house tours bay area

Weekend sellouts expected! Advanced reservations required, including member admission.

Inspiration in Every Season

Connecting our rich history with a vibrant future through beauty, nature and shared stories.

Golden Hour

Select dates this Spring | 5-8pm

Filoli is open on select spring evenings! Vibrant tulips, blooming fruit trees, and a radiant sunset display nature’s beauty during the Golden Hour. Hike the trail at twilight or attend a free Bulb Talk with Filoli’s Interpretive staff.

Explore a Vibrant Landscape

of the Bay Area

The Experience

What's blooming.

Welcome to Filoli

Filoli is a vibrant landscape of the Bay Area, situated on the unceded ancestral lands of the Ramaytush Ohlone, in Woodside, California. Filoli is dedicated to connecting our rich history with a vibrant future through beauty, nature and shared stories, and we invite you to learn more about our story here!

Life of a Bulb

Every spring, Filoli plants thousands of bulbs around the House and Garden. Follow along their journey and watch their transformation from bulb to flower.

Support the Preservation and Conservation of Filoli

Alameda Legacy Home Tour

Come celebrate with us the 50th Anniversary of AAPS’ Legacy Home Tour. Sunday  September 17th from 10am to 4pm. Save the Date! Tickets, vendors, cafe and fun activities at Franklin Park .

Tickets will go on sale July 4th!

CLICK HERE TO BUY TICKETS

The tour is hosted by the Alameda Architectural Preservation Society (AAPS )  a nonprofit organization.

The funds raised by the  Alameda Legacy Home Tour benefit the Alameda Architectural Preservation Society (AAPS).

CELEBRATE ALAMEDA’S GLORIOUS HISTORIC HOMES.

Alameda is blessed with over 4000 buildings on the Historic Study list, including many architectural styles. Our organization helps homeowners and business people appreciate the historic nature of their properties and learn restoration techniques that will bring buildings back to their original splendor.

HOME TOURS CELEBRATE PRESERVATION EFFORTS

We have hosted Legacy Home Tours since the 1973. The annual tour of historic homes is the main fund raising effort supporting the programs of AAPS.

Alameda, with its beautiful architecture and tree-lined streets is truly one of the best places to live in the Bay Area. Visit, take the tour, and find out for yourself.

Volunteer to help for our 2023 Legacy Home Tour!

Please email Denise if you would like to join us! .  We meet most months on the first Wednesday of the month. We are a fun group — join us! 

Contact Denise: [email protected]

Friends of the Tour

Please visit our advertisers and sponsors:.

WELCOME TO THE HAAS-LILIENTHAL HOUSE

 A NATIONAL TREASU RE

D esigned by architect Peter R. Schmidt for William and Bertha Haas, and constructed in 1886, the 11,500 square foot  Haas-Lilienthal House embodies both the ambitious spirit of San Francisco’s pioneers and its grand Victorian-period architecture.   

Surviving the 1906 earthquake and fire, it remained in the family until 1973, when the three adult children of the recently deceased Alice Haas-Lilienthal entrusted the House to a new architectural preservation organization, The Foundation for San Francisco's Architectural Heritage (now SF Heritage ).

After some preparation, the H-L House eventually became their new headquarters, and they quickly converted it into offices, a house museum featuring docent-led public tours, as well as a sophisticated venue for private events . SF Heritage also developed a highly successful educational program designed for third graders to learn more about architecture, preservation and 19th century living.

Today, this exuberant Queen Anne style home survives as a site of national cultural and architectural significance.  In addition to being on the National Register of Historic Places and San Francisco Landmark #69, the House was designated a National Treasure in 2012 by the National Trust for Historic Preservation.

American Institute of Architects San Francisco

AIA San Francisco Announces Selected Projects for the 2023 AIASF Home Tours

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: July 29, 2023

Media Contact: Matthew Donohue, AIASF Communications Manager [email protected]

(San Francisco, CA) AIA San Francisco (AIASF), in collaboration with the  Center for Architecture + Design , is pleased to announce the 2023 AIASF Home Tours (formerly San Francisco Living: Home Tours) , an annual open house event featuring five residences designed by leading Bay Area architects will take place on Saturday, September 23 from 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM. AIASF Home Tours tickets will be available for purchase on Friday, August 4.

"The AIASF Home Tours program provides a unique opportunity to engage and learn more about the impact of architecture and design in our everyday lives. We encourage curious minds to experience design and its evolving role in the future of the built environment," said Stacy Williams, AIASF Executive Director.

As the first tour series in the Bay Area to promote residential design, this highly-acclaimed event showcases five projects that promote innovative residential and represent a variety of architectural styles, neighborhoods, and residences, including single-family homes, multi-family complexes, and contemporary renovations. AIASF Home Tours takes place every year in September as part of the annual Architecture + the City Festival .

Tour participants view some of the latest residential projects from the inside out, examine new housing trends, and discover design solutions that inspire unique modern and sustainable living. This year’s Home Tours Headquarters will take place at the new Center for Architecture + Design located at 140 Sutter Street in San Francisco. Additionally, festival attendees will be able to attend the Architects’ Forum on Wednesday, September 20, featuring a panel discussion with the architects whose projects are featured in this year’s AIASF Home Tours.

Special thanks to the 2023 AIASF Home Tours Selection Team: Barbara Shands , Shands Studio ; Lise de Vito , Zack | de Vito Architecture ; Christina Cho Yoo , AIA, PE, LEED AP BD C , Atelier Cho Thompson & A Rising Tide ; Vivian Dwyer , Dwyer Design .

Congratulations to the architects and their teams!

2023 Architecture + the City Festival Sponsors

NEIGHBOR LEVEL

BLOCK LEVEL

33SIXTY | FLEXFORM

Bernal Heights Residence | Mork-Ulnes Architects |    https://www.morkulnes.com

The project started as a re-design of an old, shingled Victorian house, but the scope changed drastically when a fire ravaged the home on Christmas 2017. The single-story house was previously overshadowed by its taller two-story gabled neighbors. As the fire forced a reevaluation of scope and scale, Mork-Ulnes evaluated the proportions and exterior massing of neighboring homes. For the exterior, the charred black painted silhouette was intended to take cues from its quintessential San Francisco neighbors. The proportions, scale, and massing are derived from its surroundings, but reinterpret Edwardian design cues into more abstract decorative elements like siding patterns and solid-void composition.

Photo credit: Bruce Damonte

Golden Gate Heights Residence | John Lum Architecture   | https://johnlumarchitecture.com

Perched atop Golden Gate Heights with views of the Marin Headlands, this mid-century residence didn't do justice to its spectacular setting. A compartmentalized floor plan, with deteriorated fixtures and finishes, made for a dated feel. It was time for a major reset. The house was reconceptualized, inside and out. The goal was to elevate its roots and create a space that would accommodate large gatherings while keeping an intimate, personal feel for everyday living. The client had a strong aesthetic and having grown up in Eastern Europe wanted a house that would work with his collection of proto-modernist furniture. The focus was on simplifying the house. The exterior form was stripped of its dilapidated painted cladding and replaced with natural cedar siding and cement plaster; durable materials meant to weather in place. A shou sugi ban screen provides a unifying base, hiding the garage doors with the only penetration being the distinctive orange glass front gate. Passing through that gate is otherworldly, transforming the outside world into a surreal experience that recalls the Light and Space Movement of 1970’s California. Guests are ushered to a staircase that leads to a Zendo-inspired garden and front door.

