Rick's San Francisco Journal

Land's End Photos

2010-03-24T15:56:00.000-07:00

I've written in the past about how much I like Land's End in San Francisco. This is a patch of rough coast between Sea Cliff and Ocean Beach below the Legion of Honor and Fort Miley. Monday was a spectacular day in San Francisco so I headed out to Land's End with my camera. I started at the Legion of Honor and walked east on El Camino del Mar. Just before the road enters Sea Cliff I started walking west on the Coastal Trail. Near the end of the Coastal Trail I walked up the steps to the USS San Francisco Memorial. Then I walked back to the Legion of Honor via the old part of El Camino del Mar that is now a trail. The round-trip took about one hour. I posted some photos from the trip on the Blue Heron Facebook page, which you can access by clicking on the title above. Here are some additional photos:

Golden Gate Bridge from El Camino del Mar

Downtown from Legion of Honor

Marin Headlands from El Camino del Mar

Point Bonita from the Coastal Trail

I hope you enjoy seeing some of the spectacular views from Land's End. Try to stop by on your next journey to San Francisco.

"Mrs. Doubtfire's" House

2010-03-16T20:05:00.000-07:00

My tours of San Francisco usually include a drive through Pacific Heights, I usually start at Broadway and Steiner and finish where Broadway ends at Lyon Street. On the SE corner of Broadway and Steiner, you can see "Mrs. Doubtfire's" house, the home where Robin Williams and Sally Field lived in the 1993 film, "Mrs. Doubtfire." An unusual aspect of the film is that the actual address of the house, 2640 Steiner Street, is mentioned. My understanding is that this home was selected because Robin Williams lived a couple of houses away on Broadway and didn't want a long commute to work. He knew the owners, who agreed to move out during filming. Of course, they were financially rewarded for their inconvenience.

Further west on Broadway, you can see some of the largest homes in San Francisco, including a 7 bedroom home with a private tennis court that is currently being offered for $45,000,000.

If you would like to take a private tour of San Francisco that includes a stop at "Mrs. Doubtfire's" house, contact Blue Heron Custom Tours and Travel by phoning (866) 326-4237 (toll free) or e-mailing Rick@BlueHeronTours.com.

San Francisco and Shanghai - Sister Cities

2010-03-09T14:07:00.000-08:00

Shanghai and San Francisco became sister cities in 1980. To celebrate the 30th anniversary of this partnership as well as Shanghai's hosting of Expo 2010, San Francisco is hosting a number of events this year. The main feature is the Asian Art Museum's "Shanghai," an exhibition running through September 5. I must admit that I was underwhelmed by the exhibit, which features an overview of art produced in Shanghai over the past 170 years. I found the exhibit too scattered with little holding it together. Nevertheless, if you are in town, stop by the Asian Art Museum. Even if you don't enjoy "Shanghai," the permanent collection provides a pretty good overview of Asian Art, especially from South Asia, China, and Japan. Admission to the permanent collection and "Shanghai" costs $17 unless you go between 5:00 and 9:00 p.m. on Thursday when the price is $10. Discounts are available for seniors, youth, and college students.

I also stopped by the Presidio Officers Club to see "The Jews in Modern China," an exhibition of photographs and memorabilia showcasing the Jewish communities in Shanghai and other Chinese cities during the period from 1840 to1949. There's a lot of text to read but, if you are unfamiliar with this Chapter in Chinese or Jewish history, take a look when are in the Presidio. The exhibit is open Wednesday to Sunday from 11:00 to 5:00 and admission is free.

If you would like to take a private tour of San Francisco that includes a stop to see "The Jews in Modern China," contact Blue Heron Custom Tours and Travel at (866) 326-4237 (toll free) or Rick@BlueHeronTours.com.

Beautiful Wildflowers at Chimney Rock

2010-03-02T09:07:00.000-08:00

We've had a fair amount of rain this winter, which means wildflowers should be abundant this spring. For the past month or so wine country has been full of bright yellow mustard flowers.

My favorite spot to view wildflowers is Chimney Rock in Point Reyes National Seashore, about 2 hours north of San Francisco. Here you can see California Poppies, Indian Paintbrush, Douglas' Iris, California Buttercup, Sky Lupine, and dozens of other flowers.

(Photo courtesy of the National Park Service)

In addition to seeing multicolored fields of flowers, a walk along the bluffs near Chimney Rock will reward you with views of the Pacific as well as Drakes Bay. You might also see hundreds of elephant seals on the beaches below the cliffs.

