Review #1,000. A…read morereview about Nob Hill and a specific personal memory of this place. Today is my friend KW's birthday. Or at least that's what I was told by her many year's ago. But then when she passed away a few years ago, I read a different birthday date posted on her obituary. So maybe I messed up and always celebrated her birthday one month sooner than her actual birthday, but she never corrected me. She's that kind of person. A kind person, a truly wonderful person, someone who just kind of goes with the flow. KW lived in Nob Hill. She was my dad's (an artist) student when I met her. I admired her as a child because she did things her way even though nothing was easy as I learned as an adult. Her life was somewhat glamorous, but not without difficulties that we all have to go through in this life and although I won't go into too much details, I will always remember her being beautiful and had a harp and cats in her apartment. She lived just a few steps down the hill from the Ritz. I remember her kindness, her appreciation for life which was contagious, her love of cats, especially black cats, and her love of people. She helped a homeless/unhoused person found housing/shelter. She loved this vibrant neighborhood. Nob Hill is famous for many fine hotels, the Grace Cathedral, and tons of history in the many buildings that surrounds it. But in these hills, there are many stories, some known and many untold. Time moves on, continuous, every day with new people and experiences. Many of these stories/experiences --forgotten. Thus why I want to write these thoughts down. Whether you are local or a visitor, Nob Hill has lots to offer. If you want fancy hotels or hole in the wall restaurants, this place has them. Probably most visited as it's nearby to downtown, Chinatown, Fishermans' Wharf, North Beach and Pacific Heights. I hope you enjoy the history of this place, the diversity of food offerings, and the cable car rides, ding ding as each one slides up and down these storied hills.

Oh the history, architecture and beauty of Nob Hill. It is enhanced by reading Adah Bakalinsky's…read morebook "Stairway Walks in San Francisco". The author is quite thorough with the history of neighborhoods in SF. We use her book to explore different neighborhoods every month. Each walk offers fascinating information. Nob Hill was no exception. One must walk the area to truly observe the beauty. Grace Cathedral is a special place to see and the Fairmont during the holidays is always incredibly festive.

Beautiful well-maintained trail with views of the bay and Golden Gate Bridge. We usually park at…read moreBlackie's Pasture & walk from there, but today we were coming from the Belvedere Tiburon library so decided to park on San Rafael Ave & take a quick scenic stroll. We liked looking at the waterfront homes along San Rafael Ave and then the more familiar main path with other pedestrians walking their dogs & families riding their bikes. Lovely way to get fresh air and exercise!

Tiburon and Belvedere are such exclusive, only-in-Marin bedroom communities, they just don't seem…read moreall that welcoming to the other 98% of us. We're all shuffled off to Angel Island or Sam's Anchor Cafe to congregate away from the downward eye-line of the wealthy locals. The one exception is this 2.6-mile trail which really isn't a trail. It's more like a paved promenade that won't make you break out in a sweat unless it's a hot summer day where you're fully exposed. It starts at Blackie's Pasture where surprisingly, there's free parking. The walkway winds along the picturesque shoreline of Richardson Bay to downtown Tiburon offering gorgeous views throughout. Nothing to complain about except the occasional spatially indifferent cyclist who thinks that grazing innocent pedestrians is sport. There's a worthwhile detour onto San Rafael Avenue that will get you up close and impersonal with Belvedere's exclusive waterfront real estate. The walk back to your car is just as good as the walk to Tiburon. Just don't let all the surrounding privilege get you down. RELATED - Up for a hike? Here's a collection of trails I've walked and reviewed: https://bit.ly/2OrC8nU

Brannan Street Wharf Park has long been part of my routine. Back when I was more disciplined about…read morejogging, my route often took me right past it. Even now, it stands out as one of those smaller neighborhood parks that quietly does its job well. It's not a large space, but it's consistently active. In the afternoons, you'll usually find dog owners, nearby office workers on a break, and people just looking for a place to sit and enjoy the waterfront. It feels well used and appreciated by the South Beach community. There's also an interesting backstory here. This area was once part of San Francisco's working waterfront, with older maritime structures like Pier 36 occupying the space. Over time, as those structures aged and were no longer in use, the area was redeveloped as part of a broader effort to improve public access along the Embarcadero. Today, the park offers a grassy lawn, picnic spots, a waterfront promenade, and unique tidal columns that reflect changing bay water levels. It's a great place to pause, people-watch, walk your dog, or take in views of the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge. A nice reminder that even smaller parks can add a lot to a neighborhood.

