During this February trip to the City of Love, my Valentine and I manage to take our love to an entirely new level!
The chopper blade whirrs rhythmically with the ’60s tune about wearing flowers in your hair and, from beneath my headphones, I begin to hum this well-known song that was part of my youth. It brings back memories of the psychedelic Summer of Love and the famous Haight-Ashbury district where singer Janis Joplin once claimed her fame. Though “getting high” has a much different connotation now than it did back then, I realize that’s what this special day in San Francisco is all about.
Up, Up and Away!
There are dozens of ways to check out this city’s famous landmarks with your Valentine, but only one will provide a bird’s-eye view – and that’s heli-style. San Francisco Helicopters has been offering tours since 1976 and, soon after buckling up, our veteran pilot, Ron, literally gives us a lift and we’re up, up and away! He doubles as an informative guide and while soaring above every shoreline and summit, provides a running commentary of our visuals below.
“To your right are the identical mounds of Twin Peaks, where you’ll get a great view of the city,” he explains, “next to our aerial route, of course,” he adds with a grin. As well as providing a pretty panorama, we discover this site also houses a 14-million gallon reservoir that services the fire departments and area residences.
High Above the Hills
We pass over a number of the city’s well-known neighbourhoods; Castro, Mission, Alamo and Cole Valley. Each one is unique, possessing its own personality and charm. Rows of Victorian homes link together and cloak many of these famous knolls. From a distance, Ron points out a few. “Russian Hill is known for Lombard Street, one of the most crooked in the world. Nob Hill is home to luxury condos and primarily reserved for the wealthy, and from Telegraph Hill’s Coit Tower you can take in an amazing sunset.” We discover that this beacon not only commemorates San Francisco’s volunteer fire department but also dubs as a romantic lookout, whatever time of day – a definite must-see during this visit with my sweetie.
Playgrounds, green patches and groves of pine are woven into the city grid below and from our lofty perch, it all looks like a miniature fantasyland. Greenery continues – and lots of it – when we hover above the acclaimed Golden Gate Park. This thousand-acre urban playground is host to walking trails, tranquil lakes and fragrant gardens. The Conservatory of Flowers and replenished 19th century Victorian greenhouse showcases over 1,500 flowering species that are collected from around the world and boasts a fantasy-inspired aquatic garden, interlaced with waterfalls and pools. Golden Gate is also home to a few heard of bison – another drawing card for the over 13 million annual visitors.
Onward we fly, over more hills and homes, to another verdant patch of land where history and beauty are rolled into one. The Presidio, a.k.a. “Eden on the edge,” once served as a military post and in 1995 was taken over by the National Park Service. This historical niche and green belt that hugs up to ocean bluffs is now a natural habitat for endangered wildflowers and various birds.
Just like those red-tailed hawks and golden eagles, we glide beyond the peninsula’s shoreline and over the ocean swells. The famed cables of the Golden Gate are now in clear view and are getting closer by the second. “This bridge is 65-storeys high,” Ron informs, “so how ‘bout we check out the view from beneath?” And just like a bird of prey, our Bell chopper swoops down and under the well-travelled platform that spans the sparkling bay. Within seconds, we dip, dive and loop, right over the top of this engineered marvel. It all happens so quickly and so smoothly, there’s no time to bail!
A musical soundtrack is well choreographed to our tour and The Mamas & Papas calm my racing heart while singing “California Dreamin.’” We zoom above sapphire waves and within seconds of our kamikaze act are hovering above another favourite tourist haunt.
Infamous Alcatraz
“Alcatraz was a federal penitentiary from 1934 to 1963,” Ron explains. We peer down at the forlorn-looking cellblocks where mobsters like Al Capone and “Machine Gun Kelly” did time. “Many tried to escape,” he continues, “but there’s no proof that anyone was successful.” Although San Francisco’s main hub appears to be a short backstroke away, the icy and once shark-infested waters had warded off attempts from the most determined jailbird. Today, only a flotilla of miniscule-size ferries dot the waterway below. While some circumvent the notorious islet and provide a historical commentary from a distance, others launch for an up close and personal view. Crowned with headsets, the curious visitors stroll these hallowed halls, listening to the grim and gruesome stories of the infamous inmates who once called this isolated retreat their home. I, on the other hand, am feeling quite okay reeling above with the one I love.
Rimming the adjacent shoreline is Fisherman’s Wharf and Pier 39, where a pedestrian boardwalk leads to a thriving aquarium, pots of Dungeness crab and colonies of sea lions. Seconds later, we’re gliding above the Embarcadero, the bustling downtown core, and the city’s two tallest buildings; Transamerica Pyramid and Bank Of America. Union Square is just a brief heli-jaunt away. Tiffany’s, Neiman Marcus, Macy’s, Saks, and other name brand conglomerates cuddle up to hundreds of boutique outlets in this concentrated shopping hot spot. I immediately make a mental note to hit this area later with my Honey!
But for now, we’re both mesmerized by this bird’s-eye view. And while Tony Bennett reminds us of where he left his heart we can truly relate as we circle back over this ‘cool grey city of love.’
Planning Your Trip
Where to stay:
Hyatt Regency San Francisco
http://sanfranciscoregency.hyatt.com
What to do:
San Francisco Helicopter Tours
www.sfhelicopters.com