San Francisco City Guides: All sorts of walks, and a few hikes, led by a group of trained volunteers sponsored by the San Francisco Public Library. The fare is history, architecture, legends and lore. Something for both the history-obsessed native as well as the casual visitor wanting to see San Francisco up-close and personal. Walks are Free (donations accepted)

  Five Self Guided Walks: Feeling more independent? The San Francisco Convention and Visitors Bureau site has download-able .pdf files - including maps and descriptions - for five different guide-yourself adventures.

  Walking the Barbary Coast Trail: This is also a self-guided walk - and you can choose from any segment of the the 3.8-mile walking route that interests you.  Just follow the brass plaques in the sidewalk.  Go to any area book store and ask to buy a copy of the book (by Daniel Bacon) and The City is your proverbial oyster!

  San Francisco Walks (various): This is from the electronic version of the San Francisco Chronicle - a listing of a number of for-fee walking tours. Take a browse.

   GraceAnn Walden Walks: It's all about food discovered on foot! North Beach-style Italian food specifically.

  The San Francisco Museum and Historical Society: This organization sponsors walks, lectures and more!

  Precita Eyes Mural Walks: The Mission Trail: cultural and historical walking tours along the Mission St. and 24th St. corridors in the Mission District. Tours highlight murals, but also include cultural organizations, historic sites and other points of interest.

  Friends of Recreation & Parks Walks: (recorded information 415 263-0991)
Free walking tours (offered between May and October) of the "green giant," Golden Gate Park, are led by the Friends of Recreation and Parks. Walks cover the major stops like Strybing Arboretum and Botanical Gardens, Japanese Tea Garden and more.

  East Bay Regional Parks: A comprehensive site with links to dedicated for many East Bay Parks.

  Oakland Scenic Tours:  Join 90-minute guided walks through historic downtown Oakland. See Chinatown, City Center, City Hall and its nearby business district. Tours are scheduled Wednesdays and Saturdays - May through October - at 10 am. Reservations are encouraged.

  Hiking Trails of Mount Diablo:  Browse thirty hikes, from easy, pleasant walks to demanding hikes, all recommended by the Mount Diablo Interpretive Association.

 Santa Clara County Parks: here's your online guide to 28 county parks - from the Almaden Quicksilver Mine to Villa Montalvo. Santa Clara Parks say "Go Outside and Play!"

 Gilroy Historical District Walking Tour: self-guided walks through the old downtown of Santa Clara County's third incorporated city.

 San Mateo County Parks and Recreation Trails: choose from a dozen different trails, all described - with directions - on this website.

 California Historical Society Walkabouts: From Marin to Montclair, Downtown Alameda to Downtown Concord, CHS Guide Gary Holloway takes you on a march through history, architecture and local lore. Walks start from locations accessible by public transit and are repeated several times for your convenience.

 The California Academy of Sciences' Fall & Winter Course Catalog is online (click on the course catalog icon with the sea otter). Look for plenty of returning favorites, as well as an array of new offerings for all ages and interests. Browse the catalog for Field Trips scheduled throught the Bay Area, botony, birding and more. Even walks designed for families!

 Bay Nature: This is the first magazine to explore the natural world of the San Francisco Bay Area. Their website has a list of links to sites for 50 different Bay Area Parks - from Angel Island to Wildcat Canyon. Click the link to "Outdoor Classroom" and you'll find a calendar of all kinds of outdoor events and adventures (A "Hawk Hike," a "Lake Del Valle Canoe Outing" and a "Filoli Twilight Hike" are just three examples) sponsored by various independent Bay Area outdoor and nature organizations.