Trip guides for real days out

From the bridge that was never meant to be orange to the sea lions who showed up uninvited — 15 things worth your time in San Francisco, written by people who live here.

14 escape attempts, 1 still unsolved. Alcatraz was a military prison before it was a federal penitentiary, and the families who lived on the island liked it better than the prisoners. The full true story, with a free audio guide.

10 best viewpoints in San Francisco ranked: Twin Peaks, Ina Coolbrith Park, Battery Spencer, Coit Tower, Bernal Heights, and more — with directions, timing tips, and free audio guide previews.

A Scottish engineer watched horses die on the hills and invented the only moving National Historic Landmark in America. The cable cars' true story — from animal cruelty protest to $8 icon.

15 free things to do in SF: Twin Peaks, Golden Gate Park, Coit Tower murals, Sutro Baths, Lands End, Chinatown, and more. Every single one is actually good. Audio guide previews included.

The Navy wanted it striped like a zebra. 11 men died — 10 on the same day. It is not red. 10 Golden Gate Bridge facts that sound fake but are completely true, with sources and a free audio guide.

Day 1: the postcard route. Day 2: the wilderness inside the city. Day 3: neighborhoods, food, and a choice of side trip. Three days in SF, planned — with audio guides and Google Maps at every stop.

Mission burritos, North Beach pasta, Chinatown dim sum, Ferry Building oysters — what to eat in every SF neighborhood. Honest picks, no sponsored recommendations. Free audio guides for walking off the meal.

Skip the buses. These seven places are where San Franciscans actually go — ruins, secret beaches, a bookstore the Beat poets built, and a vintage arcade where quarters still work.

SFMOMA, de Young, Asian Art Museum, Exploratorium, Cal Academy, Legion of Honor — which San Francisco museums are actually worth it? Ranked with honest assessments and audio guide links.

Mission vs North Beach vs Marina vs Hayes Valley — an honest ranking of SF's best neighborhoods with where to stay, eat, and walk. Free audio guides for each district.

Six San Francisco landmarks, ordered so you never backtrack, timed so you know how long each stop takes, and wired into Google Maps with one click. Plus an audio guide at every stop.

The warmest month in SF is September (not July). Summer is foggy — Mark Twain never actually said that quote. Month-by-month weather, what to pack, and when to visit for the best experience.

Only have a weekend? Day 1: the postcard hits in 3 hours. Day 2: the wild side — Lands End, Sutro Baths, Golden Gate Park, and a sunset at the bridge. All with audio guides and Google Maps.

A full-day plan for seeing SF with children: hands-on science, sea lions, 100-year-old arcade machines, free chocolate, and a cable car ride. Audio guides at every stop so the adults learn something too.