Photo Credit: Paul Dyer

Russian Hill Residence | Dumican Mosey Architects |  https://www.dumicanmosey.com

Located at the end of a narrow mid-block alley in the pedestrian-oriented and densely rich context of San Francisco’s Russian Hill neighborhood, this project involved a reimagination and expansion of an existing two-unit home while merging the subject property with a small adjacent vacant lot bordering the shared mid-block open space. The design maintains the small existing building footprint, focusing on preserving the adjacent open space while expanding the living space by converting a storage area at the garden level and up through a single-story vertical addition. The bold, faceted, object-like red stair provides a glimpse into the nature of the house from the alley level and connects all 4 floors vertically. A quiet, modern façade becomes the reimagined face fronting the narrow alley and frames the pedestrian view to Coit Tower.

Photo Credit: Blake Marvin Photography

Mint Hill Residence | Red Dot Studio |  http://www.reddotstudio.com

The home was built for another site and another time. Moved from Bernal Heights to Waller Street, adjacent apartments blocked light into the windows built for another place. On an early trip to the home the architect saw that the bathroom lightwell had the best light and became the stair location bringing sunshine through the core of the house. The team added a story and a housing unit to the property with a garden apartment and two-story home above. The client’s strong eclectic design and environmental sensibility inspired the integration of a fan, radiant heat, no AC, PV with battery backup throughout the entire house. The home is almost entirely electric, except for the hot water heater, as Heat Pump Water Heaters were not as prevalent or affordable at the time of the design and build phase of this house. Gas is routed to the water heater and the homeowner’s goal is to replace this with an electric water heater when the time for replacement comes.

Photo Credit: Leslie Williamson

Twin Peaks Residence | Michael Hennessey Architecture |  https://www.hennesseyarchitect.com

On a downslope lot in San Francisco, a restrained composition of steel frames, aluminum windows, and deep gray cement plaster makes up the facade of this three-unit residential building. On the lower level, a two-story unit makes the most of its connection to the outdoors, opening to a spare garden finished with fine gravel and concrete, onto which dappled light spills through the canopy of a new tree. A double-height volume holds the living room and kitchen, while the bedroom tucks into a mezzanine for a private, cozy retreat. Strategically placed vertical windows provide privacy for the building’s one-story middle unit, the space slowly decompressing to culminate in a high-ceilinged living room that leads onto a generous deck with sweeping views of San Francisco. The distance from the street on the building’s highest level allowed the architects to give the owners’ suite, located on the top unit’s second floor, an entirely glazed front facade, producing a space with visual connections to its surroundings in both the front and the back.

Photo credit: Adam Rouse Photography

About AIA San Francisco | www.aiasf.org  

Serving the Bay Area for over a century, the American Institute of Architects, San Francisco (AIASF) is committed to enhancing the quality of life in the Bay Area by promoting excellence in architecture, design, and the built environment. AIASF represents members practicing architecture, as well as allied community professionals in San Francisco and Marin counties. As a resource for our members and the public, AIA San Francisco strives to improve the quality of life in the Bay Area through community involvement, education, advocacy, public outreach, and member services.

About the Center for Architecture + Design | www.centersf.org

The Center for Architecture + Design is a 501(c)3 organization dedicated to creating a public-focused dialogue on architecture, design, and the built environment in the San Francisco Bay Area. Founded by the American Institute of Architects, San Francisco (AIASF) in 2005, the Center enhances public appreciation for architecture and design through virtual and in-person exhibitions, lectures, tours, film series, and other programs.

About the Architecture + the City Festival | www.archandcity.org

Presented by the Center for Architecture + Design in collaboration with AIA San Francisco, the Annual Architecture + the City Festival takes place every year in September featuring behind-the-scenes programs, tours, lectures, film presentations, and more. These month-long programs provide an excellent opportunity for all communities to experience architecture and design in a myriad of ways throughout the city. Since 2003, we have worked to enrich these core events and have collaborated with countless design and community partners, firms, and organizations to further creative ideas and advance the conversation surrounding our local built environment, to celebrate accomplishments, and together work towards building a more sustainable future.

• Privacy Overview
• 3rd Party Cookies

This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible. Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognising you when you return to our website and helping our team to understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful.

This website uses Google Analytics to collect anonymous information such as the number of visitors to the site, and the most popular pages.

Keeping this cookie enabled helps us to improve our website.

Please enable Strictly Necessary Cookies first so that we can save your preferences!

The houses associated with Bay Area Historic House Museums are affiliated to promote better community awareness of these historic resources in the San Francisco Bay Area.

The houses showcase the breadth of history in the area: from early adobes, through Victorian mansions and farmhouses, to 20th century homes.

BAHHM membership is open to recognized local, state, and national historical landmark houses whose goal is to be open for interpretive tours in the eight San Francisco Bay Area counties i.e. Marin, San Francisco, Alameda, Contra Costa, Solano, San Mateo, Santa Clara, and Sonoma. These properties should be operated by public or non-profit agencies, principally for the use, education and enjoyment of the general public. Appropriate uses might include: architectural interpretation, furnished historical interior tours, garden/landscape interpretation, living history programs, and historic personage interpretation. Each house will be considered individually by the association. BAHHM serves as a clearing house for information of interest to members, develops networking contacts, provides opportunity for continuing education in the fields of site management, curation, conservation, etc,. and acts as an advocacy group for historic preservation.

• Visitor Centers
• Trail Courtesy
• Alerts & Closures
• Rules & Regulations
• New Visitors
• Visitor Safety
• ADA Accessibility
• Public Meetings
• Community Meetings
• Horseback Riding
• Merry-Go-Round
• Community Outreach
• Educator Resources
• Healthy Parks Healthy People
• Naturalist Education
• Outdoor Recreation
• Registration
• Youth and Teens
• Activity Registration
• Event Venues
• Become a Member
• Park Improvements
• Regional Trails
• Future Planning
• Resource Management
• Biodiversity
• Climate Adaptation
• Pest Management
• Water Quality
• Wildfire Resilience
• Government Affairs
• Human Resources
• Board of Directors
• General Manager
• Park Advisory Committee
• We Celebrate
• Annual Report
• Bids & RFPs
• e-Newsletter

Interpretive Panels

• Print Publications
• Mission & Vision
• Compass Magazine
• Memberships & Donations
• Calendar of Events
• New to the Outdoors
• Register/Reserve
• Report an Incident

• Ardenwood Historic Farm
• To Reach the Park
• Accessibility ADA
• Attractions

Tue. thru Sun., 10am-4pm.  Closed on Thanksgiving and Christmas Day  Open Memorial Day, July 4th and Labor Day

Entry Fees: see Entry Fees section | Parking: No Fee | Dogs: No Dogs Allowed

34600 Ardenwood Blvd. Fremont, CA 94555

(510) 544-2797 Toll Free: 888-EBPARKS (888-327-2757), option 3, extension 4504

Internet & Cellular Access

Check AT&T, T-Mobile & Verizon Coverage .  Select 'Map Layers' and switch on 'No Data Coverage Areas'

Park Activities

Ardenwood Historic Farm offers a glimpse into life on a family farm between 1890 and 1930. Step back in time as you explore the remnants of the once vast estate of George and Clara Patterson, whose family farmed the land for over 100 years, beginning in the 1850s. East Bay Regional Park District has operated the property as a fully functioning, turn-of-the-last-century farm since 1985. Today, Ardenwood demonstrates the role farms play in providing vital resources, driving innovation, and bringing together communities. Using carefully restored farm machinery, staff and volunteers invite visitors to join in the harvest and processing of crops once common in the region, including corn, wheat, and hay. A farmyard with a variety of animals, a large hay barn, an outdoor kitchen, and a working blacksmith shop create opportunities to make connections between everyday life, local farming history, and the land. Historic buildings and grounds, including the Patterson’s lovely Victorian farmhouse and surrounding formal gardens, give a glimpse of life at the turn-of-the-last-century.

