Ghost Tours San Francisco

The Liberty-Hill/Southwest Mission Victorians, & SF Earthquake History Tour

**\*Don't be a no-show. *See the Group's no-show policy below.*** Don't be a no-show and lose your membership in the Group. Attendance is always taken and no-shows recorded. As we do these tours it's nice to see and learn about the Victorian houses and SF history. But it's always kind of sad that we can't see the fabulous interiors many of the houses have. And in most cases see how sturdily they were built. But a special day is coming. On **Sunday, October 18th** the Victorian Alliance of SF will be holding an open house tour in this neighborhood. Let me know if you are interested in being a volunteer docent and I can hook you up. But reserve Oct. 18th and see the interiors. Something new has been added to the tour as we discover another facet of the 20th St. fireline history. *A neighbor advised us that the 1900 block of Lexington St. suffered partial burning in the 06' fires. Evidence remains and we will take a look.* We'll visit the *"Golden Fire Hydrant"* and walk the 20th St. Fire Line where fire-fighters and citizens held the line and saved the Mission from going up in flames. Actually the north side of 20th St. starting at Dolores St. was demolished to create a fire break. The difference between the north and south side of 20th St. here is startling. [3755-20th St. is on our tour today. It is a beautiful 1889 Victorian. These interior photos show some of the beautiful interior details typical of a Victorian of this era.](https://www.redfin.com/CA/San-Francisco/3755-20th-St-94110/home/713440) [Here is a link to detailed histories of seven Victorians East of Noe Valley.](https://archive.org/details/victorianallianc1093unse/page/n19/mode/2up?view=theater) We'll see some of these and many others on today's tour. [Another link to one of the oldest houses on today's tour.](https://noehill.com/sf/landmarks/sf136.asp) [Here's a simple link that will allow you to support the Meetup and add a thank you.](https://www.paypal.com/donate/?business=TJ8W6VVEGJ6BS&no_recurring=1&item_name=%0AIt%27s+very+nice+of+you+to+respond+and+give+support.%0AThank+you%2C%0AJordan&currency_code=USD) One of our go to restaurants after the tour has been Udupi Palace for Indian vegetarian food at 21st & Valencia. Also across the street is Ritual Coffee Roasters. Tartine Bakery is four blocks away at 18th and Guerreo. And there is always Park Coffee at 18th & Dolores with Bi-rite ice cream across the street. *The information below is provided if you are interested in more details about SF Victorian architecture.* **Looking at a San Francisco Victorian, what to look for:** *(There are five Styles)* * Flat front Italianate- (earliest Victorians). (French 2nd Empire appear) * Italianate with slanted bay windows. * San Francisco Stick Style (also called East Lake). Simpler square bay windows now used. Overall much more elaborate decoration, ornament and gingerbread used. * Queen Anne Tower House&Witches Cap, with angled or rounded bay windows & front gable * Queen Anne Row House, 1, 1-1/2 or two stories. Large front gable. Possible moongate entry. Features & "Gingerbread" Type of Entry & Doorway(maybe a rounded or partial Moongate entry)- Decorative Ironwork- Floral Decor-Garlands (one of many types of decorations known as \*"Gingerbread") Fish scale&Diamond shingles- Towers & Witch's Cap- Stained Glass or Beveled Glass- Carvings of grotesque faces- Sunbursts- often painted gold color, half or full. Gables (Queen Anne's) in a variety of material- (mainly redwood) Newel Posts and Finials on Tower tops and roof peaks- Fernando Nelson built thousands of homes in SF. Over many, many decades. We'll also see clusters (2 to 17) of Victorian homes systematically built for the average working person by a development company, "The Real Estate Assoc." THEA, from 1870 to 1880. Not quite magnificent but many still standing. Development of woodworking mills South of Market provided the ornaments with which to add the "gingerbread" to the Victorian houses There was an Old English custom using fancy cutouts of gingerbread to decorate wedding cakes. The term gingerbread was subsequently used for the decorating of Victorian houses. The secret ingredient was redwood. It could be carved, sawn, or turned, or soaked and press molded into almost any design *Periods* **1860 - 1870s *Italianate*:** Buildings were vertical in emphasis with rounded classical detail. Earliest had flat windows & flat roofs with false roof fronts. **1880s *Stick Style* (also called East Lake):** The early buildings in this genre relied heavily on plane vertical board decorations. Squared off bay windows appear. **Late 1880s and 1890s *Queen Anne*** : Gingerbread would be applied to both the Stick and Queen Ann styles in San Francisco. Sloping roofs appear. Gables and towers. In Queen Ann surfaces are covered in a variety of patterns with fish scale and diamond shingles, lap siding and masonry, sometimes all in the same building. Victorians Around Dolores Park Explored, and Houses Burned in the 1906 EQ/Fire*Rooflines in the Queen Anne were irregular, combining the witches hat roof on a rounded or octagonal tower,* sometimes decorated with a spool work of gable braces. Frieze bands of foliated patterns wrapped around towers and tall chimneys. Horizontal proportions prevailed over the general vertical emphasis of the previous styles. [If you would like a scholarly and detailed explanation with photos, click.](https://sfplanning.org/sites/default/files/documents/preserv/bulletins/HistPres_Bulletin_18.PDF) After the 06' earthquake apartments in substantial buildings became popular with well-to-do San Franciscans. [To check for a possible, for sale/open house tour, click this link.](https://www.realtor.com/realestateandhomes-search/Mission-District_San-Francisco_CA/type-single-family-home/show-open-house)

