San Francisco
September 16, 1996
Downtown San Francisco as it can be seen from the "Coit Tower" on "Telegraph Hill".
It took us some time to find a proper motel. Well, probably we had become a little tight-fisted. Our trip to the national parks had us getting used to low campground fees. Here we had to pay about 65 $ per night (it later turned out that this was twice the amount of money we had to pay in L. A.) for a motel not too far away from the Golden Gate Bridge.
Then we headed for downtown. We simply could not resist and drove along many of these fascinating streets feeling like Karl Malden and Michael Douglas! Did we go to Lombard street? What? This overvalued tourist trap? What do you think? Of course we did! :-D Then we went to Coit tower which offers great views of doowntown and Russian Hill.
Just in time for sunset we crossed the Golden Gate Bridge and drove into the neighboring hills to get some pictures of the bridge and the city. Then we went to the beach and enjoyed the evening mood.
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Coit Tower is a 210 feet (64 meter) high outlook and one of the best known landmarks in San Francisco. It is located on Telegraph Hill (elev 275 feet, 83 meter). The art deco tower was built in 1934.
Escelator fee: 4,50 (2007)
Hours: 10am-6pm.
The view from the top spans 360 degrees and offers wonderful sights of "the City": Alcatraz, Pier 39, Golden Gate Bridge, the Bay Bridge, Russian Hill, the Financial District, Lombard Street and Nob Hill. It is definitely worth a visit.
There are some potential drawbacks, though.
First of all the place can be very crowded. On certain days and hours it may be nearly impossible to find a free space on the parking lot atop of the hill (I had no problems). In the worst case there may even be a traffic jam on Telegraph Hill Boulevard, the only road that does lead to the top.
Photographers should consider that Coit Tower is located northern of downtown. Consequently you will have backlight when taking pictures of the skyscrapers around high noon. Also keep in mind that the windows on the viewing platform are covered with plexiglass (beware of reflections!).
The tower is inaccessible to wheelchairs!
Coit Tower contains a little souvernir shop. The walls inside the tower are decorated with murals which depict working life in 1930s California.
Additional tip:
East side of Telegraph Hill is the home of a flock of feral parrots. Most of them Red-masked Parakeets.
Escelator fee: 4,50 (2007)
Hours: 10am-6pm.
The view from the top spans 360 degrees and offers wonderful sights of "the City": Alcatraz, Pier 39, Golden Gate Bridge, the Bay Bridge, Russian Hill, the Financial District, Lombard Street and Nob Hill. It is definitely worth a visit.
There are some potential drawbacks, though.
First of all the place can be very crowded. On certain days and hours it may be nearly impossible to find a free space on the parking lot atop of the hill (I had no problems). In the worst case there may even be a traffic jam on Telegraph Hill Boulevard, the only road that does lead to the top.
Photographers should consider that Coit Tower is located northern of downtown. Consequently you will have backlight when taking pictures of the skyscrapers around high noon. Also keep in mind that the windows on the viewing platform are covered with plexiglass (beware of reflections!).
The tower is inaccessible to wheelchairs!
Coit Tower contains a little souvernir shop. The walls inside the tower are decorated with murals which depict working life in 1930s California.
Additional tip:
East side of Telegraph Hill is the home of a flock of feral parrots. Most of them Red-masked Parakeets.
Downtown San Francisco from Coit...
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