Anyone who has been to San Francisco over the past 5 years or so has probably seen one of the over 130 heart sculptures placed around the city. The Hearts in San Francisco Project is a public art installation benefiting San Francisco General Hospital. Most of the heart sculptures have been auctioned off for charity, however a few remain around the city. One of the most popular was the Golden Gate Heart in Union Square.

Happy Valentine’s Day!

Originally debuted at Burning Man in 2010, “Bliss Dance” is a sculpture worth visiting. It currently resides on Treasure Island across the bay from San Francisco. It’s setting is amazing, with views of the Bay Bridge and the San Francisco city skyline behind it. Even more amazing is seeing the wire mesh structure lit up by colored lights at night. It’s free to visit, but do so soon as it won’t be there permanently.

Sun and fog, grandeur and blight, hipsters and suits, relaxed and industrious…San Francisco’s juxtapositions are infinite. Arguably the most beautiful city in the United States, the city by the bay is also the most un-American city, in attitude as well as looks. Old Victorian homes blend with modern, shiny skyscrapers, and the skyline is neither wholly gray concrete nor red brick like its East Coast sister cities.

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While there are certainly not a shortage of things to do in San Francisco, the Bay Area as a whole offers many day trip options for visitors and locals alike. One such trip is to the Sonoma Coast just north of the city. Sonoma often sits in the shadows of her bigger sister Napa, however Napa is inland and lacks the coastline. Sonoma wears it well though, boasting some of the most spectacular and under rated coastline in the United States. A drive north up Highjway 1 from San Francisco through Tomales Bay, Bodega Bay, and ultimately up to the Sonoma Coast State Beach is a relaxing and adventurous one that should not be missed.

The 16th Avenue Tiled Steps located in San Francisco’s Sunset District is a neighborhood effort to beautify an otherwise unassuming staircase located at Moraga between 15th & 16th avenues. Started in 2003 and completed in 2005, the project drew many neighborhood participants to complete it. Today it remains a local curiosity that is visited by locals and tourists alike. The area also offers great views of the surrounding neighborhood. This is definitely a great off-the-beaten path destination for anyone visiting San Francisco.

One of the more unique things to do in San Francisco is the Anchor Brewing Company tour and tasting. Brewing beer in San Francisco since 1896 and located in the Potrero Hill neighborhood since 1979, it’ s a great tour for those interested in either beer brewing or local history. Although they’ve grown considerably since their earlier days, they continue to brew artisan beer in small batches – as can be seen by the small copper kettles in the photo above. The best part of the tour is that it is FREE and includes a tasting of the brewery’s offerings. Book your tour early though as there is limited space and the tours, which only operate Monday through Friday, book out months in advance.

As NileGuide HQ is right around the corner from Anchor Brewing, it is one of our favorite local spots for getting away from the office for a team outing.

One of the most prominent features on the San Francisco skyline is the Sutro Tower. Built in 1973 and topping out at 981 feet (299m), it can be seen from all around the bay. It dominates any other building around it and is often poking out above the fog layer. I personally have been able to see the tower from every home I have ever lived at in San Francisco. Yet most photos of San Francisco seem to exclude it. It is rumored to have even been edited out of several movies that pictured the city’s skyline.

Tolerated by locals, it is fondly and jokingly referred to as the “mind control tower”. Actually though, it is simply used for TV and radio transmissions. You can’t go inside the tower but you can get close. A great way to see panoramic views of San Francisco from bridge to bridge is to drive or hike up to the base of the tower at the top of Twin Peaks. On a nice day the views are unmatched. Be sure to bring a jacket though, because the fog can roll in on even the nicest of days.

There are many curiosities in Golden Gate Park. One that has always peaked my interest are the two Dutch Windmills that flank the northwest and southwest corners of the park at Ocean Beach. It might be hard to imagine Golden Gate Park as a barren wasteland of sand dunes, but that’s what it was prior to the start of its development in the late 1800′s. The windmills, installed in the early 1900′s, served the purpose of irrigating the park’s new lush landscape.

With the introduction of more efficient electric pumps some years later, the windmills fell into disrepair. The Dutch Windmill (pictured above) on the north “Richmond” side of the park was restored in the early 1980′s. It’s questionable as to whether or not it is actually used to pump water anymore, although you can sometimes see it in operation on nice days and the Queen Wilhelmina Tulip Garden surrounding it is always gorgeous.

The story of the Murphy Windmill on the south “Sunset” side of the park, however,  has long been a sad one. It lay in ruins for decades, only occupied by pigeons, before being completely dismantled for restoration. The project was slow going, taking many years, but seems to have finally turned the corner. Late this summer a striking brand new copper dome direct from Holland was placed on the windmill, and workers seem to be putting on finishing touches. Word is that when it is finished, it will be fully operational in irrigating the park once again.

The Murphy Windmill under restoration

Both windmills can be seen flanking the west end of Golden Gate Park

See more photos of the Murphy Windmill restoration from Ron Henggeler.

Perched atop Nob Hill, Huntington Park  is not usually listed on a visitor’s agenda, but it should be. Resplendent Grace Cathedral flanks the west side of the park. Go up close to check out its impressively detailed Ghiberti doors (modern replicas and one of the few copies of Lorenzo Ghiberti’s Gates of Paradise at the Florence Baptistry). Now, you have a choice – meditate inside or outside? Take your pick from the cathedral’s two labyrinth patterns. Midnight mass on Christmas Eve is a great service to attend in Grace Cathedral as all walks of San Francisco life are welcomed through its doors. Sunrise in Huntington Park brings nothing but peace, quiet, and a few early-risers practicing Tai Chi. Now populated with roses, fountains, park benches, and a small playground, this land was formerly the site of one of the most ostentatious mansions ever built in San Francisco. The residence was destroyed in the 1906 earthquake and fire, and the remaining land was donated to the city for the public to enjoy by Arabella Huntington, the widow of Central Pacific railroad baron Collis P. Huntington. Take the California Street Cable Car or hike up one of the (steep!) surrounding streets to visit this beauty of a park. Your effort will be rewarded with sweeping vistas in all directions.