One of the greenestcitiesintheUS,SanFranciscoisaneclecticmixof
bohemian neighbourhoods,redwoodforests,bayviewsandagoldenpast...wanderlust.co.uk March 2020 177Get orientated
The ‘city by the bay’ has long been
a hub for pioneers. After irst
booming during the Gold Rush, it
became a bohemian playground
for ’60s activists calling for peace
and love, before Silicon Valley’s
forward-thinkers dreamed up
new marvels to change the way
we think. But beyond this history,
there’s wild coastlines, Paci ic
vistas and the infamous prison
island of Alcatraz to escape to.
But in April, travellers can dive
into the past at the iconic
Golden Gate Park, soon to mark
its 150th birthday with
a year-long calendar of events
(from 4 April), starting with a free
community celebration. Hop on
a specially installed, 45m-high
observation wheel and you’ll
discoverviewsoverthisurban
oasisthatstretchfromthe
Paci ictothecentreofthecity.
Butgoinsummerandyou’ll
meetKarl:thetoweringfogthat
cloaksthebaysooftenthatlocals
nameditafteramisunderstood
giant.It’sbestnottoarguewith
Karl,though–heburnsawayby
lunch,butthecity’sredwood
forestsfeelalmostunearthly
whenhesmokesovertheiconic
bridgeandthroughthetrailsat
dawnanddusk.Gettingthere
& around
BritishAirways liesdirectfrom
LondonHeathrowtoSan
Francisco(theshortestjourney
timeisaround 11 hoursand
costsfrom£278return).Thevisit
Agoodplacetokickoyourtrip
isBuenaVistaPark,thecity’s
oldest,whereyoucanwander
uphillthroughthicketsofcoast
redwoodsandcypresstreesto
admiredramaticviewsframing
theBayArea,beforedivinginto
thelivelyHaightAshburydistrict.
Hereyou’llcapturetheeclectic
essenceofSF,withplentyof
iconicstreetmurals(someeven
datingbacktothatfamous
summerof’67)toadmire.
Thecounterculturaldistrictis
rightonyourwaytotheGolden
GatePark,too,whereyoucan
indabriefescapefromthedin
ofcitylife.Delveintoitslush
greenery,gototheSpreckels
TempleofMusicforfreeSunday
concerts(April-October)orstrollYour cut-out and keep travel companion
The golden touch
A panoramic view of
Golden Gate Bridge
and San Francisco lit
up at nightthrough the Japanese tea
garden ($9/£7); The Moon
Bridge and the Great Buddha
(probably one of the largest
outside Asia) are justly
celebrated, and if you visit
before 10am on Monday,
Wednesday and Friday, it’s free.
To break out of the city, ferry
over to Alcatraz and tour the
fortress’s underground cells and
secret passageways, or visit the
windswept Point Reyes National
Seashore for its wildlife wonders.
Sunny California is a distant
memory here, but the sightings
of rare tule elk and bobcats
roaming the land are well worth
it. Elephant seals screech on the
shore, too, making their voices
heard among the mix – the
perfect setting to end your trip. ⊲TRAVEL ICON
SAN FRANCISCO