H
I P T R I P S
SAN
FRANCISCO WALKING
TOURS
In spite of
killer hills, San Francisco is a walking town. So many
ethnic, historic and cultural neighborhoods provide walkabouts covering
a variety of interests. Check
them out and go for a walk
around this beautiful city on the bay.
Wok
Wiz Tours. Chef
Shirley Fong Torres and her staff take you on a stroll through
Chinatown to explore feng shui, tea ceremonies, folklore, art, history
and food.
Complete the stroll with a delicious dim sum luncheon at one
of Chinatown's oldest restaurants. Tour
costs $45 p/p with lunch; $35 p/p walk only. www.wokwiz.com
Foot!
Comedy
Walking Tours.
Foot!’s guides are history buffs by day and
seasoned comics, actors, and improvisers by night. Their arsenal of
games, puzzles, fun facts, and re-enactments make history come alive.
You’ll peek into back
alleys, hidden gardens, and other places bus tours don’t
visit. Featured in newspapers around the globe,
FOOT! is a leader in ‘most eccentric walks.’ 2-hour tours:
$30 p/p. Seniors and youths to 13 pay $20. www.foottours.com
San
Francisco
Ghost Hunt. During
this mile-long walk…with just one moderate
hill…marvel at the many haunted places hiding in plain sight. Thrilling
documented ghost stories, eerie
haunted artifacts bring fearful chills. The
unexplainable happens on almost every Ghost Hunt. 7pm nightly except
Tues. $20 p/p; $10 ages 10-18. Not for younger children. www.sfghosthunt.com
HobNob
Tours. A
fascinating walk through time, as you share Nob Hill with silver barons
and facts from the past. See below for a full description and prices.
Union
Square "Walk and Shop" Tour An
unforgettable 2-hour romp through the most vibrant
neighborhood in the West. Led by author and color consultant Donna
Fujii and staff, these in-the-know insiders stop at Union Square's
famous shops, special and unique
places locals haunt. Guides
describe
historical landmarks along the way. It’s
the only way to shop in San Francisco. $40 p/p. www.shopandthecitysf.com
SAN
FRANCISCO’S NOB HILL
Back in the mid- to
late-1800s, it wasn’t gold that glittered in San Francisco. It was silver. In fact, quite a few
historic
mansions, churches and other architectural displays in this ‘city on
the hill’
were built with the great wealth that silver barons, along with
railroad
barons, amassed during this period.
Take
a walk with Hob Nob Tours
through the streets of Nob Hill to gaze at
magnificent stained glass windows in inspiring Grace Cathedral; the
sculptures
and fountains in Huntington Park; the outstanding architecture of
William Polk
and Julia Morgan, one of our nation's first female architects.
Knowledgeable
guides have many interesting stories to tell about the owners of
mansions
described as "carpenter's nightmares" and "a delirium of woodcarving,"
and one silver king's lavish abode that survived the 1906 earthquake.
Hob Nob Tours’ specially
trained guides are all local. During the two-hour walk of this famous
area,
they delve into the heart and soul of Nob Hill, with added tidbits on
all of San
Francisco.
Cost is $30 per person. Meet at 10:00am or 1:30pm
weekdays under the flags of the elegant Fairmont Hotel, Mason and
California
Streets.
The
company also sets up a few additional perks for tour participants.
Before the
morning walk, enjoy an elaborate buffet breakfast at Ritz-Carlton's
Terrace Room, or at Top of the Mark with views all around the Bay
area. A
pre-arranged
luncheon is available at the Big Four restaurant in Huntington Hotel,
or visit
luxurious Renaissance Stanford Court for a specially prepared High Tea.
(Meals
are extra and optional.)
Hob
Nob’s resident guides
promise an easy walk with no hills, but advise wearing
comfortable
walking shoes. www.hobnobtours.com
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