BUDGET San Francisco Museum of Modern Art (SFMOMA) Traveling on a budget can be tricky, but luckily San Francisco has many free (or almost free) things to see and do that’ll up the fun-factor without breaking the bank. Here are 10 of our favorites. Take a ride on the city’s iconic cable cars, the National Historic landmark that moves, for just $8. Then, stop by the one-of-a-kind San Francisco Cable Car Museum to learn about their inner workings—admission is free! In the historic Cable Car Barn & Powerhouse, the site where the cable system has operated since 1907, see the actual cable winding machinery as it reels 11 miles of steel at a heady pace. 10 CABLE CARS AWESOME BLOSSOMS THINGS TO DO FOR $10 OR LESS smell the roses (or the orchids, lilies and irises) at the Conservatory of Flowers in the northeast corner of the park. Admission is $9 for adults and free on the first Tuesday of every month. With more than 1,000 murals across the city, San Francisco’s public art displays expand beyond museum walls. The Mission District is the epicenter; Balmy Alley and Clarion Alley have been canvases for public art since the 1970s. Coit Tower houses famed murals completed during the 1930s. The murals at the Rincon Annex Post Office were painted by artist Anton Refregier around the end of World War II, depicting a stylized history of San Francisco. Diego Rivera murals are located near the Embarcadero at City Club and near Fisherman’s Wharf at San Francisco Art Institute. City Guides offers free tours of many mural locations throughout the year. 1 4 MURALS GALORE With more than 9,000 plants from around the world showcased across 55 acres, natural beauty abounds at the San Francisco Botanical Garden in Golden Gate Park. Tickets are $9 and admission is free on the second Tuesday of the month. Or stop and 62 2 San Francisco’s cultural calendar is packed with events – many of which are free. Music fans will love the People in Plazas mini concerts, where local performers share their talents, July-October. The Stern Grove Festival hosts concerts every Sunday from mid-June to mid-August and the Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Festival, a free weekend of bluegrass and Americana, happens every October. If you prefer theater, check out Free Shakespeare in the Park in early September at the Presidio. 3 FREE FESTIVALS . sftravel.com San Francisco Travel Association
San Francisco Visitors Planning Guide 2020: Page 62