Since Ardenwood is a working farm, the daily activities change from season to season so no two visits will be exactly alike. Visit our  Naturalist Program  page for more information and schedules before your next visit.

Ardenwood Historic Farm is open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesdays through Sundays, year-round, including Labor Day and Memorial Day. Ardenwood is closed Thanksgiving and Christmas Day. For picnic reservations call 1-888-EBPARKS or  1-888-327-2757 , press option 2. There is no parking fee. Dogs are not allowed in the Ardenwood Historic Farm.

Note:  Dogs are not permitted in the park. Modern recreational equipment (e.g., frisbees, footballs, soccer balls, bicycles, balloons, and BBQs) are prohibited.

Restoration and operation of the Patterson House Museum is a project of the city of Fremont. For information call  (510) 791-4196 .

Ardenwood Bird Checklist

Ringed by major roads and industrial and residential areas, Ardenwood Historic Farm is an island of agricultural land, providing critical habitat for wildlife.  It is a refuge for birds that feed, roost, nest or just pass through. Over 99 species have been spotted around the park’s orchards, gardens, fields and groves.  This handy checklist includes seasonal information and abundance on everything from red-shouldered hawks and western bluebirds to Nuttall’s woodpeckers and Allen’s hummingbirds.  Download:  A Guide to the Birds of Ardenwood Historic Farm  [PDF]

January through March, and the Wed. before Thanksgiving through December: Tues. through Sun.: $4/adults (18+ years), $3/seniors (62+ year), $2/children (4-17 years), under 4 years - free. April through the Tues. before Thanksgiving: Tues., Wed. & Sat.: $4/adults (18+ years), $3/seniors (62+ year), $2/children (4-17 years), under 4 years - free. Thurs., Fri. and Sun.: $6/adults (18+ years), $5/seniors (62+ year), $4/children (4-17 years), under 4 years - free. 

Special Event Entry Fees

$8-$30/adults* (18+ years), $6-$30/seniors* (62+ year), $5-$25/children* (4-17 years) *Special event entry fees may vary. Please call  (510) 544-2797  or email  [email protected]  for updated information.

Ardenwood Naturalist Programs

Join us for our monthly programs!

To Reach The Park

Main entrance.

From I-880 in Fremont, take the Decoto Road/Dumbarton Bridge/Highway 84 exit. Go west on Highway 84 toward the Dumbarton Bridge. Take the Ardenwood/Newark Blvd. exit and turn right (north) onto Ardenwood Blvd. The park entrance is ahead, on the right.

Public Transit

Public transportation: Take AC Transit buses #232 or #264 on weekdays and #332 on weekends from Union City BART to the bus stop on Newark Boulevard under the freeway. To return, the bus stop is on Newark Boulevard just south of the freeway in front of the shopping center.

Public transit information  or call 511 (TDD (hearing impaired line)/TTY: 1-800-448-9790) to confirm transit information. 

Park Accessibility

The majority of facilities in Ardenwood are wheelchair accessible: Patterson House, Hay Barn, Train Ride, Granary, Cafe, restrooms, and wedding and reception sites. Most of the roads are paved and there are no significant grade changes.  Public transit information .

Some of the park features include the followings:

• Arden Station and Deer Park Station:  During its operating season (usually April-mid November), board the farm’s train here. It takes you back more than 100 years to a time when railroads connected the East Bay’s farms to towns and cities. The train is operated by Ardenwood’s Railroad Museum with staff and docents dressed in period costumes. For information,  visit the Society for the Preservation of Carter Railroad Resources (SPCRR) website
• Victorian Garden:  The garden area looks much like it did near the turn of the 20th century.
• Patterson House:  Home to three generations of the Patterson family. It began as George Patterson's bachelor farmhouse built in 1857. The house was expanded with a Queen Anne addition in 1889 as the family, the farm, and their place in East Bay society grew. Costumed docents conduct house tours seasonally (April-mid-November). For information call  (510) 791-4196 .
• Farmyard Cafe:  Open on weekends serving Mission Coffee, healthy snacks, delicious lunch options and locally made treats and treasures. Birthday Party Catering offered as well. Please contact Lindsey at 510-754-9877 or email:  [email protected] . Open from 10:00am-4pm Saturday and Sunday.
• Animal Farms:  At Ardenwood, you will see sheep, pigs, turkeys, chickens, rabbits, goats, and cows. Download:  Ardenwood Farm Animals  

Naturalist Programs

Through Ardenwood's educational programs, visitors can see and participate in many activities common to a turn-of-last-century farm. Weekdays, naturalists provide programs for school classes and other groups by reservation. Please see our Educators Resources information here or call (510) 544-2797 for further information.

• Fieldtrip Online Form

Non-reservation weekend programs include the planting, tending and harvesting of Ardenwood's organic crops, farm chore demonstrations, and hands-on experiences for the whole family.

Special Events

Special events include an old-fashioned Independence Day celebration, Harvest Festival in October, special music concerts, recreations of Victorian social events, and more. To see a list of upcoming special events, visit the  Registration, Facilities and Permits  website to browse programs or register online.

Ardenwood Farm Docents

Share your enthusiasm for history! We're looking for people who want to learn to cook on a wood stove, demonstrate antique farm machinery, and teach historic crafts such as spinning, weaving, and toy making. No experience is necessary, just a willingness to help our staff create a welcoming atmosphere for schoolchildren and families. Our next docent training date is TBD. Call  (510) 544-3285  or email  [email protected]  for an application and details.

Weddings and Picnics

For picnic information, see our Ardenwood Picnic Areas  webpage.

For more information, see our Event Venues webpage.

The Pool Site is open for weddings and special events. This gorgeous space is cradled by mature redwood trees, soft wisteria draping the dance floor arbor and bistro string lights hanging overhead to create a magical reception venue. Please contact Lindsey Caravelli at  (510) 754-9877  or  [email protected] . More information:  Ardenwood Events .

Activity Schedule: April to November

Ardenwood Historic Farm is closed on Mondays (except Memorial Day & Labor Day).

Upcoming Events

Wooly Lambs

Birds of the farm, historic days, wake up the farm, stilt walking, park calendar.

