Road Trip USA 2023 - Part 2 (page 2 of 7)

HAWK HILL - SAUSALITO

37.82722, -122.49910 Parking 37.82694, -122.49929 Start of the trail 37.82854, -122.49869 End of the trail

The Hawk Hill trail, which is 620 meters round trip, is a popular trail located in the Marin Headlands in Sausalito, California.

It offers a 360° panoramic view of the Golden Gate Bridge, the city of San Francisco, and the hilly peninsula of the Marin Headlands, as well as prime spots for raptor watching.

The slope is quite steep to reach the top of this small hill, but it’s not difficult.

https://youtu.be/UuTQcUouvdk

BATTERY SPENCER TRAIL - SAUSALITO

37.82949, -122.48349 Parking and trailhead 37.82751, -122.48173 Viewpoint

The Battery Spencer Trail, located in Sausalito, California, is a 560-meter round-trip hike. It offers one of the most iconic views of the Golden Gate Bridge, the San Francisco skyline, the Marin Headlands peninsula, and the Travis Marina.

It’s hands down the best spot to photograph the bridge.

https://youtu.be/cd2zNbHsq88

RODEO BEACH - SAUSALITO

Location: 37.83070, -122.53705

Rodeo Beach, a beach located in the Marin Headlands in California, offers stunning views of the Pacific Ocean and the peninsula.

This beach is dog-friendly and also very popular with surfers.

It’s bordered by Rodeo Lagoon, whose brackish waters are home to many birds, frogs, and endangered fish.

Behind the beach, you’ll find Fort Cronkhite, a former World War II military post, as well as the Marine Mammal Center, a facility that rescues and rehabilitates marine animals.

https://youtu.be/PS2K61fxOVU

POINT CAVALLO - VIEW OF THE GOLDEN GATE - SAUSALITO

37.83255, -122.47341 Shore Parking

The Golden Gate Viewpoint is a scenic overlook located near Travis Marina in Sausalito, California.

It’s a quiet area with plenty of parking spaces that offers a different angle on the Golden Gate Bridge and the San Francisco skyline.

You have the opportunity to take some lovely photos by the water or climb the small hill behind the parking lot for a stunning panoramic view of the area.

We even spotted some harbor seals swimming near the marina.

https://youtu.be/gb469iZudlY

EXPLORING DOWNTOWN SAUSALITO

37.86026, -122.48645 Parking #5 (free) 37.85618, -122.47855 Waterfront promenade 37.85494, -122.47877 Yee Tock Chee Park 37.85608, -122.47937 Viña del Mar Park

Sausalito is a small coastal town in Marin County, about 6 km north of San Francisco from the Golden Gate Bridge in California.

A short 3 km stroll through downtown Sausalito let us discover a lovely waterfront promenade where the ferry terminal is located. A ferry shuttles between this town and San Francisco.

The promenade also offers stunning views of the bay and the San Francisco skyline.

The historic district is picturesque and packed with restaurants, shops, and pretty parks.

There’s even a houseboat neighborhood, which I’ll show you in an upcoming video.

https://youtu.be/JoMaCPY4HQg

VISITING THE HOUSEBOATS OF SAUSALITO

37.87358, -122.50421 Parking 37.87311, -122.50391 Otis Redding Dock 37.86107, -122.48179 Floating Taj Mahal

The houseboats of Sausalito, a small town in California, are a must-see when visiting the San Francisco Bay Area.

Known as "Floating Homes" or "Houseboats," these waterfront homes were once inhabited in the 1960s and 1970s by artists and hippies.

Today, they’ve become private residences owned by wealthier folks, though they’ve kept their bohemian vibe.

Strolling along the docks is really pleasant. Each house is unique and creates a picturesque scene.

One of them, the Taj Mahal Houseboat or Floating Taj Mahal, stands out. It was built in the 1970s by a wealthy California winemaker who had traveled to India. It’s located at Yacht Club Harbor across from Johnson Street.

https://youtu.be/iVzxkr409bQ

CROSSING THE GOLDEN GATE BRIDGE - SAN FRANCISCO

Location: 37.82182, -122.47837

After visiting Sausalito, we crossed the Golden Gate Bridge to get to San Francisco, California.

