Ryan is fabulous and knows SF better than anyone I know. I highly recommend his guided tours.

Ryan is an outstanding guide and representative of San Francisco and Golden Gate Park. He is warm and personable, throwing interesting tidbits of information in that feel as though they are just for you. Although he has a set route, he is responsive to your needs and interests and customizes the tour to the participants. Can't recommend him highly enough. Don't forget to wear comfortable shoes! read more

We have been on many guided tours in this country and abroad and can say, without a doubt, that Ryan is the "best of the best"! His storehouse of information seems limitless and his delivery is highly entertaining! We look forward to future tours with Ryan as we roam local. read more

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SUCH a great tour. Ryan has so much love for his city, it's infectious. We walked the Castro and Mission neighborhoods - it was sometimes a bit physically challenging, but he was so good about stopping occasionally to point out distant landmarks, etc., and thereby providing discreet breaks on the bigger inclines and stairways. Ryan has a depth of knowledge and history that makes for a really engaging conversation, and while he's probably done hundreds of these, I got the feeling that he was just as excited to share what he knows as he was on his first time out. He really wants people to love the city and he makes a great case for just that. Really hard to imagine coming away from a tour with him and not feel more of an appreciation and kinship for San Francisco. Made this recent transplant feel all warm and fuzzy about her new home. read more

Tour was awesome! Ryan is a fantastic tour guide -- talk about knowing your city and loving it deeply! My wife and I could not even begin to imagine being more pleased. TAKE THIS TOUR !!! read more

Wow! Bravo, Roam Local! We had such a great time on our Mission/Castro tour! Being a tourist in my own city is always fun, but our tour w/ Roam Local made this experience truly memorable. My friend came to visit, and I decided to take her "off the beaten path", away from the tourist traps. Our tour guide Ryan is a true SF expert. He was so knowledgeable, and he shared many interesting and rare-facts (even my native-self didn't know these gems of knowledge and secret corners of the city). I can't wait to go on ALL of the RoamLocal tours! read more

Roam Local - Tours Near Me - San Francisco, California

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This last weekend, we took a tour with Ryan: Chinatown/ North Beach. It was fantastic and we will surely book a tour in the future! Highlights: -Amazing knowledge of the history and culture of SF -Incredible energy like no other I've seen -Enthusiasm for EVERYTHING -Healthy 4.0+ mile hike with minimum steps/difficulty -Beautiful weather, luckily for us! -Good crowd of about 10 (old and young) -From buildings to people to events to architecture, we learned about it all Things to think about: -Not cheap at $40 per person (but understandable for the amount your learn/walk) -Booking was a bit difficult, but it was sorted out by the time we got there -He was a bit late and we had no way of contacting him if there had been a problem I'm already looking forward to the next time we take a tour with Ryan. Check it out! read more

Roam Local - You start the tour here. - Tours Near Me - San Francisco, California

Had a great time touring China town and learning unique and interesting facts about the history of San Francisco. Ryan is very personable and engaging and was fun to walk around with and share a beer and conversation. read more

Roam Local - Tours Near Me - San Francisco, California

Just going to add my voice to the chorus of praises for Roam Local. I joined Ryan for his tour of the Old Waterfront and Telegraph Hill. This was my third trip to San Francisco, but it was the first time I really SAW the city, and it's all thanks to Ryan. Instantly engaging and ease-inducing, Ryan made me feel like we had been friends for ages. His pride in and love for the city are both apparent and highly contagious. I became enchanted by the "secret" stairways and parks Ryan guided us through, and the vistas that unfurled at every turn were breathtaking. His knowledge of the city's history is staggering, he effortlessly answered our abundant questions, and I appreciated his use of technology in giving us a glimpse into the golden, olden days of San Francisco. The one regret I have is that I only participated in a single tour; on future trips to the city I will definitely plan on taking more Roam Local tours. I think it's fair to say that Ryan is the best tour guide in the world, so, do yourself a favor and book a tour with him. read more

