San Francisco hidden gems are often hiding in plain sight, one staircase, alley or unexpected patch of green away from the routes we travel every day.

Start with the 16th Avenue Tiled Steps, where 163 mosaic-covered risers climb through a colorful design inspired by the sea and sky.

Continue uphill and Grandview Park delivers the payoff with broad views across the western side of the city.

For something quieter, Ina Coolbrith Park is a tiny Russian Hill hillside park whose steep approach discourages casual crowds but rewards visitors with one of the city's classic skyline views.

It feels less like a destination than a secret somebody forgot to keep.

On the eastern side of town, the Filbert Street Steps climb Telegraph Hill through gardens, wooden walkways and tucked-away homes before reaching the Coit Tower area.

They are famous enough to appear in guidebooks but still easy for locals to ignore when there is always a faster way uphill.

In the Richmond, the Shakespeare Garden inside Golden Gate Park offers a much calmer experience than the park's biggest attractions.

Its flowers and literary plaques make it a good five-minute detour or a peaceful place to sit when the museums and gardens nearby are busy.

The Presidio has its own unusual corner in Andy Goldsworthy's environmental artworks, including Wood Line and Spire, which use natural materials to turn forest paths into outdoor galleries.

The fun of hidden San Francisco is that the discovery is often more memorable than the attraction itself.

For a completely different view, head south to Bernal Heights Park.

The hilltop trail has a panoramic perspective that includes downtown, the Bay and neighborhoods rarely seen together from one spot.

Finally, visit the Wave Organ on the Marina waterfront, an acoustic sculpture built into a jetty where pipes interact with the movement of the Bay.

It is strange, subtle and wonderfully San Francisco.

None of these places requires an elaborate plan, and that is the point.

The SF Brief challenge: pick one place on this list that you have never visited and make it this month's small adventure.

Sometimes rediscovering your own city is cheaper and more satisfying than going somewhere new.