Photo by Steve Rish

– Doug McConnell

Many visitors come to San Francisco to see its famous landmarks and tourist attractions, such as the Golden Gate Bridge, Alcatraz, the cable cars and Fisherman’s Wharf, and that makes good sense. Add to them the City’s revitalized waterfront, the Presidio, Land’s End, Ocean Beach, Golden Gate Park, the Market Street Railway and the be-domed beauty of City Hall for starters, and there’s a lot to see in San Francisco.

But what often gets overlooked by those who visit or even live here is what I think most distinguishes San Francisco, its diverse neighborhoods. Check out the Haight, the Castro, and Chinatown, for example, and then go to one of our newest stories and spend some time in the cultural crossroads of the Mission District. San Francisco is a fascinating mosaic of neighborhoods perched on hills and nestled in valleys, each with its own history and character. San Francisco is really many cities in one, and deserves and warrants all the visits you can make.

– Carl Bidleman

Photo by Rick Audet

I’m surprised how often I need to be reminded to get out of my car and walk. Every time I do it’s a revelation. The world passes by much more slowly and you can actually SEE it when you walk. What a concept! San Francisco is an especially interesting city to see on foot. The architecture, landscaping and people are so varied and fascinating. And there’s so much more to see when you look UP. Bay windows, second floor temples, rooftop gardens…things you’ll never see through your car window. What reminded me of the benefits of seeing the world on foot is a video we posted this morning about three guided walking tours of San Francisco. Greg Pabst, a University of San Francisco professor and tour guide, tells Doug about San Francisco City Guides’ tours of downtown, the Golden Gate Bridge and Chinatown. Take a few minutes to watch the 3 San Francisco Guided Walking Tours video then make time to walk them yourself.