Mosaic Stairways of San Francisco

A piñata of colorful surprises, San Francisco never ceases to amaze the curious. Since the city is so hilly, it needs a lot of staircases. There are a couple that are more than just a handy resource of gaining elevation, but you’d only find them if you went out looking for them, secreted away on residential streets. The Hidden Garden Steps [16th Ave, San Francisco, CA 94122] are positively dazzling.

Climbing up each flight is a new image,

just as beautiful as the last.

I couldn’t stop smiling and thinking, what SF always makes me think, there need to be more places like this in the world.

I normally skip two steps at a time, rushing to get to the top. Here I found myself making each one last, savoring all of the fine details.

Along the sides of the stairs are a beautiful arrangement of plants and flowers, with accompanying flitter of hummingbirds!

When you get to the top you’re quite high and you can spy a pretty pink church.

You’d be amiss to stop here. Keep going down 16^th Ave, because there is more to see, including picture perfect homes.

You can’t miss Golden Gate Heights Mosaic Stairway, it’s starry-night like sea swirls call right out to you.

This stairway comes with its own set of pristine succulents and blossoms.

Climbing up the sea turns to sky. A silver moon

and a golden sun lit up my world.

Once your at the top if you think that’s all there is you’ve got another thing coming.

You’ll notice there is a green space way up here, and if you know anything about me I can’t resist a park. Keep walking around until you reach a third staircase, and although it isn’t quite as pretty as the rest give it a climb. This is Grandview Park and the view is sublime

in every single

direction.

I shared my perch with proud hawk, we both were admiring the vantage point.

All of this excitement in just half a mile, but it’s a steep one. Now you’ve got your cardio done for the day, it’s all downhill from here.