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California

Signature City San Francisco

Program No. 21052RJ

Immerse yourself in the story of San Francisco alongside experts as you explore Alcatraz Island, learn about the fire of 1906, stroll the markets of Chinatown and see iconic landmarks.

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Program

At a Glance

Duration

6 days

Program Begins

San Francisco, CA

Program Concludes

San Francisco, CA

Meals

10 ( 5B, 2L, 3D )

Activity Level

From global cuisine to Alcatraz — experience the best of the “City by the Bay.” Walk through Chinatown’s 150-year-old food market for a sensory journey past fresh produce, steaming poultry and buckets of swimming fish. Enjoy a private coach excursion, see the highlights of the city, including the Golden Gate Bridge and Fisherman’s Wharf.

Best of all, you'll...

Discover Alcatraz Island, most famous for the federal penitentiary and home to the first lighthouse on the West Coast, a military garrison and a Native American occupation.
Join a local historian for a look into San Francisco’s devastating fire of 1906, and learn how the city was rebuilt.
Learn about San Francisco's unique neighborhoods and explore Chinatown and Nob Hill from a local expert.

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General Notes

Use of public transportation with some transfers. San Francisco is famous for being built on hills which can be very steep, up to a grade of 20%. Select dates are designated for small groups and are limited to 24 participants or less.

James Dalessandro

James is a writer and filmmaker best known for his novel "1906," a retelling of that year's earthquake in San Francisco. He has more than 20 feature film and television scripts to his credit. He wrote and directed "The Damnedest Finest Ruins," a documentary on the earthquake. In his adopted hometown of San Francisco, James lectures on the Transcontinental Railroad, Old Chinatown, and the Golden Gate Bridge as well as the history of its artists: Mark Twain, Jack London, Isadora Duncan and the Beat Generation.

Please Note:

This expert may not be available for every date of the program

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Marie McNaughton

Marie McNaughton is an independent, interdisciplinary scholar whose devotion to art, architecture, history, literature and music was fired by childhood visits to the museums, public spaces, and culture of San Francisco. She has been a professional writer, editor, photographer, and all-around critic of society and culture since the 1980s. She earned a B.A. in English from the University of San Francisco and an M.A. in Humanities from San Francisco State University, where she regularly lectures on cultural production as a means of understanding the human condition. Practiced in exhibit development, interpretation and curation, she has worked with such diverse institutions as the San Francisco Zoological Society, Sonoma County Environmental Discovery Center, San Francisco Police Department, California Homicide Inspectors Association, and the Cotati Historical Society & Museum, of which she is currently president.

Kris Springer

Kris Springer has always loved nature and traveling. Kris was born in Wisconsin, attended high school in Minnesota, and received her degree in communications from the University of Colorado in Boulder. Kris has gained great respect for the environment while working as a docent at Point San Luis Lighthouse and Central Coast Aquarium in Avila Beach. During the school year Kris works as a teacher. She has been singing with the San Luis Obispo Vocal Arts Ensemble for the past two decades.

Manuel Marquez

Manuel Márquez came to Road Scholar after a rewarding career in medical practice management. He has led groups to Cuba and his native Los Angeles. As an undergraduate in Boston, he was introduced close-up to the wonders of western art, the colonial and revolutionary history of the United States, and a love of learning about planet Earth and all its inhabitants. Manuel has explored nearly fifty countries on five continents. He enjoys music, reading, movies, and his beautiful cat, Pearl.

Amy Bowen

Amy Bowen was raised in northern New Jersey and currently lives in Sonoma County, California. Amy holds a bachelor’s degree from New York University as well as a teaching credential from Sonoma State, and her prior careers include commercial lending and teaching high school. Amy enjoys leading groups throughout California and the Pacific Northwest. Past and current adventures include San Francisco and Yosemite, Grand Tetons, Yellowstone, and Glacier National Parks. In between programs, she spends time with family, often planning personal adventures.

Kenn Sparks

Kenn Sparks is an award-winning journalist, foreign correspondent, and Emmy-nominated documentary filmmaker. His life has taken him from the once-closed cities of Siberia to debating business economics with Barack Obama. Kenn’s Road Scholar groups explore the mysteries of old Chinatown, hear tales of treacherous sea voyages to Gold Rush California while aboard a famous 19th-century Square Rigger, experience the mostly unknown legacy of the wives of the Big 4 Robber Barons, and wonder at centuries of Medieval and Renaissance art and relics at Grace Cathedral.

Activity Level

On Your Feet

Walking 2 miles a day which will involve steep inclines and declines (grades of 10-20%) on city streets, stairs and standing on uneven sidewalks. Some use of public transportation.

Suggested Reading List

View Full List (19 Books)

You can also find many of the books we recommend at the Road Scholar store on bookshop.org, a website that supports local bookstores.

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Peace of Mind

We want your Road Scholar learning adventure to be something to look forward to—not worry about. That’s why we go to the ends of the earth to give you peace of mind, from the moment you enroll until the day you return home.

Assurance Plan

Road Scholar's continued commitment to our participants and their well-being is exemplified whether participating on a program in the United States or on one of our International programs, every Road Scholar participant receives coverage under our Road Scholar Assurance Plan.

Want to Protect Your Investment?

Road Scholar is pleased to offer its Trip Protection Plan as a way to protect your program investment. You may purchase this optional trip protection plan when enrolling in your program.

Sustainable Travel

We offset a portion of the emissions created by your travel. Read about our commitment to a more sustainable planet.

Peace of Mind

We want your Road Scholar learning adventure to be something to look forward to—not worry about. That’s why we go to the ends of the earth to give you peace of mind, from the moment you enroll until the day you return home.
Assurance Plan

Road Scholar's continued commitment to our participants and their well-being is exemplified whether participating on a program in the United States or on one of our International programs, every Road Scholar participant receives coverage under our Road Scholar Assurance Plan.
Want to Protect Your Investment?

Road Scholar is pleased to offer its Trip Protection Plan as a way to protect your program investment. You may purchase this optional trip protection plan when enrolling in your program.
Sustainable Travel

We offset a portion of the emissions created by your travel. Read about our commitment to a more sustainable planet.