San Francisco is a great walking city. It's a city of distinct neighborhoods, each with an intriguing history, beautiful buildings, and inviting places to eat or drink. That the city is far from flat may deter some, but rarely does San Francisco require a walker to trek up more than two steep blocks. Besides, reaching the top always has its obvious rewards, for the city's renowned beauty is fully realized only from the crest of its hills.

Most San Franciscans are accustomed to walking their city, but even city dwellers tend to have their familiar routes, which take them to where they need to go on a daily basis. This book invites locals and visitors to broaden their horizons, to explore well-trodden sidewalks at a slower pace, and to venture off into the hidden corners of the city. These are not purposeful walks, but meandering, inquisitive strolls that focus on the story behind the buildings, the details that are easily missed if you're moving too fast, the unexpected detours down narrow alleys and into unassuming shops where surprises await. The philosophy of this book is that the pleasure is in getting there.