Victorians in Pacific Hts.-SF Tour-Alta Plaza Park to Lafayette Park

**\*Don't be a no-show. *See the Group's no-show policy below.*** Don't be a no-show and lose your membership in the Group. Attendance is always taken and no-shows recorded. *Paraphrasing William Faulkner from Requiem for a Nun, "The past isn't gone , it's not even past."* At least it looks that way in parts of Pacific Heights. There is available free **parking** around the neighborhood, be prepared to drive around a little bit, but it is early morning and there are no restrictions on weekends. (Don't park by a meter like those on Fillmore.) Restrooms are located at the top of Alta Plaza Park behind the kid's playground. About 2/3s of the way through the tour we'll stop for a break atop Lafayette Park. For restrooms and views and describe the surrounding houses and the saga of Samuel Holladay and his mansion, questionably located atop Lafayette Park. *(Afterwards one of my go to's for brunch is La Mediterranean Cafe at Sacramento and Fillmore. Great food, drinks and service in a cute little iconic SF restaurant. Also Mayflower Market has great picnic items to go, to take over to Alta Plaza.)* Pacific Heights is one of the most affluent neighborhoods in San Francisco. This tour highlights the Victorian architecture, and the architects, builders and people who owned and built, occupied and maintained these grand properties. About 30 of which will be on our tour with a few sentences of information about each property. The walking tour is 2.5-3.5 miles. With some typical SF hills for short distances. **Looking at a San Francisco Victorian, what to look for:** *(There are five Styles)* 1. Flat front Italianate- (earliest Victorians). 2. Italianate with slanted bay windows. 3. San Francisco Stick Style (also called East Lake). Simpler square bay windows now used. Overall more elaborate decoration. 4. Queen Anne Tower House&Witches Cap, with angled or rounded bay windows & front gable 5. Queen Anne Row House"Cottage", 1, 1-1/2 or two stories. Large front gable. Possible moon-gate entry. * Features & "Gingerbread" * Floral Decor-Garlands (one of many types of decorations known as \*"Gingerbread") * Fish scale&Diamond shingles- * Towers & Witch's Cap- * Stained Glass or Beveled Glass- * Carvings of grotesque faces- * Sunbursts- often painted gold color, half or full. * Gables (Queen Anne's) in a variety of material- (mainly redwood) * Newel Posts and Finials on Tower tops and roof peaks- We'll see clusters of Victorian homes systematically built for the average working person by a development company, "The Real Estate Assoc." THEA, in business from 1870 to 1880. Not quite magnificent but many still standing. *Periods* **1860 - 1870s *Italianate*:** Buildings were vertical in emphasis with rounded classical detail. Earliest had flat windows, with false roof fronts. **1880s *Stick Style* (also called East Lake):** Squared off bay windows appear. **Late 1880s and 1890s *Queen Anne*** : Gingerbread would be applied to both the Stick and Queen Ann styles in San Francisco. Sloping roofs appear. With gables and towers. *Rooflines in the Queen Anne were irregular, combining the witches hat rooftop on a rounded or octagonal tower*. [If you would like a scholarly and detailed explanation with photos, click.](https://sfplanning.org/sites/default/files/documents/preserv/bulletins/HistPres_Bulletin_18.PDF)

