San Francisco Off the Beaten Path Tips by Ewingjr98

Ocean Beach is very cleverly named as it is indeed a beach along the ocean. Known for its cold water, strong undertow, and big waves Ocean Beach is a favorite for local surfers, but is best avoided by swimmers. Part of the Golden Gate National Recreation, Area Ocean Beach also borders the city's Golden Gate Park.

Famous landmarks at Ocean Beach include the Cliff House & Sutro Baths and Seal Rock. The first Cliff House was built in 1858, but has been rebuilt numerous time to its present state as a popular restaurant. The Sutro Baths were built in 1986 at the base of the cliffs north of the Cliff House but burned in 1966; the ruins remain along the rocky coast. Seal Rock is also at the northern end of the beach and is known for the sea lions that frequent the area.

Ocean Beach stretches about 4.5 miles from Cliff House to Fort Funston along the Great Highway.

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Website: http://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g60713-d128875-Reviews-Ocean_Beach-San_Francisco_California.html

The original Spanish chapel at the Presidio of San Francisco was built of wood in 1776. After the US Army took over the Presidio, they constructed a new wooden chapel near the same site in 1864, during the peak of the US Civil War. Constructed in Spanish mission revival style, the modern Presidio Chapel was constructed by the Army in 1931. The chapel boasts a 103-year-old Philadelphia-cast fine bronze bell and a mural completed in 1935. Next to the chapel lies a large log of 800 year old Alaskan cedar that is being carved into an Interfaith Healing Pole, better known as a totem pole. The Presidio Chapel is now owned by the National Park service and operated by the Presidio Interfaith Center, an organization comprised of 22 local religious organizations of various faiths.

Next to the Presidio Chapel is the San Francisco National Cemetery. Laid to rest here are 30,000 Americans including Civil War generals, Medal of Honor recipients, and Buffalo Soldiers. The first burial at this cemetery was in 1854 making this the oldest US cemetery west of the Mississippi. The 28.34 acre cemetery is closed to new burials except those who have previously reserved lots.

Even more unique is the Presidio Pet Cemetery linked here: http://www.honan.net/PetCem/

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Phone: (650) 589-7737
Website: http://www.nps.gov/prsf/historyculture/san-francisco-national-cemetery.htm

The Legion of Honor was constructed in 1924 to commemorate the 3,400 California soldiers who died in World War I. The building is a 3/4 scale replica of Paris' Palais de la Légion d’Honneur. It contains 4,000 years of ancient and European art in a beautiful setting overlooking the city, the Golden Gate Bridge and the Bay. In the area around the Legion of Honor is a holocaust memorial featuring a man behind a fence in front of a pile of gaunt bodies, a big orange scrap iron tinker toy, and a monument commemorating the first Japanese ship to sail to the US. From the fountain in front of the museum you have a great view if the city in the distance.

The Legion of Honor is located in Lincoln Park near 34th Avenue and Clement Street. Open Tuesday through Sunday, 9:30 a.m.–5:15 p.m, admission is $10.00 for adults. First Tuesday of the month is free!!!

A short scene from the 1958 Alfred Hitchcock movie Vertigo was filmed here. Other scenes from the movie include Fort Point, Mission Dolores, and Mission San Juan Bautista. In the film, Scottie says, "I'd been to the Palace of the Legion of Honor, the art gallery." Madeleine responds, "Yes, that's a lovely spot, isn't it? I've never been inside, but it looks so lovely driving past."

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Phone: 415-863-3330
Website: http://www.thinker.org/legion/

Located at the area known as Land's End in Lincoln Park is the USS San Francisco Memorial, created in honor of the crew of this ship who died, were wounded, and who served during World War II. The USS San Francisco was a heavy cruiser built in 1931 and commissioned in 1934. During World War II, the San Francisco saw more combat than almost any other ship in the US Navy at such locations as Pearl Harbor, Guadalcanal, and Okinawa. On 13 November 1942, in a fierce battle near Guadalcanal, the San Francisco suffered at least 45 hits, lost its command bridge, and 100 sailors were killed including the commanding officer Admiral Daniel Callaghan. During the ship's repairs the heavily damaged bridge was removed and replaced, and the San Francisco returned to action for the remainder of the war. The bridge was saved and placed here at Land's End for the USS San Francisco Memorial, along with several plaques telling the history of the ship and listing its dead and wounded. Most impressive are the huge holes torn into the steel sides of the bridge from the direct hits by Japanese bombs and shells.

The USS San Francisco Memorial is at Land's End in Lincoln Park as part of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area. From the city take Clement Street west to its end at 48th Street then a right on El Camino Del Mar to the large parking area.