We were driving, but you can also cross the bridge on foot by walking on the east sidewalk or by bike using the dedicated bike path on the west side of the bridge.

Driving from San Francisco to Sausalito (south to north) is free. However, there’s a toll in the opposite direction. For visitors, it’s recommended to pay the toll online.

A must-do when visiting San Francisco!

https://youtu.be/2gl9VvEkicw

VIEWPOINTS - GOLDEN GATE BRIDGE - SAN FRANCISCO

37.80894, -122.47240 Belvédère 1 37.81050, -122.47644 Belvédère 2 37.81063, -122.47705 Belvédère on the roof of Fort Point National Historic Site (free) The fort is open Thursday to Monday from 10 AM to 5 PM 37.80401, -122.47674 Golden Gate Overlook

The Golden Gate Bridge is a famous bridge located in San Francisco, California. Several viewpoints, both on the south and north sides, offer the chance to see and photograph it from different angles.

The ones I’m showing you in this video are located on the south side, in San Francisco.

One of them, located almost directly beneath the bridge deck, offers a stunning view of the bridge spanning the Golden Gate Strait.

It’s the perfect spot to admire the skills of wing foil enthusiasts gliding effortlessly above the water’s surface.

https://youtu.be/njnQBEf676Y

CRUISE TO ALCATRAZ ISLAND - SAN FRANCISCO

Alcatraz Island, located in San Francisco, California, is accessible year-round. The only way to get there and visit the prison is by taking a ferry offered by Alcatraz City Cruises, the only company authorized by the NPS to dock on the island.

These ferries depart from Pier 33 and take about fifteen minutes to reach Alcatraz Island in the middle of San Francisco Bay.

You must take the ferry that leaves at the time you chose. The time is even indicated on your ticket. Arrive about thirty minutes before the scheduled departure to avoid the ferry leaving without you!

Bring a warm layer for the crossing or the island visit, as the air can be quite chilly in the middle of the bay.

During the crossing, we enjoyed stunning views of the San Francisco skyline, the Golden Gate and Bay Bridge, as well as Alcatraz Island.

https://youtu.be/SeXniP6GL6k

VISITING ALCATRAZ ISLAND - SAN FRANCISCO

Alcatraz is a military fort built during the Civil War on an island in San Francisco Bay, California.

The fort became a high-security federal prison from 1934 to 1963, housing some of the most famous inmates of the 20th century, like Al Capone, "Machine Gun" Kelly, and the "Birdman of Alcatraz."

Closed in 1963 for financial and structural reasons, it’s now one of the most popular tourist attractions in San Francisco Bay.

The self-guided tour covers the prison’s history, failed escape attempts, daily life on the island, and testimonies from guards and former inmates.

During the visit, you’ll explore the entire cellblock, with its small concrete cells, the shower room, the recreation yard, the guards' quarters where their families also lived, and the remnants of the military-era batteries and cannons.

The site also offers stunning views of the Golden Gate Bridge and the San Francisco skyline.

https://youtu.be/Mzwv_dgYN-A

CIVIC CENTER - DOWNTOWN SAN FRANCISCO

37.77863, -122.42035 War Memorial Opera House 37.77928, -122.41925 City Hall San Francisco 37.77951, -122.42055 Herbst Theatre 37.77906, -122.41857 Abraham Lincoln Monument Since it's a public building, visiting is free. It's open Monday through Friday from 8 AM to 8 PM. 37.78047, -122.41882 San Francisco Superior Courthouse 37.77946, -122.41760 Civic Center Plaza 37.77994, -122.41598 Statue of Ashurbanipal in front of the Asian Art Museum 37.77971, -122.41597 Pioneer Monument 37.77984, -122.41500 Simon Bolivar Statue 37.77899, -122.41482 Orpheum Theatre 37.77907, -122.41634 San Francisco Public Library 37.77838, -122.41740 Bill Graham Civic Auditorium

The Civic Center, located in downtown San Francisco, California, is a historic national district from the early 20th century.

