San Francisco is a city like no other, after all it is the city of love. It is often compared to Lisbon for its countless hills, the resemblance of their bridges and their tram. I spent christmas and New Years here last year with my family and we had a lovely time discovering all it has to offer.
Like most cities in the U.S. you will likely need to rent a car so you can move freely, since getting around in public transportation might not be ideal unless you want to stay downtown and do not plan on doing many activities out of the center. Also, bear in mind that SF is an expensive city, so if you do end up going I recommend to pre-book your accommodation with a few months in advance to avoid an unpleasant surge in prices.
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What to do in San Fransisco
Walk from the Embarcadero to the Fisherman’s wharf and Peer 39
For urban dwellers it might be a surprise to see the large congregation of sea lions basking in the sun. I could say this is without a doubt SF’s equivalent of Times Square, so it gets crowded and it’s mostly visited by tourists. It might not be the place everyone wants to visit, but I personally encourage you to check it out while you are in the city. They also sell clam chowder in various spots around the peer. I loved it and SF is known for rivaling New England for the best chowder in the states!
After Peer 39
Head to Lombard Street
Easily one of the best-known streets in the states (very photogenic and unique).
Take a ferry to Angel Island
It is worth the visit! A gorgeous national park full of lush nature. If you like hiking and outdoors this is a great place to head to. You can get the ferry from both Tiburon and SF. Tickets are around $9.9 dollars and they include the entrance fee to the park. It opens from 10am to 3pm during the week and till 4pm on weekends. People usually stay around 3 hours but of course you can stay as long as you want.
Go to McClure’s and Bolinas beach
They are both located in the massive state park. Bear in mind these beaches are not temperate most months of the year, but that doesn’t mean they are not worth your time. There are many other beaches around here, these were just the ones we ended up going to and absolutely loved them!
If you are not going to make it out to Yosemite, you will at least be able to see some Sequoia trees around the state park. I can’t emphasize enough how green this area is. It’s surprisingly close to civilization but you really do feel one with nature.
Bike through the Golden Gate
Seriously, this is such a unique experience. They have a path for cyclists to go though and some spots where you can stop to take it all in and look towards the Pacific Ocean. We went a little before sunset and it was wonderful, I will forever treasure the experience. Once you get out of the bridge you will continue into Presidio park which I recommend you bike around before you get a well-deserved rest. While I do encourage you to do this, it is important that you have an adequate physical condition, because the hills become strenuous at times and don’t really have many places where you can rest. This is because some parts are on the highway or on an incline. Also, don’t forget to wear a helmet!
Go check out the neighborhood of Tiburon
This is without a doubt SF’s East Egg, you can really tell this is where the old money is at! They have some of the most extravagant houses I’ve seen. If you want to bike to the Golden Gate this could be a good starting point. Drive through Sausalito and take on the massive old red lady!
Explore Sausalito
To be fair, Sausalito is rather small, but it is very cute! If you come to SF, your trip would not be completed without exploring it. One of the ferries that takes you to the city can be taken here.
Go to Chinatown
Everyone knows about the Chinatown in San Francisco. I grew up in New York but even I can admit that the Chinatown in SF blows the other one out of the water. Make sure to go in through Dragon’s Gate and explore the galleries and stores.
J-town!!!
SF hosts the largest Japanese-American population in the states and it is evident in this neighborhood. I have never been to Japan so I really enjoyed seeing some Japanese architecture here and there, it was really exciting to discover this part of SF with friends. If you like ramen I recommend that you eat at Waraku our dining experience was beyond exquisite. We managed to stumble upon a Shinto temple while we were there, and like most religious places everyone is welcome inside. It was really interesting to observe the temple as well as its altar.
Take the Cable car!
I personally didn’t take the cable car because it was packed, and I didn’t want to get in the extraneously long line… Most people that think of San Francisco think of the cable car, so it seems like a must if you want to enjoy the ride. Trip savvy explains the 3 lines perfectly so you won’t get lost and that way you can chose the route that interests you the most.
Go to Alcatraz
In all honesty I didn’t go. The weather was not ideal, and I found it to be too time consuming and expensive. That doesn’t mean that it is not worth checking it out. Many people come to see the world’s most famous prison. Known to be escape proof and once home to Al Capone, “Machine Gun” Kelly and America’s most notorious criminal minds. Tickets start at $40 dollars per person and you spend about 2.5 hours there. If you are interested, you can find the tours here.
Go to the Moma
I was left in awe after leaving the museum. If you are an avid art enthusiast you’d be doing yourself a massive favor by checking this place out! Tickets are $19 for ages 24 and under, $25 for ages 25-64 and $22 for 65+. It is open from 10am to 5pm every day except wednesdays. It is located next to the Yerba Buena Gardens which are public and a real treat. The Yerba Buena gardens also have a permanent exhibit as a homage to the most important civil rights leader in the United States, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
If you are into churches check out
Grace Cathedral
It is a wonderful building and it is known for its work with the gay community, setting up seasonal exhibits, its intensive social work and its interfaith space. The cathedral is close to the hearts of non-Episcopalians and it has been active in social work for many years. It is a real jewel from San Francisco! The Cathedral is in front of Huntington park which warrants a brief visit as well.
It would cost you a pretty penny but just across the bay is Oakland! Oakland is home to the Golden State Warriors. If you are a basketball nut, I am sure you would relish the opportunity to see Curry, Durant, Green & co. in action.
And for the last recommendation…
Go to Yosemite
If you have the time to go why wouldn’t you want to?! It’s only 3 hours away from downtown SF and the opportunity of a lifetime. If you are all about the outdoors and love being impressed by mother nature this would be the ideal day or weekend trip to go on while in NorCal.
I hope this helps you enjoy and plan your trip. I had a great time with my family and there was something for everyone. San Francisco will definitely be one for the books!