SF Marina Tour-Panama Pacific Int'l.Exposition of 1915, from Scott St. entrance

**Note:** The subject tour is of one of the greatest single works of architecture, art and art display in history. It was all created in San Francisco's Marina area, unbelievably in only the two years of, 1913 & 1914. Aside from Bernard Maybeck's Palace of Fine Arts, the re-creation of the California Palace of the Legion of Honor.and some remaining statues and sculptures, all we have left are photos, drawings and written descriptions and accounts of what was there in 1915. But the land this was all on is still there and accessible (except for the Doyle Dr. entry ramp area). By combining the land with the eupherma mentioned above we can virtually recreate in our minds eye what was here. So it is not lost if we don't want it to be! That is why this tour will be done many times in the future as the early tours develop a summary view that will enable the detailed tours coming later to fall into an organized context. Join in this journey into something very special in the worlds of art and architecture. Imagine it's 1915, and you are going to tour the Panama Pacific International Exposition, a San Francisco cultural phenomena. (An idea conceived by Willis Polk in 1891, that eventually had to overcome not only the devastating 1906 Earthquake and Fire, (which made San Franciscans even more determined to have the Exposition), but the start of World War I in Europe. A quarter of million attended opening day and almost twice that many closing day. Imagine how you would spend your day there in 1915. That's what our tour will attempt to do. As we walk a likely route, we would have chosen in 1915. We'll take turns reading descriptions of and look at photos of what was along our route. We'll be in the same area as the July tour but there was so much here and with some streamlining it is worth repeating but will not be repetitive. Come on at least one of these early tours and be prepared for the deep dive into the details coming in the future. *(See some of the 64 photos with captions attached here to prepare.)* Take a look and do an arm-chair, **\***[self-guided walking tour created by the NPS for the Presidio and GGNRA.](https://npshistory.com/publications/goga/brochures/pan-pacific-expo-1915.pdf) Before the PPIE which the lower part of the Marina District was created for, was a tidal marsh that required pumping Bay mud to fill, including the Marina Green. San Franciscans were very proud and serious about the PPIE. (In 1910 over 4 million$ was raised in a single, two hour, public meeting.) They were making a statement, in letting the world know, that they had successfully survived the 1906 Earthquake and Fire. In fact some very wealthy San Franciscans built mansions in Pacific Hts. just to overlook the PPIE. A way of making their own personal statement that they and the City were back from the ashes and had made an unbelievable recovery. **Chestnut St.** has a large assortment of traditional and avant-guard restaurants. Let's pick one out from the listing below. Or if you have a great favorite please recommend it. **Italian Restaurants and Pizza Shops** * **[A16](https://www.google.com/viewer/place?mid=/m/0220x5j&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjH0ZyHiueTAxVkJzQIHVf_DkQQqdYPegQICRAC)** : A highly-regarded spot specializing in Neapolitan-style pizza and wines from the Campania region. * **[Little Original Joe's](https://www.google.com/viewer/place?mid=/g/11t4kffz5b&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjH0ZyHiueTAxVkJzQIHVf_DkQQqdYPegQICRAF)** : A popular neighborhood staple offering Italian-American classics like vodka pasta, pizza, and burgers. * **[Delarosa](https://www.google.com/viewer/place?mid=/g/1tgxts6d&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjH0ZyHiueTAxVkJzQIHVf_DkQQqdYPegQICRAI)** : Known for its Roman-style thin-crust pizza, small plates, and craft cocktails in a lively atmospher * **[Norcina (Pierce St)](https://www.norcina.com/)**: Located just off Chestnut, this Italian spot is praised for its Nor-sting-ya pizza and authentic pasta dishes. * **Roma Antica (Scott St)**: An authentic Italian restaurant featuring homemade pasta like Cacio e Pepe and Lasagna, often with Italian-speaking staff. * **[Napizza (Scott St)](https://www.google.com/viewer/place?mid=/g/11rn77y0nx&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjH0ZyHiueTAxVkJzQIHVf_DkQQqdYPegQICRAO)** : Offers upscale