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Comment by datenwolf | Hacker News Reader

Head down to the Fisherman's Wharf, there's an arcade with historic/ancient (some over 100 years old) machines. Admission is free, but you're highly encouraged to feed the machines with quarters and play with them; that's how that place gets its money.

I was in SF for two weeks, last month and the arcade was one of the memorable places. Also the Cable Car Museum isn't too far away. My recommendation: Visit the CCM first (they close at 17:00) and then walk down to Fisherman's Wharf and play in the historic arcade.

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The Cable Car Museum was surprisingly interesting. I had relatively low expectations that were made lower by actually arriving, but they've got some amazing artifacts from their history, and seeing the cable drivers for the city's lines in the same place and considering what it does is really stunning.

+1 for the Cable Car "Museum"...

It's actually a working engine room and you can smell the grease in the air and see the cogs turning and pulling the cable.

I believe you're referring to the Musée Mécanique (http://museemecaniquesf.com). Besides the arcade games, the orchestrons are captivating.

+1 on the historic arcade. Fisherman's Wharf is a nightmare, but that place is a hidden gem – more interesting than most museums you could go to.

Trust me, you don't want to walk FROM the wharf to the CCM. The hills in SF are no joke, especially on foot.

I checked in google maps... it's about a mile laterally and over 200ft vertically. Much better to be going DOWN hill.

> Trust me, you don't want to walk FROM the wharf to the CCM.

Hence why I suggested going to the CCM first.

> The hills in SF are no joke, especially on foot.

Speak for yourself. Yes, they are a bit annoying. But when doing my SF tour (I had visited the historic arcade already a few days before), I first took the cable car from Market to Fisherman's Wharf (it passes by the CCM, but I wanted to do the full tour), then walked back up to the CCM. After being done with that I went up Mission Street to the Fairmont, where it crosses with Muni line 1, took that until Lands End, walked that down to the pacific beach, watched the sunset. Finally down to the west southern end of Golden Gate Park and took the Muni back to Powell. Between the public transport rides everything on foot. Wasn't that bad IMHO.

Most important: Bring water; lots of water (I started the tour with about 3l in my backpack). And drink to thirst. Dehydration is no joke, but overhydration can be a problem, too.

The walk really isn't that bad, the worst hill you hit is the one like two blocks from the CCM and if you're not in horrid shape it isn't hard.

I lived in Monterey for a few years and, as my first few impressions of SF were essentially just the Wharf with the rest of my time spent driving, I had a very negative view of the city. It wasn't until I started walking those dreaded hills and exploring the city on foot that I really appreciated how amazing the place is.

The arcade is great. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mus%C3%A9e_M%C3%A9canique

There is a pinball museum in Oakland and it's a blast. They have machines from as far back as the 30s. You pay for entry then it's free to play.

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