Chimney Rock lies on the south end of Point Reyes. On the north end you can visit the Point Reyes Lighthouse, which is open daily except on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. Be prepared to walk down, and then up, 308 stairs to reach the lighthouse. This is a good spot to look for migrating gray whales.

The best months for viewing wildflowers are usually April and May. Elephant seals breed from December through March. Gray whales pass by on their migration between Alaska and Baja California from January through April.

The only way to get to Chimney Rock and Point Reyes Lighthouse is by car. On weekends through mid-April, you'll need to park at the Drakes Beach parking lot and then take a shuttle bus to Chimney Rock and/or the Point Reyes Lighthouse. Don't want to drive. Let Blue Heron Custom Tours and Traveltake you on a private tour of Point Reyes and West Marin County. For more information, please phone me at (866) 326-4237 (toll free) or e-mail me at Rick@BlueHeronTours.com

Favorite Views of the Golden Gate Bridge

2010-02-24T11:43:00.000-08:00

Most visitors to San Francisco include a stop at the Golden Gate Bridge. Usually, they'll take photos from the north (Marin) or south (San Francisco) vista points. While these areas afford nice views, they are not my favorites.

My favorite view is from Battery Spencer off Conzelman Road, just west of bridge on the Marin County side. Here you feel like your on top of the bridge. Travel further up Conzelman to Hawk Hill and you'll get a view like this:

My favorite place to view the bridge from the San Francisco side is from El Camino del Mar in Lincoln Park. Here too you get a view from west of the bridge but you are not as high up as from the Marin side.

If you have a favorite spot to view the Golden Gate Bridge, please comment below. If you would like to take a private tour that includes these view points, please contact Blue Heron Custom Tours and Travel at (866) 326-4237 (toll free) or Rick@BlueHeronTours.com.

Wildlife Viewing in Northern California

2010-02-14T10:31:00.000-08:00

Check out the latest edition or "Rick's Tips," Blue Heron's free newsletter of fun things to do in the Bay Area, to learn more about viewing wildlife in Northern California. You can see the newsletter by clicking here. Subscribe to the newsletter by sending a request to Rick@BlueHeronTours.com.

If you would like to take a private tour in Northern California to see some of the wildlife, please contact Blue Heron Custom Tours and Travel by calling (866) 326-4237 (toll free) or e-mailing Rick@BlueHeronTours.com.

2010 Looks Like a Good Year for Art Lovers

2010-02-08T13:35:00.000-08:00

This year is shaping up as a good year for viewing interesting exhibits at San Francisco's major museums. On February 12, the Asian Art Museum opens "Shanghai," an exhibit focusing on the art of this great city over the past century. Running through September 5, this exhibition is part of San Francisco's effort this year to celebrate our sister city, which will host a World Expo this year. "Shanghai" features paintings, furniture, revolutionary posters, movie clips, and other works of art.

The de Young Museum is hosting three major exhibitions this year. The Tutankhamun exhibition, which opened last summer and which I wrote about at the time, runs through March 28. The Musée d'Orsay in Paris will be undergoing major renovations. As a result, some of its major works will be on tour. The de Young will be hosting two exhibitions featuring works from the d'Orsay. The first, "Birth of Impressionism, Masterpieces from the Musée d’Orsay," runs from May 22 through September 6. This show will feature over 100 pre and early Impressionistic works from the mid-19th century.

Then, from September 25 through January 18, the de Young will host "Van Gogh, Gauguin, Cézanne and Beyond: Post-Impressionist Masterpieces from the Musée d’Orsay." This exhibit will display over 120 of the museum's late Impressionist paintings.

Concurrently with "Birth of Impressionism," the Legion of Honor will show "Paris: City of Light," which will feature 150 Impressionistic works from the Fine Arts Museums' collection as well as from some private collections.

Lastly, the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art is celebrating its 75th anniversary and will show six exhibitions featuring works from its collection.

If you're an art lover, you'll have much to choose from this year. And don't forget some of our smaller museums and galleries.

Great Peruvian Food by the Bay

2010-01-18T11:41:00.000-08:00

San Francisco may have more Peruvian restaurants per capita than any city outside of Peru. Last September, I wrote about Limón Rotisserie, a casual offshoot of Limón, the first upscale Peruvian place in San Francisco. This past weekend, I finally ate at La Mar Cebicheria Peruana, which opened over a year ago at Pier 1 1/2 on The Embarcadero north of the Ferry Building. La Mar is the first U.S. effort from Peruvian chef Gaston Acurio. (He also has restaurants in Lima, Mexico City, Santiago, São Paulo, and Panama City.)

