10/29/07

best ghost walking tour in SF so far

by chefbum

My fiancee and I have gone on a few ghost/vampire tours of San Francisco because we live in the city and enjoy that kind of thing.

This ghost tour of SF Chinatown is probably the best one overall that we've experienced so far. Though it is a touch on the brief side (an hour and a half or so I think), it is very well done and more creepy, less hokey than some of the others. Our tour guide was a Chinese lady who grew up in Chinatown and appears to know it intimately. Her ability to describe scenarios and recreate crime scenes is excellent, and she had our whole group-- comprised of mainly adults with a few children of theirs) enthralled at several points. We also learned A TON about Chinatown history and culture on our tour. We were able to go into a fortune cookie factory and sample freshly made, warm cookies, as well as enter a special medicinal/herbal tea shop with a fantastic array of tea choices. There was never any pressure at all to buy anything along the way at any time, despite our being welcome to free samples. Another very interesting aspect was the various family associations and their past and present function in Chinese American culture.

The biggest treat of all was that we were ushered safely down a number of dark, infrequently traveled, hidden alleys of Chinatown that we would never have known even existed. It was eerie being in Chinatown at 9pm and seeing alleyways and side streets totally empty and with nobody in them. Though they can't guarantee that would happen to you at any given time, I can guarantee that you will see and learn about a side of SF's Chinatown that will enthrall you. Very recommended. Tip your tour guide if you are happy with them! They really do make or break the experience of any walking tour.

• Pros: excellent guide, well-done, historic, interesting, educational, varied
• Cons: parking, a little on the short side