pizza and pasta, such as truffle mushroom bruschetta and Meyer lemon pizza. **American & Comfort Food** [Causwells](https://www.google.com/viewer/place?mid=%2Fg%2F1q66z5g1s) [4.3(941)](https://www.google.com/viewer/place?mid=%2Fg%2F1q66z5g1s) [American](https://www.google.com/viewer/place?mid=%2Fg%2F1q66z5g1s) [Open2346 Chestnut St10.2 mi](https://www.google.com/viewer/place?mid=%2Fg%2F1q66z5g1s) A European-inspired bistro famous for its Americana double cheeseburger, as well as seasonal salads and baby back ribs. [Cracked & Battered - Marina](https://www.google.com/viewer/place?mid=%2Fg%2F11jghv89cs) [4.6(534)](https://www.google.com/viewer/place?mid=%2Fg%2F11jghv89cs) [$20–30Restaurant](https://www.google.com/viewer/place?mid=%2Fg%2F11jghv89cs) [Closed2240 Chestnut St10.1 mi](https://www.google.com/viewer/place?mid=%2Fg%2F11jghv89cs) A cozy brunch restaurant serving savory and sweet dishes, including fried chicken and waffles and lemon ricotta pancakes. [Chestnut Diner](https://www.google.com/viewer/place?mid=%2Fm%2F04fjwx0) [4.0(562)](https://www.google.com/viewer/place?mid=%2Fm%2F04fjwx0) [$10–20Diner](https://www.google.com/viewer/place?mid=%2Fm%2F04fjwx0) [1312 Chestnut](https://www.google.com/viewer/place?mid=%2Fm%2F04fjwx0) A classic, no-frills American diner known for its fluffy omelets and retro counter seat [The Dorian](https://www.google.com/viewer/place?mid=%2Fg%2F11ckvljj8w) [New American](https://www.google.com/viewer/place?mid=%2Fg%2F11ckvljj8w) [2001 Chestnut St](https://www.google.com/viewer/place?mid=%2Fg%2F11ckvljj8w) A swanky, modern American restaurant and bar popular for social gatherings and brunch. [Balboa Cafe](https://www.google.com/viewer/place?mid=%2Fm%2F01zn48k) [4.2(842)](https://www.google.com/viewer/place?mid=%2Fm%2F01zn48k) [$20–30Restaurant](https://www.google.com/viewer/place?mid=%2Fm%2F01zn48k) [3199 Fillmore](https://www.google.com/viewer/place?mid=%2Fm%2F01zn48k) An iconic neighborhood institution serving classic American fare and known as a social hub. **Global & Specialty Cuisine** [Dragon Well](https://www.google.com/viewer/place?mid=%2Fm%2F04fj1z7) [4.2(343)](https://www.google.com/viewer/place?mid=%2Fm%2F04fj1z7) [$20–30Chinese](https://www.google.com/viewer/place?mid=%2Fm%2F04fj1z7) [Open2142 Chestnut](https://www.google.com/viewer/place?mid=%2Fm%2F04fj1z7) A long-standing neighborhood favorite for health-conscious Chinese food and handmade potstickers. [Milos Meze](https://www.google.com/viewer/place?mid=%2Fg%2F11lvz40pvx) [4.9(365)](https://www.google.com/viewer/place?mid=%2Fg%2F11lvz40pvx) [Restaurant](https://www.google.com/viewer/place?mid=%2Fg%2F11lvz40pvx) [3348 Steiner](https://www.google.com/viewer/place?mid=%2Fg%2F11lvz40pvx) A modern Greek restaurant serving authentic dishes like lamb chops and spanakopita.[Souvla](https://www.google.com/viewer/place?mid=%2Fg%2F11gv_sljj1) [4.5(481)](https://www.google.com/viewer/place?mid=%2Fg%2F11gv_sljj1) [$10–20Greek](https://www.google.com/viewer/place?mid=%2Fg%2F11gv_sljj1) [Open2272 Chestnut](https://www.google.com/viewer/place?mid=%2Fg%2F11gv_sljj1) A casual, modern Greek rotisserie and salad spot.[Lobalita](https://www.google.com/viewer/place?mid=%2Fg%2F11n43r0k2m) [4.6(11)](https://www.google.com/viewer/place?mid=%2Fg%2F11n43r0k2m) [$20–30Restaurant](https://www.google.com/viewer/place?mid=%2Fg%2F11n43r0k2m) [Open2231 Chestnut](https://www.google.com/viewer/place?mid=%2Fg%2F11n43r0k2m) Recently replaced The Tipsy Pig, this modern Mexican bar offers tapas-style bites like aguachiles and tacos. [SF.gov](http://sf.gov/) +7 [Super Mensch](https://www.google.com/viewer/place?mid=%2Fg%2F11xkn4hmzs) [4.3(67)](https://www.google.com/viewer/place?mid=%2Fg%2F11xkn4hmzs) [$20–30Jewish](https://www.google.com/viewer/place?mid=%2Fg%2F11xkn4hmzs) [Open2336 Chestnut St10.2 mi](https://www.google.com/viewer/place?mid=%2Fg%2F11xkn4hmzs) A modern Jewish deli specializing in pastrami on house-made rye and matzah ball soup. ## References: Title: San Francisco's exposition year : the 1915 Panama-Pacific International Exposition / 907.4794 Bruce Title: Panorama : tales from San Francisco's 1915 Pan-Pacific International Exposition / 979.461 B836p Title: San Francisco's Jewel City : the Panama-Pacific International Exposition of 1915 / 907.47946 Ac57s Title: San Francisco's wildflower : the Palace of Fine Arts / 708.074 B896s plus hundreds and hundreds of Google searches. such as, "Show me a photo of xxx State building at the PPIE.

