Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
7
Neighborhood Strolls
San F rancisco is one of the f ew
U.S. cities w est of the M ississippi that
came to fr uition before the adv ent of the
automobile. That pr e-car dev elopment
meant that neighborhoods gr ew up being
pedestrian-friendly. M oreover, the city 's
quirky geography—at the tip of a penin-
sula with water on thr ee sides—has pr e-
vented the sprawl seen else where. S an
Francisco is in fact the second most densely
populated city in the countr y.
What this implies for y ou and y ours is
that San Francisco is a wonder ful place to
take in the fr esh sea air and sav or the
neighborhoods on foot. A leisur ely str oll
in most any quar ter is sur e to be full
of visual tr eats, fr om tr endy boutique
windows to bustling side walk cafes, fr om
painted balconies in Chinato wn to unex-
pected gardens hidden behind century-old
Victorian homes, fr om enchanting vie ws
of white sailboats dotting the bay to
bright, bold murals in the M
ission D is-
trict.
The hills can be a challenge, of course,
but the reward is often another jaw-dr op-
ping city vista. A mor e difficult task may
be encouraging y our kids to hoof it with
you. Strollers will help, except on the stair-
cases of R ussian Hill and Telegraph Hill.
Fortunately, I've noted playgrounds, coffee
shops, and restaurants where you can take
frequent rest stops. Just take your time and
have fun!
WALKING TOUR 1
CHINATOWN
Start: D
ragon Gate.
Finish: P
ortsmouth Square.
Time:
Two hours with shopping breaks; 3 hours with lunch.
Best Time:
Weekday mornings.
Worst Time:
Saturday when everyone is out.
There's much fun stuff to see here: from colorful, knickknack shops for tourists to exotic
grocers frequented by Chinatown locals. A cookie factor y, a temple, and historic ar chi-
tecture along the way add to the enjo yment.
Start your tour at the intersection of Bush Street and
Grant Avenue, at:
1
The Dragon's Gate
Chinatown's best-known entryway mirrors
traditional gateway arches found in many
Chinese villages. The stone lions on either
side of the gate ar e meant to pr otect
against evil spirits. The dragons and fish
on the gr een-tiled pagoda atop the gate
signify prosperity. It's tough to take a bad
photo here.
Walk north up:
2
Grant Avenue
This bustling str eet—festooned with col-
orful flags thr oughout the y ear—is lined
with je welry stor es and tourist shops,
whose overflowing array of eclectic war es
will mesmerize your children. To keep the
kids mo ving along, let them kno
w that
many more such shops lie ahead.