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Well another great tour today with Ryan! We had such a wonderful day in the Marina... Perfect weather, beautiful scenery with a knowledgeable tour guide that has a contagious exuberance for SF. We loved every minute! It's hard not to be wowed by the depth and layers of rich SF history that we were given today. This is my third tour with Ryan...I'm a Bay Area native and have come away from each tour with many moments of wondering where I was!. Book in advance!! Look at my pics read more

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Ryan is a real gem! I went on a tour with my family (parents are in their sixties) for his most physically challenging tour the four peaks. Ryan has a natural friendliness about him.. Almost like an instant bond he forms with everyone. Everywhere we go he points out the interesting facts about the neighborhood, a wall mural, an art work, the weather, history, plants, flowers and buildings... I have no idea how he remembers everything but I was really impressed. At the end of the day, this mixed crowd group had a wonderful time and Ryan made this experience a super special one, I highly recommend Ryan! read more

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Seeing the flawless yelp reviews is what prompted my bf and me to book a tour with Roam Local. We knew it would be "good" but man oh man this went infinitely beyond our expectations. SHORT VERSION REVIEW: DO ROAM LOCAL! ITS ONE OF THE BEST EXPERIENCES YOULL EVER HAVE TRUST ME!!! LONG VERSION REVIEW: Roam Local. To "roam" rather than to "tour"; it is an immersion into a city and its culture with an inhabitant who is passionate about the city. Do you want a bullet list of city trivia read to you while being enclosed in a muggy bus, sitting shoulder to shoulder with a stranger who constantly blocks the window? How about a walk through the city behind 20 other tourists, barely being able to hear your tour guide? No and no! Paraphrasing Rick Steves: get lost in a city! Get a true appreciation of the city you're visiting. Dont get caught in the tourist trap like Pier 39 where you see the same tourists and lame street performers youd see at any other amusement park. There is no other experience that narrates the culture and history of San Francisco the way Ryan does. Roam Local is like a really good novel whereas the typical tour is like the preview of that novel's film adaptation! The book is always better! My boyfriend and I did the Chinatown/North Beach/Russian Hill tour. Very efficiently, we covered a lot of ground all on foot. I knew there would be a lot of walking but I did not realize the extent of how hilly San Francisco is. **Make sure you stretch, hydrate, and wear walking shoes!** Again, it doesnt feel like a "tour"; its private so there is a 6 person max. The wealth of information that Ryan shared was astounding. Like other reviewers explained, he takes you to places that no other tour takes you. I say "tour" because that word is associated with "tourists" which we rarely ran into. He took us to magnificent views that even very few locals knew of. We walked down beautiful streets where you only saw locals and not other tourists with massive cameras. Every place we passed by there was an interesting story. You dont feel like a tourist. You're exploring the city and learning a lot about it by the second. Unlike other tours Ryan does not regurgitate facts from a travel book, but rather he tells you the stories of what HE researched. In addition to being extremely knowledgeable, Ryan is also very pleasant guy: funny, friendly, the type of guy that can get along with anyone. Im telling you, Roam Local is a must! I could go on and on about it but theres no way for you to know how amazing it is until you experience it yourself. You wont regret it. Im not sure what the current rates are but given your time and the unmatchable experience you're getting, YOU will be getting the deal. Book now before it gets too popular that you cant get a reservation! My next booking will be the Castro District. read more

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Ryan is the ish. My gf found him on groupon as a quick tour to get our weekend and it couldn't have been a better choice. Ryan is courteous, funny, knowledgable and very accommodating. He took us on a very cool (but tolling) tour of Chinatown, North Beach and the Financial District where we learned a ton about the history of the areas and all the nook and crannies that the neighborhoods offer. He took us to this amazing location by Russian Hill where we got a sick panorama view of the bay bridge and the downtown area. Ryan is a fun guy with lots of enthusiasm for what he does and i have to admit I am a bit jealous of his job lol. Awesome guy and def worth the time and $$ His rates are reasonable and if you're into checking out things off the beaten path then look no further than Roam Local. read more

