San Francisco is a historic city in Northern California with neighborhoods that date to the 19th century, including the Mission District and Russian Hill. Free walking tours, sponsored by the San Francisco Library system, are offered in all areas of the city throughout the year.
This tour takes visitors through the five-acre Japanese Tea Garden in San Francisco's Golden Gate Park. This Japanese garden is the oldest in the United States, according to the park's website. Participants in this City Guides tour must pay admission into the garden, except for the Monday tours. The Japanese Tea Garden tour is offered throughout the year.
San Francisco City Guides
c/o San Francisco Public Library
100 Larkin St.
San Francisco, CA 94102
415-557-4266
sfcityguides.org
The 1906: Presidio and the Earthquake tour is offered all year and takes tourists to the 1,500-acre Presidio National Park. This tour examines the Army facilities within the Presidio that harbored victims of the 1906 San Francisco earthquake. This park is now part of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area, according to the National Park Service website. The City Guides tour starts at the Presidio visitor center.
San Francisco City Guides
c/o San Francisco Public Library
100 Larkin St.
San Francisco, CA 94102
415-557-4266
sfcityguides.org
This tour stretches along the northern coast of San Francisco and is available all year. Fort Mason was a Civil War era battlement, and the historic boats at the Aquatic Park include vessels such as the 1886 Balclutha and the 1890 steam-powered ferry Eureka. The meeting place for the tour is the northwest corner of Van Ness and Bay.
San Francisco City Guides
c/o San Francisco Public Library
100 Larkin St.
San Francisco, CA 94102
415-557-4266
sfcityguides.org
San Francisco's Chinatown, founded in 1860, is the oldest Chinatown district in North America and the largest outside Asia, according to the Chinatown San Francisco website. This area of the city offers shopping opportunities for such items as Chinese medicinal herbs and jewelry. This City Guides tour is available throughout the year, and the meeting place is the upper level of Portsmouth Square on the Washington Street side.
San Francisco City Guides
c/o San Francisco Public Library
100 Larkin St.
San Francisco, CA 94102
415-557-4266
sfcityguides.org
Fisherman's Wharf is located on the northeast coast of San Francisco and features attractions such as shops and restaurants at Pier 39 and ferry services to Alcatraz Island. Tourists also have a chance to see sea lions. The meeting place for this tour, which is available all year, is at the benches of Russian Hill Park at the end of Larkin Street.
San Francisco City Guides
c/o San Francisco Public Library
100 Larkin St.
San Francisco, CA 94102
415-557-4266
sfcityguides.org
