There are many sites and activities loved by San Franciscans. Here are five that will make tourists feel like natives.
1. Visit the Cable Car Barn and Museum at Mason and Washington and see the operating cables and sheaves of San Francisco’s cable car system. The museum is a trip through the history of San Francisco’s famous cable cars.
2. Walk across the Golden Gate Bridge that San Franciscans claim is the most famous bridge in the world. It is truly a symbol of San Francisco. Don’t just look at it, experience it on this 1.71 mile trek. The view of the city from the center of the bridge is spectacular.
3. Walk Lombard Street considered the crookedist and steepest Street in San Francisco. The crooked section was created with sharp curves to switchback down the one-way hill past lovely Victorian mansions. The street is paved with bricks. On your walk, you may even catch a glimpse of the famous ghost that haunts one of the homes.
4. Spend a rollicking evening at Beach Blanket Babylon in North Beach, the longest running musical review in the city. Situated on Beach Blanket Babylon Boulevard, this hilarious show satirizes politics and society with show-stopping renditions of popular songs. The costumes are gaudy and fun.
5. Stop in at the Buena Vista Café at 2765 Hyde Street and enjoy an Irish coffee or two or three. Fraternize with San Franciscans and tourists in this casual, homey café. Buena Vista claims to have served the first Irish Coffee “ever stirred in the United States.”
Photo by Bridge to cross
Global Mysteries 
How you managed to distill the list to 5 activities amazes me ~
I also loved Fisherman’s Wharf, Sourdough Bread, Ghiardelli Chocolates, riding on the Cable Cars, and skateboarding down Lombard Street (yeah, right!). : )
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By: nrhatch on May 19, 2010
at 5:20 pm
I still ride the cable cars whenever I get a chance. Ghiardelli Chocolates are a must. Everyone knows women need chocolate for a well-rounded diet.
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By: nancycurteman on May 24, 2010
at 4:11 pm
I had the pleasure of staying with Rik and his family last summer. I got to see a lot, but not enough, of this wonderful city.
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By: aardvarkian on May 21, 2010
at 10:57 am
There is so much to see in San Francisco. I still haven’t seen all there is to see and I’ve been here for many years.
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By: nancycurteman on May 24, 2010
at 4:09 pm
What a difference 40 years make, I remember living in the North beach area and hanging out at the Buena Vista and Vesuvio Cafe, but best of all I remember growing up on Castro Street. What a change!
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By: Hannelore on May 24, 2010
at 3:54 pm
I’d love to hear more about Castro Street at that period. I always enjoyed the International Film Festival at the Castro Theatre.
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By: nancycurteman on May 24, 2010
at 4:05 pm
It was an Irish catholic neighborhood. My grandfather had a medical practice on Castro and Market. My second job as a teenager was at the Castro Theater. I worked there all through high school. Life was different then and somewhat easier.
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By: Hannelore on May 24, 2010
at 5:47 pm
Hannelore, thanks for your comments. I’d love to hear more about the role of the Castro Theater in the community when you were a teenager.
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By: nancycurteman on May 24, 2010
at 9:23 pm