Pacific Coast - Baja Bound: Making the Rounds

City View from Twin Peaks

Stairway in Pacific Heights

After our visit to the de Young Museum, Randy and Seb drove us through many of the notable districts of San Francisco, including Haight Ashbury, noted for its role as a center of the 1960’s hippie movement. On our way to Twin Peaks for a view of the City, we drove through the Castro District, the largest gay community in the United States and saw two naked men running along the sidewalk - no, I didn’t get any photos of that! The day turned out to be a little cloudy but we still had wonderful views from the top of Twin Peaks, a marvelous place to view the entire City, it really helped us understand the layout of San Francisco. To stretch our legs, we climbed a stairway located in Pacific Heights, the district of the rich and famous. Our tour guides pointed out many notable homes, including the house used in the movie, “Mrs. Doubtfire.” Next stop, “the Painted Ladies” at Alamo Square Neighborhood & Park. The term “painted ladies” is used to denote the colorful Victorian and Edwardian houses of which approximately 48,000 were built in San Francisco between 1849 and 1915. Unfortunately, many of the mansions on Nob Hill were destroyed by the 1906 San Francisco Earthquake, but more modest houses survived in the western and southern neighborhoods of the City. Another great spot for a view of the City is from Coit Tower. We parked the car below Telegraph Hill and hiked a set of steep stairs to the top of the hill to see this 1933 art deco tower. The Tower was constructed with money left by Lillie Hitchcock Coit, a wealthy socialite and colorful character of her time. The interior walls of the Tower are adorned with beautiful murals from 27 different artists of the 1930’s. Other sights of interest included the Convention Center, famous hotels, notable commercial buildings, and hidden city parks.