Urban Hiker SF

At the start of each Urban Hiker SF tour, we ask our guests if they have ever been on an urban hike. Most people either shake their heads 'no' or give us a slightly confused look. After posing this question to countless hikers, I realized that most people don't have their own definition of urban hiking.   For San Francisco, I usually define urban hiking as "exploring the stairways, hills, and hiking trails" of the city. But there aren't stairways, hills, and hiking trails in every city, so how else can we define urban hiking? I started thinking about this, and wanted to answer the questions of "What exactly is urban hiking?" and "How does urban hiking differ from other hiking and walking?"   Here are a few characteristics that, when put together, create an urban hike:   1. Urban environment   I may be stating the obvious, but an urban hike has to be in an urban setting. This is the main characteristic that sets urban hikes a...

I'm on a mission to #hikeallofsf . These are the stories of my hikes. _______________ ______________________________ _________     Hike Name: Presidio Promenade Distance: 4.4 miles Elevation: 200 feet Difficulty: Easy to moderate Time: 1- 2 hours Dog Friendly: Yes, on leash   For this #hikeallofSF post, I decided to explore the Presidio Promenade , an easy 2.2 mile paved walk that starts at the Presidio’s Lombard Gate and ends at the Golden Gate Bridge. I’ve hiked on many of the Presidio’s 25 miles of hiking trails, and was eager to see some new sites. An early gift - a first view of the GG Bridge This is a nice, easy walk suitable for hikers of all levels. The paved paths with minimal elevation are even great for people in wheelchairs or parents with children in strollers. When done as a roundtrip, the hike is 4.4 miles and leaves you in the Marina, an lively part of town for exploring restaurants and shopping. This hike starts at the Lomba...

So once again Valentine’s Day is upon us. And you’ve planned…..nothing. Don’t let yourself end up in this situation . If you’re in San Francisco and poor planning is your thing, you’re in luck - some of the best Valentines Day ideas here require neither reservations nor prior planning. If your special someone likes spending time outdoors, places like Twin Peaks and Ocean Beach are always crowd pleasers. However, if you want to go a little farther off the beaten path, here are 10 unexpected spots (in no particular order) to share with your love this February 14th. 1. Jack Early Park Vibe: Romantic, Classic SF  Neighborhood: Telegraph Hill   Details: What this park lacks in size, it more than makes up for in romantic ambience. After climbing a quick flight of stairs, you’ll find yourself on a small platform that is Jack Early Park. This pint-sized wonder has panoramic views of the Bay including the Golden Gate Bridge, the Bay Bridge, and Alcatraz. What’...

After college, I sat at various desks at various jobs for 10 years. When I realized 10 years had come and gone, I was in a state of shock. The years were blending together and flying by with nothing too memorable about them. As time went on, I found myself grumpier and grumpier about my work and my commute. I wasn't in a good place.  Without a real place to go afterward, I quit a cushy job in January 2012 in order to take a few months off to reflect. At first, the feeling of freedom made me giddy. But then it made me nervous. I thought, "What am I going to do with myself now ?" And then sometime in May, had the idea for Urban Hiker SF . The idea for the company allowed me to combine my love of novelty, exploration, and the outdoors with the business knowledge I've accumulated over the years.  In February, it will be 1 1/2 years since I launched UHSF. We're running a number of tours weekly, and meeting wonderful people from all over the world. But, while we do ...