San Francisco Off the Beaten Path Tips by Callavetta

For an unusual look at San Francisco's rich and interesting city; explore the Barbary Coast trail. Follow the map provided at this website and you will get a peek into the City's Gold Rush days, the growth of Chinatown, and the 1906 Earthquake. Truly a worthwhile expedition.

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Website: http://www.kqed.org/w/sinfiregold/map.html

It's called Land's End. Even though it's on the 49 Mile Drive and is adjacent to the Lincoln Park Golf course, it's a must see destination for any visitor to SF. From this vantage point, it's clear why it's called the "Golden Gate". And it's also clear, why it was obscured to explorers for so many years.

It's also a fantastic vantage point to watch the Blue Angels from, when they do their annual show during Fleet Week.

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Website: http://www.nps.gov/goga/

On a particularly windy day, the waves are fierce along the Pacific Coast Highway. Sand blasts across the highway. (Not a good place to take the top down on the car!)

But on a sunny, nice day you will find lots of people walking, running, playing with their dogs. However, you'll find darn few swimming because it is COLD!

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In the early 1930's, Diego Rivera, husband of the famous Frida Kahlo, spent some time in San Francisco creating some of his murals. There are four of these still viewable in the City.

On the walls inside the Pacific Stock Exchange can be found Allegoria di California, or an Allegory of California.

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A second Diego Rivera mural, The Making of a Fresco, can be seen at the San Francsico Art Institute.

Located at 600 Chestnut Street, the Institute is open to the public from 9 am til 8 pm daily.

One interesting aspect of this mural is that Rivera has painted himself into the fresco, as the artist seated on the scaffold.

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Website: www.sfai.edu

Sometimes you have to actually get out of the City to see it's true beauty. One of the most fabulous views of the Golden Gate Bridge, and the city is from the Marin Headlands, on the north end of the Bridge. Get up onto the hill and sit and gaze.

To get here, take the GG Bridge north and at the first exit loop around under the highway and head up the hill. There are tons of hiking and biking trails up here. Continuing on will take you to the Marine Mammal Rescue Institute.

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Website: http://www.tmmc.org/

Take a walk with Jim Fassbinder, noted SF ghost expert to hear the stories of haunts and paranormals that freqent the homes, parks, streets and alleys of San Francisco.

The walks begin in the lobby of the Queen Anne Hotel, 1590 Sutter, every night at 7:00 pm. They last approximately 3 hours. An easy stroll, visitors cover only 1 mile in the lovely Pacific Heights neighborhood. The cost is $20.00 per person.

Jim won't guarantee that you'll see an actual ghost (although he contends that many of his guests have), but he does gaurantee an interesting evening.

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Phone: 415/ 922-5590
Website: www.sfghosthunt.com

The City of San Francisco has no cemeteries. 150,000 dead bodies were evicted in the early 1900s, when it was decided that space was too precious for the dead. The previously deceased were respecfully relocated to the City of Colma, home to two million souls, only 11,000 of which are alive.

75% of the area of Colma is covered by cemeteries. A host of famous and infamous graves can be found in the 17 cemeteries; Wyatt Erp, Lefty O'Doul ...

The only bar in town is Maloye's, where some of the best wakes are held. Colma has no schools, no fire stations, no libraries. It's truly a town dedicated to the dead.

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Website: www.colma.ca.gov