The short review: Take the Four Peaks tour if you want beautiful vistas, interesting stories and treks through the great Open Spaces of San Francisco. Ryan's passion and enthusiasm for the city is apparent as he's not reciting a lot of facts but telling the story of the history, architecture, local celebrity and plants of the city and area. I don't typically give 5 stars on reviews but this "roam" has to be one of the best walking tours I've ever taken-- and I've been on quite a few. Plus, the customer service exceeded expectations. I look forward to going on another roam soon and making sure I take my next out-of-towners as well! Ryan is instantly likeable-- even before the roam. There was a glitch in the website that Ryan resolved by offering to take me on my requested tour on a day he didn't typically conduct one. Thanks, Ryan! I've visited San Francisco multiple times before moving to the East Bay area almost a year ago and never went on a more in-depth, engaging, and entertaining journey into the city. The roam starts at the lowest elevation of the tour and the destinations (the four peaks) are pointed out. At each peak, you turn back toward your starting point to see how far you've come in just a short period of time. While the Four Peaks tour is listed as the most physically demanding, it wasn't too bad at all. Read the website and make sure you wear comfortable shoes and bring water (a hat or sunscreen might be good, too). read more

I have been in the Bay Area for 20 years and I have been to the City many, many times so when my mom visited I decided to do something different this time and Roam Local was different. We took the Castro tour. It was fantastic. We learned things about San Francisco and saw things that we never would have noticed had we been in a vehicle. Luckily for us, we were the only ones on the tour with Ryan so it was a little more personal. I recommend this tour, although I am certain that the other ones that Ryan offers are just as good. Enjoy. read more

Amazing!!! Thanks Ryan for the awesome SF walking guide. My husband and I did a food tour in Rome and enjoyed it so much and set the bar for guided tours. This is not a food tour but the it is in the same level as the Rome tour we did in terms of history, architecture and walk off the beaten path type of walking tour. I'm so elated that we did this to celebrate our anniversary. We are local but did not know much of SF history so this is educational for us. Type of tour: Chinatown, North beach and Russian hill tour We went to the Cable car museum, Chinatown ( went inside a Chinese prayer/worship building, mind you I wouldn't have done this if we went here on our own), Ryan gave us tips on the best Chinese restaurant and dim sum place. He points out landmarks that I see on my trips to SF but don't know anything about it. So amazing to know what its significance. We then headed up to Russian hill and I was wowed by a park we went up to see an amazing panoramic view of the SF. The houses we're impressive and he explained the different designs of the house. I enjoyed this due to the fact that I traveled to Europe and I fascinated by the designs of the buildings and houses. Again, we walked in non tourist spot and I felt like I was a local there. Then walked to North beach and he gave us info on some landmarks that most of the time we take for granted. He also gave us tips on where to eat the best pizza. We continued our tour back to Chinatown but on the way, Ryan pointed out a good bookstore place, bar and custom tailored store to check out. This was one of the best things I've done locally and I can't thank Ryan enough for making our anniversary memorable. I've traveled outside the country and for the first time, I actually felt like there is really a lot to learn and enjoy locally. Thanks Ryan and keep up the good work. This tour is like walking with a friend so you will enjoy it! Tips: wear walking shoes, bring water and small snack and some bills in case you want to buy something in Chinatown. read more

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The best tour I've been on in San Francisco by far! My family was visiting from the east coast, so I took them on the 4 Peaks tour. It was unbelievable, far exceeding all of our expectations. We saw so many breathtaking views of the city and the Bay. The best one was from Tank Hill, which I had never even heard of before. There was a good deal of walking on this tour, but no one seemed to mind...I personally enjoyed getting the exercise. Being on foot is the best way to really experience this beautiful city, rather than sitting in the backseat of some tour bus. Our guide Ryan was extremely personable, funny, and knowledgable about all sorts of fascinating details about SF. On top of all the exploring we did, we got a chance to visit the charming shops and cafes in residential neighborhoods that make San Francisco a really unique and lovely place. You will not get this experience on the other mass tours. Highly recommended!!! A perfect day in San Francisco. read more