Ardenwood Historic Farm is open on Memorial Day & Labor Day.

• Ardenwood Historic Farm - Activity Calendar

Wild Plant Guides

• Wildflower Photo Guide  [PDF]
• Wild Plant Photo Guide  [PDF]
• Ardenwood - Calflora Plant List
• Ardenwood – PlantID.net ID Guide

Interpretive Brochures

• Ardenwood Historic Farm - Spanish
• Ardenwood Historic Farm Animals

Program Flyers

• Brownie Recipe Handout
• Cookie Contest Recipes
• Popcorn Popping Instructions (For popcorn picked from Ardenwood)
• Vegetable Histories
• Plan Be Nimble, Plan Be Quick  – NAI

Ardenwood Historic Farm - Wayside Map

Leal Tank House

Japanese Teahouse

The Patterson House

Ohlone Indian Village Site

The William Patterson House

Wandering Butterflies

Why Are There Trains On The Farm

Digital walking tour.

Ardenwood Digital Walking Tour

2950 Peralta Oaks Court, Oakland, CA 94605 1-888-EBPARKS, 1-888-327-2757 (Deaf or Hearing Impaired, use the TRS at 711)

6 Historic Homes You Need to Visit in San Francisco

San Francisco is infamous for having expensive homes, but it’s also famous for having important historic properties that have been dutifully preserved since 1850.

Meld your affinity for real estate, history, and San Francisco’s aestheticism by paying a visit to some of these architecturally fascinating estates. You can even spend the night at one if admiring them from afar isn’t satisfying enough.

Painted Ladies aside, here is a compilation of 6 properties in San Francisco that every history buff and real estate aficionado should visit.

Related: Homeownership Under $1M: 7 Cheapest San Francisco Neighborhoods

1. The Grateful Dead House

The Grateful Dead House, the dark brown Queen Anne house photographed above, lives true to its name: it’s the house where the Grateful Dead lived during the 1960s. Located in the Haight on 710 Ashbury Street, visiting this home is an absolute necessity for all Dead Heads and lovers of hippie history. Fair warning, this home is privately owned, so don’t go knocking for Jerry.

Related: Love It or Haight It: Haight Ashbury Neighborhood Guide

2. The Octagon House

The McElroy Octagon House, also known as the Colonial Dames Octagon House, is a historic property located at 2645 Gough Street. Built in 1861, this architectural treasure is a Colonial and Federal Periods Decorative Arts Museum. The museum and garden are open to the public from 12PM to 3PM on the 2nd Sunday and the 2nd and 4th Thursday of each month except January. Notably, it carries the shape of an octagon.

3. The  Abner Phelps House

Though the stories about this residence vary depending on the teller, the Abner Phelps house is considered to be the oldest unaltered residence in San Francisco, dating back to 1850. This Gothic Revival home was built by John Middleton & Sons, who was one of the first real estate “concerns” in the City. This house has changed locations a few times, but it is now settled at 1111 Oak Street.

4. The William Westerfeld House

Nestled on the northwest corner of Alamo Square at 1198 Fulton Street, the eye-popping William Westerfeld House is San Francisco Landmark Number 135 and sure to grab the attention of the most distracted of passersby. The first owner of this House of Legends was William Westerfield, a German-born confectioner who arrived in San Francisco in the 1870s. He hired builder Henry Geilfuss to construct a modest 28-room mansion for his family of 6.  After Westerfeld died, John Mahony, who built St. Francis Hotel and the Palace Hotel, purchased and expanded the property. The current owner is Jim Siegel, who purchased the mansion in 1986 and has since retrofitted and upgraded the home.

Related:  Views and Victorians: Things to Do in Alamo Square Park

5.  The Chateau Tivoli

Residing in the Alamo Square Historic District at 1057 Steiner Street, Chateau Tivoli is not only a restored 1892 structure embedded with Victorian antiques, it’s a bed and breakfast! As such, if you really want to indulge your penchant for history, this property might be as close as you can get to time traveling.

6. The Haas-Lilienthal House

Plotted on 2007 Franklin Street, the Haas-Lilienthal House is the the only period era home open to the public in San Francisco. This traditional Queen Anne house exemplifies upper-middle class life in the Victorian era. Designed by German architect Peter R. Schmidt in 1886, this home was commissioned William Haas who was a Bavarian immigrant and considered a leader in the Jewish community. Built of redwood and fir, the house withstood both the 1906 and 1989 earthquakes with only minor damage, making it one of few existing landmarks to have survived the quake.

The Top 10 Spots to Watch Fireworks in San Francisco This Fourth of July

9 Fun Ways You Can Cool Off During the San Francisco Heatwave

© 2018 Revolution Theme.

Copy Link to Clipboard

• Mother's Day
• Memorial Day
• All Holidays
• Alcatraz Tours
• Attractions
• Family-Friendly
• Itineraries
• Things to Do
• Union Square
• Fisherman's Wharf
• All Restaurants
• Concerts & Live Music
• All Nightlife
• All Lodging
• SF Bay Area
• Cruises from SF
• All Beyond SF
• Northern California
• SF Arrivals and Transfers
• Weather & What to Wear
• Getting Around SF
• Earthquakes
• Games & Puzzles

SIGN UP  FOR MY EMAIL TO RECEIVE YOUR FREE  SAN FRANCISCO PLANNING GUIDE.

• Haas Lilienthal House

Haas Lilienthal House: Visit a Historical Victorian in San Francisco's Pacific Heights

by Jill Loeffler   •

Updated: April 2, 2024

The Haas Lilienthal House is set to offer guided tours again on select Saturdays starting May 11, 2024. The reopening will take place on May 4, 2024 with a free open house and a big book sale from 11 am to 4 pm.

The Haas Lilienthal House is a historic beauty in San Francisco's Pacific Heights neighborhood. This Queen Anne is the only Victorian House in SF regularly open to the public for tours.

William Haas, a local merchant, built the house for his family in 1886. Three generations of the Haas family lived in the home until 1972.

The remaining family gifted the house to the San Francisco Architectural Heritage Organization, who continues to maintain it to this day.

Disclaimer : I receive a small commission from some of the links on this page.

Visiting the House

The Haas Lilienthal House is open for guided tours on select Saturdays.

Admission and Hours

The Haas Lilienthal House tours are offered three times a day on select Saturdays: at noon, 1 pm, and 2 pm. The entire tour runs about an hour.

Tickets are available online. Since space is limited, advanced reservations are recommended, but walk-ins are accepted when there is space.

General admission is $10, children under 5 are free.

*The venue is closed at times due to private events. Make sure to check their site for current prices and opening dates .

Haas Lilienthal House Tour Details

Your tour begins in this area with an overview and history of the Haas Lilienthal family. Here you will also learn a little more about the house and the standard elements of a Queen Anne Victorian.

After this brief discussion, you will head outside, so you can enter through the front door.

This grand staircase is one of the first things you see when you enter.

You will then walk through the main level of the house including both the dining room and the kitchen.

From here, you will head to the second floor. On this level, you get the chance to see the unique curved windows.

Along the way, you will continue to learn more about the family and see several family photos. You also get the chance to find out more about their furniture and the other pieces they collected throughout their lifetime.

