I found Coit Tower quite by accident. I was walking in the North Beach neighborhood, and came upon a charming street lined with townhouses. I turned up the street and climbed to the top, and then walked up a small path to a major road. Across from the road, I could see a huge tower, with a path leading up the hill to it.

Atop the hill, there were tons of people. San Francisco has provided coin-operated binoculars. From here, you could walk around the hilltop and see most of the city: Alcatraz, Bay Bridge, Golden Gate Bridge, the skyline.

It is free to enter the base of the tower and view the frescoes that depict life in San Francisco. There was a fee to climb to the top. No matter, I had climbed quite enough to reach the tower and the view from the base is stunning enough, thank you.

There was a snack bar and some ice cream stands at the top of the hill for refreshments.

My son and I had seen Coit Tower previously when we walked from Fisherman's Wharf to North Beach. We thought that we could just walk up some steep hill and be there. What a walk that would have been.

We drove up this time but not all the way to the top. There are some parking places about halfway up and it's a nice walk the rest of the way. Or if you aren't there in the thick of tourist season - June to October- you can find parking right in front.

The tower was built with a donation from Lillian Coit who supported the firefighters of San Francisco. You must pay to get to the top of the tower but the fee is less than $5 for adults and half that for kids. If it is a clear day, you've got a million dollar view of the entire city including the Golden Gate Bridge, the Bay Bridge, Fisherman's Wharf, Pier 39, the Embarcadero and any other sites that you can recognize. It is pretty amazing. In the lobby below there are fantastic painted murals depicting city scenes. Viewing these is free.

If the typical SF fog is in, skip going to the top as there won't be much view. The history of the building, the view and the tour through the neighborhood to get there make this a great destination.

This tower was originally built in 1933 and named after its benefactor, Lillie Hitchcock Coit. It was built as a monument, and in honor of, San Francisco firemen. It's shape (all 210 feet of it) is of a fire hose nozzle. After venturing up to Telegraph Hill, we chose not to climb the tower, but we did climb down the side of Telegraph Hill, through the pines, and encountered some extraordinarily lovely, small homes situated down the hillside. Another part of the charm of the city that we might otherwise have missed.

Coit Tower is a 210 foot high tower built with money contributed to the city of San Francisco by Lillie Hitchcock Coit in the early 1900s. Lillie was rescued as a young child from one of the fires that plagued San Francisco in the 1800s, and came to be a self-appointed mascot of the fire department. The tower itself actually looks like the nozzle of a fire hose. This tower is a must-see for any San Francisco visitor. It opens everyday at 10 AM. If you drive your car up Telegraph hill, there is limited parking available. Get there early before the tower opens to assure you will get a spot, and hike around the grounds to amuse yourself before Coit Tower opens. People often just walk up Telegraph Hill to avoid the hassle of parking all together. Be warned, however, that it is steep and quite a little hike! Once inside the attraction, take a moment to look at the murals painted in the bottom section of the tower. Then spend $3.75/person to ride an elevator to the top of the tower (The stairs were closed during our visit.). The view of the city from the top of the tower is quite marvelous and affords a wonderful opportunity to orient one's self with the lay of the land. You may spend as much time as you'd like looking across the city, but it does get a little chilly as the top of Coit Tower has no ceiling but is open to the air.

Coit Tower is one of the best places to view the city. Perched atop Telegraph hill, you can see both the Golden Gate Bridge and the (San Francisco-Oakland) Bay Bridge, the TransAmerica Pyramid, Alcatraz, the Marin Headlands, and the beehive of houses that is San Francisco. You can ride a bus to the top, or walk up the hills and steps. Be warned, it is quite a workout. My fifty-something parents recently made the hike, but not without a break or two. As with San Franscisco in general, avoid driving. Cars are often lined up for blocks waiting for the next available parking spot. Instead, walk up and smirk at the foolish drivers. An adult ticket is $3.75 and well worth it on a clear day. Bring your camera.