Haunted Hike - Blue Heron Lake

Marina Green-Crissy Field & the 1915 Panama Pacific Int'l Exposition Tour

The subject tour is of one of the greatest single works of architectural display, art and art display in history. It was all created in San Francisco's Marina District, construction taking place from, 1911-1914. Aside from Bernard Maybeck's Palace of Fine Arts, the re-creation of the California Palace of the Legion of Honor, some remaining statues and sculptures, all we have left are photos, drawings and written descriptions and accounts of what was there in 1915. (Photo is of the Ohio Bldg. after the conclusion of the Expo off Crissy Field in the Bay, being barged to Redwood City, see below for more info\*) We'll find the exact spot where this building once stood during the Expo of 1915. But the land this was all on is still there and accessible (except for the Doyle Dr. entry ramp area). By combining the land with the eupherma from that time we can virtually recreate in our minds eye what was here. So it is not lost if we don't want it to be! We'll find a restaurant in nearby Fort Mason or Chestnut St. afterwards. The German restaurant in Fort Mason is good and many to choose from on Chestnut St. **Don't be a no-show and lose your membership in the group.** \*Here is the chronological breakdown of how the building in the photo was used after the Expo: * \*\*\*\*\*After the 1915 exposition closed, local leaders purchased the Ohio Building for a $1000 and floated it down the coast to San Mateo County in 1916. It was used as the headquarters for the newly formed Peninsula Golf & Country Club in San Carlos. * **Restaurant and Speakeasy:** During Prohibition in the 1920s and early 1930s, the former exposition pavilion transitioned into a high-end restaurant and underground speakeasy. * **Demolition:** Because the building was constructed primarily of wood and plaster to look like stone, it deteriorated over time. In 1956, the structure was intentionally burned down to clear the land for the expansion of the San Carlos Airport.

Alamo Square-Architectural Walking Tour & Art Gallery Visit After

**\*Don't be a no-show. *See the Group's no-show policy below.*** Don't be a no-show and lose your membership in the Group. Attendance is always taken and no-shows recorded. After our tour of the neighborhood Victorians we'll head over to the Blue Painted Lady on Alamo Square where it becomes an art gallery today as famed London artist David Wills displays his work from over a career of sixty years. Particularly apropos is being near the Haight for this display of his fabulous work from that counter-culture era. [Click here for a ticket. Choose 1:00pm, Sunday. ](https://victorianalliance.us3.list-manage.com/track/click?u=bd91bb2ee7e8b396b9f939fcd&id=20aaf808b7&e=48a00e0ad1) (The photo above of his work is automatically cropped by Meetup.com. To see a complete rendering, look in the photos below.) [For a lot of photos of Part 1 click the link.](https://www.relive.com/view/vdORBznP7KO) (It was similar Meetup in the Mission, May 8th.) As usual I'm not permitting guests or pets. You'll have to have your guest join, to bring a "guest". About parking: Parking tickets are up to $105, I know first hand. Don't be lured by a close by empty spot . Be sure to check carefully for any No Parking signs. Don't be a No-show and lose your membership in this group. I carefully take attendance and Meetup.com records every RSVP and attendance results per person as I record it.

