SAN FRANCISCO TOUR BUS Hitch a Ride With Us
Hippie Buses
Love Bus: “Peace, Love, Freedom & Adventure”
Among our hippie buses, this 1972 VW Hippie Bus with big bay windows was the original inspiration for San Francisco Love Tours. Allan hunted for this bus for quite a while, and when he learned that this particular bus had been a family vacation vehicle for years, creating many wonderful childhood memories, he knew this bus had the right soul and spirit. Even though the orange paint was faded and the engine needed to be completely rebuilt, this “Love Bus” had the true family history of peace, love, freedom and adventure.
After he got the bus up and running, Allan spent weekends taking friends and family around the city, often making new friends along the way. Sunday mornings were spent hanging out at Dolores Park, a park that is always abuzz with locals.
One day at Dolores Park, an artist and fellow VW enthusiast named Madison Tomsic was chatting with Allan and Roberto. Allan asked Maddie if she could paint some artwork and murals on the exterior of his bus, and her efforts resulted in a breathtakingly beautiful and unique creation. Her murals decorate all the buses now, and they are widely recognized throughout San Francisco.
Sunshine: “Here Comes The Sun”
This beautiful hippie bus is believed to bring good luck to all who enter because of the story on the way it was acquired.
Back when the brothers were first dreaming and planning for their tour company, they spent a lot of time discussing their ideas with everyone. As you will see during your tours, the Graves brothers definitely have a gift for gab! And thank goodness they do, because Roberto’s persuasive story about his dream for a San Francisco tour company is what helped him win a contest where the main prize was this 1976 VW Bus!
This bus is now warmly called the Sunshine Bus because when it arrived, it was already emblazoned with the tagline, front and center on the windshield: “Here Comes The Sun.” Brilliant.
A MESSAGE FROM THE FOUNDER
I simply can’t imagine a better way of experiencing going up and down the hills of San Francisco than in a VW-hippie bus. The allure of these adorable V-Dubs are only matched by the marvelous sights and stories encapsulated by this ever-changing city. People wanting to ride in a VW bus are kindred spirits who appreciate a small, family-like experience with guides that love storytelling as much as they love living in this city. These are genuine experiences, befriending authentic people, making extraordinaire memories. ~ Allan