How to Save on Sightseeing
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If you find yourself in San Francisco with a car at your disposal or if you want to rent one, here is a list of can’t miss places to go sightseeing. Driving around can save you money, I feel like every time I get into a Uber or Lyft it is well over $10, so touristing around can add up quickly. Public transportation is always an option as well as walking!
12 Top Sightseeing Landmarks
1. Land's End & Sutro Baths
Looking for a hike. Land’s End is a breezy walk along the ocean that you can take all the way to the Golden Gate Bridge. You can park at Sutro Baths for free! On our drive day, we stopped and took a picture at the Sutro Baths, admired the sun shining above the ocean and we were off to our next spot.
2. Presidio
Has so much sightseeing to offer and PARKING! You can get some nature in, chill on the grass to enjoy lunch, take a stroll down lover’s lane and check out Fort Point.
3. Fort Point
Here is the spot for your close-up Golden Gate pictures. There is parking above the Fort, you walk down where there are some good photo ops. Checkout mine from 2012! This is where we went the first time I saw the bridge. The Fort is worth a quick walk through.
4. Palace of Fine Arts
This is something I have yet to do, but cannot wait to visit. The architecture is to die for! And if you are lucky, you can even catch a show here!
5. Vista Point
While you are at it you can drive over the bridge for just under $10. Rumor has it they are raising the toll. This is worth it for the epic sight seeing. Once you get to the other side you can hop off at Vista Point and hike to the top (it is short) to take a picture from the other side of the bridge. Everyone comes and gets a picture of the bridge with Sausalito in the background, but few get the bridge pic with SF in the background. You cannot skip this on a clear day!
6. Sausalito
While you’re on the north side of the bridge take a quick drive to Sausalito. The neighborhoods and down town are cute and quaint. You forget how close you are to San Francisco. A few great spots to grab a bite are Barrel House Tavern and if you are looking to grab drinks and play a quick game, Bar Bocce.
This is probably one of San Francisco’s biggest sightseeing opportunities. People travel from all over the world to see the ‘most crookedest street’. You can drive down it or by it. If you are in a smaller car it is fun to drive down. I also recommend a picture at the top of Lombard as opposed to the bottom. See the difference.
In the picture above (when I am at the top of Lombard) you can see in background a huge white building, that is Coit Tower. This has free parking and the sightseeing is unbeatable at the top. The building is filled with murals that are made to depict the Depression in California. Coit Tower was built for Lillie Hitchcock Coit, she funded to add beauty to the city she loved. This is about $8 per person and depending on the line can last an hour or so.
Speaking of 360 views. 16th Ave Tiled Steps is a community project that consists of 163 steps with hand crafted and painted tiles.
A few miles away from the 16th Ave Tiled Steps is Twin Peaks, another major landmark for the city of San Francisco. Both drive able with tons of parking. Here you can catch 360 degrees of sightseeing, aka all of SF.
11. Painted Ladies & Alamo Square
I know you have seen this, does Full House ring a bell? This is in the photo in the credits. Has free parking all along the street. This is a great backdrop for any pictures and a good picnic spot. If you visit during the summer the Square has movie nights!
This is a whole day in itself, there are museums, flower conservatories, tea gardens, dog parks, windmills and restaurants. This is worth a drive by and maybe a stop. There is four-hour parking throughout the park to make it nice and easy.
To Sum It Up
This list may seem long, but the beauty of driving yourself around and controlling how long you stay somewhere is well worth it. And there is no waiting for your Uber or public transportation, both of which regularly get delayed in the city. Driving yourself will ensure you get all your sightseeing done and you can pick where you want to go and what you want to skip.
On a weekday my husband, Mikee and I drove around his little sisters and it was a whole day jam packed, but we saw more than we would’ve if we walked or relayed on other transportation. I know what you are thinking, ‘sitting in a car all day sounds miserable’, you’re right that would be miserable. But, there are enough parks, urban hikes that get you out of the car and feel the true city vibes.
Check out more of San Francisco here on my must see travel guide.
Drop a comment below to let me know what your experience was, if I missed anything, or just to say hi!
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