Aug.2026,Full Moonrise Over PacificHts.,via Mansions&VictoriansTour

Alaska Glacier Cruise from San Francisco (10-Night) via The Inside Passage

Here is a true Meetup to fill your summer with joy, adventure and new friends! Join us for a 10-night Alaska Inside Passage & Glacier Cruise that’s packed with impact, not just time at sea. Let’s trade the summer heat in the city with glacier-draped landscapes, wildlife, and endless scenic seas and share it with like-minded people! **Why This Meetup Trip Is Pure Magic?** * We sail round-trip from San Francisco, making travel easy for all Californians. * Discover Alaska’s stunning fjords, glaciers, and coastal towns—epic scenery everywhere you look. * It’s more than a standard cruise—this is Meetup community time at sea, with mixers, games, and social adventures included! **Our Route:** * Mon Aug 3 – Embark from San Francisco at 4:00 PM * Tue–Wed Aug 4-5– Fun Days at Sea (relax, explore onboard!) * Thu Aug 6 – Juneau, 2:00 PM to 11:00 PM * Fri Aug 7 – Skagway, 7:00 AM to 8:00 PM * Sat Aug 8 – Tracy Arm Fjord, glacier cruising! * Sun Aug 9 – Ketchikan, 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM * Mon Aug 10 – Prince Rupert, BC, 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM * Tue–Wed Aug 11-12 – More at Sea — swim, spa, dance! * Thu Aug 13 – Arrive San Francisco at 8:00 AM **Our Ship is Carnival Luminosa:** * Opened 2009, refurbished 2022—bright, welcoming, and full of light. * Onboard features: Alchemy Bar, Fahrenheit 555 Steakhouse, RedFrog Rum Bar, Playlist Productions, Punchliner Comedy Club, Cloud 9 Spa, and Serenity retreat. * The ship keeps the fun going with bars, shows, a spa, and more! **Special Group Pricing:** As a Meetup group, we’ve locked in a special rate: * $1,244 per person for an interior cabin, double occupancy, all taxes & port fees included (limited availability) * Upgrades available to ocean-view, balcony, or solo cabins. [Click here for options and prices](https://forms.gle/B7gSGB8VvHW9dArf6) **Only RSVPs with deposit guarantee your cabin—space is limited!** **[Deposit: $450 per person](https://www.paypal.com/instantcommerce/checkout/375VT5BUWEU9E), refundable (less PayPal fees) until April 25, 2026, when the final payment is due.** **We’re making this cruise a real Meetup experience:** * Reserved group dining so we can all eat together. * Cocktail Mixer with Open Bar one evening—Cheers to that! * Ice-breaker games, scavenger hunts, mixers & more. * Built-in group of new friends—travel alone, with friends, or family! **Optional Shore Excursions:** Want to do more off the ship? We’ll organize optional group outings like: * Glacier & whale-watching tours * Scenic rail rides in Skagway * Walking tours or local eats in Juneau & Ketchikan You choose your adventure—participate as much or as little as you like! **Who’s Invited?** Everyone! Singles, couples, families, solo travelers—all ages welcome. This is a trip about meeting awesome people and having fun, not relationship status. **See and Feel the Vibe!** Peek at photos from past Meetup cruises to get the feel for our fun community: **👉 [Trip Photo Gallery (Thanksgiving Cruise Memories)](https://photos.app.goo.gl/b7ebjhUuL7bajLhb7?utm_source=chatgpt.com)** **Ready to Sail?** 1. **RSVP on Meetup to join the discussion and get updates.** 2. **Submit your $450 deposit to hold your spot. [Click Here](https://www.paypal.com/instantcommerce/checkout/375VT5BUWEU9E)** 3. **Fill out the [Attendee Info Form](https://forms.gle/B7gSGB8VvHW9dArf6) so we can match cabins and share details.** **Questions? Message Ekaterina (Kate) directly.** We also do a monthly Q&A Zoom for all our international trips — come meet others attending and get your questions answered. We do a monthly Q & A Zoom for all our international trips, including this one. [Click Here to RSVP to our Zoom](https://www.meetup.com/moretoexplore/events/296044209/) Meet others attending, be social, or come and get any questions answered. **We believe in good decent social. We have a set of sister group we post our local free, local/regional camping, and our overseas events too.** **[Click Here to see or join our other events](https://www.meetup.com/moretoexplore/join/)** **This isn’t just a cruise—it’s a Meetup Alaska Adventure at Sea! Craggy fjords, wildlife, glaciers, and lifelong memories await. Ready to trade your backyard for glacial views?** **SOT 200318-10**

