Walking Tours
MARINA GREEN TO BRIDGE WALK: Wear a jacket and comfortable shoes to walk from Marina Green to Golden Gate Bridge. This flat 4 mile walk meanders along the Bay, Marina, Crissy Field and Fort Point.
CIVIC CENTER WALK: Learn some San Francisco history and see the grand buildings that replaced the ruins of the 1906 earthquake. Afterwards, take a trolley downtown to the Embarcadero Center and view the Bay. Trolley costs $1.
MISSION MURALS WALK: Visit some of San Francisco's best kept secrets. See the cultural expression of muralists in the Cultural Mission District. Transportation costs anywhere from $1-$3 and additional money for snacks if you like.
BERNAL HILL HIKE: Take BART to 24th Street in the Mission District and walk up Bernal Hill to see wonderful views of Twin Peaks, the Bay, most of San Francisco and the East Bay.
PALACE OF FINE ARTS TOUR: Learn about one of the most beautiful and romantic spots in San Francisco. Enjoy the Mediterranean and Art Deco ambiance of today's Marina District. Transportation $2.
NORTH BEACH TOUR: Savor the history and sights of Little Italy (since 1880's). Learn of the Bohemians and mid-20th century Beatniks. Visit Northbeach bookstores and cafes. $2 transportation.
HISTORIC MARKET STREET TOUR: History, intrigue and mystery await you along the "Path of GOLD" from the foot of Market Street to Lotta's Fountain. See the buildings that survived the 1906 earthquake and fire. $2 transportation.
VICTORIAN HOUSES OF ALAMO SQUARE PARK: The carefully restored and beautiful Painted Ladies the most photographed houses in the world! $2 transportation.
SAN FRANCISCO MUSEUM OF MODERN ART: Enjoy a FREE day at the Modern Art Museum on the first Tuesday of each month. Walk from the hostel to the Museum.
CHINATOWN TOUR: Explore colorful alleys and side streets, the essence of Chinatown. Walk there from the hostel and enter at Kearny @ Clay @ Portsmouth Square.
HAIGHT STREET WALK: Visit the famous Haight Street notorious for hippie culture in the 60's. Walk from lower Haight to upperHaight ending at Golden Gate Park. Visit all the shops and food joints along the way. $2 transportation + food and shopping money if you like.
TELEGRAPH HILL HIKE: See the pre-1870 Victorian houses situated atop this wonderful hill. Visit Coit Tower and see spectacular views throughout the entire hike! $2 bus fare and money for lunch if you like.
GOLDEN GATE BRIDGE WALKING TOUR: Join a local resident for a walk across the famous Golden Gate Bridge. $2 for transportation to the bridge and money for lunch if you like.
CASTRO NEIGHBORHOOD WALK: World famous for itís cultural flare, visit San Francisco's hottest neighborhood and gay community. See the turn of the century Castro Theater with it's preserved architecture and pipe organ. $2 transportation + money for snacks if you like.
PRESIDIO WALK: See glorious scenery and the Golden Gate Bridge at the Presidio, a former Military Base located at the most Northern point of San Francisco. Learn some history talking with a Park Ranger and enjoy the fresh air and greenery. $2 transportation and money for lunch if you like.
LAND'S END/OCEAN BEACH: Visit the Pacific Ocean if you haven't seen it yet! Stop by the Famous Cliff House and see the remnants of the Sutro Baths. Get your fortune told at the Musee Mechanique and see the one and only camera obscura.
NOB HILL NEIGHBORHOOD: Explore the cable car museum, three fabulous hotels and Grace Cathedral. Great views and a wonderful walk! FREE
SAN FRANCISCO THROUGH THE SENSES: This great tour covers Chinatown, Northbeach, Coit Tower and the wonderful Palace Hotel. $2 transportation + money for lunch if you like.
FISHERMANíS WHARF SHOPS: Hang out at the waterfront. Visit Pier 39, 41 and all the shops in between! $2 transportation.
FILLMORE DISTRICT: Bus to one of the oldest neighborhoods in San Francisco and see where jazz once thrived in the city. Visit the little shops along the way to tea. A great sunny day walk. $2 transportation
+ money for lunch if you like.
Historic San Francisco Walking Tour: Join storyteller, David, in the 2nd floor common room at 6 p.m. for a 2 hour, free walking tour through SF history. Youíll see parts of the city most travelers miss, hear the tale of four famous San Franciscans, plus learn about the growth of SF from a sleepy town to a booming city.
Academy of Sciences / Haight Street Walking Tour: Itís free museum night at the California Academy of Sciences! Visit the earthquake simulator and aquarium located right in Golden Gate Park, then go for a walk through the famous Haight-Ashbury neighborhood, with optional stop for a pint or coffee. Bring $2 for round-trip bus fare and extra money for drinks or snacks.