When you walk into the space, you are immediately struck by the size, wondering if the restaurant will be unbearably noisy and if the kitchen can successfully service so many tables. While La Mar is noisy, I've been to far louder restaurants in San Francisco. The kitchen does a great job of turning out small and large plates of terrific seafood. While we were still looking over the menu, we were treated to chips made from white potato, sweet potato, and plantain accompanied by 4 dipping sauces.

Being big ceviche fans, we went for the tasting of 4 cebiches, all of which were terrific. Just watch out for the peppers. They pack a punch. Until this meal, we'd never heard of causas: whipped potatoes and yellow garlic topped with seafood and/or vegetables. Again we went for the sampler of 4 and loved each one. We also tried the sampler of 4 empanadas. While tasty, these were the least interesting of the small plates.

We shared two main courses among us, a seafood saltado and the tuna dish. The saltado consisted of a variety of stir fried seafood and vegetables topped with French fries and served with rice. The tuna was seared, topped with a sesame sauce and served over mashed purple potatoes. Both were delicious.

Being gluttons, we also shared two desserts. The dulce de leche mousse was too sweet for any of us but the buñuelos de chocolate caliente, warm beignets filled with warm chocolate sauce, were terrific.

We stuck to wine with our meal and were able to select from a good list of California, South American, and Spanish wines. The cocktail list featured drinks with pisco, a grape liqueur that first arrived in San Francisco in the 19th century.

If you like seafood and interesting spices and preparations, then I highly recommend you visit. I'll go back when the weather warms up so I can dine outside on the terrace overlooking San Francisco Bay.

Sea Lion Update

2010-01-12T13:58:00.000-08:00

Last month I wrote about the sea lions that disappeared from Pier 39. It now appears that the sea lions that frequented San Francisco Bay and the waters off Northern California went north to the Oregon shores in search of food. Rangers in Oregon parks are reporting larger numbers of California Sea Lions off their shores. It's possible that herring, anchovies, sardines, and other fish enjoyed by the sea lions are further north than usual due to the El Niño effect. We'll just have to wait to see if they return to Pier 39 later in the year.

Cozy French Restaurant

2010-01-05T09:26:00.000-08:00

I frequently get asked about good French restaurants in San Francisco. There are well known, upscale French restaurants where you can easily spend over $150/person for dinner. However, when I think of the type of neighborhood bistro that I've enjoyed in France, I immediately think of my neighborhood French restaurant, Le P'tit Laurent.

The restaurant is located in the Glen Park neighborhood of San Francisco, just one block from Glen Park BART. Visitors staying near Union Square can take BART from Powell or Montgomery Street to the Glen Park station and walk one block north on Diamond Street. The ride is less than 15 minutes each way and currently costs $3.50 round-trip.

The owner, Laurent Legendre, is originally from Paris. When we visited the restaurant shortly after it opened, Laurent recognized us as soon as we walked in. How, I don't know, as we only visited his old restaurant, Clementine, a few times and he had left it a few years ago.

The menu contains French classics such as onion soup, escargot, boeuf Bourguignon, coquilles Saint-Jacques, and cassoulet. Prices are reasonable and, from Monday through Thursday, there is a three-course, prix-fixed neighborhood menu for $21/person. The wine list contains reasonably priced French and Californian wines.

Le P'tit Laurent is a real neighborhood place frequented mainly by locals. It's a great place for visitors as they get to see a part of San Francisco they normally would not visit and eat some good French food at a reasonable price.

Sea Lions Disappear from Pier 39

2009-12-31T08:08:00.000-08:00

After hanging out at Pier 39 for 20 years, the sea lions disappeared in late November. There were over 900 sea lions at the Pier in early November. By the end of the month only a few were seen swimming in the nearby water. Scientists do not know why the sea lions suddenly disappeared but speculate they may have headed south in search of food. Whether they will ever return is a matter of speculation. You can see if the animals are back by visiting Pier 39's website and viewing the sea lion cam.

I hope everyone has a happy new year. If your plans call for a visit to San Francisco in 2010, please feel free to contact Blue Heron Custom Tours and Travel for a private tour of San Francisco, wine country, Muir Woods & Sausalito, Monterey & Carmel, Yosemite, the California coast, and other destinations in San Francisco. I can be reached at (866) 326-4237 (toll free) or Rick@BlueHeronTours.com.

