Unconventional Quintessential
San Francisco Experiences
Visiting tourists are drawn to the magnificent icons of Golden Gate Park,
the Palace of Fine Arts, AT&T ballpark, and, of course, the Golden Gate Bridge. Dig a little deeper, and the city has plenty of unconventional adventures to offer the more inquisitive sort.
For your consideration, here are a handful of quintessentially San Francisco
experiences that are sometimes overlooked.
THE BEAT MUSEUM
In the 1950s, a collective of East Coast writers, artists, and free spirits migrated west to San Francisco and started a movement that became an integral part of the counterculture of the time. The Beat Generation railed against the “square” aspects of conventional society, and gave birth to classic American literature, including Jack Kerouac’s book “On the Road” and Allen Ginsberg’s poem “Howl.” The Beat Museum in North Beach houses an impressive collection of memorabilia, original manuscripts, first editions, letters, personal effects, and cultural ephemera.
MORE INFORMATION: kerouac.com
GOLDEN GATE FORTUNE COOKIE FACTORY
Located in historic Ross Alley in Chinatown, San Francisco’s famous fortune cookie factory produces custom variations of the prophecy-holding treat. While the origin of the fortune cookie is unclear, some tales identify San Francisco as its birthplace. Visitors of the factory can observe how they get those little slips of wisdom inside the cookie for free, however it costs fifty cents to take a picture.
MORE INFORMATION: sanfranciscochinatown.com
THE PIRATE STORE AT 826 VALENCIA
The Pirate Store on Valencia Street stocks all buccaneer necessities: pocket sundials, spyglasses, hand-stitched hook hands, and “Scurvy Begone” lemon gummies. Behind the retail space is the youth writing lab known as 826 Valencia, founded by author Dave Eggers and local educator Nínive Calegari. This nonprofit brings together city kids and volunteers in an afterschool program designed to promote literacy and creativity. Purchases at the Pirate Store support the free writing program.
MORE INFORMATION: 826valencia.org/store
DRAG BRUNCH AT THE STARLIGHT ROOM
Every Sunday morning, Harry Denton’s Starlight Room atop the Sir Francis Drake Hotel transforms into a den of glamour and mimosas. Often considered the “best drag brunch” in San Francisco, the weekly downtown affair includes a raucous and hilarious cabaret show by the city’s talented drag queens and transgender performers. It’s a modern twist on old-world glam, served up with classic brunch items such as beef tartare and caviar. Come for the spectacle; stay for the feast.
MORE INFORMATION: starlightroomsf.com
LANDS END LABYRINTH
Art, adventure, naturalism, and spirituality collide at Eagle’s Point in Lands End. At the end of a promontory overlooking the Pacific and the Golden Gate Bridge, lies a monument to peace, love, and enlightenment. This winding path of rocks was originally set in sand by artist Eduardo Aguilera in 2004, but it has been vandalized and rebuilt so many times that the labyrinth has become a community creation. Locals love the zen quality of a quiet stroll through the maze.
MORE INFORMATION:
parksconservancy.org/visit/park-sites/lands-end.html