A short stroll through this neighborhood lets you discover historic government buildings and cultural institutions gathered around two large public squares.

https://youtu.be/RRm89gmT5Rk

MARKET STREET & YERBA BUENA GARDENS - DOWNTOWN SAN FRANCISCO

37.78510, -122.40722 James Flood Building 37.78636, -122.40549 Phelan Building 37.78790, -122.40335 Lotta's Fountain 37.78946, -122.40160 Hobart Building

Market Street

Market Street is the main transportation artery of San Francisco, California. It runs along the southern edge of downtown, connecting Civic Center to San Francisco Bay.

This street is lined with beautiful historic buildings and has plenty of shops. You’ll also see tall, much more modern skyscrapers here.

Restored vintage streetcars from around the world run along this street.

Yerba Buena Gardens

37.78448, -122.40226 Martin Luther King Memorial

Yerba Buena Gardens is a lovely park where both locals and visitors come to relax.

The Martin Luther King Memorial is located at the center of the park. It features a beautiful waterfall and glass panels inscribed with quotes from Martin Luther King.

This green space offers stunning views of the surrounding modern skyscrapers and St. Patrick’s Church, which looks tiny among all these giants.

https://youtu.be/nWrYErYoXuQ

UNION SQUARE & FINANCIAL DISTRICT - DOWNTOWN SAN FRANCISCO

Union Square

Location: 37.78793, -122.40751

Union Square is one of the liveliest spots in San Francisco, California. It’s surrounded by numerous hotels, major department stores like Macy’s, as well as boutiques, bars, and restaurants.

A Corinthian-style column topped with a statue of Admiral George Dewey commemorates his victory in Manila during the Spanish-American War.

Financial District

37.79788, -122.40670 Intersection of Columbus Avenue and Broadway Great view of the Transamerica Pyramid and *Language of the Birds* 37.79536, -122.40314 Transamerica Pyramid 37.79820, -122.40692 Language of the Birds 37.79660, -122.40510 Columbus Tower (Cafe Zoetrope) 37.78926, -122.39822 View of Salesforce Tower 37.78977, -122.39700 Salesforce Tower - 415 Mission Street

The Financial District is San Francisco’s business hub. It’s defined by a cluster of skyscrapers, some of which house the headquarters of major companies.

These modern buildings contrast with the Art Deco-style structures just a few blocks south.

The Transamerica Pyramid, the second-tallest skyscraper in San Francisco, is one of the city’s most iconic symbols.

*Language of the Birds* is a permanent art installation made up of several suspended sculptures that resemble open books. It’s located at the intersection of Columbus Ave and Broadway.

Each book is designed to look like a bird in flight, with wings arranged differently depending on the pages and bindings.

The mural (Jazz Mural) by Bill Weber, located behind this artwork, is absolutely stunning. It features famous musicians alongside fishermen.

There’s also another mural on a different side of the building, depicting a Chinatown scene and a dragon, which in China symbolizes good luck, prosperity, strength, wisdom, and protection.

Not far from there, at the intersection of Columbus Avenue and Kearny Street, stands the Columbus Tower, a beautiful building constructed in 1907 that houses Cafe Zoetrope, owned by Francis Ford Coppola. You’ll find lots of filming memorabilia from his movies there.

Salesforce Tower, at 326 meters, is the tallest skyscraper in San Francisco. This sleek 61-story modern tower has a beautifully curved and tapered silhouette with rounded glass edges.

https://youtu.be/w6n81R0QnkA

FISHERMAN'S WHARF, PIER 39 & EMBARCADERO - SAN FRANCISCO

Hike of about 8 km round trip.

