Do-it Yourself Tour 1961
This appeared recently in the San Francisco Chronicle, a self-tour of the city from 1961, suggested by Jack Shelton who was a newspaper columnist in the 1960’s. You can still take it. In fact Debra says this is a really romantic shorter version of the tour above. We’ve eliminated a few things that no longer exist, but about 90% is still good-to-go (and tell the kids you couldn’t download a map or use your GPS in 1961).
| 9:30 AM | Take the Hyde Street Cable Car from Powell and Market. |
| 10:00 AM | Get off at the last stop. Eat breakfast at the Buena Vista Café, across the street. |
| 11:00 AM | Stroll to Aquatic Park (old ships and ferry boats, right in front of you). Look at the Golden Gate Bridge. Go to the Maritime Museum (on your left,) if you wish. |
| 11:45 AM | Walk to Bay & Taylor Sts. (ask directions) and catch the Powell Street Cable Car line. Go up the hill and get off at Pacific. Walk three blocks left to Grant Ave. (Chinatown). |
| 12 Noon | Stroll Chinatown and have a cheap lunch (Asia Garden). If you want fancier, go down Grant Avenue and continue until you hit Market Street. (Or just stay on the cable car to the end). Three block left of Grant (or five blocks left of the Cable Car terminus) is The Palace Hotel (Market St. at New Montgomery),. Fancier lunch at the “Garden Court”. |
| 2:00 PM | Get your rental car and tour the “49-Mile Drive” a scenic tour of San Francisco. (This is pretty complicated. Download this map, and make it big enough to follow: http://www.onlyinsanfrancisco.com/ media/downloads/maps/49miledrivemap.pdf |
| 5:00 PM | Back to your hotel for a quick change of clothes. Get ready for a night on the town. |
| 5:15PM | Cocktails at the “Top of the Mark” (Mark Hopkins Hotel, 999 California St.) |
| 6:00 PM | Stroll around Nob Hill. Outside the Mark Hopkins,/b> and to the left. |
| 7:00 PM | Dinner at House of Prime Rib (see restaurant guide) |
| 10:00 PM | Nightclub time. Head for North Beach, Broadway and Columbus. Stroll around. |
| 12 Midnight | Snack at Enrico’s (504 Broadway). |
| 1:00 AM | A goodnight view of San Francisco from the base of Coit Tower |