Slippin' Into Darkness and other San Francisco, CA Off The Beaten Path Tips

For something a little different from the ordinary tourist experience in San Francisco, make reservations at the Tactile Dome at the Exploratorium (the latter is a hands-on science museum.) As the website says, "Discover a world where the walls seem alive and your hands tell you more than your eyes."

We did this for a teen birthday party once, and the adults had as much fun as the kids, climbing and crawling and sliding through a geodesic dome in almost total darkness. You can go through the course several times in your allotted time, and each time you notice different things hanging on the walls; it's like going on a 3-dimensional scavenger hunt.

The dome is wired for sound and monitored by the receptionist for safety reasons, so it's also entertaining to hover near the check-in desk and listen to the voices and comments issuing from the darkness. "Where are you?"... "Give me your hand!"... "Omigawd, what WAS that?...

Not recommended for people who are claustrophobic, freaked out by the dark, have bad backs, or don't like taking their shoes off -- but a memorable experience for everybody else.

The fee of $16 per person also includes admission to the rest of the Exploratorium. Reservations are required for the Dome.

Leave a Comment

Phone: (415) 561-0362.
Website: www.exploratorium.edu/visit/tactile_dome/index.html

The lobby of the Hyatt Regency at Embarcadero Center, foot of Market Street, is amazing, unlike any other I've ever seen. The upper floors lean inwards; their walkways are open to the lobby and are lined by gigantic planter boxes.

Hang out on the comfortable leather sofas in the lobby and watch the glass elevators, which look like hot air balloons, ascend and descend. If you're well-dressed and quiet and don't stay very long, no one will bother you.

Leave a Comment

The Academy of Art University has a redundant name but an excellent reputation as a school for the visual arts: graphic design, illustration, photography, computer arts, animation, and other related subjects. They often have window displays that showcase their students' work.

On a recent visit, I spent about half an hour walking around the outside of the University's building and perusing the exhibits. It was fascinating to read about these young up-and-coming artists and how they view their work.

79 New Montgomery Street, south of Market

Leave a Comment

Phone: 1-800-544-2787
Website: http://www.academyart.edu/

If you're on foot and visiting Coit Tower, you might consider leaving Telegraph Hill via two historic stairways: The Greenwich Steps and The Filbert Steps. It's a magical excursion, almost like entering the forest in the middle of the city. There are some lovely houses and gardens along the stairs. You can hear the calls of the famous wild parrots of Telegraph Hill that nest in the trees along the way, and if you're lucky -- as we were -- you might even see a parrot close up.

Directions: Take the sidewalk that's to the left of the street at Coit Tower, and on a lower level. Walk down the Greenwich Steps (a short brick and concrete flight of stairs) to Montgomery Street. Turn right and look UP for the Filbert Street sign. Walk down the Filbert Steps -- the last section is wooden -- to Sansome Street. To get back to the downtown area, follow Sansome Street through the Financial District and back to Market Street.

Leave a Comment

The wild parrots of Telegraph Hill, the subject of a book and documentary by Mark Bittner, are the descendants of escaped or released pets and live in the trees on the hill below Coit Tower. Linger on the Filbert Steps (see my Off the Beaten Path tip), and you'll see them flying back and forth.

When Norwegian VTer rusket and I were walking down the Steps, we could hear the parrots (they're very loud) and could see them flapping around a big tree about 30 yards away. The tree, however, was in a private garden, so we couldn't get close enough for a photo.

As we continued down the steps, we were astonished to come upon a woman who was hand-feeding one of the younger parrots. She said that all it takes is time, patience, and a bag of sunflower seeds. She was even able to "transfer" the parrot to her granddaughter's hand. The child's mother gave us verbal permission to post these photos.

Rusket showed the parrot a cellphone photo of her own parrot back in Norway, an African Grey, but he appeared to be unimpressed.

NOTE: It may soon be against the law to feed parrots in San Francisco parks. Bird lovers say that it is harmful to the parrots to be hand-fed instead of finding wild food for themselves -- the ornithological equivalent of McDonald's, I suppose. The city Board of Supervisors is considering the proposed ban in June 2007.

Leave a Comment

Website: www.markbittner.net

Dolores Park is a pleasant place to spend a sunny afternoon. There are great views of downtown San Francisco, and the kids will enjoy the playground. You'll have plenty of company, especially on the weekends. Outdoor movies are shown in the park from March to October.

These photos were taken on a lovely Easter Sunday in 2008. We were too late for the Sexy Jesus Competition but passed a few contenders who were dragging around crosses, and also saw several Easter Bunnies and a gaggle of six-foot tall Peeps. It was a typical, quirky San Francisco celebration: very cheerful and upbeat, with no disrespect intended to anyone.

The park is bounded by 18th, 20th, Mission, and Church Streets. The J-Church streetcar and the #33 Muni bus will take you there.

Leave a Comment

Visitors to San Francisco all want to walk across the Golden Gate Bridge, but not many of them know about the Civil War fort that nestles under the southern end of the bridge.

Fort Point was built by the US Army Corps of Engineers to protect San Francisco Bay from invasion. It was completed in 1861, and although it never saw action during the Civil War, the fort and its cannons made the citizens of San Francisco feel more secure. Even though it is no longer used as a military installation, the fort still occupies a strategic position, and because of that, it was closed to the public for a time after the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001.

Free admission. Open on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday for self-guided tours. There is a candlelight tour once a month -- phone the number below for information.

Muni bus routes 28 and 29 will drop you at the Golden Gate Bridge toll plaza. Follow the signs northeast of the plaza area.

Leave a Comment

Phone: (415) 556-1693
Website: http://www.nps.gov/fopo