Still standing in its glory [San Francisco CA]…read more When we come to the City we try to stop by this Pacific Heights neighborhood and stop by for a respectful look as we remember the late Robin Williams. The three-level Victorian house sits in a prime location. Mrs Doubtfire is a really great movie and if you haven't seen it I would highly recommend it. 32 years later after the filming of the movie the house still stands and garners many visitors. The next time you're in San Francisco make sure you stop by 2640 Steiner Street to see the Doubtfire Victorian home used for the exterior shots in the film. Miranda actually mentions the actual address of the Hillard house in the movie. The door and the famous steps has been changed and the gate is installed by the current owner to keep fans from sitting on the steps to get their photos taken. Review #0958 updated

If you love the movie Mrs. Doubtfire then this is a good place to stop by and take a picture. It's…read moredown the street from the Painted Sisters.

Heads up before you make the trek: the Wave Organ was closed when we got there. A dredging barge…read morewas parked offshore and running, with a Safety Notice zip-tied to a barrier blocking the path. Nothing about this shows up on Google Maps or in recent Yelp reviews, so we walked all the way out for a locked gate. Save yourself the surprise and check before you go. We heard about this place on a Sunday Morning broadcast and the history sold us. So we walked from Embarcadero Pier out to the jetty, mostly because we wanted the steps. The path along the breakwater has good bay views the whole way, with the city skyline behind you and the East Bay hills across the water. That part of the walk was worth it on its own. The closure looked temporary on paper, but the barge has been sitting there a while and was clearly mid-job when we arrived, so I would not bet on it clearing up soon. No way to know how long the dredging runs. Logistics: if you drive, there is parking near the Marina and the St. Francis Yacht Club, which puts you much closer than we were. The jetty itself is exposed, so bring a layer for wind. Bottom line: I think the Wave Organ is worth a visit for the setting and the concept, but I would not hoof it out there again on foot. One bright spot, the Palace of Fine Arts is close by and that was the highlight of the day. If your trip out here gets blocked, walk over there instead.

Very unique musical instrument and beautiful place to gaze the magical skyline of San Francisco…read moreplus enjoying the cooling breeze of the bay and the view of the ever famous Golden Gate Bridge. Free parking and nice walkways .

Peak SF experience. Always makes my day when I reach this at the turning point of my runs at the…read moreMarina!

I love this spot, it's the kind of community-driven joy that makes SF special. If you're going to…read morerun through Crissy Field to Fort Point, you've got to high five (or ten) the hands. There are paw prints for dogs too! Y'all about a little extra motivation boost halfway through a run. Lore is that these are maintained by the GGB Ironworkers.

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.

Had the chance to visit this art installation during my work trip in San Francisco! It's a…read morebeautiful piece of art that captures the night and great for a walking date in Golden Gate Park. It's an installation that turns off at 9:30 pm until late April, 2024. It's near peacock meadows, so be careful if you're taking an Uber/Lyft there as Golden Gate Park as your intended destination will bring you to the other side, which is what I experienced! Great attraction for families, couples, and all ages!

All Man, The Entwined Lighted Festival is FIRE. You have to come check out the vibes and beauty…read morehere of the forest and lights. Its like a scene in a Fairy Tale. Its not far from the Golden Gate Bridge, but it is a joy to see and be around. I took plenty of photos that I will have our every chance I get. It was just a scene to see for me. I will visit again.

The glass elevators at the Westin St. Francis are key-card protected and not open to public…read moreanymore. You need a hotel key card to access one of the glass elevators, and I think it's used to be one of free things for locals and tourists years ago.

Wheee! What a fun way to see the city! This elevator is in…read morethe St Regis overlooking Union Square. If you act like you know where you're going, and just jump in with some random guest, you'll get to see a great view of the city for free! The glass elevators are constantly zipping up and down. You need a guest's key to get the elevator to work, so be sure to hop on with someone going to their room, and just start mashing the highest numbers on the keypad. It's kinda thrilling to know that they put in a card reader to keep out the public, but this is totally worth the trip if you don't stay here. Unfortunately, this Glass Elevator is not like the one written about in the sequel to Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. Unlike the one in Willie Wonka's Chocolate Factory, this one doesn't go sideways, through the roof, or upside down at all.

People confuse this staircase with the 16th Avenue Tiled Steps, and they are certainly similar as…read morethey both feature lovely colorful artwork created by the same artists. But they are not the same thing. The Hidden Garden Steps are located a little further away from Grandview Park (the bottom of the stairway along Kirkham Street) and presents a slightly different theme, the focus of its design more on flowers and plants rather than sealife. It's a unique and beautiful work of art, in good condition (as of January 2026), and located in a nice neighborhood in SF. It's also free to visit with free street parking nearby too. I couldn't find a reason to give it anything less than 5 stars.

After visiting the 16th Avenue Tiled Steps, I was just on my way out of Golden Gate Heights, when I…read morenoticed a sign that said, "Hidden Garden Steps." The sun was almost down, but I decided to check it out. With 148 steps designed by the same artists as the 16th Avenue steps, this really almost felt like a continuation of the same staircase. The Hidden Garden steps have more of a garden theme, with lots of flowers, bugs, mushrooms, birds, etc. The plants around the steps are similar to those found around the 16th Avenue steps. Succulents are interspersed with California native plants chosen to attract butterflies, including the locally endangered green hairstreak butterfly. My favorite design on the staircase is the snail near the bottom. The shell swirls up several stairs, with patches of mushrooms sprouting from the head. The snail is surrounded by mosaics of California native plants such as hibiscus flowers and buckeye sprouts. The Hidden Garden steps are about 10 years newer than the 16th Avenue steps. In my opinion, the artists improved their skills over time, and, while one flight smaller, these steps are actually more impressive than their sister stairs. The design feels more imaginative and detailed. While the 16th Avenue steps were a bit slippery, the Hidden Garden steps were even more slippery. Because the sun was setting, I really had to watch my step. This must be why the steps are "closed" after dark. Overall, this is such a beautiful community art project, and I'm so glad I happened to stumble across it. My only regret is not having visited earlier so that I could compare the sunset views with the views from a block away.

Heard about it and had to go see it…read more Umbrella Alley was an amazing experience! I was wowed by the incredible artwork and brilliant and vibrant colors everywhere. The creativity and energy of this place make it a true San Francisco, gem. A must visit

The Umbrella Alley is undergoing renovations when we went in May 2026. Some of the nice murals…read moreyou'd see in photos in the internet are there but only as copies. You won't find the umbrellas too. If you have limited time, would skip this one at least until the renovations are finished.

Can't go wrong with spending time near the ocean. The breeze is just so calming. Cant wait to go…read moreback.

A beautiful spot to view the beach, scenic rocks and the ocean. A short hike leads to the ruins of…read morethe baths which you can walk around and enjoy panoramic views of the ocean. There are several smaller trails to walk around and enjoy the ocean vistas. We also saw some geese, gulls and cormorants cooling off in the water on a rather warm day. We went here during the day, but can imagine this being a popular spot during sunset as well. They do have posted warnings about frequent car break ins which is a reminder to keep valuables away from cars. They also have a visitor center with a cafe and restrooms. A good, dog friendly place to spend a few hours at a leisurely pace.