Kathleen from San Francisco

About me Born on an American Army base in Germany, I came to the states when I was six months old and my parents were stationed back home at Fort Lewis in Tacoma, Washington, where I spent my entire childhood. Little did I know that the military lifestyle was going to become what inspired me to become an artist. I have been a photographer for most of my life. Whether I knew it o...

Jul 20, 2025

Balloon Alley San Francisco

Interactive murals

""Balloon Alley" (or Umbrella Alley) in San Francisco is easy to miss - come see the interactive Instagrammable murals from up close. Fun place to visit!"

Depending on who you talk to, this teensy little alleyway can be called Balloon Alley or Umbrella Alley. I nearly missed it walking from Ghirardelli Square to Fishermans Wharf, but it's there, trust me. The overhead entrance is covered by colorful balloons that beckon you in. There are several interactive murals on the walls that are so colorful, you can't help but go up to them and submerge yourself in their artsy-ness. It's a beautiful work in progress.

Some artists involved in creating the murals are Maxfield Bala, Brian Huber, Jeremy Novy, Fnnch, Kate Tova, Yonmeister, Amillionair, GATS, and Luinova. But best (in my opinion) is a group effort called California Dreaming by 12 Bay Area muralists. All of these murals are Instagrammable, and you'll be the talk of your town when you go home and post where you've been. There is also the San Francisco, CA mural by Maxfield Bala, measuring 13 by 18 feet and features the city's most notable landmarks, which include the Golden Gate Bridge, City Hall, Coit Tower, the Bay Bridge, Alcatraz, the Ferry Building, a Cable Car, the famous Painted Ladies, Lombard Street, and The Palace of Fine Arts as well as many others.

If you want to do a little shopping while you're there, you can visit the swag shop, where you'll find t-shirts, hoodies, and stickers, all with original designs and only available there. It's a fun place to visit.

Go. You know you want to.

Art & culture

Shopping

About this spot

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Balloon Alley:

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