The San Francisco Archeological Heritage did a great job in keeping the house and furniture in the manner the family left it. The family collected all of the pieces inside the house while they lived there between 1886 and 1972.

After finishing on the second floor, your tour heads back to the starting point on the ground level. Here you get a sneak peek at the train room.

The entire tour is just over an hour long. If you've always wanted to see inside a Victorian, you will love this tour.

The most famous Victorian Houses in San Francisco are near Alamo Square. Often dubbed the "Seven Sisters", these colorful houses are a beautiful site. You can even capture a postcard moment with a view of downtown SF behind them. See pictures and read more about them here .

How to Get Here

You will find this Queen Anne Victorian at 2007 Franklin Street.

From Union Square

The fastest way to get here from Union Square is to take the Powell Hyde Cable Car . Pick it up at Powell and Post Streets (instead of waiting in the long line at the cable car turnaround near Market Street).

Take it to the stop at Hyde and Jackson Streets. From here you will walk west on Jackson Street and take a left on Franklin.

This option includes a five block walk from the stop to the Haas Lilienthal House. 

This option will take you about 25 minutes.

From Fisherman's Wharf

It's easy to get here from Fisherman's Wharf . Simply hop on the 28-Daily City bus at the corner of Powell and Beach Streets.

You will take this six stops to the corner of Van Ness and North Point. Here, you will transfer to the 49-City College bus.

Take it to the corner of Van Ness and Jackson.

Walk up the hill one block to Franklin and then south a couple of houses until you see the entrance sign. This route takes about 25 minutes. 

Parking Near the Haas Lilienthal House

If you plan to drive for your visit to the Haas Lilienthal House, you will find that parking on the street in the Pacific Heights neighborhood is challenging. I recommend heading straight to one of these lots that is just a few blocks away.

Holiday Inn Parking Lot : This is your best option as it's a safe and secure spot for your car. It's about a five block walk away and partly uphill, but it's one of your best options. It's at 1500 Van Ness Street. 

Old First Parking Garage : This lot is an indoor lot at 1725 Sacramento Street. Look for its bright blue and yellow sign. It's about four blocks away from the Haas Lilienthal House.

Comments? Questions? Suggestions?

I would love for you to join me in my private Facebook group ! 

It's a great place to interact with me and others who know the area well.

You can ask questions, get advice for your upcoming stay, and then share your photos and advice with others when you return home. It's a great community and the fastest way to get answers to those nagging questions about your visit!

Come join the fun here !

Contact Me    |   Privacy Policy    |   Terms of Service    |   Site Map    |   Advertising Disclaimer

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Exclusive Member of Mediavine Travel

Copyright © 2009-2024 by SFTourismTips.com. All rights reserved.

This website does not sell any personal information. (See privacy policy )

• (415) 543-8687

Best Bay Area Tours

Small groups. big memories..

Sonoma 5-Course Winery Lunch and Giant Redwoods

8 hours  |  $234

Yosemite's Hidden Gem Day Trip

14 hours  |  $224

Russian River Valley Wineries and Redwoods Day Trip

9.5 hours  |  $189

Highway 1, Giant Redwoods, Sausalito and Coastline

10 hours  |  $119

Russian River Weekend Wine Tasting & Gourmet Lunch

Tour california in style.

Best Bay Area Tours is a San-Francisco based company that picks you up at most San Francisco hotels and whisks you away to some of the most magical places on the planet. We provide an unforgettable experience with guides who have a passion for tourism.

We have developed many of our itineraries to go to places that are less travelled and more spectacular. We give individual attention to all of our guests. And, with a smaller group, we can go to stops that are off-the-beaten-track where large busses are not allowed.

Join us for an unforgettable day that you will remember for the rest of your lives.

Ride in Style

read reviews

Woods and Coast

Woods and wine.

Burlingame | Hillsborough | San Mateo Park Tickets | $75 in advance - $85 day of event

Innovative designs  |   food tastings  |   boutique shopping.

The Signature Kitchen Tour is a self-guided tour showcasing six of the Bay Area's most inspiring design talents and stunning homes in Burlingame, Hillsborough and San Mateo Park. Homes can be viewed in any order. The Kitchen Tour is a fun-filled event that guests look forward to every year.

Back by popular demand, each guest will receive a full color printed Tour Book to enjoy on Tour day and as a resource guide for years to come. A digital version of the Tour Book with tour home descriptions and photos will also be available online on May 3.

Come experience the sanctuary of these lovely homes.

Enjoy the homes in any order.

R Corner Manor, San Mateo

Nantucket Colonial Gem, San Mateo

All Electric English Cottage, San Mateo

Architectural Appeal, Burlingame

Hillsborough Haven, Hillsborough

Spanish Retreat, Burlingame

Restrooms at Hillsborough Town Hall

1600 Floribunda Avenue, 10AM-4PM

Adults only

Carpooling is encouraged

Smoking, food or drinks are NOT allowed in the homes

Photography, including cell phone photos are prohibited

Booties will be provided and required for entry

High heels are NOT permitted in the homes

Rain or shine

Tour map will be available online on May 1.

42nd Signature Kitchen Tour Book Available May 3

42nd signature kitchen tour raffle.

THREE WINNERS - THREE GREAT PRIZES!

Tickets - $10 each | Available for purchase Tour Day at each home

One-Year Membership

Two Amazing Museums

 Free admission for one member and a guest to the permanent collections, special exhibitions including previews and after-hours viewings for a year.

Free daytime general admission for member and guests. Early access to tickets for Holidays at Filoli and other special events. Membership to the National Trust for Historic Preservation.

One-Year Subscription 2024-2025 Season

Enjoy a season subscription for two to Hillbarn Theatre's Season 84 - Honoring the Past, Celebrating the Future. Includes seven shows.

Winners announced after the Tour | Need not be present to win

Special thanks to our 2024 supporters, 2024 event sponsors.

SUPPORTING SPONSOR

MEDIA SPONSOR

Donna & Eric Colson

THANKS TO OUR KITCHEN TOUR DESIGNERS & FLORISTS! View the creative works of these generous local businesses at tour homes on 5/3. Locations available on tour day.

Prop Stylist

Yasna Glumac

THANK YOU TO OUR COMMUNITY PARTNERS! Support these local small businesses at t our homes on 5/3 , a percentage of sales will benefit mental health in our community.

TICKET RESELLERS

Are you a Homeowner/Interior Designer/Contractor that has a home to consider for the 43rd Signature Kitchen Tour? Contact us below for more details.

This Sacramento Stunner Is Built to Beat Intense Heat. Learn How They Did It on The Bay Area Modern Architecture Tour.

The Annual Bay Area Modern Architecture Tour is BACK. And thanks to technology, its borders have expanded to include wine country—and this gem that’s designed to maximize shade and natural circulation on toasty days.

A couple of new habits and trends that have developed during lockdown are likely here to stay. One is our willingness to do things online that we may have never considered before—like take virtual tours. And our fixation on turning our homes into high-functioning havens for work and play doesn’t seem to be going anywhere soon. These two ideas collide in the Bay Area Modern Architecture tour this Saturday, June 26th, organized by the Modern Architecture + Design Society, an organization that plans these events in neighborhoods across the country, in places like Austin and Seattle. The best part is that if you miss the livestream this Saturday, it’ll be available for viewing online, at your leisure. There’s a $5 discount on the ticket price for Sunset readers , too. (See—technology isn’t so bad.)

