Urban Trek 4 - Enjoy a Guided Tour of San Francisco. City Tours of Historical San Francisco are More Fun with a Small Group and a Guide!



Union Square (0:54 min)



Chinatown (1:03 mins)



North Beach (1:01 mins)



Telegraph Hill / Coit Tower (1:03 mins)

(Click here to watch videos on YouTube in full screen.)




This is a picture of the meeting place

Meeting Place and Time: 
At the entrance to Union Square facing Powell & Post Streets. The Urban Trek Leader will be waiting at the sidewalk. Meeting time will be  9:00 am. (During the months from April 1st through October 31st, the afternoon Urban Trek 4 will meet at 2:00 pm.)

Included with price of the Urban Trek
  • An Urban Trek Leader with informative commentaries about the sites you will visit.
  • Two-way radio for use during the Urban Trek. (Note: $10 will be charged if lost.)

Not included with price for the Urban Trek
  • Cost of fare for MUNI.  Estimated cost for entire Urban Trek is $4.00.
  • Cost of snacks and beverage during the Urban Trek. Trekkers are free to choose where to have coffee/snack break within the boundaries of the trek vicinity. Coffee and snack can cost from $5 to $15 depending on the place the trekker chooses. There will be a variety of places to choose from.

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San Francisco
Urban Trek 4 - Historical San Francisco
 
(Offered Saturdays & Sundays, starts 9:00 am)

(From April 1st to October 31st, afternoon treks are offered that start at 2:00 pm)

Urban Trek 4 focuses on the history of San Francisco from its beginnings as a trading post in 1835 through the 1900s. Guests will learn about where the "modern day" San Francisco started, where the first cable car line was located, the early days of Chinatown, the sordid past of an alley near Union Square, what part of the financial district used to be part of the bay, the oldest commercial buildings that date back to the 1850s, North Beach's sites (Washington Square, oldest saloon, beatnik hang outs, red light district), Telegraph Hill/Coit Tower (probably the best hilltop view of San Francisco), how blue jeans came about, and the Ferry Building's role before the bridges were built. The highlight for guests that love sweets will be a coffee/tea break at a cafe that serves a cake that has been described as "likely a gift to San Franciscans from the Archangel Gabriel himself." 

Summary of points of interest included with Urban Trek - San Francisco #4:
(Click here for details)
  • Union Square
  • Chinatown
  • Portsmouth Square 
  • Jackson Square
  • North Beach 
  • Telegraph Hill/Coit Tower
  • Filbert Steps **
  • Levi's Plaza
  • Ferry Building
**Warning: For those that have a fear of going down a stairway over 200 feet high, please call us before signing up for this Urban Trek.

Estimated end time will be 1:00 - 1:30 pm.
(Afternoon treks estimated to end 6:00 - 6:30 pm)

Please note that reservations are not guaranteed until a confirmation number has been provided to you.

Price:
$35.00* - 21 years old and over
$30.00* - Under 21 years old (ID required)

Cash only, collected at the start of the Urban Trek.

*Discounts apply for two or more Urban Treks.



Telegraph Hill


Ferry Building
HELPFUL TIPS

The Urban Trek for San Francisco is done in a way to make it as easy as possible for anyone to complete the Urban Trek. Most walks are done at a normal pace for approximately 15 minutes before a rest period. Uphill walks are made as infrequent as possible. However, most parks like Alamo Square are atop a small hill to get the benefit of the best views of the City. Lunch break is about an hour to give the group time to enjoy a relaxing meal and some time to window shop. Most stops have public rest rooms available.

What to bring for the Urban Trek
  • Exact change for the MUNI fare. The MUNI fare is $2.00. Dollar bills are not accepted at the MUNI Metro fare gate but change machines are available.
  • Money for snacks and/or a meal.
  • Your mobile/cell phone, if you have one.
  • Snack or fruit in case you get hungry before lunch.
  • Sunscreen and a small bottle of water.
What to wear for the Urban Trek
  • Comfortable and sensible walking shoes because there will be a lot of walking.
  • Dress in layers. San Francisco weather can vary greatly from morning to afternoon and from neighborhood to neighborhood. You can remove or add a layer as needed.
Other helpful tips
  • Have a good breakfast before the Urban Trek
  • Anything you carry should not be too heavy that it will become a burden over the duration of the Urban Trek.
Physical requirements
To be able to complete the Urban Trek for San Francisco, you must be in good enough physical condition to do all of the following without assistance:
  • Walk at a normal pace for at least 20 minutes before resting.
  • Walk uphill (10-18% grade) for at least 1 City block.
  • Must be at least 18 years old. Minors should be accompanied by an adult.

Detail of Urban Trek – San Francisco #4

  • We will meet at 9:00 am next the the Dewey Monument on Union Square where the Trek Leader will give guests historical information about Union Square. (Note: From April 1st to October 31st, afternoon treks start at 2:00 pm.) 
  • We will walk to Chinatown and on our way there we will pass an alley where the Trek Leader will tell guest about its notorious past.
  • As we walk through Chinatown, the Trek Leader will provide guests with historical information about Chinatown. (Click here for link to photos) (Click here for link to videos)
  • Before we leave Chinatown, we stop at Portsmouth Square where guest will have some time to rest while the Trek Leader explains why Portsmouth Square played an important role in the beginning of San Francisco. Guests will also learn about the the history of the cable cars.
  • We then have a short walk to the spot where the shoreline of the bay used to be. The Trek Leader will show guest a rendering of how the place looked like before it was landfilled.
  •  After, we head on to Jackson Square Historic District where the oldest commercial buildings can be seen. The Trek Leader will explain why the buildings in this area were spared by the 1906 fire.
  • As we walk though Jackson Square Historic District, the Trek Leader will point out the buildings with historic importance.
  • When we reach North Beach, guests will see and learn why this neighborhood is part red light and part Italian and why the beatniks frequented this area in the mid 1950s. (Click here for link to photos) (Click here for link to videos)
  • At North Beach, we will have about a 20-minute coffee/tea break at on of North Beach's cafes.
  • After our break, we take a short walk to Washington Square where the Trek Leader will explain its beginnings as well as the various interesting tidbits about the things that are in this area. (Click here for link to photos)  (Click here for link to videos)
  • We then take a Muni bus to the top of Telegraph Hill where Coit Tower is located. Guests that prefer to hike up the hill may do so. The Trek Leader will give guests information about Telegraph Hill and Coit Tower.
  • When we reach the top of Telegraph Hill, guest will have the option to go up Coit Tower. There is an admission fee to go up Coit Tower. (Click here for link to photos)  (Click here for link to videos)
  • After our stop at Coit Tower, we will descend the Filbert Steps, a stairway that goes all the way down to Levi's Plaza.
  • At Levi's Plaza, guests will learn how Levi's blue jeans started. When the Levi's building is open, guests will have a chance to go visit the museum that shows jeans from the past.
  • We will walk or take the F-Line trolley to the Ferry Building.
  • This Urban Trek ends at the Ferry Building, guests will learn about its history as well as a brief history about the Bay Bridge, Yerba Buens & Treasure Islands. (Click here for link to photos) (Click here for link to video)
  • This Urban Trek should end at approximately 1:00 - 1:30 pm. (From April 1st through October 31st, the afternoon treks should end at  approximately 6:00 - 6:30 pm.)
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San Francisco Walking tour with guide | Urban Trek 1 | Urban Trek 2 | Urban Trek 3 | Urban Trek 4
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