9 Things to Do Off the Beaten Track in San Francisco

The Wave Organ is a magnificent sculpture located on a San Francisco Bay jetty and featuring musical effects produced by waves. You'll find the organ situated east of Crissy Field East Beach on Marina Green Drive. The original version, built for the New Music ‘81 Festival, was a much simpler design, but the immensely positive feedback inspired the current organ. The organ is made up of 25 PVC pipes at different levels, and the subtle musical sounds are produced by the force of the waves crashing against them. If you can rise early, high tide provides the finest sounds.

Seward Mini Park is best known for its 2 large concrete slides running down a steep hill. You can find the park located near the intersection of Corwin Street and Acme Alley. Adults are only allowed if they are accompanying a child. The park has historical significance, as neighborhood residents seeking open space for their children to play protested the development of the space with a 1966 sit-in and, after their victory, the park was soon built in this space. If you’re looking for a fast ride, the yellow slide is a little steeper than the red, and sliding down on cardboard will speed the ride even more.

Magowan's Infinite Mirror Maze features a maze of mirrors and columns with strobing neon lights and glowing blacklights. You can find the attraction located on Pier 39, off of The Embarcadero just west of Grant Ave. As you wander through, you'll hear rave music pumping in the background. If you make your way through the maze, you can give it another try by working your way backward to the main entrance. Your entrance fee is good for the entire day, so you're welcome to take a break for lunch and come back for more.

Lands End Labyrinth is a stone-lined maze with amazing views of the Marin Headlands and Golden Gate Bridge. You can find the labyrinth situated in the USS San Francisco Memorial, on the northwest shore of San Francisco. Eduardo Aguilera was motivated to build the labyrinth after researching several other historic versions. He has restored the maze 3 times: once after he set it afire in honor of the Vernal Equinox and on 2 other occasions when it was vandalized. Be sure to be cautious, as the rocks can be slick and the weather can get quite windy.

Audium is a sound theater that presents 1-hour musical performances in a state-of-the-art theater that was designed for optimal sound movement. The theater is located near the intersection of Bush Street and Franklin Street. You'll find seating arranged in rows of circles and 176 speakers surrounding the room. Shows are performed in total darkness to heighten the effects of sound. You're sure to be impressed by the superb acoustics of the room, which was designed to be part of the musical composition. Because shows are performed in complete darkness and often feature loud or dissonant sounds, this experience is not recommended for guests under the age of 12.

Andy Goldsworthy's Wood Line is the famed artist’s second installation in his travels of the Presidio and features a line of winding branches on the ground of the eucalyptus forest. You can find the works located on Presidio Boulevard, just north of Pacific Ave and right next to Lover’s Lane. The eucalyptus trees were planted along with Monterey cypress by the army in an attempt to provide cover throughout the Presidio, but the cypress trees died. Here, you can enjoy a walk through the large gaps that feature Goldsworthy’s eucalyptus branch sculpture.

Peephole Cinema is a theater playing a continuous loop of silent films that can be viewed through a peephole in the wall of an alley. The cinema is situated on Orange Alley, just north of 26th Street in the Mission District of San Francisco. You can peek in anytime, day or night, and view these short films. As you walk down the lane in search of the peephole, keep an eye out for a little sign hanging from the wall with a picture of an eye and a short listing of featured films.

Mescaline Grove, also known as Tree Fern Dell, features gigantic, exotic tree ferns bordering a twisting trail that's perfect for a peaceful walk. The grove is located in Golden Gate Park. Originally, the grove featured 4 types of ferns that are indigenous to New Zealand and Australia. They were planted in the 1890s by John McLaren, but only the Sphaeropteris cooperi and Dicksonia antarctica remain. These 2 species have done well in San Francisco’s damp climate and have expanded far beyond the original planting area.

826 Valencia Pirate Supply Store raises money for the 826 Valencia literacy program and features a wide variety of pirate equipment as well as books. You can find the shop located on Valencia Street, just south of 19th Street. While shopping at the store, you can find items such as glass eyes, skeleton keys, and Jolly Roger flags. The 826 Valencia literacy program supported by the store was founded to assist low-income children by encouraging a love for reading and fostering writing skills.