Sittin' in the mornin' sun, I'll be sittin' when the evenin'…read morecome Watchin' the ships roll in, And then I watch 'em roll away again, yeah... I'm sittin' on the dock of the bay Watchin' the tide roll away Ooo, I'm just sittin' on the dock of the bay Wastin' time... With so much effort placed on renovating the Embarcadero north of the Bay Bridge (including the installation of the Bay Lights), it seems to be taking forever and a day to see similar improvements along the waterfront to AT&T Park. Fraught with controversy over the America's Cup and the pending construction of the Warriors stadium, the area has finally seen one unmitigated improvement in the opening of the new Brannan Street Wharf. At first glance, it doesn't appear to have much to it. No shops. No clam chowder in sourdough. No Bushman. Just a long lawn along with an open walkway dotted with picnic tables and benches. A group of benches are lined up under a shade structure (photo: http://bit.ly/15CuXcR). I left my home in Georgia, Headed for the 'Frisco bay 'Cause I've had nothing to live for, And look like nothin's gonna come my way. So I'm just gonna sit on the dock of the bay Watchin' the tide roll away Ooo, I'm sittin' on the dock of the bay Wastin' time... The most arresting feature is the trio of red elevated tidal columns with bumblebee colors that visually depict the ebb and flow of tides in order to gage the fluctuating water levels in the bay (photo: http://bit.ly/17s4IGD). The tops of the columns bob up and down according to the tides. There's a series of panels depicting the history of the waterfront (photo: http://bit.ly/19hcgPW), and you get quite a nice view of the Bay Bridge, at least for now before the stadium will likely block it out (photo: http://bit.ly/17MCsEP). But I m happy to read that metal skateboard-deterrent strips are installed. Bayside Market, Delancey Street Restaurant, and South Beach Cafe are all just across the Embarcadero, so you definitely have al fresco dining options available. Look like nothing's gonna change. Everything still remains the same. I can't do what ten people tell me to do, So I guess I'll remain the same, yes... Sittin' here resting my bones And this loneliness won't leave me alone It's two thousand miles I roamed Just to make this dock my home Now, I'm just gonna sit at the dock of the bay Watching the tide roll away Oooo-wee, sittin' on the dock of the bay Wastin' time...

I wouldn't say that the Bay Bridge Pedestrian path is as scenic or as exciting as the Golden Gate…read moreBridge, but it does offer a nice view of the surrounding bay. I recently walked the bridge with my hiking group a month or so ago on a rainy Saturday morning around 8:30. We all met at IKEA and most of us parked there since the store wasn't open yet. The path begins across the street from Ikea and takes you near a rural area next to the bridge. It takes about a mile and a half to actually make your way onto the bridge path. The bridge path extends about 3.5 miles until its' end at the beginning of Treasure Island. There, you will find a few benches and a beautiful view of the structure of the bridge as well as the beautiful bay. It's about a total of 10 miles there and back round trip. The actual walk up is fairly easy with a slight gradual incline. It's a nice walk or run for pretty much anyone to enjoy. Many people frequent this path and it was pretty busy even at 8:30 in the morning when we all decided to go. You should definitely dress in layers and bring a coat because it gets cold! The high winds are super strong and at times you may sway in one direction. Since it was a rainy day when my group and I went, it was probably even windier than usual. The path is currently only open on the weekends and only extends to Treasure Island. I think it will be nice once they finally make it available to walk during the week too. I hope that they will be extending the path to San Francisco in the near future. When we got back to Ikea, some of us received a nasty letter on our windshield because we parked in Ikea's parking lot. I'm not sure if there's an actual parking lot associated with this path, but I wouldn't recommend parking at Ikea. In closing, the Bay Bridge Path is a decent place for a nice brisk walk and a great view of the San Francisco Bay!

Been wanting to do this ride for a number of years and finally made time for it! Although the…read moreweather started off cloudy it was still a picturesque view of the Bay. I started my ride at the Albany beach and was able to find descent parking. The trail begins here in all reality vs Emeryville across from IKEA. There is quite a bit of construction in Albany/Berkeley area which causes a few cones off detours but doesn't really take you off the trail much. Nice smooth ride with not too much interaction with cars until you get to Emeryville and Treasure Island. Best to do on a sunny day for the benefit of the views and it is a bit windy so dress appropriately. If you go down to TI there is a major hill to go down on the street to get there so this may not be everyone's cup of tea because you also have to climb that big hill to get back across the bridge ( food for thought)! Not much on TI to see besides the views, a museum, 1 or 2 food spots ( didn't eat there just explored the island) and some residential areas. Great ride overall for the location to get too. About 25 miles from Albany to TI round trip in case you're wondering.

There are not many non-tourist places left in the city with access to the S.F. bay waters and with…read morefree parking a hop and a skip away. Granted you have to like looking at old pier pilings and ship yards. It is very industrial. There are picnic benches and a fishing pier which makes a nice alternative to staying cooped up in an office all day. I wonder how much longer we San Franciscans will have this park with all of the condos and office spaces being built in Mission Bay. Catch it while you can.