Things to Do on Christmas Day in San Francisco

2009-12-21T10:25:00.000-08:00

At this time last year I wrote about things to do on Christmas day. Here's an updated version of that post.

Visitors to San Francisco during the holiday season often wonder what to do on Christmas Day. Many attractions are closed, but there's still much to do if you're not unwrapping presents with your family.

Walk across the Golden Gate Bridge, San Francisco's number 1 tourist attraction. The walkway is open from sunrise to sunset.

See Lombard Street, the "Crookedest Street in the World." Visitors flock to Lombard Street to see its gardens and curves. Don't forget that two blocks away is the steepest street in San Francisco - Filbert Street.

Explore Muir Woods, where you can see the Coastal Redwoods - the tallest trees in the world. The park is located about 40 minutes north of San Francisco, across the Golden Gate Bridge.

Visit The Contemporary Jewish Museum where admission is free on Christmas Day. Current exhibits include "There's a Mystery There: Sendak on Sendak," "Jews on Vinyl," and "As it is Written: Project 304,805." The museum will be open from 11:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. on Christmas Day.

Ride the cable cars. Travel over Nob Hill on America's first moving National Historic Landmark.

Eat. Many restaurants are open on Christmas Day, including a good number in Chinatown.

Take in a movie. Most movie theaters open around noon. If you are planning to go late in the afternoon or early in the evening, be prepared for crowds.

As you can see, there are a number of things to do on Christmas Day. So there's no need to spend the day in your hotel room.

Happy Holidays from Rick at Blue Heron Custom Tours and Travel.

Pigeon Point Lighthouse

2009-12-14T15:29:00.000-08:00

When taking guests to Monterey and Carmel, I usually stop at the Pigeon Point Lighthouse for a beautiful ocean view. Located about 50 miles south of San Francisco, the lighthouse was built in 1872 and is home to a 1st order Fresnel lens with 1008 prisms. While the Fresnel lens is no longer used, the tower still houses an automated light. Unfortunately, the lighthouse is in need of repair and is closed to the public. However, there are a small museum and gift shop on the grounds that are usually open Fridays - Sundays when the weather is good.

The view of the Pacific from behind the lighthouse is not to be missed. You can see waves crashing upon rocks, harbor seals frolicking in the water or sunning on the rocks, and, if you are lucky, migrating gray whales. In the distance, you can view Año Nuevo Island and Point. When docents are on duty, they usually have binoculars for visitors to use.

Pigeon Point Lighthouse is home to one of Hostelling International's facilities. Here you can enjoy ocean views from their hot tub and stay in private or shared accommodation at very reasonable prices.

If you would like to take a private tour from San Francisco to Monterey and Carmel that includes a stop at the Pigeon Point Lighthouse, contact Blue Heron Custom Tours and Travel at (866) 326-4237 (toll free) or Rick@BlueHeronTours.com.

Coffee in San Francisco

2009-12-07T14:32:00.000-08:00

San Francisco has a rich coffee history going back to the Gold Rush and the founding of Folgers Coffee in 1859 and Hills Brothers in1878. These companies are now parts of large corporations with their connections to San Francisco only a distant memory. Nevertheless, we take our coffee pretty seriously in San Francisco. While there seems to be a Starbucks on every corner, try some of our local purveyors during your visit to the city.

Peet's Coffee was founded by Alfred Peet in 1966 in Berkeley. Peet was born in the Netherlands and was appalled by the quality of American coffee. When he opened his store, he took coffee to a new level. Today, Peet's is a small chain with locations throughout California and a few other states. You can't walk too far in San Francisco without running into a Peet's.

North Beach is home to many coffee houses where you can get excellent espresso drinks. Two of my favorites are Caffe Roma, 526 Columbus Ave. and Caffe Trieste, 601 Trieste. If you are in the market for coffee beans, check out Graffeo Coffee, 735 Columbus Avenue.

Blue Bottle Coffee is known for its small lots of organic coffee. Espresso drinks and individually dripped cups of coffee are available at the cafe at 66 Mint Street (near Fifth and Mission Streets) and the small kiosk at 315 Linden Street in Hayes Valley.

Philz Coffee offers more than 20 varieties of individually dripped cups of coffee. Philz has four locations in San Francisco: the original 3101 Folsom (@ 24th St. in the Mission District), 201 Berry Street (near AT&T Park), 4023 18th St. (Castro District), and 748 Van Ness Avenue (Civic Center)

Ritual Coffee Roasters is just four years old but offers its hand roasted coffee at 1026 Valencia St. (Mission District) and 1634 Jerrold Avenue (Bayview District). There are also independent cafes that serve Ritual's coffee. To find them, visit Ritual's website.