Great tour with Ryan yesterday! We four friends took our first post vaccination outing and explored the Castro and Mission districts with Ryan. He has such an infectious enthusiasm, knowledge of history, architecture, botany and even birds and a real love of the city. We're definitely planning to explore other neighborhoods with Ryan in the months to come. read more

We booked our tour from ToursByLocals. Ryan is kind, flexible, energetic, enthusiastic and knowledgeable. We've visited San Francisco dozens of times and have taken other tours however I have to say we learned so many new and interesting things from Ryan. Somethings can only be appreciated on foot and up close. We especially liked the fact that we could stop if something especially caught our interest or wanted a quick bite. He also provided his number In case we had questions while we were in town. His love and pride for this lovely city is evident and contagious, we highly recommend Ryan as a guide. (We had a group of 4, ranging from 17 to 51, we're not particularly athletic and found the 3-4hour walking tour just perfect) read more

This past weekend I made my first trip to San Francisco. I didn't really have an agenda and also, I was traveling by myself. Before I left, I cruised some of the groupons available for activities in the area and came across Roam Local. I scheduled my tour and was very excited. But... I scheduled it for the wrong month. Ryan was fantastic and worked me in last minute for the next day. I took the Four Peaks tour and learned so many fascinating things about the city. I took the tour by myself. Ryan is so friendly that it honestly felt like I was just hanging out with a friend. Ryan is incredibly knowledgable about the area, from historical facts to plant and tree species, he really knows the area. He made sure to point out some of this favorite homes, gardens, and little interesting stories he has come across while doing the tours. The Four Peaks is an excellent tour to take if you feel as though you may have endulged a little too much and want to work off some of those wine calories (about 900 to be exact). I was definitely winded and slept all the way through my red-eye flight home. The views were breathtaking, and I might have bored some of my friends with all of the San Francisco facts I learned. These tours are great to get a non-tourist experience and also fantastic if you live there. I plan on going back sooner rather than later and definitely want to take another tour! read more

We went on the Chinatown/Russian Hill/North Beach tour last weekend. Ryan is a master story teller - he's animated, really into the city and its history, and full of great anecdotes. And I promise that I am not related to him - there is no kick back involved! He managed to keep everyone interested - from the 12 year old who hates physical activity to the college student to the parents. We got to see places that I would never go - inside Asian markets, fortune cookie factory, temple.... If we had stayed in San Francisco, I would have taken another of his tours - we learned so much more than we did when we walked around on our own and we were really entertained by Ryan. He was easy to deal with for scheduling and afterwards we texted him for recommendations for shopping and lunch - went way above and beyond... I would highly recommend this to anyone. read more

Had another great tour with Ryan last week. He took my wife and i on the tour of the 4 peaks. Man, it was a tough tour, but Ryan made it so enjoyable and he had so many stories to keep us interested. I had been to SF numerous times, but the places we went i had no idea existed. Each one of the 4 peaks he took us to had the most beautiful views of the city! We saw so many amazing houses, plants, and even went on some slides built into the hill! This was our third tour with Ryan and we can't wait to go back and take the last one. I would highly recommend taking the 4 peaks tour if you don't mind all the walking. I think we did around 3 miles and a lot of it was up staircases and up hills. read more

