(Photo) Golden Gate Bridge.

Piece 1: Fisherman’s Wharf/Whale Watch Boat Ride/Alcatraz Prison Tour. Located along the waterfront in the northeast part of San Francisco (SF) is an expansive tourist destination known as Fisherman’s Wharf.

The area is filled with a variety of restaurants and quick serve food options, shopping, attractions, and adventures; much of which is concentrated at Pier 39, where sea lions gather to the delight of visitors.

SF Whale Tours launches trips off Pier 39 on selected dates; typically one around noon and another in the mid-afternoon (reservations are recommended).

These 2.5-hour excursions give riders a great perspective of the Golden Gate Bridge as the boat travels into the Pacific in search of migrating whales. Our tour spotted several pods of Humpbacks.

Another popular adventure is touring the infamous maximum security prison Alcatraz, located on an island in the bay about 3.5 miles north of SF. Tours of Alcatraz typically launch out of Pier 33 (about a 10-minute walk east from Pier 39) beginning at around 8:30am. Plan on 2.5 hours for the basic experience, which provides access to the general population cell house, the exercise yard, the dining room, and solitary confinement cells (called D Block).

I would recommend doing the Alcatraz tour in the first part of the day; reserve an early launch. This will leave you plenty of time to explore Pier 39 and get in an afternoon whale watch.

“Cupid’s Span” Public Art Installation

Piece 2: Lombard Street/Coit Tower/Public Art. Stretching three miles east to west along the northern part of San Francisco (SF) is Lombard Street.

What makes this roadway unique is a one block segment between Hyde and Leavenworth Streets, which features eight hairpin turns. Intentionally designed to reduce the naturally steep grade, this crooked 600-foot segment of Lombard (even driving at the speed limit of 5 mph) feels like an amusement park ride; you’ll want to go around the block and get in line to drive it again!

A short drive east from the “crooked road” is Coit Tower, located in Pioneer Park. Visitors will see a wonderful collection of murals (depicting aspects of life in California) on the first level, and then ascend the 210-foot memorial to enjoy a panoramic perspective of the city, including a great view of TransAmerica Pyramid (a distinctive part of the city skyline).

There are several compelling public art installations around SF, but my favorite is “Cupid’s Span”, which is a 15-minute drive from Coit Tower traveling along the Embarcadero waterfront roadway toward the Bay Bridge.

The 70-foot sculpture, commissioned by the founders of The Gap clothing retailer, depicts a partial bow and piece of an arrow.

Scenic Walkway in Muir Woods

Piece 3: Golden Gate Bridge/Muir Woods. In the northwest sector of San Francisco is the iconic Golden Gate Bridge, which connects the city to Marin County (to the north).

The bridge is designed to accommodate motorized and pedestrian/bicycle traffic, so visitors can experience it many ways.

Once you cross into Marin County, you are just 12 miles from Muir Woods National Monument, a protected area managed by the National Park Service and named after naturalist John Muir.

An accessible 2-mile paved and boardwalk trail loops through a forest of coastal redwood trees; a scenic walkway with several benches for those needing intermittent rest stops.

You will be treated to many picture-worthy views at Muir Woods, so don’t forget your camera.

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