Heart of the City Farmer's Market: Sample local color and food at this weekly farmersí market where 65 vendors, including some organic farms, fish mongers, and flower stands sell their goods.
Twin Peaks Hike : The best view of the bay! : 2 hour guided hike up to Twin Peaks. Venture to the top of the peaks for a panoramic view of the bay area and see some of SF's interesting architecture. Wear sturdy shoes and a warm jacket. Bring $2 for the bus and be prepared for a few short, but steep, hikes.
Pacific Heights Mansions Walking Tour: See the wonderful Victorian mansions of Pacific Heights and learn about Victorian-era lifestyles and earthquake refugees.
SoMa Walking Tour: Visit the nearby South of Market neighborhood and the new Sony Metreon, home of a skating rink, bowling alley, movie theaters, shops and restaurants. Tour Yeurba Buena Gardens and Center for the arts.
RESTAURANT NIGHT IN THE Mission District: The best Mexican Food youíll have in the city and it's so cheap! Don't miss it! Bring $10 + #2 transportation.
RESTAURANT NIGHT IN Haight/Ashbury: Choose from any one of the bunch! From Aritrian food to Fresh Seafood to Thai. $12 + $2 transportation. Space is limited to 9 only. (RESTAURANT NIGHT)
RESTAURANT NIGHT IN THE RICHMON - Geary Street Eats: Venture out into the Richmond District and choose from Irish, Asian, Russian, or East Indian cuisine. $15 + $2 transportation. Space is limited to 9 people only.
RESTAURANT NIGHT IN Northbeach: Choose from any of the great Italian restaurants. There are so many! $15 + $2 transportation.
RESTAURANT NIGHT Downtown: Discover the best places to eat for cheap downtown! $8-10 food
Adventure Tours
MUIR WOODS: See why President Teddy Roosevelt declared Muir woods a National Monument in 1908. Bring water, lunch, good walking shoes and a sweater. Sign up at the front desk. $33 and worth every minute of it!
BIKE THE BAY: Bike through North Beach, Fisherman's wharf, over the Golden Gate Bridge and down into beautiful Sausalito. The ride is mostly flat with a few small hills. Bike rental is $15. You must bring a credit card for a security deposit on the bike. $8 for the bus and ferry fare. Bring a bag lunch or money for lunch in Sausalito.
ICE SKATE: Venture down to the Moscone Center Ice Ring and skate all day if you like!
BOWLING: Stay out of the rain! Let's go Bowling at the Moscone Center.
Community Service Projects
GLIDE MEMORIAL CHURCH SERVICE: Glide is San Francisco's hottest church. Make sandwiches to feed the homeless and then enjoy the best church service youíve ever seen. The choir at Glide is the best you'll ever hear, their powerful voices stress community and diversity. You'll want to dance around your chair! FREE
SAVE THE BEACHES: It's no lie that the beaches are polluted! While walking along Ocean Beach, I've seen all sorts of garbage washed up on shore. Not to mention injured birds. Help Hostelling International clean up the beach! A couple hours cleaning up the beach can make a big difference to the community! HELP OUT!
Special Events
SUMMER LECTURE SERIES: Every Wednesday night beginning June 6th October 17th there will be a speaking engagement on a travel related topic. To be held in the common room at lovely Fort Mason Hostel at the corner of Bay + Franklin.
Shear Madness, Join the madness! Shear Madness is the longest running play in American theater history, and better yet, itís located just a few doors away from the hostel. Best of all, a limited number of FREE tickets will be available for this great comedy.
STUDENT TRAVEL DAY: Local or visiting Youth Groups enjoy a tour of the Downtown Hostel, receive HI(unofficial) travel passport, study a world map and take the trolley to Fort Mason for a brown bag lunch.
CRITICAL MASS: Activism in Action. Learn about bicycle activism here in the City where thousands of cyclists take to the streets each month for the famous Critical Mass ride. Keep your bike overnight to participate in the Bike the Bay ride. Youíll need $15 for bike rental and a credit card for security deposit.
INDEPENDENT FILM FESTIVAL: See the hot hip new films. Sometimes the Director and Actors are there at the screening! $7.50 admission + $2 admission.
METREON MOVIE DAY: Yummie movies. The biggest block buster films you've ever seen, not to mention the Sony Mega Mall that is the Metreon! $9 admission + $5 for snacks ($20 for snacks if you buy them at the theater, no kiddin'!)
Comedy Club: Laugh along with local comedians at this stand-up show. Tickets are half-price for a hostel group! Bring $2.50 for admission and a photo i.d. (21 yrs.+) + money for drinks if you like.
