Sightseeing

A walking tour with a local is a fun and unique way to explore new terrain and meet the people that breathe life into it. Whether you're prone to getting lost walking around on your own or you just like the tidbits of trivia that guides provide, seeing a city with one of its own dwellers is a great way to experience a new place.

Cultural experiences are things that travelers often check off a list like they're shopping for groceries. Monument of historical significance. Check. Museum of some kind of art. Check. Bread and butter. Check and check. In San Francisco, a relatively new city by global standards, those who hunger for a socio-cultural sandwich can experience contemporary art, literary ephemera, and historical artifacts (all organic, of course) in one building at the brand new San Francisco History Museum.

Bolinas, California is a faraway place. Technically, it's only 25 miles from the Marin Headlands Hostel and 19 miles from the Point Reyes Hostel, but it's as far away from the rest of Marin County as you can get. This tiny, unincorporated town without a mayor or a city hall maintains such an indie, insular culture, and an obvious aversion to non-native species, that it's literally off-the-map.

San Francisco is full to the brim with unique and interesting stuff, and in an effort to cast a small net and hone in on a just tiny teeny silver of what makes San Francisco San Francisco, we give you our "Streets of San Francisco" series.

Ever wonder who serves the best Bloody Mary in San Francisco? Or where to go to see the best free view? How about where the weirdest fish store is located? Well wonder no more, because guests of the San Francisco Fisherman's Wharf Hostel can ask all these burning questions, and more, to Mel Hackett, the dynamic hostel activities coordinator with a penchant for graphic design, handmade jewelry, Mexican food, and Swedish pop.

As any budget-conscious traveler knows, some of the best things to do in a new place are free -- and a nice view is certainly at the top of the list! Since San Francisco is a city of hills, there are great views to be found everywhere, especially at the top of some 300+ public stairways. For the vista-hungry spectator who isn't afraid of an incline, this list of San Francisco's most scenic stairways will guide you on an epic adventure.

There's no shortage of attractions in Sacramento, and one of the best -- but least obvious -- is the Sacramento City Cemetery which has a rich history, a blossoming rose garden, and a series of seasonally themed (and free) tours for the public.

Beacons that once guided sailors safely to shore, relics of pre-GPS navigation, and monuments to maritime culture, lighthouses are typically a hallmark of hazardous coastline, found often in places that are particularly rugged and dramatic.

When venturing through California, take advantage of our network of West Coast hostels to jump from town to town and experience the glorious Golden State. On the central coast, between Santa Cruz and Big Sur, you'll spot the beautiful, seaside town of Monterey, home to the Monterey Hostel.

There are a million things to do in San Francisco -- for visitors, internet research is great but can quickly lead to information overload. Once you hit the ground in SF, the San Francisco Travel association's newly renovated Visitor Information Center is like a live-and-in-color Google search result.