or 415-441-5695

6. Cable Cars (the real ones). Though often as busy as a ride at Disneyland these are authentic San Francisco. If you are lucky enough to get one of the good operators- you will have a once in a lifetime experience... 1870's San Francisco in the 21st Century! Tips- The California Street line is almost never busy. Ride the Powell/Mason, Powell/Hyde lines early in the morning or later in the evening. They run until 12;30 AM.

7. Cable Car buses. Essentially these are buses with a Cable Car-like body built on top. They are nice because they are open air and one can see more. There are several different large bus companies that operate these cable car -like buses. Like with some of the large buses it has been my experience that many of the guides are not as informed as they should be. It really comes down to the individual drivers. Google: San Francisco Cable Car Bus Tours and take your pick.

8. Rent a bike. I like Blazing Saddles at 1095 Columbus, 2715 Hyde, 433 Mason, and Pier 41. The hills and traffic in many parts of the city are a bit dangerous and can be daunting. If you don't know your way around head out to Fort Mason, Marina Greens, Chrissy Field, Golden Gate Bridge and Sausalito. Take the boat back to the Wharf for a leisurely boat ride home. There are also bikes for rent at the boathouse at Stowe Lake in Golden Gate Park. Sundays, much of the Park is closed to cars. 415-202-8888 http://www.blazingsaddles.com/ or
Stow lake Boathouse 415-7520347

9. The F Streetcar Line. Restored streetcars from all over the world take you from the Wharf, up Market Street to the Castro and everywhere in between. The Milan Italy Streetcars are my favorites.

10. Fire Engine Tours. Just lots of fun. The guides know their stuff. The fire engine is lovely and the whole experience is whimsical. Tours leave from the Beach Street side of the Cannery.
415-333-7725 http://www.fireenginetours.com/

11. Horse Carriage Tours of Fisherman's Wharf and North Beach. I took one of these rides early one New Year's Day morning. What a grand way to start the New Year. Peaceful and at a pleasant pace. I can't imagine it would be as nice later in the day with all the wharf hub-bub. Horses line up on Jefferson not far from Powell.

12. Rickshaw/Pedicab Tours of Fisherman's Wharf and the Waterfront. Departs from Pier 33 (Alcatraz Tour Boats). This company touts it's environmental and eco-green contribution to San Francisco's tourism. Right on!

13. Blue and Gold or Red and White Bay Tours. Urban lore says that these two rival companies were launched by a UC Cal grad and a Stanford Grad. The Blue and Gold (Cal) has ferry service to Sausalito, Tiburon and Angel Island as well as Bay Tours. 415-705-8200 departs from Pier 39. The Red and White (Stanford) departs from pier 43 1/2. It is the older of the two companies, founded in 1892. 415-447-0619 http://www.redandwhite.com/

14. Rent RollerSkates and create your own tour of Golden Gate Park. Golden Gate Park Bike and Skate. 415-668-1117 The oldest skate rental company by the park- 3038 Fulton Street.

15. For Guests at Golden Bear... our personalized "Native's Tours". Perhaps the most customized tour in San Francisco! Let us "toot our own horn" for a moment. At Golden Bear we tailor our tours to exactly what our guest want to see. We take no more than 4 guests. Our guide has published many SF restaurant reviews for magazines and has published a book on San Francisco. He is a native, has a master's in history and is well versed on a variety of San Francisco topics. Depending on the interest of our guests, tours vary from the usual tourist spots, to film locations, churches, cemetaries, celebrity homes, architectural landmarks, historical spots, to off the beaten path sites (Buddhist temple, a fortune cookie factory, Filbert Steps) etc. On occasion we have even arranged tours of private mansions and Victorians (including "Postcard Row Painted Ladies"! Price, time and type of tour, by arrangement.

16. Our experience has been that one best avoid the large bus company tours. Grayline seems to be the worst - especially given the feedback from our guests. Too big, too hard to hear, too much waiting for everyone. Frequently, when sitting at our home on "Postcard Row" we hear the same Grayline drivers on their bus loudspeakers screaming at the houses for characters from the TV show, "Full House", to come out. Yes, it is annoying to all who live on the park but their facts are simply wrong. The house used in "Full House" as the actual Tanner home, is across town on Broderick Street. When standing in the park I often join the tour groups that spill out of these busses. The facts they are given about "the row", Victorians and the area's history are usually pretty inaccurate. Given all the other options above, why settle for a 3rd rate tour?

Posted by George

http://www.sfgoldenbear.net/

This Native San Franciscan's 7 favorite places to picnic.

First start by getting amazing things to pack in your basket. I suggest going to Molinari's on Columbus in North Beach. While in the neighborhood pick up some fresh foccacia bread at Liguria Bakery (Stockton and Filbert). This should get you started!

1. Sutro Park- the bluffs above the Cliffhouse has some of the most extraordinary ocean views in town. Bring warm clothes just in case.

2. The waterfall at Stowe Lake or next to the rough stone bridge a few yards away. It is so peaceful here. The lake is filled with a variety of wild birds and hundreds of turtles.
For years we have enjoyed picnics floating around the lake in a rented row boat.

3. The Portals of the Past in Golden Gate Park. The doorway to the former Towne mansion is the city's sole monument to those who survived the 1906 earthquake and fire. It sits on the far shore of the lake like a temple. A melancholly, yet lovely, reminder of old San Francisco.

4. Washington Square Park in North Beach. The park is full of views, activity and life. Not as serene as the above settings- but you will certainly know you are in the heart of San Francisco. Just blocks from Golden Bear!

5. Fort Mason- the bluffs above the bay have sheltering trees and expansive lawns. The view out the Golden Gate is breathtaking.

6. Any sunny place you can find on the path between Land's end (near the Cliff House) and the Legion of Honor at Lincoln Park. As has been mentioned in an earlier blog- this part of San Francisco is little known- even to natives. It is breathtaking. Find a sunny sheltered spot and pretend you are in Carmel/Point Lobos.

7. The east side of Alamo Square. The east side of the park is far more protected from wind then the west. It also enjoys the view of the famous "Painted Ladies of Postcard Row" (aka: 7 Sisters).
This view is iconic San Francisco, with the park, the old city in the foreground and the towering skyscrapers of the new city as a backdrop. Pick out the spot where the cast of the long-running TV series, "Full House" had it's opening credits picnic. Guests at Golden Bear often cap off their picnic with a glass of wine with their hosts inside one of these famous homes.

Posted by George

http://www.sfgoldenbear.net/