If you love seeking out the hidden past of the places you visit, a retro experience of the West Coast may be in your future. Start by renting out an amazing retro rig like this one and then cruising up Highway 1. When you hit San Francisco, we have 3 ideas for great retro attractions for you. Check them out.
1. The Wave Organ
This totally unique landmark off of Mason Street is an elaborately designed and constructed acoustic sculpture. Not many tourists know about the Wave Organ, so you might just have the place to yourself. If you visit during high tide, you’ll hear the interesting, amplified melodies of the sea, and an amazing view of the San Francisco skyline, Alcatraz Island, and the Gnewen Gate Bridge.
In 1980, an artist named Peter Richards got a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts that enabled him to research the feasibility of a sculpture that highlights the Wave Organ phenomenon.
A prototype was built in 1981. Though it was rudimentary, it generated support for a permanent work. Actual construction started in September 1985 and the Wave Organ was completed in May of 1986.
2.The Moraga Steps (aka the 16th Avenue Tiled Steps)
Beginning where 16th Avenue meets Moraga street on the west side of San Francisco, the steps are tiled with beautiful mosaic, and lead to Turtle Hill (or the top of Grand View Park). Inspired by the similar stairs in Rio De Janero, this staircase is not actually retro, though it does look like it comes from another time. And the spirit of it feels retro in the best way: Over 220 neighbors sponsored the tiles and 300 people put them together over the summer of 2005. At the top of the stairs, you’ll find a truly amazing panoramic view of the city. This Bored Panda story reveals a big secret of the steps: they glow at night!
3. The Retro Arcade Musée Mécanique
The Musée Mécanique is a large privately owned collection of coin-operated mechanical musical instruments and antique arcade machines. The collection has been on display since 1933 and it’s probably the only place where you can play games ranging from Opium Den to the Ole Barn Dance to the Kiss-o-Meter. So fun, plus it’s free!
Wanna roll down Highway 1 in your own retro camper? We know where you can find one.
