Around the World with Kids

Living in the San Francisco Bay Area I’ve been on sightseeing tours of San Francisco a number of times with family and friends that visit us. I’ve taken walking tours, tours of Alcatraz, tours of every neighborhood. I’ve done it by visiting family, as a core family unit, and even sometimes by myself. But recently I got to have a fun Mother/Child outing with US Ghost Adventures. We took the Gold And Ghouls Walking Tour of San Francisco, where, late at night we walked the streets of Union Square, Nob Hill, and surrounding areas while learning not just the history, but the spooky legends, ghostly tales, and even about modern day secret societies with the knowledgeable tour guides that they offer. It was a great way to learn about San Francisco in a whole new way and keep my too cool teenager engaged and connected with me and the tour instead of their phone. Come along and find out why you should check out US Ghost Adventures and all they have to offer.

Disclosure: US Ghost Adventures provided me with two free tickets to the tour in exchange for this blog post. The opinions I write are all my own.

*Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links that allows me to earn a small commission at no cost to you. I only link to products I would or have used myself and all opinions expressed here are my own. You can read the full disclaimer here.

• About US Ghost Adventures
• About The Gold and Ghouls Tour
• Why I Like the Tour
• Who This Tour is For
• Tips
• How to Book
• Conclusion

About US Ghost Adventures

Pretty much any city you visit has some history that is unique, fun and maybe a little bit spooky. US Ghost Adventures is a leader in haunted tours and are in over 150 cities across the US. They work with local guides to create and provide walking tours of the city that include not only interesting sites but the history of the paranormal and obscure specific to that city. I have lived in the San Francisco Bay Area for almost 20 years, and many of the stories I heard on these tours were new to me.

About The Gold and Ghouls Tour

We joined the Gold and Ghouls Tour, which starts in Union Square and takes you through the history of San Francisco with some of its most famous buildings and landmarks. The tour takes about an hour and a half, and during that time you get stories of the history of the buildings you are walking past, along with stories of strange coincidences, local legends, and even modern-day occurrences that are out of the ordinary.

We started in Union Square where we met with the rest of the group and the tour guide. He set the stage and then told us some stories of the Union Square and the development of San Francisco. We proceeded to hike up the hill to 450 Sutter.

450 Sutter is a famous Art Deco building in San Francisco, we learned about not only the history and building of this famous skyscraper, but the legends and curses around it. Today it’s a building for medical and dental offices, but the tenants still say they can hear the ghosts walking in the halls at night. I was able to hear about it outside, then walk into the lobby to see the decorations and hidden images up close and in-person.

After a hike several blocks uphill (be prepared) we came to California Street, where we took a break and heard the legend of the Ghost Bride who is sometimes seen still roaming the streets at night.

Then we moved on to the Famous Fairmont Hotel. There we learned about the building and how it was destroyed just a few weeks after opening due to the 1906 earthquake. We heard about ghosts and legends, but the best part was walking through and seeing all the historical photos of people and events that took place at the Fairmont. We also went up to the rooftop garden to get a nighttime view of San Francisco and a little rest and reward for climbing so many hills.

Afterwards, we walked outside and past the beautiful and famous Grace Cathedral. We heard the history of the church and the strange secret passages, but the highlight was arriving when the bells tolled and heard beautiful sounds through the plaza across the way.

We walked down to the Nob Hill Inn, which the guide claimed was the most haunted building in San Francisco. We heard about strange occurrences and stories that have been shared through the years. Such as… [Add more]

Finally, as we walked back down to Union Square, we learned a history of the secret societies that were all around San Francisco. The guide claimed that even today, the rich and famous of San Francisco are all part of these societies. Some of the buildings were unassuming, but others were much more obvious with some being large and having no windows.

We ended at the Beacon Grand or what most San Franciscans know as the Sir Francis Drake Hotel. A famous hotel that was founded in 1928, it’s seen its share of strange occurrences and history throughout the years.

Why I Like the Tour

I went on a Friday evening for a fun Mother/Child outing with my teen oldest child. They like learning history and are getting into spooky movies and books, so they were excited to learn about the paranormal in their own backyard.

I loved learning history from a new angle and I surprised to learn about the modern-day strange occurrences. I was shocked to learn how much was still secret here in the modern day. I had no idea there was a whole under-wraps society in this city that always seems on display.

The tour guide was full of interesting information I never knew about the city. He was always willing to answer questions and always had a story to tell. Even when you pointed out something not on the tour, he usually had some cool facts or stories to give you.

Who This Tour is For

This tour can be family-friendly for older kids who can walk on their own and stay up late. Families with teens and tweens would love this because it is a great way to make history and learning fun and engaging in a unique way. Couples and Single travelers would also love this to meet others, learn about the city, and would make for a cool date night.

I would not recommend this for people with little ones who need to be carried or go to bed early. There is a pretty steep hill you need to climb. The tours are always at night and kids might find it difficult to hear scary stories and then go to bed. If your kid is easily scared by this or goes to bed earlier this is not the tour for you. (Full disclosure, my 12-year-old did not want to come because she is sensitive to ghost stories).

Tips

• Wear Good Walking Shoes – The walk is only a little over a mile, but a big part of it is up a steep hill. You are standing and walking for over an hour and a half. In rainy weather, that hill can be slick. Be sure to wear shoes that work for you. Both my child and I wore our Slip in Skechers
• Be sure to check your texts and emails for changes – Full Disclosure, we actually missed our first tour. Because we had not booked online, my phone number was never attached to my account. While all the emails said the starting point was Union Square, the tour guide changed the starting point at the last minute. It was texted out to all the numbers, but since my number was not on the account, I was never informed. I worked with the team and they were able to reschedule me and attach my number to the account to confirm on the second go around, but I live locally so I was able to reschedule. Make sure to confirm and review your texts and email for any last-minute changes. And make sure you provide both when booking.
• Have fun, but don’t expect to see ghosts – This tour is about history, ghosts and fun. But it is NOT a paranormal experience. US Ghost Tours do offer that in some locations. But note that this is about history and fun.
• Tipping – Your guide would love tips at the end. Be sure to bring some cash, but our guide also accepted Venmo and Zelle.

How to Book

You can book directly on the US Ghost Adventures website for the city of your choosing. In addition, US Ghost Adventures is offering an exclusive discount to readers of the Around the World with Kids Blog. Use the code ROBIN10 for 10% off your booking.

Conclusion

As my teens get older, I find that they are open to different and unique experiences that we can have together as Mother/Child fun. The Gold and Ghouls tour gave us the chance to reconnect on something we both enjoy, and something to talk about around the dinner table at night. This is a great tour for those who want something different and unique when touring the city. If you love spooky and scary history, this is your tour. It’s a fun date night for couples or Parent/Teens. Even for the whole family. For those who love the paranormal, this is a fun way to visit a place, learn, and do it as a family.

Edited by SKS