SAN FRANCISCO — Seeing San Francisco can seem like a daunting task. Seeing San Francisco in 48 hours — is that impossible or insane?
The best advice: stick to the highlights. For starters, here are a few landmarks to see during a weekend whirlwind tour:
— Lombard Street: Carl Henry is often said to have proposed turning a section of Lombard Street between Hyde and Leavenworth streets in the Russian Hill section of town into the series of switchbacks that it is today. While the street’s title of “World’s Crookedest Street” may be open to debate (see Vermont Street elsewhere in town), its popularity as a tourist attraction hasn’t waned in the roughly eight decades since the street was reconfigured to its current design.
— The Golden Fire Hydrant: Two days after the massive earthquake of April 18, 1906, ruptured gas lines caused much of San Francisco to burn. Firefighters in many instances were unable to extinguish flames as fire hydrants had no water. However, firefighters vowed to make a stand at the intersection of Church and 20th streets. Miraculously, water flowed from a fire hydrant near the intersection and every April 18, the fire hydrant receives a new coat of gold paint.
— Boudin Bakery: Today, sourdough bread is synonymous with San Francisco. Isidore Boudin started a bakery in 1849, and today the Boudin Bakery touts itself as the “Original San Francisco Sourdough French Bread.” Its bakery location on Fisherman’s Wharf offers tours, but if schedules don’t permit a tour, at least stop by and take a peek in the window to see what fun shape bakers are making with the bread — shapes range from alligators to turtles to bears.
Click here for Part I. Click here for Part II. Check back for Part IV.