TAKE THIS TOUR-you won't be disappointed Wow! What a spectacular tour given by an amazing guide! Ryan is very likeable and personable. He is quick to develop a rapport with you. He is extremely knowledgeable and shares the information in a fun, interactive way. I've been on many San Francisco tours over the years, and Ryan's tour is the best, hands down! I only wish that I'd known about his tours sooner-I would've taken most, if not all, of them. I definitely will on my next trip. I took the Telegraph Hill & Old Waterfront tour. I was the only one signed up, but Ryan never let that be an issue. It rained lightly during most of the tour, but we persevered. His excitement, passion and enthusiasm were contagious and never waned. I learned all sorts of fun new facts. I didn't want it to end. TAKE THIS TOUR read more

Awesome walking tour!!! I'd heard Roam Local was a more authentic, intimate experience than the big cattle call walking tours and we were not disappointed! We did the Castro & Mission Loop which was active enough to cover lots of ground and get to know the distinct flavor of each neighborhood, but not too strenuous for my in-laws to complain. Our guide Ryan was insanely knowledgeable about everything from architecture to history to restaurant recommendations. There are so many magical, quirky little secrets about San Francisco, and Ryan seems to know them all. We will certainly Roam Local again! read more

My friend (who is local to San Francisco) and myself joined one of Roam Local tours not that long ago and we both agreed that Ryan is by far the best tour guide we have ever met. He is incredibly knowledgeable and armed with a lot of amusing anecdotes and curious facts about the city while his easy-going manner and great sense of humor make three-hour tour fly by. Prepare your camera as you will be taken to some unique spots that are completely off the beaten path and offer the most breathtaking views of the city! Ryan is an undisputable expert on anything you ever wanted to know about San Francisco, be it the rich history of the city or the best Dim Sum place in the neighborhood... I couldn't recommend Roam Local tours enough!!! read more

Had a tour of Chinatown, Russian Hill and North Beach with Ryan today. The tour was excellent, very informative and full of interesting insights you aren't going to get from a standard city tour. It was an absolutely beautiful day in the city which made the whole experience even more delightful. I'd recommend a Roam Local tour to anyone that enjoys being out on the street actually "in" the city you are touring. read more

I'll keep this review short and sweet. Just scroll down and see all the 5 star reviews and positive comments about Ryan, ditto on all. Best tour of the city you can get. If you had a really good friend and he knew all these incredible places to go, both secret and famous, and he wanted to give you a tour of his city with the hope that you will have a great day and at the end of it be excited about all the cool stuff you learned, you would be so grateful to have that friend... that's a day with Ryan. read more

This tour of San Francisco is the way to go. You get a great feel for the city and Ryan takes you places that you would not be able to find on your own. I would highly recommend taking the tour towards the beginning of your visit, because the invaluable knowledge that Ryan provides can be used throughout the rest of your stay. If we go back to SF, we will definitely do another tour. By far the best tour we have ever done. Oh, and ask Ryan for restaurant recommendations. Everything we tried was great. read more

There isn't much I can say that hasn't already been said by those before me in other reviews. Ryan is the best. His knowledge of the city (architecture, history, fun facts, people, places, everything!) is almost limitless and what he doesn't know, he is determined to figure out. He has more energy than anyone I have ever met. I have been on tours in various cities and this was by far the best. The others don't even come close to being able to compare to this one. If I am ever back in the area, I would definitely look up one of his other tours to see other parts of the city. It was amazing! Definitely check this guy out before considering one of the more commercial tours. He will open up parts of the city to you that you would have otherwise never known about. I also loved all his stories of the extraordinary women who helped make the city great. It's too bad you don't learn that stuff in school. Overall my hubby and I both loved it and wish Ryan the best. From the looks of it, he is off to a great start. Keep up the amazing work. read more

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We had a friend visiting from Holland and wanted to ensure she saw multiple dimensions of San Francisco. With our 50% HomeRun.com deal, we were able to book this very affordable and informative 2-hour tour of Telegraph Hill and the Old Waterfront. Although we've lived in the Bay Area for three years, we learned many interesting facts and hidden nooks throughout the tour, some of which we hope to visit on our own in the future. Ryan was an excellent and enthusiastic guide. Highly recommend a Roam Local Tour to both visitors and locals! read more