37.80623, -122.42428 Free parking on Beach Street 37.80640, -122.42121 Umbrella Alley - Greetings from San Francisco Mural 37.80709, -122.42125 Powell & Hyde Cable Car Turnabout 37.80830, -122.40937 Pier 39

37.80000, -122.39454 Pier 7 37.79552, -122.39343 Ferry Building and its clock 37.79448, -122.38978 Pier 14 37.79155, -122.38992 Rincon Park - Viewpoint of Bay Bridge and the San Francisco skyline

Fisherman's Wharf is a tourist district located in the northern part of San Francisco's waterfront in California. It's best known for being home to Pier 39 as well as several museums, including Ripley's Believe It or Not, the Musée Mécanique, and Madame Tussauds.

Pier 39 is a huge open-air shopping center. You'll find lots of shops and restaurants, as well as several rides, arcade rooms, and more. Many street performers put on shows here.

This spot offers stunning views of Alcatraz Island and the Golden Gate Bridge.

You can also see sea lions that have settled on wooden docks near Pier 39.

There are plenty of seafood restaurants in this area, along with other eateries like Hard Rock Cafe, Applebee's, and Bubba Gump Shrimp Co. The only fast-food chain you'll find here is the family-owned In-N-Out Burger.

We continued our hike to Rincon Park. This part of the route isn't in the Fisherman's Wharf district, but since it's part of the waterfront walk, I thought I'd include it in this post.

Pier 7 offers a great view of the Transamerica Pyramid, while Pier 14 and Rincon Park provide an exceptional view of the Bay Bridge and the San Francisco skyline.

The Ferry Building, with its clock tower, is an iconic historic landmark at the foot of Market Street. This ferry terminal has truly spectacular architecture. It also houses a covered market and numerous shops and restaurants.

https://youtu.be/rX0alUM-WRk

SEA LION OBSERVATION - PIER 39 - SAN FRANCISCO

Location: 37.81078, -122.41128

Pier 39 is located in San Francisco, California. One of the main attractions at Pier 39 is a colony of sea lions lounging on the docks.

The pier provides them with a protected environment since there are few predators in this area. Plus, the bay is teeming with food.

The best time to see them is from late July to early May, but winter is even better because their population can reach around 900 individuals.

To observe them, just head to the west end of Pier 39.

https://youtu.be/dgBelPKB3FE

LOMBARD STREET & CABLE CAR - RUSSIAN HILL - SAN FRANCISCO - CALIFORNIA

37.80200, -122.41964 Start of Lombard Street & View of the Cable Car 37.80220, -122.41801 End of Lombard Street

Russian Hill is a very picturesque residential neighborhood in San Francisco, California. It's famous for its steep, winding streets, the iconic hairpin turns of Lombard Street, and the city's emblematic Cable Cars.

Lombard Street is known as the crookedest street in the world. It's a super popular spot! Every year, millions of visitors walk or drive its eight tight turns.

The Cable Cars are also a major attraction in San Francisco. These historic trams provide public transportation on the city's steep hills.

One of these trams runs along Hyde Street, so you can see it at the intersection with Lombard Street.

https://youtu.be/t_zUahQl4TE

MACONDRAY LANE HISTORIC DISTRICT - RUSSIAN HILL - SAN FRANCISCO

37.79914, -122.41564 Macondray Lane (go down the steps in this narrow passage) On Taylor Street, turn left. On Union Street, turn left. On Jones Street, turn left. On Green Street, turn left. 37.79885, -122.41468 Green Street (go down the steps in this narrow passage) Turn left onto Taylor Street and climb the steps of Macondray Lane.

This small neighborhood, located in San Francisco, California, was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1988.

It includes about ten historic buildings, the oldest of which dates back to 1878, and the famous Macondray Lane.

Macondray Lane is a lovely little green alley located within the block formed by Taylor, Union, Jones, and Green Streets. This area is home to charming residences.

https://youtu.be/vda8K8Vsptk

GRACE CATHEDRAL & HUNTINGTON PARK - NOB HILL - SAN FRANCISCO

37.79200, -122.41312 Grace Cathedral 37.79218, -122.41218 Huntington Park

Grace Cathedral, located in San Francisco’s Nob Hill neighborhood in California, is the largest and one of the most beautiful churches in the city.

We didn’t visit the inside of the cathedral, but it’s famous for its mosaics and stained-glass windows.