Blood on the Clocktower in Mission Bay! - OUTDOORS

Our next event will be on **Sunday** August 9th! We usually have 2-3 games going on, there will always be a circle for any newcomers! We expect about 30-40 people to RSVP on Discord. Let us know if there is any particular script you want to play or if you want to storytell! We will start the event under the trees in Koret Quad, located just north of Genentech Hall. **We will have a small number of folding chairs available, but please bring your own camp chair or blanket to sit on.** When it gets cooler in the evening, we'll move to our typical location inside Genetech Hall. **Please review and be familiar with our [best practices](https://docs.google.com/document/d/15WL2Da0003h5V-5p_JRNxjJ_gLsl2KKFzkfxyNM7K6E/edit?usp=sharing).** Call 510-457-1355 or ping Felicia (@crimson_flowers), Lily (@lilyblep) or Jim/ddz (@ddz7137) on Discord in the event thread if you need to get in or are lost. Make sure to have us added as friends as we don't get notifications for friend requests. A good number of attendees arrive between 11:00-11:30, but people come and go throughout the day, so feel free to show up and leave whenever you like - no need to be there for the whole day. If you text or call us, please give your Meetup/Discord name (some people both call and message on Discord and it's unclear whether we've already picked them up or not). During the day, come find us in Koret Quad, located north of Genentech Hall and east of the Rutter Center (location of Baker fitness center - see map below). After \~ 6 pm, please come to the side entrance (not the main entrance) when you search for 1705 Owens St on Google Maps. You need badge access to enter so contact us to get inside. See [these images](https://imgur.com/a/roVuZ3S) for entrance location and parking details. There will be snacks and drinks and feel free to order food. The area has free and paid parking. Free parking is around a 5 min walk from Genentech Hall (near Mississippi and 17th). Join the [California Clocktower discord](https://discord.gg/ACwrXxtWyY) for more events!

The Golden Gate Dozen: San Francisco’s Newest Cross-City Trail

The Golden Gate Dozen: San Francisco’s Newest Cross-City Trail Join me as we explore San Francisco’s newest official urban trail—the Golden Gate Dozen! Where every mile tells a story, and every step reveals another side of San Francisco Recently introduced by the Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy and the Golden Gate National Recreation Area, this 13-mile route links together 12 spectacular national park sites stretching from Crissy Field to Fort Funston. We’ll experience some of the city’s most iconic landscapes while discovering the history, ecology, and hidden stories that make this one of America’s most remarkable urban national parks. Highlights include: * Crissy Field * Presidio Tunnel Tops * Fort Point * Baker Beach * China Beach * Lands End * Sutro Baths * Sutro Heights * Ocean Beach * Fort Miley * Fort Funston * And countless breathtaking coastal viewpoints along the way. As a fourth-generation San Franciscan, I’ll share local history, personal stories, and little-known facts that bring these places to life. We’ll take a comfortable pace with plenty of opportunities to enjoy the scenery, take photos, and appreciate the incredible diversity of landscapes found within one city. Walk Details * Distance: Approximately 13 miles * Elevation Gain: About 1,300–1,500 feet * Pace: Moderate (around 3 mph with frequent stops) * Duration: Approximately 5½–6½ hours * Difficulty: Moderate. Participants should be comfortable walking the distance and handling hills. What to Bring * Comfortable walking shoes * Layers for changing weather * Water and lunch/snacks * Sunscreen and a camera This is a wonderful opportunity to experience San Francisco as few people ever do—following a continuous route through beaches, bluffs, forests, military history, and some of the finest coastal scenery in California. Come discover why the Golden Gate National Recreation Area is often called one of the world’s greatest urban parks.

🗣 🎨  (FULL) Tour of Recology SF (& Lunch Afterward)

