The Presidio of San Francisco has existed as a settlement and military post since the Spanish established it to protect San Francisco Bay in 1776,
but growing up here, we just knew it as the U.S. Army post we drove through on our way to and from the Golden Gate Bridge.
However, the Army ceded control to the National Park Service in 1994 with the establishment of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area.
Since then, the Presidio has gradually morphed, almost without anyone noticing, into the multifaceted gem it is today. Without even leaving San Francisco, visitors now can enjoy cultural and historical museums, excellent restaurants, relaxing hiking trails and even a small hotel steeped in Presidio history, which is what we did on two separate visits last month, driving hybrid sedans from Acura and Hyundai.
As our base of operations, we booked one of the standard two-room suites at the Inn at the Presidio, one of the lovely brick buildings built around the parade ground in the early 20th century, which originally had been the bachelor officers’ quarters. Carefully restored and decorated in a manner consistent with their original use, the suites consist of a living room with cozy gas fireplace, comfortable separate bedroom and modern bathroom.
The Inn serves breakfast each morning in the central dining room where the officers would have taken their meals. The suites, at approximately $350 per night, can easily house a couple with one or two children, and we understand the Presidio Trust will soon be opening a second hotel in one of the other barracks buildings with more affordable single-room accommodations.
Our main focus for the visit was the Walt Disney Family Museum, built discreetly into another of the brick barracks buildings. The museum houses a delightful collection of memorabilia and artwork tracing the career of Walt Disney and his lifetime contributions to the worlds of animation and entertainment. A quick visit might include watching one of his full-length features, shown every day in the small theater downstairs, and a stroll through the current special exhibit. For those with more time, a rainy day or more easily can be spent gaining an understanding of how the various technologies of animated cartoons have evolved.
The escapist charm of the Presidio is best appreciated on one of the several walking trails that climb out of the parking area behind the Inn. Once into the woods and away from the constant flow of traffic from the bridge, it was hard to believe that we were in the heart of a busy metropolitan city.
For dinner in the evening, we walked across the parade ground to The Commissary, a trendy cocktail bar and restaurant that seemed at home in the old brick building. The next day we had lunch at the intimate Arguello, in the old officers’ club next door to the Inn, part of which was built by the Spaniards before they ceded the post to the United States. Both of these restaurants are managed by renowned chef Traci Des Jardins, who puts a Spanish spin on locally grown ingredients.
The Presidio Social Club, in the World War II enlisted men’s club building near the Lombard Gate, is a third dining option, emphasizing downhome American cuisine, and renowned for brunches built around beignets and fried chicken.
Heading north in the hybrids
For the two trips we made to the Presidio, the second time to see artwork at the Legion of Honor Fine Arts Museum on the headlands nearby, we drove two different midsized hybrid sedans that illustrate the wide range of prices for safe, practical automobiles today. The 2016 Acura RLX Sport Hybrid is priced at $66,870, while the Hyundai Sonata Limited is priced at $35,765.
The Hyundai Sonata is proof of how quickly the newest safety systems have found their way into affordable automobiles, matching the Acura item for item. The extensive list of technologies includes stability control, traction control, antilock brakes with brake assist, blind-spot detection with rear cross-traffic alert, smart cruise control with stop-start capability, navigation and rearview camera, as well as front, side and side-curtain airbags. Its chassis design earns the car a five-star National Highway Traffic Safety rating.
With its four-cylinder engine and electric motors, the Sonata is rated at an adequate 193 horsepower. The hybrid power train with six-speed automatic transmission, an improvement on more typical continuously variable transmissions in most hybrids, offers 41 mpg in combined city and highway driving.
Even at its attractive price, the Sonata is neatly trimmed on the interior and spacious enough for five passengers and a reasonable amount of luggage. It isn’t pretending to be a luxury car, but wouldn’t disappoint a value-sensitive family.
Given the Sonata’s attributes, it seems reasonable to ask why a customer would want to pay nearly twice as much for the Acura RLX Sport Hybrid. Without doubt, the proud Acura owner will feel more cossetted in the luxurious interior, even though the family would be no less safe in the less-expensive car. And of course there is the added prestige of the Acura brand reputation and the greater longevity of the company.
In addition, the power train that justifies the Sport label also explains part of the price differential. Its 3.5-liter V-6 engine with electric motors produces 350 horsepower, and with the seven-speed automatic transmission, it’s a trifle smoother in all-around driving while being able to hit 60 mph in under six seconds. There is a trade-off for that power, of course, with the Acura only able to produce 30 mpg in combined driving.
But in either car, it’s just a short drive to the Presidio, San Francisco’s scenic and heritage landmark, nestled under the south towers of the Golden Gate Bridge, and an educational as well as relaxing respite from the modern bustle of the city.
Longtime Los Altos residents Gary and Genie Anderson are co-owners of Enthusiast Publications LLC, which edits several car club magazines and contributes articles and columns to automotive magazines and online services.
