San Francisco Native Culture and History Tour

How do you get to really know a city? Have an SF native, show you the way in this nearly-private tour!
This well-crafted, intimate, & flexible, tour is designed to provide the you with the greatest exposure to SF's culture, history, and recommended spots in the least amount of time.

After nearly a decade of giving other people's tours, Paul, the owner/ guide, started SF Expeditions in order to give *his* tours of the City he grew up in.

We know that there's more to a good tour than relaying dates and facts. A good tour allows us the chance to really connect with the flavor of the city and to explore opportunities as they arise.

We're also happy to customize the route to suit requests, whenever possible ("Full House" location, anyone?).

Complimentary hotel pick-up/drop-offs can be pre-arranged.*

*Same-day requests may not be possible due to prior tours, so please text/email for fastest response.

Meeting Point

580 Beach St

580 Beach St, San Francisco, CA 94133, USA

Pickup is directly across the street from the Marriot Courtyard at 580 Beach St.
This is 1.5 blocks from the historic Beach & Hyde cablecar turnaround.

Parking available at the Anchorage Parking Lot, at 500 Beach St.

What's included:

• Snacks

What to expect:

Duration: between 2 hours and 3 hours

Fisherman's Wharf

Jefferson Street, Between Hyde and Powell Streets, San Francisco, 94133, California

The tour begins and ends at Fisherman's Wharf, an iconic and vastly entertaining neighborhood, with a rich history, and a great spot to grab lunch after the tour!

Pass by without stopping

Pier 39

Beach Street & The Embarcadero, San Francisco, 94133, California

Almost immediately, we take a turn around Pier 39, the second most popular attraction in California, and home to the City's loudest residents - the sea lions!

Pass by without stopping

Ghirardelli Square

900 North Point St, Suite E100, San Francisco, 94109-1192, California

Almost immediately, we take a turn around Pier 39, the second most popular attraction in California, and home to the City's loudest residents - the sea lions!

Pass by without stopping

Lombard Street

San Francisco, California

This point of interest is one of the City's most popular: the famous "Crookedest Street in the World". In addition to being generally very crowded, Lombard is closed to most tour vehicles, but we will take a quick spin down the 8 hairpin turns (though maybe not at "Bullitt" speed).

5 minutes

Pacific Heights

2356 Pine St, , San Francisco, 94115-2715, California

As we make our way towards the Golden Gate Bridge, we take a quick swing through Pacific Heights via "Billionaire's Row", a showplace for some of the biggest mansions, the best views, and a home made famous by a nanny named Mrs.Doubtfire.

Pass by without stopping

Lucasfilm Lobby

1 Letterman Dr Building B, San Francisco, CA 94129, USA

Upon entering the Presidio, we are treated to a brief photo stop at the statue of legendary Jedi Master Yoda, which is located at the Letterman Digital Arts Center (Lucasfilm): your guide has a lot to say about this - he worked there for years! On weekdays, the company lobby is open for a brief visit as well!

5 minutes

Palace of Fine Arts

3601 Lyon St, San Francisco, CA 94123, USA

Our last point of interest before the bridge is a drive-by viewing of a majestic relic of the 1915 World's Fair, the Palace of Fine Arts. Featured in countless movies and TV shows, this icon is truly a breathtaking feature of the SF landscape.

Pass by without stopping

Golden Gate Bridge

San Francisco, 94129, California

Once we cross the most-photographed bridge in the world, guests will have the opportunity to stretch their legs, and take some photos of the world class views!

15 minutes

Sausalito

Sausalito, CA 94965, USA

From the Golden Gate Bridge, we drop into the quiet beauty of Sausalito, the Bay's own Mediterranean-type enclave of houseboats, hillsides and some of the most scenic views of the Bay, generally sunny, even on the foggiest of days!

10 minutes

Legion of Honor

100 34th Ave, Lincoln Park, San Francisco, 94121-1677, California

The Legion of Honor Museum (formally known as "The California Palace of the Legion of Honor") was a gift given to San Francisco by a legendary "Only in SF " character, Alma Sperckels (along with a great deal of the artwork inside, A lake, another museum , and the most iconic statue in SF!) .
As we roll by, have a look through the pillars, and you'll spot one of the original "Thinkers" by the artist, Rodin.