I walk by here everyday with my dog…read more.... If you want to score some crack, get your dog's feet cut up with broken glass, and see some used needles on the ground.....then yes, by all means, visit. But otherwise, wait until all the construction is finished and then come on over....it WILL be a lovely place but not until then. If you do come here, just be careful if you are by yourself after dark. There are some sketchy people around here at night hanging around in their cars. It does have a nice view of the bay, but unfortunately, at this time I would recommend getting this awesome view at The Ramp.

The narrow park around two sides of the canal is located in the Mission Bay Area. It's peaceful and…read morechill during the day, convenient to walk around, although there's homeless people hanging out.

I hope my pictures show how much we appreciate the beauty of the park and channel, despite the…read moreuntrained, unleashed, doodles and retrievers lol those are ironically the only breed/ mixes who lunge, chase, and bark at us. The parks are gorgeous; the landscaping crew does an amazing job, and there have been less off leash dogs accosting us recently.

Market Street will always hold a special place in my heart; I remember walking here when about 30…read moreyears ago. It's definitely changed a lot in the past handful of years. I hope the City can figure out how to revive the area, bring safety back, and to reduce the issues with the unhoused. In the daytime, it's pretty much a ghost town. It never used to be that way. In the evenings, it's also fairly quiet, but there are more unhoused visible. Many shops and restaurants have closed; those that are still open, I wonder how they're surviving? When Westfield was Westfield, the shopping center used to bring foot traffic to that area of the street. I really hope that San Francisco can sort out its problems. While I still love the city, it's sad to see how it's declined. 2024: 94/100

Market Street is one of the main drags in San Francisco. Since the late 1990s, my experiences with…read moreand memories of this street primarily involve the stretch from 5th Street and the Powell Street BART station to the northeast ending at the Embarcadero and the Ferry Building. This stretch includes Union Square, the Financial District, and SoMa (South of Market). Unlike parts south, this stretch of Market feels relatively safe thanks in large part to lots of tourists, local office workers, and nicer, higher-end hotels, restaurants, and retail. 5th to the Embarcadero is a walkable stretch with lots to see and do in the aforementioned neighborhoods. That said, as a longtime regular visitor to San Francisco over the past two decades plus, I've noticed Market Street and the city as a whole aren't what they used to be. During our recent visit, walking up and down Market Street to get from our hotel to various places, I couldn't help but notice several vacant storefronts. Lots of retail for lease. Some parts looked like a ghost town. Market Street just had a different vibe and energy to it. It's not as "alive" as it used to be. And it appeared there were more homeless people too (or they're just more visible now). I noticed within the past year that Westfield had dropped the San Francisco Centre shopping mall from its portfolio: https://www.yelp.com/biz/westfield-san-francisco-centre-san-francisco-3 Here's a San Francisco Chronicle article about it from October 2023: https://www.sfchronicle.com/sf/article/s-f-westfield-mall-new-management-18417748.php Sad. The stretch of Market from the Castro to the Embarcadero is straight and tree-lined. You can see the Ferry Building's 245-foot clock tower from a distance. It's a nice view and one of my favorite things about walking on this street. Most of the stretches of Market south of the Tenderloin, such as around the Civic Center / UN Plaza BART station, X (formerly Twitter) headquarters, and southwest down into the Castro and beyond, I've experienced mainly from cars. When you get into this part of Market, the elevation increases and there are some scenic city views. At its southwest end, Market Street turns into Portola Drive. This happens in the Twin Peaks area. There are great views of the city from Twin Peaks at a place called Christmas Tree Point. You can drive and park there. You can also park and walk to nearby Noe Peak. From these vistas, you can see Market Street run all the way up to the Bay. It's neat and I recommend it.

I've been here before most of y'all were born. Oh, the things I've seen! Guess I like bad boys…read morecause I'm hopelessly in love with the Lower Haight. Well, the crack dealers have moved on, replaced by million dollar condos, & fancy pants establishments. Haight & Divisadero streets are alive with destination worthy restaurants, cafes, shops, bars, and great people watching. Nothing but locally owned businesses here, except for the beloved CVS. Bless its heart surviving corporate closures & unrelenting shoplifting. Now the goods are under lock & key. Anyway, I'm not leaving my blue bubble.

People from cleaner and ritzier 'hoods gasp when I say I live in the Lower Haight. "Is it safe?"…read morethey inquire. I just laugh with a sinister grin and say "I like it." As Brian M. said we've got a diverse selection of eats (mostly cheap) and drinks. Not only that but we're close to two lovely parks, home to many churches, not to mention two excellent cafes- Bean There and Cafe du Soleil. Public transportation couldn't be easier here, either. Is the LH for everyone? No. And thank god almighty for that. It has, however, proven an unexpectedly lovely place for me to be.