Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
183
Alamo Square
From this vantage point you will see the famous restored Victorian
residences of “Postcard Row,” with the do wntown skyline as a stunning backdr op. The
most common house type in many S an Francisco neighborhoods, Victorian homes dat-
ing from the late 1800s and early 1900s meshed a v ariety of styles but had in common
wooden frames and decorativ e facades. The most elaborate and color ful of these earned
the nickname “P ainted Ladies.” Since your kids will see these houses in calendars and
postcards as long as they liv e, you may want to show them the real thing. Just note that
Alamo Square Park is popular with dog owners, some of whom do not leash their canine
companions.
Btw. Steiner, Scott, Hayes, and Fulton sts. Muni: no. 21-Hayes bus from Market St. drops passengers off at
the crest of the park.
Beach Chalet Restaur ant
The wav es along O cean B each, at the end of G olden
Gate Park on the G reat Highway, are at times soothing and at times violent enough to
discourage beachcombing. In either case, y ou'll be as comfy as a babe in his crib if y ou
get a table upstairs in the Beach Chalet restaurant, which overlooks the Pacific across the
Great H ighway. The building was designed b y Willis Polk, and the first-floor visitor
center is adorned b y murals painted in the 1930s b y the same ar tist who painted the
frescoes at Coit Tower. The food is decent, but the beer is better, so you could make this
a rest stop after visiting the zoo or Golden Gate Park. (Another option is having a drink
here before heading downstairs for a meal at the Park Chalet, which has the same owners
but serves better fare.) The waves crashing along the coast ar e mesmerizing any time of
day, but come at sunset if y ou can.
1000 Great Hwy. (btw. Lincoln Way and Fulton St.).
&
415/386-8439.
www.beachchalet.com. Sun-Thurs
9am-10pm; Fri-Sat 9am-11pm. Muni: No. 18-46th Ave. bus, N-Judah streetcar to the end; walk 3 blocks
north toward the park.
6
Cliff House
This historic building on a bluff overlooking the Pacific Ocean reopened
in late 2004 after a $19-million restoration. Views are awe-inspiring. See the Cliff House
Bistro write-up on p. 149 for a full r eview.
1090 Point Lobos (Geary St., west of 48th Ave.).
&
415/386-3330.
Daily 9am-9pm. Muni: No. 38-Geary
bus to 48th Ave., then walk 1 block or transfer to 18 bus.
Coit Tower
Visible from almost any spot on the Embarcadero, this 210-foot land-
mark was er ected in 1933 thr ough the gener osity of local character Lillie H itchcock
Coit—who bequeathed $125,000 to er ect a monument that would add beauty to the
city. In addition to the panoramic vista at the top of the tower, the inside also contains a
collection of impr essive murals. Commissioned in the N ew Deal era, their pr o-worker
stance caused quite a stir at the time. R eflecting the style of D iego Rivera, under whom
many of the ar tists had studied, the murals ' two-dimensional and car toonlike qualities
may be appealing to your kids. If not, move quickly to the elevator for a ride to the top,
which will be sure to spark their interest.
Atop Telegraph Hill.
&
415/362-0808.
Free viewing of murals; ride $5 adults, $3 seniors, $1.50 children
5-11, under 5 free. Daily 10am-6:30pm. Muni: No. 39-Coit bus from Washington Sq. Park in North Beach,
or walk from Lombard St. where it meets Telegraph Hill Blvd. (2 blocks east of Stockton St.).
de Young Museum Tower
From here you'll get one of the best fr ee views in town.
This 144-foot-tall to wer is open to all visitors, ev en if they hav en't paid to enter the
museum. You'll see fabulous vie ws of nor thwestern San Francisco, from where you can
see Golden Gate Park, the impressively tall Presidio, Lincoln Park, even the Pacific Ocean