Sports
GROUP TRIP TO A SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS GAME: You're in America, baseball is as American as apple pie! Get rowdy with the locals at a Giants game at the brand new Pac Bell Ballpark. $10 ticket + $2 transportation.
GROUP TRIP TO UNIVERSITY OF SAN FRANCISCO'S BASKETBALL TEAM; THE DONS: Enjoy a good game of University basketball. Cheer with the locals. $6 + $2 transportation.
Ongoing Programs (For Hostel Guests and Public)
Lectures
Every Wednesday of the month travel authors make guest appearances at our Fort Mason Hostel to share their latest book. Specific authors and dates will be announced May 1st , 2001
Traveler's Circle
The first Wednesday of each month is dedicated to the local Traveler's circle. Share your travel stories and tips with like-minded travelers and local residents or join us for a cup of coffee and hear other traveler's tales. The SF Traveler's Circle meets monthly in the cafÈ at the Fort Mason Hostel at 7:00 pm.
Dancing
Tuesday nights at Nicki's B B Q: The D.J. mixes world beats that get your feet moving!
D.J. Night Out: Hang out with local D.J.ís and listen to San Francisco's best music.
Salsa Dancing : FREE Salsa dance lesson and dance the night away at one of San Francisco's hottest dance clubs free before 9pm. Bring $2 for the bus and a photo i.d.
(21yrs. +).
Swing Dancing: FREE Swing dance lesson and dance the night away at one of San Francisco's hippest dance clubs free before 9pm. Bring $2 for the bus and a photo i.d.
(21yrs. +).
MISSION DISTRICT PUB CRAWL: Venture into the Mission District and enjoy a night of alternative bars and clubs. Declared one of the hippest neighborhoods in America! Need $3 for BART and additional money for drinks.
NORTH BEACH NIGHT OUT: Check out the various pubs and bars along Columbus Avenue and the Cannery in North Beach. $2 for transportation + money for drinks and food
ANCHOR STEAM BREWERY: Visit San Francisco's oldest brewery Learn how they make their world famous beer. You must be over 21 with a I.D. $2 for transportation + bring money for lunch if you like.
DOWNTOWN DIVES: Visit local dive bar, 7-11, voted best dive bar in the city by the San Francisco Bay Guardian or venture over to POW! You canít miss with jars of candy on the bar and the coolest bar menus in town. Bring money for drinks and food.
Lower Haight: Notorious for nightclubs and food joints. Don't miss it! $2 transportation + money for drinks and food.
Groups Programs
Word seems to be spreading quickly: groups love to use hostels!
At HI-AYH we understand the challenges of planning a group outing whether it's for your school, activity club or sports team. As a nonprofit organization with over 60 years of experience serving travelers throughout America, we can be more than just an affordable group accommodation provider; we can be your group programming partner too!
Our Program Director is on top of the local scene and can assist you by lending personal assistance over the phone while you plan your group trip to San Francisco. We can make up to two nights reservations at local restaurants for your group so youíve got a jump start on meal planning. Also, we can mail you current information on something specific you are interested in seeing or visiting while in San Francisco.
Tours of San Francisco are held on a daily basis. To incorporate tours into your San Francisco visit, e-mail now, sfprograms@aol.com. Or call well in advance (415) 788-1814.
Hostelling is affordable and with our friendly, culturally diverse, helpful staff and visitors from all over the world, hostels help to enrich group travel experiences. Remember that we are online! Visit our website, www. hiayh.org and go to the ìgroup page.
Volunteerism
Hostel volunteers play an integral role in fulfilling the HI-AYH mission. Local resident volunteers not only help travelers get a sense of the cities and regions they visit, but through cross-cultural exchanges they help to build international understanding.
By joining us as a volunteer you will be part of a group of over 50 individuals who volunteer regularly at our San Francisco hostels. Volunteers come from a range of backgrounds and experiences, but they all share in the organizationís mission of promoting global understanding and world peace through travel.
There are many different volunteer positions at this hostel, including Information Center Volunteers, Walking Tour Docents, Film Buff Volunteers, and Event Leaders. We are also very interested in hearing about your particular interests and talents and how you would like to share them with travelers in San Francisco. Please feel free to suggest other ways you would like to volunteer with us. We're open to your ideas.
If you are a local San Franciscan looking to Volunteer or a world traveler visiting for six months or longer and would like to donate your time and experience, contact us and set up a personal meeting. We look forward to hearing from you soon.
_____
Contact Information:
Programs & Education
HI-AYH San Francisco, Downtown
Hostel @ Union Square
312 Mason Street
San Francisco, California 94102
415-771-7277
e-mail: sfprograms@aol.com
Jeanne Comaskey
Program Director Volunteer Coordinator