🗣 🎨 **(FULL)** **Tour of Recology SF (& Lunch Afterward)** 🔆 Join me for this fascinating 3-hour tour of Recology SF. ▪︎ **Meet at 9 am sharp for check-in** at the John A. Legnitto Environmental Learning Center (401 Tunnel Ave.) ▪︎ **Parking is plentiful. DO NOT PARK** in the employee lot. ▪︎ **After the tour,** we'll gather for lunch at Creative Ideas Colombian Café (58 Leland Ave, SF) ▪︎ **PLEASE don't be a no-show.** If your plans change, remember to update your RSVP prior to the event. ▪︎ **A last minute cancellation** (within **72 hrs** of the event) will count as a no-show. 🍒 **Tour Itinerary & Highlights** ▪︎ **Environmental Learning Center:** Begin with an introductory presentation and educational exhibits on San Francisco's three-bin system (blue, green, and black/landfill.) ▪︎ **Transfer Station:** You will see the tipping floor, where massive trucks dump hundreds of tons of waste material. ▪︎ **Recycle Central at Pier 96:** Walk through this 185,000-square-foot facility, with giant rotating screens, where optical light sensor sorters and robots separate blue-bin recyclables. ▪︎ **Artist-in-Residence (AIR) Studios:** Visit on-site art studios where artists-in-residence transform discarded materials into sculptures and other original works. 🔹️ **Did you know?** Recology employs falconers and trained raptor birds as a natural and eco-friendly way to scare away thousands of nuisance scavenger seagulls and pigeons, without harming them. 🍒 **Logistics & Requirements** ▪︎ All attendees must sign a liability waiver at check-in. ▪︎ Duration: Roughly 3 hours. ▪︎ Closed-toe shoes required. ▪︎ Physical Requirements: Involves long periods of walking, stairs, uneven terrain, loud noises, and strong smells. ▪︎ Safety Gear: Recology provides hard hats, vests, and safety glasses, which must be worn. ▪︎ Transportation between 401 Tunnel Ave and Pier 96 is provided during the tour.

Lyon & Baker Beach Stairs Hike (Dogs Welcome)

Near and Inside the Presidio Golden Gate National Recreation Area, we are going up several sets of historic and scenic staircases. We will enjoy the 'Wave Organ', an acoustic sculpture on the jetty in the San Francisco Bay. Working our way along the edge of the Presidio past the lovely and majestic palace of fine arts, we head up the steep and busy Lyon staircase to panoramic views of the San Francisco Bay. We enter the presidio and take the Mountain Trail where we have lush green and views on one side and million dollar mansions on the other. We make our way to Bakers beach, then the long steep climb up Bakers Beach stairs, we then enjoy historical batteries, while enjoying great views of the bay, Angel Island and the Marin headland and the Golden Gate Bridge shadows over your entire walk. **Level:** Intermediate Plus **Total Distance:** 10+ mile, loop **Hiking Time:** 4 - 4.5 hours **Elevation Change:** 322 stairs Lyon Street, 200 sand stairs Baker beach Parking fee: Free Parking lot in Crissy Fields, East beach, leashed Dogs allowed, along water may roam freely, standard restroom and water. **GPS:** Latitude: N37.805715° Longitude: W 122.44912° **Map:** https://www.presidio.gov/transportation-internal/Shared%20Documents/presidio-trails.pdf **Trailhead / Meeting Point:** Starting point, next to the benches in front of the Crissy Field center near East Beach Parking Lot. Crissy Field Center, 1199 East Beach, Presidio San Francisco, CA 94129 **Hiking Directions: Starting point,** Crissy Field center, Right on East-beach trail leave Crissy Fields, out the jetty to visit 'The Wave Organ', then back and cross the street and walk past the Palace of fine arts, then cross Lombard, Up Lyon street and continue on the steep staircase to the top Broadway street view, enter the Presidio at Broadway gate, then continue on Mountain Lake Trail, continue around Mountain Lake Lodge on Park Trail, left on Valley Trail and continue on Lobo's Trail, cross Lincoln Boulevard and enter Bakers Beach, break at Bakers beach, then walk along the beach and write up Bakers Beach sand stairway to the top Immigrant Point overview, then continue Left on to Batteries to Bluff Trail to the Golden Gate Bridge over look (toll Plaza), then down the stairs to Fort Point, then take the Gate Promenade back to the East Beach and the starting point. **Driving Directions:** From Highway 101 north head into San Francisco, stay left on North 101 towards Golden gate bridge, Turn Right onto Market Street, then Left onto Franklin Street, Left onto Lombard St, then Right onto Broderick Street, Left onto Marina Blvd with a slight right onto Old Mason Street into the Presidio, Crissy Field parking lot is driveway on the right. Park and the Crissy Field Center is in the Parking lot on the Right side, you will see the large buildings. **Carpooling Link:** (Sign-up here) https://www.groupcarpool.com/t/f9rzhm **Carpooling Procedures:** No carpool discussion in the comments, join the carpool link and contact the driver or rider directly. **Thank you .......** **Legal Disclaimer:** Under what we are about Section [https://www.meetup.com/Urban-and-Bay-Hikers/](https://www.meetup.com/Urban-and-Bay-Hikers/)