A way to have fun and get a workout! The best part...the Esmeralda slides at the top. I wish the…read moreslides would go all the way down... now that would be a blast.

I usually always take the Esmerelda stairs whenever I go hiking at Bernal Heights Park since the…read moretrails there aren't that long or rigorous. These stairs have 162 steps spread out among 3 different legs. The first leg starts at Coleridge Street and the last leg takes you into Bernal Heights Park. There are actually a lot of staircases in this neighborhood but this one stands out because it has a really cool long slide.

Francisco Steps has 85 steps that go from the Fisherman's Wharf area to Francisco Street. This is…read moremore of a neighborhood thoroughfare yet if someone is doing something at Pier 39 and walking to North Beach it could be a little excursion. Caffe Capriccio and Café Francisco are a few blocks away. For a mile walk of Telegraph Hill you could also incorporate the nearby Greenwich, Filbert, and Vallejo Street steps.

As much as I hate exercise, dear husband got excited when he saw this was 'a thing.' It's out of…read morethe way so you have to purposely be looking for the entrance at the top. Really worth seeing the old houses when walking to the entrance. The stairs are wooden, but have guardrails and taped edged for safety, and every though it was winter-the views and foliage were gorgeous! Just a few hundred yards across the street and you're down at the wharf at the Embarcadero end. 100% worth the fun little jaunt to do them.

I love walking in the Presidio with the children I work with. This is one of my favorite spots in…read morethe Presidio because of the trees and the path with the logs. It is fun to bring the children here because it is great to play with the children and the branches that make the tree houses. One time my kids and I made a tree house and it was there when we came back the following week and people added more to the house.

One of my absolute favorite field trip spots for my students is the Wood Line in the Presidio of…read moreSan Francisco. This is a super popular place for professional photos. A quick tip: because of the way the Wood Line is designed, this stretch can turn into a full-on wind tunnel. Definitely layer up; it can get chilly even on a sunny day. What makes this area so special for young students is the natural layout. The rows of eucalyptus trees create built-in boundaries, which makes it much easier to manage a group while still giving them a sense of freedom and exploration. There are also spots nearby where kids can build and expand on makeshift shelters using fallen branches, perfect for imaginative play, teamwork, and a little hands-on engineering. There are often dogs off leash in this part of the Presidio, but we've never had any issues along this particular stretch. One especially memorable visit included spotting an owl nesting in the trees. A park ranger was stationed nearby to ensure the owl's safety, and my students even got to ask questions and learn more about the habitat. It turned into an unexpected and magical lesson in urban wildlife. If you're looking for a unique, outdoor San Francisco, add the Wood Line to your list.

A great walk/climb. Over 300 steps up and back down. The best part? You get to Coit Tower.read more

Such a treasured landmark in San Francisco, so much that it's maintained in pristine condition by…read morelocals and donors. This 163-step mosaic stairway was open to the public in 2005 and this community project was started by neighborhood residents Jessie Audette and Alice Yee Xavier with the collaboration of artists Aileen Barr and Colette Crutcher. Donated California native plants adorn these stairs. I'd say for the San Fran tourist, it's worth a visit especially if you have a car and you want to venture into SF neighborhoods (I used public transit and the Muni bus stop right next to it isn't the most reliable as when I was ready to leave here I saw the route bus zoom past the proposed bus stop seen on my GPS; I ended up having to walk a few blocks to another bus stop). Unsure about how crowded it would be on weekends, but when I visited on a weekday morning I had good chunks of time with the stairway all to myself!

This 'hood isn't one I frequent very often when I'm in town, but I'm in town pretty frequently so…read morewe've spent some time together. Obviously, the first thing that most people think about here is UCSF and yes, that does tend to take a big role in the neighborhood, but I like the think of this part of town as a little nugget tucked away. It's not quite th Outer Sunset, so you still get a lot more diversity in architecture, but with some real suburban residential appeal. And you get those big ol' hills that makes for interesting driving, parking, and business setup. Plus, any neighborhood that borders Golden Gate Park is really high on my list of faves. I do love that park, and it does sort of seem to act as a buffer between you and the rest of that side of the city. Parking is tricky, but um, this is SF so I really dunno where that's not the case. But do brave that parking because coming out here for food has become pretty cool--if you don't have to be so close to the city, this is a prime place to put down some roots and explore those eats and shops near you. Transit is okay, but it's probably not a spot that many people from all over the city are going to come as a destination--in my mind, that's a big plus, too.