Another bonus for this year’s digital tour: Because travel time and distance is not a factor, homes are scattered from Sonoma to Sacramento . Prominent architects like Gustave Carlson, Andrew Morrall, Timeline Design + Build, DNM Architecture, Feldman Architecture, and Klopf Architecture have opened up some of their favorite properties to real estate voyeurs and design buffs. And they’re all packed with great ideas for living in the West.

Mariko Reed

Klopf built this modern Sacramento ranch house for a chef and a television producer, empty nesters who plan to stay in the house through their retirement. The priority was to create an easy-living house with a connection to the outdoors. It’s sited on a large plot in a semi-rural area surrounded by an open field, large oak trees, and a seasonal creek.

The Klopf Architecture team designed a wide plan for the house that allows the main living space, bathrooms, and master bedroom to open up to the landscape at the rear of the house, with sliding doors for direct access. It was important for the house to sit lightly and keep a relatively low profile out of respect for neighboring houses and the natural feel (i.e., low-impact landscaping) of the area. They sloped the roof to be at its lowest in the front and open up to the rear, intended to create a humbler appearance from the front and open up the back view with larger windows.

The plan was also focused on using energy, namely air conditioning, efficiently. In the morning when the sun is low and direct in the front of the house, the residents open their rear sliding glass doors or live outside on the rear decks. In the middle of the day when the sun moves overhead from the south, the extra deep overhangs and shading devices keep the rear patios comfortable. At the end of the day, when the sun is blasting the rear of the house, the front patio is in shade, but still bright because of openings in the roof. In-wall insulation and a continuous layer of rigid insulation was applied to the exterior walls of the house to lower the heat gain from the sun.

A “cool roof” metal roof was used to reflect much of the direct sun and heat before it can heat up the house. The windows are all thermally broken aluminum. In addition to these defensive strategies, the Klopf Architecture team specified high efficiency heating and cooling units. Composite siding from Tru-Grain, made with recycled materials, maintains the look of wood and lasts longer than wood could in the intense Sacramento sun. Smooth white stucco is a visible separation of the main living area from the exterior.

The main living space has an exposed concrete floor with composite granite counters and white oak cabinets. The bedroom wing uses reclaimed white oak flooring from Blackwood Farm to create a more restful, quiet feeling.

“People often ask about challenges during demolition and construction. The house project started as an option between tearing down and replacing the existing home and renovating it. The owners originally decided on a renovation, but during construction Sean van Gelder, the builder, discovered that the slab and foundation were too damaged to keep. At that point everyone shifted gears and turned the project into a new house design,” says John Klopf, Principal Architect. Once it was finished, there were no regrets.

A 2021 Season Pass is also available that grants access to all virtual tours in 2021 and includes a ticket to pass holders once live events resume. For more information on the 2021 Virtual Modern Home Tour Season Pass and to see the current schedule of 2021 tours, check out the MADS site.

Keep Reading:

• architecture
• Home & Garden
• Idea Houses
• Ranch House

Put Down the Coffee Mug, Here’s What a Gardener Really Wants for Mother’s Day

This Is the Only Salmon You’ll Ever Need, Plus Other Dishes from L.A.’s Hottest Modern Middle Eastern Restaurant

I asked ai to plan my wellness routine. here’s how it went. , this is exactly what to order at the best ice cream shops in the west, sign up for our newsletter.

• Top Picks of the Week
• San Francisco Calendar
• East Bay Calendar
• Bay Area Calendar
• – North Bay Events
• – South Bay Events
• – Peninsula Events
• Free Museum Days

13 Awesome Bay Area Haunted Houses for 2023

Get into the Halloween spirit with some spooks and frights at a Haunted House.

Whether it’s a big production full of elaborate props and character actors or a more local DIY Halloween attraction, you’ll be sure to find a fun way to celebrate this October.

Major Haunted Houses Not for the timid, if you’re looking to scare the bejesus out of yourself, we’ve rounded up the biggest and baddest haunted houses around for maximum chills. Pirates of Emerson Pleasanton | Alameda County Fairgrounds | Sep. 29 – Oct. 31 | Tickets start at $40 Rated one of the Top 10 Haunted Houses in America by Scary Overload, Pirates of Emerson is back for its 33rd year to scare the bejesus out of you. Located on a 6 acre compound , you’ll experience 4 haunted attractions , strolling entertainment, music and more . Timed-entry tickets are available only online for this walk-thru attraction.  – Last updated 10/18/2023 Fear Overload Scream Park   San Leandro | 15555 E 14th St. | Sep. 29 – Nov. 5 | Tickets start at $19.99 One of the most popular haunted houses in the Bay Area , Fear Overload features two terrifying walk-through haunts, House of Phobia: Rise of Monsters and Happy Days Asylum with over-the-top staging , props and character actors. – Last updated 10/19/2023 Tricks and Treats at Great America Santa Clara | 4701 Great America Pkwy. | Sept. 22 – Oct. 28 | Tickets start at $39.99 for park admission  Great America transforms for Halloween into a spooky, magical, family-friendly over-the-top carnival . Great America no longer offer haunted mazes at Halloween time, but now offers the Land of Tricks, offering two realms with everything slimy, sinister, and strange: Ickyville and Spooky Spires. Or stroll the charming boulevards of the Land of Treats with all the nostalgia of a cozy fall festival with Everfall and Sweet Tooth Acres. Plus, a trick or treat trail, Halloween Dance Party, Silent Disco, roving characters, and of course, Great America’s most popular rides are open for thrills. – Last updated 10/19/2023   View this post on Instagram   A post shared by Every Mile USA (@everymileusa)

Fright Fest at Six Flags

Vallejo | 1001 Fairgrounds Drive | Sept. 23 – Oct. 29 | $55 for a One Day Ticket + Haunted Attractions Pass (Includes Fright Fest Ticket & Haunted Attractions Pass)

Zombies and ghouls take over Six Flags theme park with spooky family fun during the day and chilling frights at night, with 5 scare zones, 4 haunted houses, 2 haunted trails , live performances and shows, and of course, rides . You’ll need to purchase a Haunted Attraction pass add-on if you’d like to enter the haunted houses and trails, if not included in your ticket purchase. – Last updated 10/19/2023

  View this post on Instagram   A post shared by emma wong ↟ theweekendabroad (@_emwong_)

Dead Time Dreams

San Jose | 2300 Eastridge Loop | Oct. 6 – 31 | $20

Creep your way through the Midway of Terror with special nightly shows that are different each night before braving an open air walk through of Nightmares . – Last updated 10/19/2023

  View this post on Instagram   A post shared by Dead Time Dreams (@deadtimedreams)

Unhinged: Housewarming at Winchester Mystery House

San Jose | 25 S Winchester Blvd. | Sept. 22 – Oct. 31 | Tickets start at $64.99

Unhinged: Housewarming Tour is an immersive haunting indoor and outdoor experience at the Winchester Mystery House with various elements. Inside, guests embark on a suspenseful walk-through journey with state-of-the-art special effects, professional actors, and disturbing scenes. Outside, you’ll find strolling entertainments, interactive games, sideshow enterainters, their new Halloween museum , an outside scare zone and 1920s themed food & drinks. – Last updated 10/19/2023

