San Francisco – A Great City to Visit and Photograph

A trip full of trolley cars, iconic bridges, Chinatown, bustling piers, and some of the steepest streets I've ever seen

6/17/20264 min read

Last week my wife and I were finally able to get away for a vacation of our own, so we packed our bags, left Upper Michigan behind, and flew to San Francisco.

Like many travelers, we watched several YouTube videos before our trip and thought we had a pretty good idea of what to expect. Those videos were certainly helpful, but they couldn't fully prepare us for experiencing the city in person.

The first thing that struck me was the hills. Coming from the relatively flat Midwest, San Francisco's streets seem almost unbelievable at times. They're steep, plentiful, and give the city a character unlike anywhere else I've visited. The hills, combined with the historic trolley cars, colorful neighborhoods, and views around every corner, make San Francisco feel unique.

We relied heavily on the trolley cars and Muni buses to get around, but there was still plenty of walking involved. The climb to Coit Tower was impressive, though the views at the top made every step worthwhile. Fisherman's Wharf and the surrounding piers can easily add thousands of steps to your day, but there's always something interesting to see along the waterfront. And of course, the sea lions at Pier 39 are a must-see attraction. They provide an entertaining show without even trying.

One of the many hilly San Francisco streets with the Bay Bridge in the background

It isn't a trip to San Francisco without a ride on a Trolley Car

Fisherman's Pier is full of fun, variety and even sea lions!

One of our favorite experiences was exploring Chinatown and neighboring North Beach. We spent time wandering the streets, browsing shops, and enjoying some excellent pizza. Another highlight was riding the trolley up to Lombard Street. Often called the world's crookedest street, it's one of those places you've probably seen countless times in photographs, yet it's still surprising when you see it in person.

China Town and views of Lombard Street in full bloom

No visit to San Francisco would be complete without seeing the Golden Gate Bridge. Growing up in Michigan, I'm accustomed to the grandeur of the Mackinac Bridge, which is larger in overall length, but the Golden Gate has a presence all its own. Seeing it emerge from the fog and walking across it was an experience I'll remember for a long time.

The Golden Gate Bridge basked in a layer of San Francisco Fog

Naturally, I brought my camera along. This wasn't intended to be a photography trip, but my wife understands my passion for photography and patiently allowed me to stop for a few images along the way. She didn't always approve of me standing in the middle of a street trying to photograph trolley cars climbing steep hills, but I explained that it's simply a photographer's thing.

One surprise from the trip was how much I used my Viltrox 24mm lens. I expected my 35mm to do most of the work, but San Francisco's steep streets, tight neighborhoods, and expansive waterfront views often called for a wider perspective. The combination of the Viltrox 24mm and 35mm proved to be an excellent travel kit and handled nearly everything I wanted to photograph.

We also took a day trip to Yosemite National Park, but that adventure deserves a story of its own and will be featured in a future post.

If you're planning a visit to San Francisco, I highly recommend Jill's YouTube channel - SFTourismTips. Her videos provided excellent advice, practical tips, and helped us make the most of our time in the city.

SF Tourism Tips YouTube Link

As always, thank you for reading. I hope you enjoy these photographs from San Francisco as much as I enjoyed making them, and as much as my wife and I enjoyed our time in this remarkable city. If you want to help support my photography and website consider purchasing a print or buying me a cup of coffee.

— Scott

Buy me a cup of coffee