We recently took a trip to SF and booked the Castro/Eureka Valley Four Peaks tour. It was INCREDIBLE! Ryan is made for this job as he provided an amazingly educational and fun experience. He was so knowledgable and practically is a walking San Francisco Encyclopedia. I would 110% recommend Ryan's tours to anyone looking for a fascinating, local viewpoint of SF. Can't wait to try another one of his tours! read more

I meet Ryan Curtis through a mutual friend and was interested in doing a tour of SF. As I have lived in the area for over 12 years now I thought this would be a great way to perhaps learn and see something new in a different way. We settled on a day and did the twin peaks tour. Ryan showed us a great time filled with new sites and things we never thought of seeing. His knowledge and research of the area was very impressive. He totally customized the tour to our needs and wants. He had stops for some great food places and some libations which is always appreciated. We will be returning for some more walking tours of the city and would say it is a MUST for anyone visiting the city for the first time. We do a lot of traveling in and out of the country and wish we could find a Ryan Curtis for every city we visit. No travel book can replace local knowledge. Thanks Ryan!!!!! read more

Castro and Mission District tour was superb - educational, entertaining and thoroughly enjoyable. Highly recommended!

Last weekend a friend took me on a walking tour with Roam Local and it's owner/operator Ryan. We toured the Castro and the Mission neighborhoods. I learned so much and had such a fun time seeing the small streets, shops, neighborhood architecture, flora & fauna. Ryan's enthusiasm and knowledge of history and quirky details pertaining to these neighborhoods is superb. I will definitely take another one of his tours--soon! read more

I had a great tour with Ryan, and recommend his company to others. Ryan was professional, very knowledgeable, and enthusiastic about sharing SF. If you are thinking of taking one his tours, stop thinking...book it now before he fills up. read more

Ryan was an excellent tour guide. We did the Old Waterfront /Telegraph hill tour. He had interesting historic stories that he researched and supplemented with pictures he showed us on his ipad. There are so many hidden spots in this city. This tour has given me extra motivation to find many more of these little secret garden gems. Tips: wear good walking shoes, bring a long sleeve for times when you are in the shade, and water. read more

Awesome tour! Ryan is fun and very informative. I took the tour of Chinatown, Russian Hill and Northbeach, and I highly recommend it. What a cool way to see the City, learn some interesting history, and get good exercise at the same time. Ryan has an amazing knowledge of San Franicso history, people, architecture, events and food and he makes it lots of fun. read more

I went on the Four Peaks tour with Owner Ryan on Saturday and it was a blast !! He is a knowledgable & enthusiastic tour guide. We went to some great neighborhoods and the views from the peaks were amazing. The online description of the tour was accurate about the hills & stairs which was very helpful. I look forward to going on another of Roam Local's tours. read more

As everyone has said below, Ryan's tour was the highlight of our trip! We booked the Telegraph Hill tour for the first day of our vacation and it was better than I could have expected. Ryan is not only incredibly knowledgeable but also extremely personable. If we had had time in our schedule we would have absolutely booked another tour with him. He even gave us suggestions for what to do for the remainder of our trip. We actually ended up cancelling a previously planned wine tasting to go to the California Academy of Science's adult night where you get to explore the museum with a glass of wine in your hand the entire time. It was awesome and something we would have never done if he hadn't suggested it. My boyfriend and I found ourselves talking about how great Ryan and our tour was for the rest of our trip. You will not be disappointed! Thank you, Ryan, for such an awesome experience! read more

With 2 locals and 2 out-of-towners, our group could have been a bit of a challenge, but Ryan handled it superbly. He has an innate sense of what may interest his group, and draws upon a wealth of history and whimsical tidbits that ensure everyone is engaged, educated and entertained. I can see why visitors rave about Roam Local, but also want to add how much I think residents would appreciate it as well. Definitely would recommend, and book again! read more