San Francisco You surely don’t need to leave the city for a scare. These unique, historic San Francisco icons get into the Halloween spirit with their own tantalizing, terrifying tours. “Mayhem Mansion” Haunted Tours at 1886 Victorian Haas-Lilienthal San Francisco | 2007 Franklin Street |Oct. 20-21, 26-28, 2023 | $25  $30  adv with secret code FUNCHEAP Exclusive Funcheap Discount – Save $5 with Funcheap link San Francisco’s historic 1886 Haas-Lilienthal House transforms into Mayhem Mansion, a haunted house style attraction. Set in a spooktacular Queen Anne style Victorian-era house museum , enter the dimly lit halls where the inhabitants are always off their rockers. The tour begins at the main entrance, where you’ll be greeted by a benevolent host who will gently guide you through the magnificent manse, but beware! You never know who, or what, is lurking in the dark corners, or behind closed doors… – Last updated 10/19/2023   View this post on Instagram   A post shared by Haas-Lilienthal House (@haaslilienthalhouse)

Gregangelo Museum’s “ Forbidden Secret Parlor: A Haunting Magic Experience”

San Francisco | 215 San Leandro Way | Oct. 26 | $75

Step into whimiscal Gregangelo Museum , a real haunted house, and head to the Forbidden Secret Parlor where shadows hold secrets and magic pulses in the air. Jade, a groundbreaking magician, guides you through a realm of paranormal wonders , leaving you spellbound and forever changed! Prepare to be captivated within an immersive experience that delves into the depths of the supernatural. In this genuinely haunted space, secrets whisper in the dark and the air crackles with an otherworldly energy. – Last updated 10/19/2023

  View this post on Instagram   A post shared by The Gregangelo Museum: Immersive Art Experiences (@gregangelomuseum)

Terror Vault’s “The Initiation” in SF’s Old 1874 Mint

San Francisco | 88 Fifth St. | Sep. 29 – Oct 31 | Tickets start at $55 Exclusive Funcheap Discount –  $10-$15 Off with w/ exclusive secret promo code FUNCHEAP

This is your chance to explore the historic 1874 San Francisco Mint after dark and check out “The Initiation” an all-new, bigger, and more terrifying theatrical and immersive experience from the insane mind of Peaches Christ. This is a fully theatrical, immersive haunted show . It has a complete storyline combining elements of theater, 4D effects , and haunted mazes. Vist the Fang Bang Vampire Bar, which is free to the public, with character interaction and ambiance. – Last updated 10/19/2023

Unique Halloween Attractions Looking for something different? Here’s quirky Halloween fun . Ardenwood’s Haunted Train Ride Fremont | 34600 Ardenwood Blvd. | Oct. 20-22 & 27-29 | $15 Get ready for a spooky-fun experience aboard the Haunted Train, where ghostly encounters and other surprises await you. Climb aboard the historic narrow gauge train for a fun, spooky ride through the dark forest at Ardenwood Historic Farm in Fremont. Live actors supply the fun and you will encounter the famous Witch of Ardenwood and other characters. There are colorful Halloween displays in between the scenes. Enjoy a fun, round-trip ride on the haunted rails of the Ghost Train . – Last updated 10/19/2023 Oakland’s “Driveway Follies” Halloween Marionette Shows Oakland | 3854 Greenwood Ave. | Oct. 30 – 31 | FREE If you’re looking for something different, Driveway Follies  offers a rare opportunity to see the nearly lost art of  marionette puppetry in an intimate setting. You’ll see professionally staged, family-friendly Halloween marionette performances that celebrate and illustrate the historic and cultural aspects of Halloween. Shows run  continuously throughout the night from dusk to approximately 10 pm. – Last updated 10/19/2023 Noe Valley’s Pirate House” Halloween Decorations San Francisco | 4274 24th Street | FREE to check out decorations Although you’re not allowed inside, this Noe Valley house has great decorations that look awesome at night with a full band of pirates who have taken over the Victorian and turned it into a ship with scenes inspired by Pirates of the Carribbean. Thanks to a__bad__idea on Reddit for tipping us off that the pirate battle has returned for 2023. – Last updated 10/19/2023 Noe Valley Pirate Ship by u/a__bad__idea in sanfrancisco

Immersive Halloween House: “Monty Python and the Holy Grail!” at The Alberston House

San Jose | 497 N. 16th St. | Oct. 30 – 31 | FREE

The Albertson family and the local community go all out with a brand new theme every year. The house features themed treats, an immersive, over-the-top front yard scene , costumed characters and more. The house welcomes 800–1500 trick-or-treaters and their parents annually and has been a source of family fun since 2002. The 2023 theme is Monty Python and the Holy Grail! Join King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table as they embark on their quest to find the  Holy Grail!  Visitors will get to interact with knights, peasants and other folks of the kingdom, while trying to avoid being taunted by French knights, cowering before the Knights who Say, “Ni!”, passing by the dis-armed and dis-legged Black Knight, warily eyeing a very dangerous rabbit, and enjoying other surprises. – Last updated 10/19/2023

“Haunted Tunnel of Terror” Car Wash

San Jose | 655 W. San Carlos St. | Oct. 28-31 | $20 per vehicle (includes $5 donation to St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital) Sadly, we don’t believe the Haunted Car Wash “Tunnel of Terror” has returned for 2023. 

Come and wash if you dare. This is the 4th year Extreme Express Car Wash has transformed into a haunted car wash just for Halloween, with professional creepy characters and slow dripping red soap. – Last updated 10/19/2023

Other Fall Activities Bay Area Fall Guide 2023: Pumpkin Patches, Fall Colors & Corn Mazes Where to Go Apple Picking: Bay Area + Northern California Guide (2023) 10 Best Corn Mazes in the Bay Area for 2023 Bay Area’s Best Pumpkin Patches for 2023 Fall Colors of the Bay: Where to See the Leaves Change | 2023

No Funcheap events found.

Most Popular Upcoming Events

• SF’s DogFest 2024: Pet Festival, Carnival & Parade (Duboce Park)
• “Pickin’ On The Polk” SF’s Free 10-Hour Music Festival + Block Party (2024)
• 40th Annual Cupertino Cherry Blossom Festival 2024 (April 27-28)
• 2024 Dutch “King’s Day” Windmill Festival in Golden Gate Park (SF)
• 2024 “Opening Day On The Bay” Boat Parade & “Blessing of the Fleet” (SF)
• “TreasureFest” on Treasure Island 2024 (Apr. 27-28)
• SF’s 2024 Dogpatch Spring Weekend (April 27-28)
• Mare Island’s 2024 One-Day Music Festival “Deck Out at The Quarters”
• Bay to Breakers 2024 (Everything You Need to Know)
• Berkeley Bay Festival w/ Free Boat Rides (2024)

Sign Up For Funcheap Emails

Most popular city guides.

