San Francisco Tours - Scoutin’ & Scootin’ San Fran

North America United States Southwest California

A heart-thumping, saddle-swerving tour of San Francisco’s hills

For the past five years we’ve commemorated our anniversary by re-visiting the fun-filled city of San Francisco. There are countless cozy cappuccino cafes, exquisite boutique-style hotels, and incredibly scenic views from every hilltop that your feet will take you or in this year’s case our almighty scooter. Actually, with both of us snuggled onto our ‘Elite 150’, almighty was hardly the appropriate descriptor but it sure was a blast.

Never being a Hell’s Angel wanna-be, a Harley-Davidson hero, or for that matter, even much of a leather kind of gal, I felt somewhat naïve to the ins and outs of riding piggy-back on anything motorized. “You’ve got to lean into the turn just follow me,” Brent reassured, and after a couple of heart-thumping, saddle-swerving kilometers, this law of gravity became somewhat instinctive and we were off to the races or should I say the beaches.

En route, we passed through the Presidio Army Museum, revealing its two hundred year history from 1776, when the first Mexican Spanish rulers set up post, to the departure of the US army in 1994. A gateway of towering evergreens bordered the scenic ‘route forty-nine’ and an onslaught of breezy gusts were our first clue that the California coastline was soon to come.

We, and at least a dozen other camera-clad first-comers, couldn’t resist a Kodak moment, when those spectacular gabled towers of the world-renowned Golden Gate came into view. A five-kilometer promenade promised exhilarating views of the spectacular span while we meandered past wind-shaped cypress trees, eroding rocky bluffs, and never-ending vistas of the pounding Pacific.

Our venture continued into Golden Gate Park, where its one thousand acres offers all types of recreation amenities. Deciding to take a breather from our strenuous muscle-wrenching scooting machine, we soaked up a few glorious California rays and watched blading, biking, boarding and barbecuing enthusiasts enjoy this inner city chunk of greenery. The park also ‘promises a rose garden’ boasting six thousand plant species from all over the world.

Moving onward and upward (and I mean upward) our Elite 150 chugged the steep and winding gateway to what appeared to be to San Francisco’s heaven Twin Peaks, and gazing out, we witnessed breathtaking panoramic vistas of the forty-seven square mile city. Unless site-seeing when sunrise watercolors are said to be ‘more sensational than a vibrantly painted canvas,’ the spectrum is predominantly pale gray, reflecting the city’s abundant density of pastel-toned homes, where row on row corrugated bay windows bow in hopes of capturing a view.

Our homebound route took us past the plethora of souvenir shops, gift stores and varied Fisherman’s Wharf seafood houses offering their daily catch. Crowds gathered around mimes, magicians, musicians and others who entertain in order to maintain their San Francisco lifestyle. Although tourist-packed, it can be an enjoyable afternoon visit, but don’t forget your walking shoes, especially if you want to make the trek up to Ghirardelli Square, where serious chocoholics, like me, can have a field day.

Even though the only exercise my thighs endured all day was the scooter straddle squeeze, the resonance from a nearby cable car bell was music to my ears. Our retreat for the night was located on ‘the other side of Russian hill,’ and the idea of hiking its landscaped terrace to the sky, where the grade becomes too steep for anything but steps, did not particularly sound like a rushing experience. Despite the lengthy line-up, low gear via cable car offered the same sweeping city view with a lot less stress on my knees and Nikes.

Hotel Vintage Court, our home sweet home, was a comforting and relaxing reprieve after our day of seeing the sites. Also home to the legendary Masa’s Restaurant, endless gastronomical pleasures were offered here through Chef Julian Serrano’s exquisite French cuisine. Arriving just in time for the evening wine reception, we mingled with other guests next to the lobby’s flickering fire where round-the-clock, French-roasted coffee and an assortment of fine teas were also available during our stay.

If your visit is a celebration of romance, we highly recommend booking the grand suite where breathtaking city views, the wood-burning fireplace and an exquisite Jacuzzi tub will surely enhance your scoutin’ and scootin’ San Fran Adventure.

How to Get There:

• Consult your local travel agent for the selection of airlines and flights.
• Upon arrival to San Francisco International, a cost-effective transportation route into the city is via regularly serviced door to door service Shuttle vans.

To Scoot: American RentalsAddress: 2715 Hyde Street (at Fisherman’s Wharf)Phone: 415-931-0234 To Stay: Hotel Vintage Court650 Bush StreetSan Francisco, CA 94108Ph: 415-392-4666 or 1-800-654-1100Fax: 415-433-4065

Author: Jane Cassie and Brent Cassie