Of course, there are many more coffee roasters in San Francisco. During one of your strolls through the city, stop and sample one of our local brews. If you would like to take a private tour of San Francisco that visits some of our local coffee shops, contact Blue Heron Custom Tours and Travel at (866) 326-4237 (toll free) or by clicking here.

Winter in San Francisco

2009-11-10T09:10:00.000-08:00

The latest edition of "Rick's Tips," Blue Heron Custom Tours and Travel's free newsletter of fun things to do in the Bay Area, discusses sights and attractions found only during the winter months. To see the newsletter, click here.

To see back issues of "Rick's Tips," click here.

To subscribe to "Rick's Tips," just send a request by clicking here.

If you'd like to take a private, custom tour of San Francisco, Muir Woods & Sausalito, Monterey & Carmel, wine country, the California coast, Yosemite, and other sights in Northern California, please contact Blue Heron Custom Tours and Travel at (866) 326-4237 (toll free) or by clicking here.

Best Restaurants in San Francisco - 2009/2010

2009-10-24T10:15:00.001-07:00

The new "Zagat 2010 Bay Area Restaurants" and "The Michelin Guide San Francisco, Bay Area, and Wine Country Restaurants 2010" were recently released. So it's time for Blue Heron's annual summary of the critics' choices for the best restaurants in San Francisco and the Bay Area.

Zagat's list of the five most popular restaurants includes Gary Danko, Boulevard, The French Laundry (Yountville, Napa Valley), The Slanted Door, and Chez Panisse (Berkeley). The top rated for food are Gary Danko, Cyrus (Healdsburg), and The French Laundry with 29 points. Kiss Seafood, Acquerello, La Folie, Masa's, Erna's Elderberry House (Oakhurst, south of Yosemite National Park), Kaygetsu (Menlo Park), Chez Panisse, Sushi Ran (Sausalito), and Coi received 28 points. All restaurants are in San Francisco unless otherwise noted.

Once again, Michelin awarded three stars to only one restaurant in the Bay Area: the French Laundry in Yountville in the Napa Valley. Two stars were awarded to Cyrus in Healdsburg, Coi in San Francisco, Manresa in Los Gatos, and the Restaurant at Meadowood in St. Helena in the Napa Valley. Former two-star restaurants Aqua and Michael Mina lost two and one stars respectively. Thirty-four restaurants in the Bay Area received one star.

The "San Francisco Chronicle" awards four stars to the top restaurants. Current recipients are Chez Panisse in Berkeley, Cyrus in Healdsburg, Manresa in Los Gatos, the French Laundry in Yountville, and Coi, La Folie, Michael Mina, and The Dining Room at the Ritz-Carlton in San Francisco.

While I have not dined at all of these restaurants, I did return to Gary Danko a few months ago and it remains my favorite in San Francisco.

Come to San Francisco and you'll have a chance to pick your favorite. Be sure to make your reservations well in advance as these top restaurants frequently well in advance. If you wait until the last minute, you may not be able to get a table or may have to dine at 5:30 or 10:00 p.m.

Coffee and Sweets Along the Way to Monterey

2009-10-19T10:06:00.000-07:00

The drive from San Francisco to Monterey along the coast takes between 2.5 and 3 hours, depending on how many times you stop for photos. You may also want to stop for some caffeine and sugar to keep the body going. There are two places I recommend.

About 30 - 40 minutes south of San Francisco, you'll come to the town of Half Moon Bay. It has a nice downtown with some interesting shops and a few galleries. At the north end of Main Street, in a small shopping center, you'll find the Half Moon Bay Coffee Company, home of strong coffee, espresso drinks, some yummy pastries, and full breakfasts. To get to HMB Coffee Co., take the left turn off of CA 1 onto Main Street. You'll come to a stoplight at CA 92. Go through the light and turn left onto Stone Pine Road. (You can see the Stone Pine Center and HMB Coffee Co. If you cross the Main Street bridge, you've gone too far.) Turn left onto Stone Pine Road Then turn right into the Stone Pine Center parking lot. The coffee shop is at the far end of the parking lot. Once you've fueled up, continue south on Main Street to see the town of Half Moon Bay. Main Street ends at Route 1 and you can continue south to Monterey.