• SF’s Newest 5-Acre Waterfront Park Officially Opens
• SF’s Brand New Live Outdoor Concert Series w/ 21 Free Concerts
• Here’s Where SF’s 33 Speed Cameras Will Be
• SF’s Free 10-Hour Music Festival Returns to Polk St. for 2024
• SF’s Famous Revolving Rooftop Restaurant Is Finally Spinning Again After 17 Years
• Free Monthly Museum Days
• San Francisco’s Spring Festivals & Street Fairs (2024)
• Giant Pandas Coming to SF Zoo from China
• Roller Skate Rentals Return to GG Park After 44 Years
• How to Get the NY Times for Free (Updated for 2024)

• About Funcheap
• Jobs & Internships
• Terms of Service
• DMCA Requests
• Do Not Sell My Personal Information
• Privacy Policy

Things To Do | 7 amazing Bay Area things to do this weekend

Share this:.

• Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
• Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
• Click to print (Opens in new window)
• Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window)
• Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)

Today's e-Edition

Things To Do

• Food & Drink
• Celebrities
• Pets & Animals
• Event Calendar

Breaking News

Things to do | cal poly humboldt closes campus for rest of semester over gaza protests, things to do | 7 amazing bay area things to do this weekend, april 26-28.

Got your weekend plans? We have some nifty ideas, from a big-screen tennis thriller to an amazing Gothic church tour to guilt-free waffles.

As always, be sure to double check event and venue websites for any last-minute changes in health guidelines. Meanwhile, if you’d like to have this Weekender lineup delivered to your inbox every Thursday morning for free, just sign up at www.mercurynews.com/newsletters  or  www.eastbaytimes.com/newsletters .

1 PLAY: The secret Grace Cathedral

The iconic San Francisco church is an architectural masterpiece and an architectural wonder. And this new, behind the scenes tour is the best way to see it.

2 COOK & SCARF: Guilt-free delicious waffles

These banana coffee waffles are sweet, nutty and delicious. Oh, and they’re vegan too.

3 WATCH: SFFILM Fest is back

With it’s vibrant mix of spunky indie movies and a big new romance film starring Anne Hathaway, the San Francisco International Film Festival is back with its usual eclectic lineup. Here’s what you should see.

4 READ & COOK: 5 hot new cookbooks

Spring means it’s time to refresh and reinvent your cooking game, and these five new spring cookbooks should help you do just that.

5 SEE & HEAR: Great shows are all over

From Bay Area Dance Week to Adam Ant, there’s a lot to see and do in the Bay Area this weekend and beyond.

6 WATCH: Game, set and match to Zendaya

It’s been a big year for Oakland native Zendaya, who has gone from Disney sitcom “Shake It Up” to starring in two blockbuster movies. First there was the “Dune” sequel; now, there’s the tennis thriller “Challengers.”

7 SEE & HEAR: Broadway sensation lands in S.F.

Who would think a musical about a Black gay man writing a musical about a Black gay man writing a musical would be such a Broadway blockbuster? But “A Strange Loop” was indeed a surprise smash and now it’s playing in the Bay Area.

• Report an error
• Policies and Standards

More in Things To Do

Local News | Cirque du Soleil makes high-flying return to San Jose

Horoscopes | Horoscopes April 27, 2024: Jenna Coleman, make use of your attributes

Puzzles & games | word game: april 27, 2024, puzzles & games | bridge: april 27, 2024.

Seven California hotels receive top honor on first ever Michelin Keys Guide

The michelin guide features the top u.s. hotels in 2024., by julia elbaba • published april 25, 2024 • updated on april 25, 2024 at 10:33 am.

The majority of the best hotels in the United States are in California, according to the Michelin Guide.

The prestigious list for 2024 recognized seven California hotels to receive Three Keys, including The Beverly Hills Hotel, Dorchester Collection (Beverly Hills), Post Ranch Inn (Big Sur), SingleThread Inn (Healdsburg), Hotel Bel-Air, Dorchester Collection (Los Angeles), Auberge du Soleil, Auberge Resorts Collection (Rutherford), Meadowood Napa Valley (St. Helena) and Canyon Ranch Woodside (Woodside).

The guide states that it is no surprise that California is the state with the most Key hotels in America due to its "sheer breadth of size and variety." The locations are a nice mix of coastal, beachside, wine country and historical, providing a perfect destination for each traveler.

These standout selections are vetted based on five categories meant to enhance a traveler's experience. The categories are architecture and interior design, quality and consistency of service, overall personality and character, value for the price, and a significant contribution to the guest experience in a particular setting.

Get a weekly recap of the latest San Francisco Bay Area housing news. Sign up for NBC Bay Area’s Housing Deconstructed newsletter.

The Three Keys list is rounded out with various hotels in New York City.

Other California hotels are featured on the Two Keys and One Key list, as well:

The Two Keys Hotels

San Carlos residents react after postal worker robbed at gunpoint

Shooting in San Jose leaves woman dead

California (Beverly Hills):  L'Ermitage Beverly Hills California (Beverly Hills):  The Maybourne Beverly Hills California (Beverly Hills):  The Peninsula Beverly Hills California (Carmel Valley):  Bernardus Lodge & Spa California (Big Sur):  Ventana Big Sur California (Guerneville):  The Stavrand California (Healdsburg):  Montage Healdsburg California (Healdsburg):  The Madrona California (Laguna Beach):  Montage Laguna Beach California (Montecito):  Rosewood Miramar Beach California (Napa):  Milliken Creek Inn & Spa California (San Francisco):  Four Seasons Hotel San Francisco at Embarcadero California (San Francisco):  The Battery California (Sausalito):  Cavallo Point Lodge California (West Hollywood):  Chateau Marmont California (West Hollywood):  Pendry West Hollywood California (Yountville):  Bardessono California (Yountville):  North Block

The One Keys Hotels

Calistoga:  Four Seasons Resort Napa Valley Elk:  Harbor House Los Angeles:  Downtown LA Proper Hotel Los Angeles:  Soho Warehouse DTLA Los Angeles:  The Aster Los Angeles:  The Paramour Estate Los Angeles:  The Prospect Hollywood Napa:  Stanly Ranch, Auberge Resorts Collection Newport Beach:  Pendry Newport Beach Palm Springs:  Dive Palm Springs Palm Springs:  Holiday House Palm Springs Palm Springs:  La Serena Villas Palm Springs:  Sparrows Lodge Rutherford:  Rancho Caymus Inn San Francisco:  1 Hotel San Francisco  San Francisco:  Hotel Drisco  San Luis Obispo:  Hotel San Luis Obispo San Luis Obispo:  San Luis Creek Lodge Santa Barbara:  El Encanto, A Belmond Hotel, Santa Barbara Santa Monica:  Casa Del Mar Santa Monica:  Fairmont Miramar Hotel & Bungalows Santa Monica:  Santa Monica Proper Hotel Santa Monica:  Shutters on the Beach Santa Monica:  The Georgian Sea Ranch:  The Sea Ranch Lodge West Hollywood:  Chamberlain West Hollywood West Hollywood:  Hotel 850 SVB West Hollywood:  Palihouse West Hollywood West Hollywood:  Soho House Holloway West Hollywood:  Sunset Tower Hotel West Hollywood:  The Charlie

This article tagged under: