All photos by Nick Hogan
I’ve spent a lot of my past six years documenting San Francisco, building a visual record of characters I meet, places I visit and scenes I come across. Here are my favorite views, which really encapsulate the city for me.
Lands End
This famous lookout is one of my favorite places. Back in the day, it used to be a bathhouse with saltwater swimming pools, an amphitheater and an ice-skating rink. Unfortunately, it burned down in 1967, and today only ruins remain. Here you can hike down through the paths to the bottom of the trail, walk along the ruins and rocks to the far side of the beach near the Cliff House, explore a cave with a secret inlet or look out onto the Golden Gate Bridge.
Pro tip: Sometimes when the ocean is at low tide, you can actually walk all the way around to the Sutro Baths from nearby Ocean Beach.
16th Avenue Tiled Steps
Made by the local community,these steps depict a scene in mosaic tiles going from the depths of the sea to the height of the stars.There are 163 steps in total, and they’re harder to run up than you might think.
Pro tip: Once you catch your breath at the top of the steps, make your way up a few more stairs to see Grandview Park.
Marin Headlands
At the top of the Marin Headlands, you have the seven-by-seven-mile grid of San Francisco laid out in front of you. You can see from the Ferry Building and the Financial District all the way to Ocean Beach and the Richmond and Sunset Districts. You can also see the entirety of Golden Gate Park being displayed snugly in the middle of the city. Even if there’s fog, you can get a glimpse of a scene like this one.
Pro tip: Come for sunrsie, especially when there’s low-lying fog.
Alamo Square
I used to live right near Alamo Square, and on the weekends, I would wake up early, roll out of bed and cruise over to catch a stunning sunrise usually completely to myself. It was such a unique experience to have no tourists around. I just sat there quietly sipping my coffee and watching the warm rays of sunlight bathe the city as it started to come to life.
Pro tip: An excellent alternative to Dolores Park. Grab a beer; bring a blanket; and take in the view.
California Street
I used to work in the FiDi and would always see the cable cars rolling down California Street, so one morning I decided to wake up early and try to catch the first cable car up the hill. This was the view I found—downtown, the Bay Bridge and many other buildings being bathed in morning light.
Pro tip: Cable-car lines at the Wharf and downtown are packed. Walk a few blocks to the next cable-car stop, and there will usually be room in the car for additional people.
Fort Point
This former military fortification—used from the times of the gold rush all the way until World War II to protect California and the Bay Area from naval attacks—is now a top tourist attraction and gorgeous lookout. The fort is directly under the Golden Gate Bridge. While wandering around here, you’re pretty much directly under the bridge and can get a sense of the expansiveness of good ol’ Goldie.
Pro Tip: This place is a local surf spot, so at sunset you can see many surfers all waiting to catch a wave right under the Golden Gate Bridge.
Chinatown
I’ve lived in China, and wandering down the streets and alleyways of Chinatown reminds me off being disoriented and getting lost in the hutongs of Beijing, from interacting with vendors who were trying to pull me into their shops to eating at the delicious restaurants I stumbled upon. The sights, sounds and smells are slightly watered down and Americanized but are still enjoyable.
Pro tip: When I lived in Northern China, beef noodles were my comfort food in the winter. The best place I’ve found for that dish in SF is Chong Qing Xiao Mian, 915 Kearny Street.
Mount Tamalpais
An hour’s drive away, Mount Tamalpais sits quietly above the Marin Headlands and parts of the East Bay, and all of San Francisco. If you’re lucky, the fog will roll along the bay. But since Mount Tam is so high, you sit above the cloud line and watch the fog encapsulate everything beneath you.
Pro tip: Come at sunset and watch the day beautifully come to an end.
Hey! The Bold Italic recently launched a podcast, This Is Your Life in Silicon Valley. Check out the full season or listen to the episode below featuring Eileen Rinaldi, CEO and founder of Ritual Coffee. More coming soon, so stay tuned!
