by MacKenzie Geidt, Sunset assistant travel editor

I love to play tourist in my own town—even though I was born and raised in San Francisco, there's still plenty of nooks in the city I still have to explore, and all kinds of local lore and legend that my inner trivia nerd still doesn't know.

I'm also all about being a frugal traveler, so I've got a must-do on a dime for anyone paying my city a visit: San Francisco City Guides FREE walking tours....all over the city!   These tours are incredible and there are so many to choose from: Coit Tower Murals, Landmark Victorians of Alamo Sqare, North Beach by Night, Art Deco Marina, Chinatown, Gold Rush City, and more than I have time to name.

I just did the Telegraph Hill Hike--here's what I loved about it:

The views: boats on the bay, the Embarcadero, the rooftops....

The architecture: you don't even have to be an architecture fiend to appreciate how awesome this deco beauty is: (I can't believe I've never seen this building before and I've lived here this long!)

The discoveries: I didn't know that Telegraph Hill has its own sub-tropical micro-climate...dripping with wisteria, trumpet lillies, rose gardens, jasmine....

The parrots: yes, there was even a sighting of the infamous Parrots of Telegraph Hill! (I know, this picture really can't serve as proof that I saw them, but I couldn't act fast enough to catch them!)

The price: it's hard to believe tours like these are free!  It's a non-profit (sponsored by the San Francisco Public Library) with over 200 trained volunteers who love the city so much, they just have to share.
The tours last from 1.5-2 hours, 52 weeks a year (over 30 per month), rain or shine.  You can make a donation when the tour is over if you feel so inclined (I was so impressed that I certainly did!)

Next tour for me: City Hall—shameful that I've lived here this long and never been inside....

How do YOU play tourist in your own town?  Don't be shy...we wanna know so drop us a line!