Who needs a stairmaster when there are actual outdoor steps all over SF?…read more The Moraga Steps ascend on beautifully tiled stairs to a tiny mountaintop with trees and vistas of the Sunset district and beyond. The reward is the view from the top!

Up and ready to do something early, while the rest of the family was sleeping, my wife and I…read moredecided to go check out the 16th Ave Tile Steps, also know as the Moraga Steps. From what I've read, the project came together started in 2003 all thanks to some of the local neighbors that were tired of looking at 163 plain concrete steps to the top of the hill. They collected donations and raised money, selling tiles, which could be customized with names, dates, phrases, anything people wanted to add to make this project come to life. It took two years of raining money, and assembly, "opening" in 2005. The steps really are truly worth checking out, for being over 20 years old, they still have beautiful and vibrant color. I would have though the sun would have faded them, but i guess the color being baked in to the ceramic tiles really holds up. The design, is very stunning, going "from sea to the star", with so much detail, so much creativity. At the top of the steps, you can hike another set of steps up to an amazing 360 degree panorama of the city. Worth the extra 150 or so steps to go all the way up. If you're able bodied, I'd recommend checking this spot out. It's free, and in a residential neighborhood, so parking is also free and easy to find.

Pretty neat event despite the crowds!…read more We got to try a couple vendors early that didn't have lines but later in the event certain lines were INSANE, easily half a city block if not more. Still, it was GREAT to see so many people out and about and all the little shops open as well. I hope this does continue and gets better over time. Porta-potties would be a start haha.

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.

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!

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.

Beautiful!! I'm not sure but I think they do this every year! I absolutely love it. I hope they…read morekeep doing this. It's always beautiful to see.

Tiny labyrinth at the end of the trail. Great place to view…read moreGolden Gate Bridge. There's no proper trail to go down to the labyrinth, need a good hiking boot

Amazing sunset spot. Great place to start or end the lands end trail. Recently finished the…read morecrosstown trail, which ends here and was rewarded with a nice sunset. Also don't forget to walk down and go to the side elevated part for a view of the heart shaped rock (my fave)!

At the turn around point of the Land's End Trail, we had the opportunity to go a little further…read more Down the hill we went and explored the remains of the once massive indoor public bathhouse built in the 1890s, which housed salt water pools, museums and gardens. Unfortunately there is not much remaining of this seemingly once amazing structure, but realizing what once stood here, and seeing the massive foot print of a structure built over 130 years ago was humbling. I'm sure it would have been an amazing site to see in the day, with a glass roof, and just the massive scale, built right at the edge of the ocean. While down exploring the ruins we also found a cave in the side of the cliff. We explored this as well, and experienced an indescribable sound reverberation as the waves pounded the exterior of the wall of the cave. Very cool experience. Again, there is not much to see here, but I'd still recommend exploring it if you have the chance!

Ultimately, it couldn't be lower than four stars because of Polly Ann…read more I've found other gems here, some of which I am not yet prepared to reveal. It's so big and unconfusing! It doesn't have enough bus lines! It doesn't have any of the quirky charm of the Richmond, whether Inner or Outer (or Central?--I don't believe in Central Richmonds; I just believe in me). It has lots of places to eat and shop, but mile-for-mile, it pales in comparison to its tiny but powerful sister the Inner Sunset. But it dominates in a way with its repetitive blocks and downhill-to-the-ocean game. The only real question I have is Is Parkside part of the Outer Sunset, or are they two separate neighborhoods? I used to be heavily on the former side, but I may be persuadable to the dark side. Give me your best arguments. And astounding Safeway parking lots; and hardware stores that could (and couldn't); and disgraced former, current, and would-be supervisors. It's also sad and not cool that Bradley Nowell died here. (I don't know why it still makes me so sad.)

It is what it is, a vast expanse of American suburban architecture. Block after block of rows after…read morerows of mostly pastel stucco houses, some fabulous deco & "unique" landscaping. Every neighborhood has their own style of personal expression. No lawn? Paint the concrete green. Sculpt those bushes into soft serve spirals. Built over lots of sand, the planners gave the hood wide streets, and an exceptional tangle of overhead utility wires. Note: wealthy PAC Heights has all their wires underground. But that's the beauty of the Outer Sunset. Completely unpretentious, Pacific Ocean adjacent, 59 degree foggy summers.

I have been to the Bisons before but never saw so many of them. It was relaxing to see them. Some…read morewere roaming, eating and mingling. There are benches were you can view them in a quiet and peaceful environment. The maintenance of these Bisons are excellent. They seem peaceful and well taken care of. Their cages look clean and there are plenty for them to eat.

Bison are in the park and you can get up and close. Golden Gate Park is known for the Bison…read morePavilion. It exists thanks to a partnership with the Zoo. Check out these pretty calm creatures as they sleep or just stand around. This is located close to a few other good things. A good way to get close to animals. It's located next to the dog park. Take your dog here and then check out some bigger animals after that. An interesting history. The bison and other creatures have been in the park since 1892, even before the Zoo was opened. Of course one can't get too close to the bison. They're protected by fencing so it's not like you can pet them. Even so, you can get a good look at these gentle creatures. They seem to not move around much, so you can see a few just chilling and hanging. Cool place for one to see animals in action. It's just that they won't have much action going on. The paddock is big and has about a dozen or so of the bison sleeping or wandering.

This is a very peaceful place to sit and relax during the day. At some points in the afternoon the…read morebenches get direct sunlight (if it is not too foggy), making it a decent place to bask. There are a couple of other parklets right around the corner on Judah, but they tend to get more foot traffic. I enjoy that this one is off Judah and has plenty of seating. The only time to avoid this place is when there is a crowd waiting outside the neighboring restaurant. The woodwork and the design of this parklet is beautiful, and I will certainly be back.

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.

Simply beautiful 1200 ft winding line of recycled eucalyptus trunks in a forest beneath eucalyptus…read moretrees. A great place for photos or taking a walk and getting fresh air. It was very quiet and tranquil when we went. I wasn't wearing the right shoes so we didn't walk through, but it was easy to access for me to just admire it.