Nudged: Do Something touristy

By Judith Alex, Guest Nudger

I have been living in San Francisco for 32 years. I love to explore this beautiful city and feel like there isn’t much new stuff for me to discover. Just before the pandemic hit, my hiking pal and I did the Crosstown Trail (17 miles from Candlestick Point to Lands End) in one day. It was epic! We walked through so many neighborhoods that I had never seen before. So when I picked “Do something touristy”, I thought “What am I going to do that I haven’t done already?”

My first thought was that there is no way I am doing Fisherman Wharf. Done it a million times. Then there are my favorites: walking Crissy Field, walking all over Golden Gate Park, visiting a museum, shopping at the Ferry Building. But those are tried and true. I wanted to do something new and different. Fortuitously, while I was thinking about this Nudge, Peter Hartlaub of the San Francisco Chronicle published an article: “32 San Francisco things everyone should do in 2022.”

“Ride the 39 Coit Muni line end to end” really caught my attention. Ah-ha! I have never done that before, and it is in a part of town I rarely visit.

Note to Nudgers: We don’t need to travel to a big city to do something touristy. In addition to googling for places of interest nearby, you might ask your local librarian or someone at city hall for tips. See if your town has a historical society—they’ll certainly have suggestions. There might be a historical landmark, a building featuring interesting architecture, a specialized museum, or an interesting statue in a park. Or maybe you go find your town’s Best View or Best Fudge. Have fun! —Kathleen

What Happened: It was a brilliant clear morning. I got on the 39 bus at the corner of Union and Montgomery, and I was the only passenger. The Clipper card scanner wasn’t working, so the ride was free! We went through North Beach (San Francisco’s version of Little Italy), where I saw a Zumba class in Washington Park and tai chi at Joe DiMaggio Park. We rode past Fisherman’s Wharf, and I took in lots of different scenes going on.

We finally made it up the windy street to Coit Tower (the iconic tower that looks like a fire hose), where I got off. It was 9:56, four minutes before opening, and there were just seven people in line. I walked all through the first floor and saw the beautiful frescoes that were commissioned during the Depression to support 25 local artists and depict “Aspects of Life in California, 1934.” Then I took the elevator up and soaked in the 360-degree view of our City by the Bay.

My touristy adventure continued as I looked for the famous Telegraph Hill parrots (didn’t see any) while I walked down the Greenwich Street Steps back to my car.

The cost for everything: just $10.

The Ah-Hahs: When I went by Fisherman’s Wharf, it was still and quiet. And I thought it was so pretty. No wonder tourists like to come here. The whole adventure was an “Ah-Hah” for me. I had no idea the 39 line is so short, scenic, and a great way to see that corner of San Francisco. Coit Tower is filled with history and stories, and is in a beautiful setting. I will definitely be taking out-of-town guests on this adventure.

And now I know why I love 52Nudges: It gets me to get off my deer track and inspires me to make new discoveries.