EXPLORE SAN FRANCISCO’S HIDDEN GEMS
EXPLORE SAN FRANCISCO’S HIDDEN GEMS
Aug 21, 2018 10:45:17 AM
by Rich Goldman
San Francisco is known for its iconic landmarks, from the stunning Golden Gate Bridge to the notorious Alcatraz Island. While famed spots such as these often hold the spotlight, San Francisco is filled with numerous hidden gems that often get overshadowed. Found throughout the city, these lesser-known landmarks are worth exploring and are often less crowded than their more popular counterparts. For those looking to explore some places that are more "under the radar", here are a few locales worth visiting:
Related Blog: Experience San Francisco Like a Local
Lands End Labyrinth
Located within the Golden Gate National Recreation Area, Lands End Labyrinth can be found nestled along the rocky shoreline of the California Coastal Trail. Land's End is home to miles of trails that offer breathtaking views including the famed Coastal Trail at Eagle's Point. Here, local artist Eduardo Aguilera created a hidden labyrinth in 2004 that he has maintained and even rebuilt on a couple of occasions. Constructed of stone, this serene and picturesque setting was laid out to embody "peace, love and enlightenment".
Cable Car Museum
With a nod toward the storied history of one of the city's most revered sights, the Cable Car Museum showcases the past and present of San Francisco's iconic cable cars. Located in Nob Hill, this free museum allows guests to see a collection of cable cars as well as mechanical displays of their inner workings. Open since 1974, the Cable Car Museum makes its home in an actual cable car barn and powerhouse to provide on-site viewing of its engines and cable wheels.
Albion Castle
One of the city's most hidden locales, Albion Castle is a 140-year-old castle filled with history. Built by John Hamlin Burnell in 1870, Albion Castle was constructed to serve as a brewery for the burgeoning beer trade in San Francisco at that time. Located in Hunter's Point, this hillside castle had an underground aquifer that provided pure water for brewing. As the Albion Porter & Ale Brewery, Burnell achieved success until the Prohibition forced its closure in 1919. The castle changed hands many times over the years and although it is privately owned, it is worth a visit to see this architectural marvel.
The Wave Organ
Created in conjunction with the science and art organization The Exploratorium, The Wave Organ is a true San Francisco jewel. Built by artists Peter Richards and George Gonzalez in 1986, this sculpture uses the natural resource of ocean waves to create an acoustic phenomenon. Located on a jetty in the Marina District, The Wave Organ is made of carved granite, marble and PVC piping that allows for the musical sounds as the tides rise and fall.
Sutro Baths Ruins
Making its home in the Lands End area, the Sutro Baths Ruins is one of the city's most captivating locations. Formerly the largest indoor swimming complex in the world, the Sutro Baths Ruins contains what is left of this once magnificent building. Both eerie and beguiling, this former glass-roofed structure sits along the shoreline in the Golden Gate National Recreation Area. Built in 1896, the grand and innovative Sutro Baths burned down in 1966 and its remains and the salt water tide pools it has created, are available to explore.
16th Avenue Tiled Steps
Found in the Inner Sunset neighborhood, the 16th Avenue Tiled Steps is a beautiful and community-driven art mosaic. Running up 163 steps, this art feature was the work of Colette Crutcher, a mosaic artist, and Aileen Barr, a ceramist. Aligning closely with residents and businesses within the community, these artists worked over two years to reveal their masterpiece in 2005. Using vibrant splashes of color inspired by steps found in Rio de Janeiro, the mosaic depicts a swirling sea as it meets the sky.
Bay Lights Charters calls the beautiful San Francisco Bay its home and can make seeing many of these hidden gems from the water a reality when you book a charter boat event with us. We invite you to contact us for more information on how we can help you explore everything San Francisco has to offer.