The steep hills, crooked streets, vintage cable cars, and pastel-hued Victorians already make San Francisco feel like a city meant for a fairy tale. In fact, it’s often been used as a blueprint for many Pixar films. So, it wasn’t too difficult to find a few of our favorite spots that keep our beloved City by the Bay a truly magical place.
- Golden Gate Park Carousel
Thomas Hawk/Flickr This colorful, enchanting children’s ride is over 100 years old and sits at the Koret Children’s Quarter in Golden Gate Park. Mount one of the 62 animal figures (we’d pick the dragon), and spin off into another world.
- The Hearts of San Francisco
Adam Fagen/Flickr There are heart sculptures dotted throughout the city, including Tony Bennett’s America’s Greatest City By the Bay, which sets at the edge of Union Square at the corner of Post and Powell Streets.
- Cupid’s Span on the Embarcadero
Thomas Hawk/Flickr If the hearts didn’t get you all mushy, maybe this humongous sculpture of a bow and arrow will. It’s made even more majestic against the Bay Bridge backdrop.
- The Yoda Fountain at Lucasfilm
Emmet Connolly/Flickr We know Yoda is more sci-fi than fairy tale, but he’s still the most magical, whimsical part of Star Wars, and we love him for being so ugly he’s cute—and for his undying wisdom, of course.
- Lovers’ Lane & “Wood Line” in the Presidio
Big & Small Travel Running alongside the Lovers’ Lane trail is Andy Goldsworthy’s “Wood Line” art installation, which zig-zags its way through towering eucalyptus trees.
- The Dutch & Murphy Windmills in Golden Gate Park
Justin Kern/Flickr The Murphy Windmill is one of the biggest of its kind in the world, while the Dutch one is even more fanciful in its tulip garden surroundings.
- Japanese Tea Garden
Justin Kern/Flickr Also in Golden Gate Park, the oldest public Japanese garden in the U.S. allows you to step into serenity with beautiful greenery, bonsai trees, flowers, bamboo, and a waterfall.
- Lombard Street
Karen/Flickr This list just wouldn’t be complete—or nearly as magical—without the world’s most famous crooked street, lined by perfectly manicured greenery and lavish abodes.
- Musee Mecanique
Aude Lising/Flickr Free entertainment in San Francisco seems like a fairy-tale notion itself. And while this attraction on Fisherman’s Wharf actually requires a few pennies, you’ll be quickly whisked away to a children’s fantasy filled with antique arcade machines and musical instruments.
- Postcard Row at Alamo Square
John Lemieux/Flickr I mean, these classic, pristine Victorians are just too perfect to be real.
How many of these fascinating spots in San Francisco have you been to? Want more West Coast enchantment? Then check out these 18 jaw-dropping places in San Francisco that are just as worthy of a fairy tale.
Thomas Hawk/Flickr
This colorful, enchanting children’s ride is over 100 years old and sits at the Koret Children’s Quarter in Golden Gate Park. Mount one of the 62 animal figures (we’d pick the dragon), and spin off into another world.
Adam Fagen/Flickr
There are heart sculptures dotted throughout the city, including Tony Bennett’s America’s Greatest City By the Bay, which sets at the edge of Union Square at the corner of Post and Powell Streets.
If the hearts didn’t get you all mushy, maybe this humongous sculpture of a bow and arrow will. It’s made even more majestic against the Bay Bridge backdrop.
Emmet Connolly/Flickr
We know Yoda is more sci-fi than fairy tale, but he’s still the most magical, whimsical part of Star Wars, and we love him for being so ugly he’s cute—and for his undying wisdom, of course.
Big & Small Travel
Running alongside the Lovers’ Lane trail is Andy Goldsworthy’s “Wood Line” art installation, which zig-zags its way through towering eucalyptus trees.
Justin Kern/Flickr
The Murphy Windmill is one of the biggest of its kind in the world, while the Dutch one is even more fanciful in its tulip garden surroundings.
Also in Golden Gate Park, the oldest public Japanese garden in the U.S. allows you to step into serenity with beautiful greenery, bonsai trees, flowers, bamboo, and a waterfall.
Karen/Flickr
This list just wouldn’t be complete—or nearly as magical—without the world’s most famous crooked street, lined by perfectly manicured greenery and lavish abodes.
Aude Lising/Flickr
Free entertainment in San Francisco seems like a fairy-tale notion itself. And while this attraction on Fisherman’s Wharf actually requires a few pennies, you’ll be quickly whisked away to a children’s fantasy filled with antique arcade machines and musical instruments.
John Lemieux/Flickr
I mean, these classic, pristine Victorians are just too perfect to be real.
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