Customer Reviews

Walking San Francisco

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I love this book. I have done about 7 of the walks so far and they have all been brilliant. I am going to do them all before I leave San Fran in a couple of months time. The guides take you to all the most famous locales and sites with many good suggestions for shops and cafes along the way.

But what I love best is that the book is small enough to slip into your pocket. I frequently leave my apartment" with no other guidebook but this one. I really, really recommend it to anyone who wants to get off the beaten track - it is so much more fun to see a city that way.

Of all the guide books I have consulted, this San Francisco compilation of walking tours is the most diverse and complete. Not only are familiar and less familiar parts of the city covered, but also how to reach starting points by pubic transportation (vital for pedestrians), time required, degree of difficulty, and special points to note. It's a great introduction to this fair city.

I used to live in the Bay Area from 1980 to 1992 and, after a 13 year hiatus in Nebraska, moved back only in September. Living in the East Bay, my knowledge of The City was always fragmented -- oriented around things like landmarks, workplaces and friends' residences.

This time around, I was determined to learn San Francisco "like the back of my hand."

Liz Ganz and her book have helped me realize this goal.

Writing a guide book is like recommending a restaurant. No sooner do you open your mouth but the chef left town, the menu changed and the back end of the building caved in -- and it's all your fault because your best friend's marriage proposal hinged on everything being perfect.

So let's not allow our allegiance to Elizabeth G to be tarnished by pesky details not easy to anticipate six years earlier.

Thus far, my wife and I have pursued several of the walks. We will not only complete all of them but will repeat them as often as it takes to commit them to memory and then experiment with our own tangents.

No, San Francisco does NOT necessarily LEND itself to walking. The hills are all seriously steep and not recommended for the faint of heart or those who lack the motivation to exercise. The weather is frequently cool, cloudy and, for part of the year, very rainy.

Nevertheless, walking in San Francisco is very addictive. You'll find your work week lasts for months at a time until the next precious weekend walking opportunity. Even the rain and wind will not deter you.

Walking San Francisco's walks will enable you to explore the city in manageable chunks, avoiding both physical overload and information overload. It's important while exploring each area to leave room for sitting with a cup of coffee, wandering in and out of stores and chatting with some of the cool neighbors out with their dogs and rugrats.

Because 1999 was a long time ago, some of the resource information will be dated, but in the internet age, those details can be updated in fairly short order.

One extra tip: As you plan your meals, don't overlook the major supermarkets that crop up along the way. For example, when you visit Ocean Beach, walk a block or two up Fulton Street, grab some choice items from the Safeway deli department and treat yourself to a picnic at a fraction of the cost -- and wait time -- of a meal at the nearby Cliff House.

Thank you Elizabeth G. Your book is still a treasure as well as a treasure map.

My recommendation would be to buy it used since it was written six years ago. The iconic San Francisco landmarks are still standing but much has changed and I found myself walking in circles and exasperated.

This is a terrific little book. Easy to follow, easy to carry, lots of information.