Huntington Park is a public square in front of the cathedral. It’s known for its fountains, statues, playground, and panoramic views of the city’s iconic landmarks, including Grace Cathedral, the Huntington Hotel, the Fairmont Hotel, the Pacific Union Building, and downtown San Francisco.

https://youtu.be/M_AaxQQUYK0

TELEGRAPH HILL - SAN FRANCISCO

Telegraph Hill is a small neighborhood located in the northeast of San Francisco, California. Built on a hill, it overlooks the Embarcadero district of San Francisco.

Coit Tower

37.80237, -122.40583 Coit Tower 37.80210, -122.40560 Belvedere 1 37.80305, -122.40600 Belvedere 2

Coit Tower is one of its main tourist attractions. It’s a 64-meter-tall Art Deco tower where you can go up to the top for a view of much of the San Francisco Bay. Access is paid.

However, even if you stay at the base of the building, you’ll still get amazing views of the San Francisco Bay and the iconic skyscrapers of the city’s financial district.

Saints Peter & Paul Church

Location: 37.80137, -122.41021

Saints Peter & Paul Church is located in the heart of North Beach, San Francisco’s Italian neighborhood in California.

Built right across from the famous Washington Square, this neo-Romanesque-style church stands out for its stunning exterior.

Washington Square

37.80081, -122.41002 Benjamin Franklin Memorial 37.80082, -122.41068 Fireman's Memorial 37.80112, -122.40954 Juana Briones Memorial

Washington Square, created in 1847, is a lovely park in the North Beach neighborhood of San Francisco, California. It’s surrounded by sidewalk cafés, restaurants, Saints Peter & Paul Church, and charming Victorian-style homes.

https://youtu.be/OQwfh7mG23E

CHINATOWN - SAN FRANCISCO

37.79068, -122.40560 Dragon's Gate 37.79259, -122.40607 Sing Chong Building at the intersection of Grant Avenue and California Street 37.79198, -122.40538 Dr. Sun Yat Sen Statue, Mary's Square 37.79196, -122.40525 Chinese American World War Memorial, Mary's Square 37.79278, -122.40579 Old Saint Mary's Cathedral at the intersection of Grant Avenue and California Street 37.79346, -122.40626 Bank of America at the intersection of Grant Avenue and Sacramento Street 37.79337, -122.40612 Mural at the intersection of Grant Avenue and Sacramento Street 37.79421, -122.40630 Mural at the intersection of Grant Avenue and Clay Street 37.79506, -122.40626 Bank of Canton (formerly Chinese Telephone Exchange) on Washington Street 37.79482, -122.40542 Portsmouth Square

Chinatown is located in downtown San Francisco, California. This neighborhood is home to the oldest and largest Chinese-American population in the United States.

This lively district is packed with shops, restaurants, markets, and Chinese temples.

The entrance to Chinatown is at the intersection of Grant Avenue and Bush Street. It stands out with its photogenic gate adorned with dragons, koi carp, and stone lions.

Walking down Grant Avenue, you’d really feel like you’re in China. This pedestrian street, lined with traditional facades and red lanterns, is full of shops and restaurants.

Many murals decorate the walls of some buildings—they’re absolutely stunning.

Mary's Square is a charming public park with beautiful landscaping. It features two memorials, including the statue of Dr. Sun Yat-Sen, a revolutionary, political philosopher, and physician who was the first president of the Republic of China, as well as a plaque honoring Chinese-American soldiers who died in World War I and World War II.

The Old Saint Mary's Cathedral, built in 1854, is a historic landmark in Chinatown. It was the first cathedral in the western United States.

Originally serving as a mission for the Chinese community, it was rebuilt after the 1906 earthquake and the fires that followed.

Portsmouth Square, located in the heart of San Francisco’s Chinatown, has been a gathering place for generations of residents to relax, socialize, and celebrate.

It features playgrounds, commemorative plaques, and statues. It also offers a stunning view of many skyscrapers, including the Transamerica Pyramid, 555 California Street, and the Salesforce Tower.

https://youtu.be/G898pFmnkSM