Closer to the halfway point of your journey is the very small town of Davenport. Don't blink or you'll miss it. On the inland side of CA 1 is the Whale City Bakery, Bar & Grill. As the name implies, you can get sweets, full meals, coffee, and more potent beverages. It's a friendly spot to sit and enjoy a coffee and sweet. If it's a nice day, take your snack outside to the patio. Be sure to check out the surf shop next door.

If you would like to take a private tour from San Francisco to Monterey and Carmel that includes a stop at one of these bakeries, contact Blue Heron Custom Tours at (866) 326-4237 (toll free) or Rick@BlueHeronTours.com

One Alley - Two Restaurants

2009-10-14T12:09:00.000-07:00

Last post I wrote about Belden Place, a block-long alley with eight restaurants. Less than a block away from Belden Place is Claude Lane. This block-long alley is just west of Kearny running between Bush and Sutter.

Café Claude and Gitane not only share the alley, but also have the same owners as well as both indoor and outdoor dining. Café Claude serves French cuisine and feels like a Parisian cafe. Many French classics such as salade Niçoise and coq au van grace the menu. Café Claude has live jazz from 7:30 - 10:30 p.m. on Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays. The restaurant is open for dinner nightly and for lunch daily except Sunday. Café Claude features a happy hour from 4:00 until 6:00 p.m from Monday through Saturday.

Gitane serves food with influences from the Basque region of Spain and France and has a more modern feel to it. Here you can dine on chicken or vegetable tajine, paella, and other tasty dishes. It's easy to make a meal by sampling a couple of appetizers. Gitane is open for dinner from Tuesday through Saturday. You can dine until midnight or hang out at the bar until 1:00 a.m.

If you're staying near Union Square, atop Nob Hill, or in the Financial District, both Claude Lane and Belden Place are a short walk from your hotel.

One Alley - Eight Restaurants

2009-09-24T08:51:00.001-07:00

Many of my guests prefer not to make advance reservations for dinner and can't decide what type of food they want. I usually suggest they visit Belden Place, a block-long alley, not far from Union Square and Nob Hill, that is home to eight restaurants. Here you can find restaurants serving American, French, Italian, French seafood, Italian seafood, Mediterranean, and Catalan food. Most of the restaurants feature both indoor and outdoor dining. Don't worry too much about the cold as the alley blocks the wind and heat-lamps keep the tables warm.

As you walk down the alley, friendly staff will be quick to show you her/his restaurant's menu and encourage you to have a seat. Take your time and check out the menus of the restaurants that most interest you. My favorite has long been Plouf as I love mussels and fries. I also have had good meals at Brindisi, B44, and Taverna. I have not yet eaten at Trademark, which is relatively new. Most of the restaurants are open for lunch from Monday through Friday and for dinner from Monday through Saturday. Most are closed are Sunday. For each restaurant's hours, visit Belden Place's website. Belden Place runs between Bush and Pine Streets, just east of Kearny Street.

Peruvian Food in the Mission District

2009-09-15T13:49:00.000-07:00

Peruvian food is quite popular in San Francisco and is easily found in San Francisco's Mission District. I fell in love with Peruvian food when I learned that French fries on rice is a staple. A true delight for a lover of carbohydrates.

A good, casual spot for lunch or dinner is Limón Rotisserie, sister restaurant to the more upscale Limón Restaurant. Here you can dine on an array of hold and cold small plates or barbecue chicken. We recently lunched here and had terrific ceviche, a nice green salad, lomito (a traditional stir-fry of steak, onions, peppers, and other spices that is served with fries), and tacu-tacu (Peruvian rice and bean balls). We accompanied our meal with reasonably priced wines by the glass. We saved a little room for dessert so shared a Mil Hojas (thousand leaves), a pastry with mango cream.

The Mission is a great part of San Francisco to visit. You can see interesting stores and lots of murals. So head out this way and stop by Limón Rotisserie for lunch. You'll find it at the corner of 21st Street and South Van Ness Avenue. If you want to take a private tour of San Francisco that includes a visit to the Mission District and lunch at Limón Rotisserie, contact Blue Heron Custom Tours and Travel at (866) 326-4237 (toll free) or Rick@BlueHeronTours.com.

A Walk for Shoppers

2009-07-30T09:59:00.001-07:00

One of the favorite pastimes of visitors to San Francisco is shopping. Here's a walking route that combines two of the City's premier shopping districts, a breathtaking view, a house made famous by a Robin Williams movie, a bit of a workout, and a chance to lunch at a tasty, neighborhood restaurant.