We do a brief photo stop just outside the museum at what is possibly the most stunning vista of the Golden Gate Bridge, literally between holes at the Presidio Golf Course.

Pass by without stopping

Lands End

El Camino del Mar, San Francisco, 94121, California

After our trip back across the Bridge, we'll end up at Land's End Lookout - the most north-western point of SF, affording a spectacular view of the Pacific ocean, as well as the Golden Gate bridge - also, possibly, Snacks!

10 minutes

Golden Gate Park

San Francisco, California

Running literally, half the length of San Francisco, Golden Gate Park is a world unto itself. Completely man-made, the Park is home to literally dozens of points of interest!

Pass by without stopping

California Academy of Sciences

55 Music Concourse Dr, Golden Gate Park, San Francisco, 94118-4503, California

Originally built in the 1890's, the renovated building featuring a living roof, and recycled denim insulation is the world's first "Double Platinum" winner for environmentally friendly structures.
The interior of the museum, however, is what really sets it apart: it is among the largest museums of natural history in the world, housing over 46 million specimens, and would require a separate tour to really do it justice.

Pass by without stopping

de Young Museum

50 Hagiwara Tea Garden Dr, Golden Gate Park, San Francisco, 94118-4502, California

Sitting directly across the way from the Academy of Sciences, is the copper-clad de Young Museum, renowned both for its collections, and visiting shows. This museum is also a great way to spend an afternoon in the City.

Pass by without stopping

Japanese Tea Garden

75 Hagiwara Tea Garden Drive, Golden Gate Park, San Francisco, 94118-4502, California

The Japanese Tea Garden is holdover from the 1894 Midwinter Exposition, and has a unique history, well worth the retelling.
History also locates it the most likely birthplace of that uniquely American contribution to world cuisine: The Fortune Cookie (yes, you read that correctly!).

Pass by without stopping

Haight-Ashbury

San Francisco, California

Following a trip through Golden Gate Park, we step back in time to the Summer of Love, as we roll down Haight St. Famous for it's time as 'birthplace of the Hippies" in 1967 -The Haight is still a vibrant and thriving community, with coffee shops, boutiques, live music and more, to entertain both visitors and locals alike.

15 minutes

Painted Ladies

Steiner Street, Corner Hayes Street, San Francisco, California

First introduced to a generation who grew up watching the tv show, "Full House", these iconic houses, also known as the "seven Sisters", are perhaps San Francisco's most well known buildings - they have been photographed more than any other structures in the City (The Bridge excepted) and really convey the colorful spirit that says "San Francisco".

5 minutes

Japantown

San Francisco, California

As we head to Nob Hill, we swing past Japantown, (one of only 3 in the US). Nihonmachi, as it is also called, is a slice of tokyo in the middle of SF, and well worth an afternoon's exploration - it's attractions range from traditional Japanese cuisine, and Japanese markets, to handmade stationary and multiple Japanese pop culture shops,

Pass by without stopping

Nob Hill

San Francisco, California

From City Hall, we go "Where Little Cable cars Climb Halfway to the Stars" and visit the statue of Tony Bennet in front of the Fairmont Hotel, where he first sang "I left My Heart in San Francisco" in 1961.
Among other things to see, from atop Nob Hill are the City's own faux medieval masterpiece, Grace Cathedral, and the Mark Hopkins Hotel (the view from the penthouse lounge, The Top of The Mark, is likely the single best dinner view in the entire city).

5 minutes

Chinatown

San Francisco, California

This attraction is a personal favorite, and is truly worthy of an entire day's exploration :San Francisco's Chinatown. In addition to being the oldest, and most densely populated neighborhood in the City, is also the very *first* Chinatown in the world.
Following the destruction of the original in 1906, the community decide to rebuild, but in a manner that would draw visitors into the area - they added "pagoda" style roofs, and incorporated traditional designs, and suddenly San Francisco had it's very first visitor attraction, and Chinese communities in cities around the world followed suit. As we drive through the area, we will see both the "public" side of Chinatown, as well as the more intimate "local side" Truly a highlight of the City.

Pass by without stopping

North Beach

San Francisco, 94111, California

San Francisco's colorful Italian neighborhood is sometimes referred to as "Little Italy" which is incorrect - the locals all know it simply as North Beach: home to cafes, trattorias, and ristorantes. It's a great place for a fantastic dinner on a Friday or Saturday night.

Pass by without stopping