A staircase of 163 steps on 16th Avenue in the Inner Sunset, every riser covered in handmade mosaic tiles that together form a flowing design of sea, sky, and stars rising from the bottom to the top. The project was a community effort completed in 2005, inspired by the famous Escadaria Selarón in Rio de Janeiro.
The climb is worth it for the art alone, but the view from the top -- across the Sunset District rooftops to the Pacific Ocean -- is the bonus. Visit on a clear day. The staircase is in a quiet residential neighbourhood, so keep the noise down. Nearby Lincoln Park and the Outer Sunset's surf beaches are an easy add-on.