Start your walk at the corner of Geary Blvd. and Fillmore Street. You can get here from Union Square by taxi or by taking the 38 Geary bus on Market Street. Before you start your walk, note the Fillmore Auditorium on the southwest corner of the intersection. The Grateful Dead, Janis Joplin, Jefferson Airplane, and other greats of rock and roll played here during the venue's heyday in the late 1960s. On the northwest corner, you'll see the Boom Boom Room, once owned by the famed bluesman John Lee Hooker. On the northeast corner are the Sundance Cinemas and Japan Center, which is home to Japanese stores and restaurants, as well as Kabuki Springs and Spa, where you can get a massage.

Now begin your walk by heading up the hill on Fillmore Street. You'll pass many boutiques, coffee houses, and restaurants. You can see a good listing on www.fillmoreshop.com. If you want to have lunch while strolling along Fillmore, try Pizzeria Delfina at 2406 California Street for great, thin-crust pizza. It's my favorite pizza in San Francisco.

The shopping district on Fillmore Street ends at Jackson Street. Walk two more blocks up Fillmore to Broadway for a great view of the Bay. Turn left on Broadway and walk down the hill to Steiner Street. On the southeast corner of Steiner and Broadway is Mrs. Doubtfire's house. This is the home where Robin Williams and Sally Fields lived in the film, "Mrs. Doubtfire."

Then turn right on Steiner and walk three blocks. You'll now be at the corner of Steiner and Union Streets and at the western end of the Union Street shopping district. Rose's Cafe on the northeast corner has good sandwiches, paninis, salads, and pizzas, and is a good lunch spot. Turn right on Union and you can begin strolling among more upscale shops, restaurants, and cafes. A good listing of shops is available at www.unionstreetshop.com. The commercial district ends at Union and Gough, where you will see the Octagon House on the southwest corner. This museum was formerly a home with eight sides. To return to the Union Square area, hop the 45 Union-Stockton bus.

Don't try doing this walk in reverse as you will find yourself walking up a very steep section of Fillmore or Steiner Street. If you would like to take a private San Francisco tour that includes visits to Fillmore and Union Streets, contact Blue Heron Custom Tours and Travel at (866) 326-4237 (toll free) or at Rick@BlueHeronTours.com.

The Inner Mission - Shopping

2009-07-16T08:31:00.000-07:00

While you're strolling through the Inner Mission, you'll pass a number of interesting shops. My favorite is 826 Valencia, which claims to be "San Francisco's only independent pirate supply store." After all, who wants to shop at a chain pirate store. Actually, the pirate store is part of a program to help children improve their writing and to encourage teachers to get children excited about writing.

Next door to 826 Valencia is Paxton Gate, an interesting garden store. Just up the street at 766 Valencia is the newer Paxton Gate's Curiosities for Kids.

Independently owned bookshops are an increasing rarity. However, three call Valencia Street home: Borderlands Books at 866, which specializes in science fiction, horror, and fantasy books; Modern Times, a progressive bookstore, at 888, and Dog Eared Books, an eclectic bookstore that reflects the neighborhood, at 900. In addition, Adobe Books, which sells both new and used books is nearby at 3166 16th Street,.

Good Vibrations, the legendary sex toy store, is at 603 Valencia Street.

The area is home to a good number of art galleries. One of my favorites is the City Art Gallery at 828 Valencia.

There are many other interesting shops to stroll in and out of. So take BART to the 16th Street Station. Walk west on 16th Street, south on Guerrero, east on 18th Street, and then north on Valencia Street. You can also walk further west to Dolores Street if you want to visit Mission Dolores or Dolores Park. You can easily spend a half day, if not a full day, wondering around the Inner Mission.

If you would like to take a private San Francisco tour that includes a visit to the Inner Mission, contact Blue Heron Custom Tours and Travel at (866) 326-4237 or Rick@BlueHeronTours.com.

The Inner Mission - Food

2009-07-07T15:06:00.000-07:00

I recently wrote about some of the sights in the Inner Mission, one of San Francisco's vibrant neighborhoods. If you're a foody, you'll certainly want to head to the Inner Mission to sample some great food.

You could spend your entire visit eating on the block of 18th Street between Guerrero and Dolores Streets where you'll find Delfina Restaurant, Delfina Pizzeria, Bi-Rite Market, Bi-Rite Creamery, and Tartine Bakery. Delfina Restaurant is one of the best Italian restaurants in San Francisco. The Pizzeria has terrific, thin-crust pizza. Unfortunately, there's almost always a wait to get into the Pizzeria. Bi-Rite Market is home to more gourmet food products per square foot than just about anyplace on earth. The Creamery makes small lots of oh-so-tasty ice cream. Tartine produces some of San Francisco's best pastries. Here too, there is usually a line, and seating is limited.

