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.

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.

Shhhhh. It's a secret!…read more Loved this place! Ended up there for Halloween and was so happy to see everyone there in like minded fashion had dressed up in thoughtful and original costumes. No store bought sexy nascar mechanics or purple hatted pimps here. Everything about the place exudes cool, right down the giant doomsday ray in the downstairs lobby.

I've been wanting to check this place out since I read about the Halloween show they put on…read more First, once you find the front door, you must wait for them to come downstairs and unlock the gate and the door for you. Then you're directed down a long hallway, up two flights of stairs, then down a shorter hallway then you're suddenly inside what can only be described as the best makeshift treehouse you can imagine. Your 8-year-old self is in heaven! I was in awe of this place when I walked in. It's small, but they still managed to put so, so much into it! There's a portion of a ship coming out of the wall and a captain's room next to it stuffed with books I've never heard of and many, many comic books with paintings and a roll-top desk. You go a bit further inside, seeing many, many posters and paintings throughout the way, then there's the world's tiniest bar to your left with the 1970's style black and white tile chipping away on the floor in front of it. To your right there will be the world's tiniest skate ramp with another room at the top of it. That's right, in order to get inside that tiny room, you'd have to climb up the skate ramp, like you would a slide that we all attempted to climb up as kids on a playground. In the very back of that room is the stage, and to the right of the stage is, yes, that tree house everyone has talked about. There is just such a vintage feel to this place, like you're going back in time. It's simply beautiful. On this particular night, we all had the enjoyment of listening to oldies from the '50's and the '60's while we all had cheap beer and played Berlin Style ping-pong. Everyone had a blast, whether we were awesome at ping-pong or terrible at it, we all had the time of our lives! I HIGHLY recommend going at least once to check it out. Once you find it, it's worth it! I can't wait until their next event, and it's so close to the 16th and Mission BART station! The Secret Alley should be on everyone's bucket list.

Public art gracing Patricia's Green in Hayes Valley. Sponsored by the San Francisco Arts…read moreCommission & created by David Normal. It all started with Stonehenge, morphed to artistic interpretations like Car Henge in Texas, Truck Henge, & many more Henge. But hey, cats rule. These regal cats emit a low electronic purr, & have a bench for contemplation. 3-D printed! Must See.

Just real fun. Reminds you of the movie "Big". The history…read moreof this creation Is heartfelt. FUN

The Musical Stairs, located at Pier 39, is straight out of that old movie 'Big' in the late 80s…read more So every time you step on a stair, you're playing a piano note. When It's crowded near hear, sometimes it can be kinda hard to hear it. Kids love these stairs, and why not!! And when I say kids, I mean kids of all ages!! So, if you're at Pier 39, keep a lookout for these. They are located about the middle of the pier on the right side when entering the pier. It's definitely worth checking out!!

What a cute little reminder of what's important in life. You find them all around the city.read more

Fun to explore the city and find these hearts. I've never specifically looked for them rather I've…read morestumbled over them. A scavenger hunt of sorts. I remember 20 years ago as a college student bumming around the city with friends doing nonsense like this. Looking back that is the life. The city is so beautiful and likely if your reading this you live in or near it... so jump in the car. Hop on Bart... take a ferry over the bay - visit more often... Remember people travel half way across the earth to see your neighboring city - your just an $8 bridge toll away. San Francisco in general is an unusual place. Growing up around here in the general area what I've seen is my local friends immediately leave when they have a kid. They are displaced by people from all over the USA and even world. Those that come for a job here. Residents of the city are mostly economic immigrants. It is rare to find those that grew up in the area.

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.

Can here on a whim from another hike since I was in the Presidio. The steps are semi high, so make…read moresure you are comfortablr walking up these steps! The crowd is seemingly friendly. I was taking some photos and this lady jogger paused so I could do that. Think she also wanted a break from her run lol. These stairs are surrounded by lots of lush greenery. So it's a good place to get your steps in.

I've been to San Francisco many times. I was in the Presidio area, so I decided to finally check…read moreout the Lyon Street Steps. In hindsight, it was a bad idea to climb these steps the day before the San Francisco Marathon. However, it wasn't too bad and the views were pretty spectacular! Not quite as popular for tourists, but I would rate these steps over the windy Lombard St.

Always amazing customer service. Be one of the cool kids and…read morestay at this rock and roll institution. Art, heated pool and much more at this storied hotel.

I highly discourage anyone from booking a stay at this property. After making an online…read morereservation, the hotel scheduled a buyout. I called 24 hours prior to arrival to confirm my stay, but after driving 4.5 hours, I was told my online booking was invalid. Management later admitted that the staff member who took my confirmation call had misinformed me. The lack of accountability and professionalism was shocking. Additionally, the rooms and grounds are in desperate need of an upgrade, and the dining experience at Chambers does not live up to the aesthetic. Look elsewhere for accommodation in San Francisco.

Clarion Alley is a super impressive free outdoor mural gallery from local artists. I got lucky and…read morewas invited into the studio of one of them as I was walking by, admiring the pieces. There are a range of messages and meanings, but almost every single one revolved around a social justice matter. Prioritise this alleyway if you're visiting SF!

An outdoor art experience, for sure!…read more I read that many of the murals along this alley have political undertones to them -- had I not known that going in, I might have looked at the murals in a different way. There is a ton of talent displayed on these walls, garages and doors. I also noticed that a few murals have expanded to the streets directly left and right of here - kind of extending the experience. Worth a stroll through. To be honest though -- I'm not great at interpreting a lot of their meanings, but do plan to do a little more research. Note: I was here a little early (9am-ish) on a Saturday. I had the alley to myself, along with one gentleman in the middle of the street who may have been on some substances (based on his behavior). I overall felt safe... but was a little put off by him and did walk past him on the quicker side. 2024: 69/100