South of Market
Yerba Buena Gardens, San Francisco MOMA, South of Market (South Park, AT&T Park, Embarcadero, Mission Street/Yerba Buena Gardens)
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Duration: 3 hours
Distance: 3.7 miles/6 km; This walk is easy to combine with a San Francisco MOMA visit, an Alcatraz tour, a ferry trip to Sausalito or Tiburon or a shopping spree around Union Square.
If you already have been to New York MOMA and there is no specific art piece or interesting exhibit you want to see consider skipping San Francisco MOMA since it's hard to top New York's exhibition. If you face a long wait time go at least to the souvenir shop where you get an overview of their art pieces and have a nice selection of souvenirs and gifts. |
Getting here:
By car: There is the Convention Center parking garage next to the gardens. By public transportation: From Fisherman’s Wharf: take the streetcar from the wharf to Market Street and walk down 4th Street. With the BART exit at Powell Street and walk down 4th Street or exit Montgomery and walk down 2nd Street and make a right into Mission Street. If you are using the CalTrain from the South Bay walk down 4th Street. On demand bikes rental: BayWheels or Jump |
1st stop: Yerba Buena Gardens
The Yerba Buena Gardens are located between 3rd and 4th Street. Although the area is quite small it offers a lot to discover.
First of all, you have a nice view of San Francisco’s skyline and San Francisco MOMA from the park. The park design is very contemporary and includes several points of interest. At the back end of the park is the ‘Martin Luther King Memorial’, a waterfall and basin that includes a photo exhibit behind the falls about the history of the civil rights movement.
Another memorial is the ‘Ohlone Indian Memorial’ that was built on a former Native American burying ground and offers space for public performances and speeches.
And finally, there is the ‘Butterfly Garden’, an area that is popular with local butterfly species.
For more info visit: http://www.yerbabuenagardens.com/index.html
On the opposite of the Gardens, you have the Contemporary Jewish Museum.
Every first Tuesday of the month the admission is free. More info about their recent exhibits is listed under http://www.thecjm.org/
2nd stop: San Francisco MOMA (Museum of Modern Art)
The San Francisco MOMA is located at 3rd Street and easy to spot due to the heaven-warded rotunda.
As mentioned before you get a good overview of their exhibits in the shop and can decide whether you want to buy a ticket or not. Sometimes the wait time for tickets is incredibly long. To purchase them online click here: http://www.sfmoma.org/
The San Francisco MOMA is located at 3rd Street and easy to spot due to the heaven-warded rotunda.
As mentioned before you get a good overview of their exhibits in the shop and can decide whether you want to buy a ticket or not. Sometimes the wait time for tickets is incredibly long. To purchase them online click here: http://www.sfmoma.org/
3rd stop: South Park
South Park was constructed in the 1850s as an exclusive residential community. The design was based on a square in London and the European atmosphere is preserved until today. The park is circled by tiny cafés and restaurants that are perfect for a lunch break. South Park is located in between 2nd or 3rd Street. Just follow any of those streets to the Southeast and turn either left or right into South Park Ave. If you like beer find the 21st Amendment Brewery just around the corner.
4th stop: AT&T Park
A stone throws away from South Park is the baseball Mecca of San Francisco, the Oracle Park, home of the San Francisco Giants.
The baseball park is located at the end of 2nd Street. The complex adjoins the Bay and from most seats, you have a fantastic view over the shore.
On your way to the baseball stadium, you are passing old storage and industrial buildings that were turned into office and residential buildings. The whole area around the baseball stadium was re-vitalized over the last years and turned from a shabby district into a hip quarter with many restaurants and bars, furniture stores, loft, and apartment communities.
Follow the path (San Francisco Bay Trail) to the North towards Oakland Bay Bridge and Ferry Building. On your way, you come along the small yacht harbor and its pier.
5th stop: Embarcadero
Along Embarcadero you have great views over the East Bay and the islands. The walkway is lined with some nice restaurants and bars that have happy hour deals, e.g. the Waterbar.