Range is a small restaurant on Valencia Street producing some of the city's best American food. Little Star Pizza is another great spot for thin-crust pizza. Want to watch on old flick with your dinner? If so, visit Foreign Cinema on Mission Street. Never enjoyed south Indian cuisine? Try Dosa. The neighborhood is full of Taquerias and other small, ethnic places featuring food from Mexico, Central America, India and Pakistan, Thailand, Vietnam, Ethiopia, and China. Lastly, there's a coffee shop every 100 yards. For a local roast, try Ritual Coffee Roasters at 1026 Valencia Street.

If you'd like to take a private San Francisco tour that includes a visit to the Inner Mission, contact Blue Heron Custom Tours and Travel at (866) 326-4237 (toll free) or at Rick@BlueHeronTours.com.

Fresh Seafood Near Monterey's Cannery Row

2009-06-23T10:20:00.000-07:00

Recently a guest on a Monterey tour wanted to eat at a place like an East Coast seafood shack after visiting the Monterey Bay Aquarium. Unfortunately, such places are tough to find in Northern California and are nonexistent on the Monterey Peninsula, as far as I know.

Cannery Row has long been known as a very touristy strip of shopping centers selling T-shirts and other souvenirs. The area is not well known for good food. Zagat only lists a couple of restaurants near Cannery Row and neither of these had views or were open for lunch.

However, I found a seafood market, a couple of blocks from Cannery Row, that had a good review for its restaurant on Yelp. While my guests toured the Aquarium, I checked out the Sea Harvest Fish Market & Restaurant. It looked just like the type of place my guests wanted except that it doesn't have a view. We decided to give it a try at lunch and were not disappointed.

When you walk into the Sea Harvest, you'll see an array of fresh fillets lined up in the counter and lobsters swimming in a nearby tank. The decor is simple; lots of seafood posters and fish shaped cake pans and Jello molds. The food is simple, mostly grilled and fried fish. Four of us had grilled fish and all enjoyed perfectly done fish. You can order the grilled fish with rice, a vegetable, and cole slaw; over a Caesar Salad; or on a sandwich with fries. Fried fish comes with chips. We also had some barbecue oysters for a starter.

Next time you are visiting Cannery Row, skip the touristy places on the water and walk to 598 Foam Street for a fresh seafood lunch. If you would like to take a private tour of Monterey and Carmel that includes lunch at the Sea Harvest, contact Blue Heron Custom Tours and Travel at (866) 326-4237 (toll free) or Rick@BlueHeronTours.com.

The Inner Mission - Sights

2009-06-18T08:55:00.000-07:00

The Inner Mission is one of my favorite neighborhoods in San Francisco but is frequently overlooked by visitors. Perhaps the urban grit is a bit too much for some folks. I think a walk through the neighborhood gives you a good feel for daily life for many city residents. Plus there are interesting sights, fun shops, and excellent restaurants.

Where is the Inner Mission? San Franciscans frequently argue over neighborhood boundaries and, more recently, their names. For the purpose of this series of postings, I'll consider the Inner Mission to be the area bounded by Market Street on the north, Church Street on the west, 24th Street on the south, and South Van Ness on the east.

The principal sight in the area is Mission Dolores (aka Mission San Francisco de Asis). This is one of the 21 missions established by the Spanish in the late 18th and early 19th centuries. The mission was constructed in 1791 and is the oldest building in San Francisco. You can take a self-guided tour through the old mission. Mission Dolores charges $5/adult and $3/child and senior to enter. Visitors are welcome from 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. from May 1 to October 31 and to 4:00 p.m. during the balance of the year.

The original mission was built on the shore of Lago de los Dolores. Both the building and the lake are long gone, but a plaque marks the spot on Albion Street, near the intersection with Camp Street, about 1 1/2 blocks from the current mission.

The Mission District is home to hundreds of murals. The most famous may be MaestraPeace on the Women's Building at 3543 18th Street. The mural was painted in 1994 by a group of women and covers two sides of the building. A number of famous and not-so-famous women are depicted. A guide to the mural is available inside the Women's Building.

If you would like to take a private San Francisco tour that includes a visit to the Inner Mission, contact Blue Heron Custom Tours and Travel at (866) 326-4237 (toll free) or Rick@BlueHeronTours.com.