A Walk In The City
Each day, we walked between 5-8 miles and explored many destinations. Below are maps showing a
typical day's walk around the city.
Chinatown
There is something creepy about walking through an empty Chinatown. Almost all of the businesses were still closed up (even after 10:00 a.m.) and there were hardly any people walking the streets. The sidewalks were unkempt and we were literally the only white people in sight. It was an experience!
We came back through days later and felt much more at ease. The streets were busy and businesses had their doors wide open.
Pier 39
"The Piers" is a waterfront boardwalk known as a popular tourist destination. You'll see rows upon rows of shops, restaurants, beautiful views, and even a science museum! We spent much of our first full day in San Francisco exploring this area.
Several cruise ships docked while we were there, which made for a busy, crowded place. The Louis Vuitton America's Cup Sailing Challenge was also in town.
Ghirardelli Square
Ghirardelli Square is home to the original Ghirardelli Chocolate Factory. It is located near Fisherman's Wharf and is a popular destination to wine and dine.
We actually enjoyed several eateries at Ghirardelli Square, including Lori's Diner, Kara's Cupcakes, and, of course, the classic ice cream shop! Our mouth-watering sundae (called "The Gold Rush") is pictured to the left.
Lombard Street
The Lombard Street section on Russian Hill has been tagged the crookedest street in the world. It was funny watching all the cars drive down the street (most of them using their phones to take videos from the passenger's seat)! There are stairs that replace sidewalks on the street because it is so steep. The foot traffic was crazy. You almost forget that people actually live on this street. I don't think I'd care for all the traffic outside my doorstep on a 24-7 basis!