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Website: http://www.usssanfrancisco.org/

Originally a cemetery, in 1908 most of the bodies were moved to make room for a new 18 hole golf course. Lincoln park has grown to its current 193 acres by absorbing such military facilities as Fort Miley. Today Lincoln Park contains large tourist attractions such as the museum at the Legion of Honor, alongside small monuments like the USS San Francisco Memorial and the Monument for the first Japanese ship to visit the United States. From the beautiful public golf course there are views of the Bay, the Pacific Ocean, and the Golden Gate Bridge. You can also see the ruins of the Mile Rocks Lighthouse about a half mile offshore, and the Sutro Baths and Fort Miley ruins can be explored on foot. Various trails wind through the park taking you past cliffs, overlooks, and even a few unofficialy clothing-optional sun bathing areas.

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Website: http://www.notfortourists.com/pdfs/sanfran/NFT_SF_2007_Parks_Lincoln-Park.pdf

Little Saigon is a tiny two-block by two-block neighborhood in the heart of San Francisco's often-rough Tenderloin district. Larkin Street between Eddy and O'Farrell streets was officially designated Little Saigon in 2004, and it is home to some 2,000 of the city's 13,000 Vietnamese people. 80 percent of the businesses in Little Saigon, including restaurants, tailors, barbers, laundries, markets, and more are owned by local Vietnamese people. The neighborhood is marked with yellow banners welcoming visitors to the community.

We spent just a few hours in Little Saigon, shopping at a few of the markets and having lunch at one of the restaurants, called the Turtle Tower Restaurant.

Nearby San Jose has a much larger Vietnamese population estimated at around 90,000 people, making it the largest Vietnamese population outside of Vietnam, but San Jose does not have a designated Vietnamese neighborhood like Little Saigon.

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Website: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2004/02/16/BAG2751OP81.DTL

Half Moon Bay is located about 20 miles south of San Francisco along the coast. While entering the town of Half Moon Bay from the south on Highway 1, we spotted something large in a grassy field along the side of the road. After a few U-turns we were back in the same area and sure enough, a large cat was sitting in the grass, probably looking for mice or rabbits. He posed for a few pictures, then looking kind of upset that we spoiled his dinner, wandered off into the woods. Our first thought was that it might be a mountain lion, but its short, stubby tail got us thinking bobcat or lynx. After getting home and pulling up some photos on the internet, we decided it was indeed a bobcat, probably a male due to its size. I was amazed to see any wild cat such as this in broad daylight along a road as busy as Highway 1.

Bobcats (Lynx rufus) are found in the US, southern Canada, and northern Mexico. These felines are distinguishable by their unique tufts of fur on their ears and cheeks as well as its short "bobbed" tail, and its coloring is a shade of brown, often with black spots. The bobcat is one of the smallest of the big cats with adult males being two to three feet long and around 20 to 30 pounds, not a whole lot larger than a big house cat.

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Website: http://www.agarman.dial.pipex.com/bobcat.htm

For those of us who grew up in the 80s and 90s, the television show Full House was a cultural icon. Sure it seems like a stupid show today, but who doesn't remember the corny jokes and the 80s hair? Who doesn't remember the opening scene with the kids sitting in a park in a big city in front of their house?

Who knew that big city was San Francisco? Who knew that park was Alamo Square? The big mansions along Steiner Street (known as the Painted Ladies) form the backdrop for the opening sequence to Full House.

Alamo Square Park was established in 1858, and the famous Victorian mansions were constructed in the 1890s.

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Website: http://www.sfnpc.org/alamosquarehistory

The Sutro Baths are a one-of-a-kind ruins not found in other American cities. Sitting along the Pacific Ocean, the baths are scenic and peaceful, especially on a clear, sunny day. You can enjoy a few hours strolling around the crumbling walls, the pools of standing water now favored by birds, and the cliffs and caves.

Sutro Baths officially opened in 1896 and could hold some 8,000 people in its massive pools and viewing areas. The baths burned in 1966 leaving the ruins you see today. The National Park Service bought the bath ruins in 1980 and they became part of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area.

The baths are located in Golden Gate Park next to Ocean Beach and Lincoln Park. From downtown or Hwy 101 take Geary Ave (which becomes Point Lobos Ave) to the park entrance.

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Website: http://www.outsidelands.org/sutro_baths.php

Grace Cathedral was begun in 1928 and not completed until 1964. This massive church at the peak of Nob Hill is the third largest Episcopal cathedral in the United States. Grace Cathedral features beautiful stained glass, two labyrinths, and impressively detailed brass doors known as the "Gates of Paradise." Inside the church you will find a variety of unique features such as the multi-faith AIDS chapel and a mural depicting the United Nations.

The cathedral is free to visit, but a donation is requested. There is parking in the cathedral's garage and you will also find a gift shop and Peet's Coffee Shop.

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Phone: (415) 749-6344
Website: http://www.gracecathedral.org/
Other Contact: 1100 California Street, San Fran