During the holiday season, San Francisco buildings, streets, and plazas are decked out in holiday splendor. Our captivating city warms our spirits with its exceptional architecture, public art, grand spaces and visceral humane spirit. To celebrate the Season, join David Wilkinson and San Francisco native Roger Klemm on a trek across the heart of San Francisco to explore beautiful and enchanting places while enjoying time for a good meal and holiday shopping.

For this adventure, we will dive deep into the Embarcadero Center, a 1970s massive redevelopment project near the waterfront, comprised of four tall buildings linked together by skyways. The EC is a mixture of offices, shops and restaurants, envisioned as a “city within a city.” The EC will be filled with holiday décor amongst its many sculptures and gardens, which includes architect John Portman’s tulip sculpture placed in the center of a spiral pedestrian ramp, spanning three levels, with delightful skyline views. We can stop for a coffee and grab a bagel at one of the cafes. We’ll also explore the spellbinding Hyatt Regency Hotel lobby, an iconic and beloved building developed as part of the Embarcadero Center. The setting for several Hollywood movies, the Hotel’s unforgettable atrium holds the Guinness world record (as of 2024) for the largest hotel lobby and atrium reaching 15 stories. Several glass elevator capsules transport guests to their terraced rooms overlooking the atrium. A large sculpture Eclipse, by Charles O. Perry embellishes the atrium. We’ll also explore Maritime Plaza connected to the EC by a sky bridge featuring the International style Alcoa Building and nearby Golden Gate commons.  

At the iconic Transamerica Pyramid, now fifty years old and newly renovated, we’ll explore the lovely Redwood Park, recently decorated with sculptures by the renowned artist Max Ernst. The nearby Jackson Square, the City’s oldest section that escaped much of the 1906 earthquake and fire, has evolved into a pedestrian scale shopping district anchored by the renowned William Stout Architectural Books shop. From there we will head across Portsmouth Square and into Chinatown for lunch. Afterwards, we’ll walk to Union Square, surrounded by the City’s famous shopping district, anchored by Macy’s and the St. Francis Hotel, whose décor will elevate the holiday spirit. (Note: Macy’s is still open while evaluating future real estate options which could include a mixture of housing and retail). We’ll bask in the glow of Union Square’s giant Christmas tree and enjoy holiday window decorations as the afternoon begins to fade and the lights begin to twinkle.   

For the return trip back to Woodland, the BART station is a modest walk back to Market Street.     

This hike is considered “moderately challenging” about 3-4 miles, generally flat, and will take about three hours, with several stops. Participants will meet at the Woodland Presbyterian Church’s parking lot on the corner of Road 98 and West Gibson Road at 7:30 A.M. After an overview of the day and arranging carpooling, hikers will drive to the El Cerrito Del Norte BART station, where there’s plenty of free parking and public The Woodland Outdoor Wanderers is a community-based organization open to all, and dedicated to introducing Yoloans to their natural and cultural environments, and to each other.  For more information  email kathyjtrott@gmail.com

Upcoming 2025 Hikes

BONUS HIKE!!! - Dec. 6 or 13: San Francisco - Festive Holiday SF Urban Hike (Date dependant on weather)