Urban Trek USA is an excellent resource for your San Francisco visit; providing self-guided directions for visitors to explore San Francisco like a long-time resident would, plus tips on whatever would be helpful to those who are visiting San Francisco.
Telegraph Hill is the neighborhood the Urban Trek Leader plans to buy property should he be blessed with winning several millions of dollars playing the lottery. Seriously, this neighborhood pretty much has everything:
Awesome views
History and some historic houses that survived the great fire of 1906
Fresco art inside Coit Tower
Uniqueness from other neighborhoods
Beautiful flowers in the gardens
Locations where a few movies and two TV shows where shot (e.g. The Wedding Planner, Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1978), Streets of San Francisco, Zoe's Extraordinary Playlist)
What Urban Trek USA delivers that most other tours do not:
Finding spots that are the best places for photos so you do not have you pay the fee to go to the top of Coit Tower (and waiting in a long line during peak tourist season)
Taking you to the area with historic houses and where movies and TV shows were filmed
Other things you can expect;
The truth about Coit Tower
History on how this place has evolved over the years
The easiest way to walk up with a scenic view should the bus not be available
So experience Telegraph Hill with an urban trek instead of just visiting like most people do.
The famous cable cars of San Francisco are scheduled to resume service on August 2, 2021 (refer to UPDATE below) and fare will be FREE for the entire month 😀
This itinerary will be a good fit for you if you are someone who prefers to explore the less touristy places and experience a more local perspective of San Francisco and/or you have already been to San Francisco before and have seen all the famous places and want to experience something different.
First "secret spot" has a spectacular view from approximately 350 feet above. Learn how this open space was preserved for everyone to enjoy.A bonus along the way are some beautifully painted and maintained Victorian houses and a community garden with an awesome view. You will also be provided with a brief explanation on the different types of Victorian houses.
Second "secret spot" has even a more spectacular view from approximately 650 feet above. A bonus after will be seeing some modern houses that you would want to own if have a few million dollars.
Before heading to the next place, if you choose to do so, you will able able to stop at one of the cafes in a quaint neighborhood and use their toilet. Please note that most establishments require that you purchase something in order to use their toilet. Also, keep in mind that there will be no public toilet for another hour to hour and a half (until we will have lunch) so do not drink or eat too much. (Note: There is a public toilet in a park prior to getting to the quaint neighborhood if you are not particular about using a public toilet.)
Third "secret spot" has a fabulous view of San Francisco Bay and Alcatraz. The bonuses along the way are seeing a work of art made from nature by a pretty well-known artist and some of the biggest mansions in San Francisco.
An added bonus is this pretty awesome view on the way to the street where you will have a lunch break. For lunch you can choose from a wide variety of types of very good food (i.e. American, Italian, Mediterranean, Vietnamese, Seafood, etc.). One hour lunch break will be approximately between 12:30 - 1:30 pm and you can enjoy your lunch and relax. (Note: The cost of your meal will be your responsibility and is not included in the price of your private urban trek.)
After lunch, a bonus on the way to the next "secret spot" is you will see where the very first cable car started and you will be given a brief history about the famous San Francisco cable cars.
Fourth "secret spot" has another spectacular view. A bonus will be seeing the street were a famous car chase scene was filmed and a scene from another movie with a princess having a car incident.
After the fourth spot, you will have a choice of:
1. End the urban trek and return to the meeting place.
2. Go to the crooked part of Lombard Street and have a view of the Golden Gate Bridge from another "secret spot" and return to the meeting place.
3. Have a mini tour of the North Beach neighborhood and return to the meeting place.
Additional information:
Start time: 9:30 am (or mutually agreed upon time)
Approximate length of urban trek: 5.5 hours (or 6.5 hours for longer option) which includes one hour lunch break.
To make a reservation, send an e-mail to anton@urbantrekusa.com or WhatsApp and Viber 1-415-265-8229
Price: 1 to 4 people $210 (total) plus $15 for each additional person (Note: Price does not include the cost of your meals, but it includes the cost of Muni fares <no cable car rides>)
Fitness level:
Everyone has to be fit in order to walk uphill for at least two city blocks and can spend hours on their feet. Of course, walking will not be constant since there will be trips on public transportation and short breaks to take photos and admire the views. Resting will be fine but it will be hard for people who are not fit to do this urban trek and enjoy it. Each stretch of walking will be approximately 15 minutes before a short standing break while the Urban Trek Leader explains or says something about the place. There will also be approximately 5 to 15 minutes for photo and relax to admire scenery time at each scenic place.
Jackson Square is not necessarily a neighborhood but more of a historic district (i.e. Jackson Square Historic District). I think most people who visit San Francisco are not very aware of this area, which is between the Financial District and North Beach. Although only a small area, this place has a bunch of interesting historical importance to San Francisco. For one, it has the oldest commercial buildings (some date back to the 1950s) in San Francisco because they survived the great fire of 1906.
When you are part of an urban trek that includes Jackson Square as part of the itinerary (e.g. Historical San Francisco), these are the things you will learn:
How the old buildings survived the great fire of 1906 and why the buildings are made of bricks and why they have certain enhancements to them.
Why this area became important to the beginnings of what would be San Francisco.
Buried ships and how some old ships were repurposed.
The heart of the seedy “Barbary Coast” area of San Francisco.
Along the way, on weekdays, stop by a place with a bit of tranquility in the Financial District.
This place is definitely worth visiting especially if you are interested in getting a little glimpse of the old San Francisco.
North Beach is the Urban Trek Leader's most favorite of all neighborhoods in San Francisco and Anton will try his best to share the reasons why:
1. Although businesses have changed hands, most buildings look pretty much the same from the 1950s. There are a whole bunch of establishments that are over 50 years old (legacy businesses) and you will get some insight on my favorites. In my opinion this place has kept its charm through the years in spite of changes all neighborhoods experience. Other places lose their essence due to gentrification. North Beach has kept most of it.
2. Although North Beach is known as San Francisco's Little Italy, it was not the Italians that first inhabited this neighborhood and the Italians are no longer the major ethnic population. You will learn the evolution of this neighborhood.
3. North Beach is also a good place to hang out at night (i.e. dinner, cocktails) and you will get tips on the best places to feel the old vibe and the new vibe.
4. Of course, this neighborhood is the best place to stop for a coffee break. You can sample excellent Italian pastries at one of the oldest cafes in San Francisco that are still baked in the oven from the 1940s. (Note: This happens when the itinerary is the Historical San Francisco one.)
So when you join an urban trek that has North Beach as part of the itinerary, you will experience one of the well-known and historic neighborhoods in San Francisco.
Chinatown has been a neighborhood famous as a tourist destination. It is probably because most visitors feel this neighborhood is exotic. However, in my opinion, the importance of this neighborhood are two-fold:
1. Prior to being Chinatown, this place was were modern-day San Francisco started and the center of happenings during the Gold Rush Era. Yes, most people probably do not realize this but if you want to learn about the interesting history of San Francisco, this is where you should be and why our urban trek to this neighborhood will give you interesting historical information while being where it all happened.
2. The City is very diverse and this neighborhood is where the major minority group has its roots. You will learn what kind of life the people that live here is like. Fantasy does not always match reality.
So when you join an urban trek that has Chinatown as part of its itinerary, you will have a good historical account about San Francisco and learn how it has evolved over the years.
Best of all, you can have a first rate private San Francisco tour at an affordable price. A full-day San Francisco scenic adventure for less than $53 per person for a party of four ($45 per person for a party of five, $40 per person for a party of 6).