Some nice favorite gems at the Inner Sunset [San Francisco]…read more I don't come to the Inner Sunset often except for one thing... mainly FOOD. Inner Sunset is located south of Golden Gate Park next to the UCSF campus. Many of the businesses are clustered on Irving Street and 9th Avenue... there are a lot of amazing places to eat at the Inner Sunset, maybe not as hoity-toity as the Marina District but the following are some of the places we've enjoyed and visited: * Tartine Inner Sunset [Irving Street] - this Tartine location is open for delivery and takeout only. Online ordering was easy and my bag of goodies was ready in 30 minutes (notifying me by text). My daughter enjoyed both the Lemon Cream Tart and the Lemon Cranberry Pistachio Teacake. I was also happy to see the Pain Au Chocolat Croissant available. Fresh and yummy... but pricey. * Mahalo [9th Avenue] - we ordered the Hawaiian macaroni salad. It's a favorite in our household. Delicious and authentic! * 16th Avenue Tiled Steps - we stopped by this beautiful tiled steps just west of Grand View Park. This popular steps is popular among tourists. There are 163 steps... heading up has a nice view of stars and sea design. There are a few landings in between sections (to catch your breath). The plants alongside the steps are well maintained by the community. Street parking. * Hidden Garden Steps - beautifully tiled stairway. The stairway is between a Kirkham and Lawton Streets. It's easy to miss these steps because the stairs are narrow and very steep. We got lucky at the time... no tourists! I love these steps! The ceramic tiles are colorful with beautiful designs and once we reached the midpoint of the steps there were some great views to be seen of the city. Truly a hidden gem. Next on my list to visit (not necessarily in this order): Arizmendi Bakery Hometown Creamery San Tung "Jobs fill your pockets, but adventures fill your soul." - Jaime Lyn Review #2061

Many locals and tourists could be found on weekends strolling or enjoying sidewalk seating and…read moreparklets along West Portal Ave. The avenue itself is not that long - not even a mile. Families, couples, singles, transplants, and even some homelessness are all present. A myriad of local businesses and just a few chains (i.e., not gentrified, no fast food eateries, no major retailers) add to its charm. But, it is still basically a real San Francisco neighborhood where SF natives reside. Depending on what street you're on, single-car garage homes dot the surrounding area with many multi-million dollar homes. While it is centrally located on a SF-proper map, it is easily accessible to Ocean Beach due to Sloat Blvd as a connector. Plus, both Junipero Blvd and 19th Ave are a block away at the southwestern end of West Portal Ave (e.g., both are straight shots to Hwy 280). Parking is metered but there are many time limit spaces on the residential streets.

West Portal is an amazing place to hang out with friends, go with family, or just walk around by…read moreyourself late in the afternoon. There are many fun boutiques, yummy restaurants, and other little knick-knack shops around. There may be some homeless people roaming around from time to time, but they mean no harm. That is what you get when coming to San Francisco. This is still a great place for families to come and visit and just sit around at the park and play on the swings, it makes West Portal special.

This is pretty much my favorite neighborhood in SF. I also live here…read more If you like chill vibes, nice people, low noise, and beautiful scenery then make your way to the Outer Sunset. So many people act like it is "SOOO FARR" but in reality it takes me 20 minutes to drive from my downtown office to my place on Ocean Beach. I have the ocean as my backyard view, Devil's Teeth baking company around the corner, and host of other great shops and restaurants (Outerlands, Trouble coffee, Toyose, TJ cups, Polly Ann Ice cream, Good Mong Kok Dim Sum... I could go on) What we don't have out here is all the city noise, crime, and trash filled streets. Just fresh ocean air, and a nice breeze. Golden Gate park, Land's end, Fort Funston are all easily accessible. So perfect if you enjoy the outdoors.

Ultimately, it couldn't be lower than four stars because of Polly Ann…read more I've found other gems here, some of which I am not yet prepared to reveal. It's so big and unconfusing! It doesn't have enough bus lines! It doesn't have any of the quirky charm of the Richmond, whether Inner or Outer (or Central?--I don't believe in Central Richmonds; I just believe in me). It has lots of places to eat and shop, but mile-for-mile, it pales in comparison to its tiny but powerful sister the Inner Sunset. But it dominates in a way with its repetitive blocks and downhill-to-the-ocean game. The only real question I have is Is Parkside part of the Outer Sunset, or are they two separate neighborhoods? I used to be heavily on the former side, but I may be persuadable to the dark side. Give me your best arguments. And astounding Safeway parking lots; and hardware stores that could (and couldn't); and disgraced former, current, and would-be supervisors. It's also sad and not cool that Bradley Nowell died here. (I don't know why it still makes me so sad.)

This place is AMAZING!!!…read more Sooo many places to eat under one roof. From cookies and milk to burgers, steaks, desserts etc.. the choices are endless. During my visit, the entire large building was very crowded as this is a very popular place. Located along the San Francisco Bay a mere feet from this beautiful building, stepping outside offers amazing views of the bay, boats and the surrounding area. This is is MUST see when visiting San Francisco

Duplicate Charge That No One Will Fix…read more I noticed that I had been overcharged for parking and called the hotel. A front desk staff member acknowledged the mistake and transferred me to accounting, but no one answered, so I left a voicemail. I also emailed the address listed on my receipt, but after a full day I received no response. When I called again the next morning, the front desk tried to transfer me to accounting a second time. After I requested the manager on duty, I was sent to the manager's voicemail and left another message. I still have not received any response. This is a simple billing correction, and other hotels resolve such issues immediately and provide updated receipts without difficulty. Unfortunately, that has not been my experience here.