Hey there, I hope you’re having a great week! In my last post I wrote about the outfits I wore on my recent trip, so I thought I’d angle today’s topic instead towards what to do in the San Francisco area, based on my time living there.
There are a ton of resources already out there for what to do and where to go in San Francisco, so rather than repeat information I thought I’d (1) share how to visit the top “tourist” sites I think are totally worth it, (2) discuss which sites, in my opinion, are fine to gloss over if your time is limited, and (3) share some of the best secrets I discovered living in the Bay. Here goes!
First, the top “tourist attractions” you have to see
San Francisco has so much to offer, so narrowing my top picks was difficult. Here are my “must-sees” if you only have a couple days in the City by the Bay:
- Bike the Golden Gate Bridge.
- This icon is stunning, and my favorite way to see it was biking over it. Biking takes longer than driving, so you get a prolonged view of everything. As if that weren’t enough, the best photography spot is across the Golden Gate in Marin County, looking backwards from Battery Spencer.
- Time commitment: the ride is about an hour and half, but then there’s also the ferry ride back, so allow at least a half day. (If you want to make a full day of it, eat lunch and spend time in Sausalito after you bike over.) My friends and I used Blazing Saddles, and you can find the information on their self-guided bike tour here.
Circa 2010…my friends and I on the other side of the bridge!
- Ride the cable cars.
- San Francisco is the only city in the world with an operating network of cable cars. Each car is a beautifully crafted piece of legend, but the history and engineering behind them are equally amazing. The Powell-Hyde line is the most scenic, but to avoid the crowds don’t get on it at the turnaround near Fisherman’s Wharf; go up a few stops.
- Time commitment: allow one to two hours for the experience. A comprehensive guide to riding the cable cars can be found here. Bonus: if you have time I highly recommend the Cable Car Museum: go underground to see the steam-powered cables in action and learn first-hand about their history and mechanics.
Going down one of those San Francisco hills! For safety reasons, don’t stick your arm out like I’m doing 😉
- Take the Alcatraz tour.
- The Alcatraz experience was breathtaking for me. To get to Alcatraz, you take a ferry from the Pier and this ride yields incredible cityscapes of San Francisco (Instagram, anyone?). Once on the island, prepare to be tantalized by a slightly eerie era in history. I highly recommend the guided audio tour.
- Time commitment: half a day. Oh, and be prepared to get up early that day :).
- Note: tickets sell out several weeks in advance, so I recommend purchasing them here as soon as you have your trip dates.
Alcatraz: breathtaking for me but Juliana fell asleep in my arms on the tour!
- Visit Union Square.
- Union Square has some of the best shopping in the country. From designers to more affordable options, this neighborhood has it all. As if that weren’t enough, the Westfield San Francisco Centre, an indoor shopping center with a wide variety of stores, is a short walking distance from Union Square. In addition to every mall store imagineable it has shops you may have never seen before. I recommend parking in the Fifth and Mission parking garage behind Market Street. It’s a city owned garage so it’s cheaper than the other ones around.
- Drive down Lombard Street.
- Sure, this is a massive tourist attraction (you’ll be surrounded by tourists from the world over armed with selfie sticks), but for good reason. The block of Lombard Street that ends at Leavenworth is the windiest one in the world. The zigzag of this street creates an incredible foreground against the backdrop of San Francisco, including the Bay Bridge and Coit Tower.
- Time commitment: very little! Driving down this block takes only a few minutes at most. Of course you can also park and walk back up if you’d like to spend a bit more time and take a few more photos. Depending on the time of day, it can be relatively easy to find street parking nearby.
Dropped by Lombard Street on this trip
Jacket (available in 8 colors)// Jeans // Shoes (under $25!) // Tee // Bag
6. See the “Painted Ladies”.
These picturesque painted houses featured on “Full House” are every bit worth visiting. Up close you’ll notice more gorgeous details than in a picture. This area also boasts incredible view of downtown San Francisco in the background.
Wide-eyed and fresh out of college! Posing in front of The Painted Ladies
What to see quickly (or skip, if you have to)
- Fisherman’s Wharf. This place is incredibly famous, but to be honest I don’t completely understand why. Sure, there are great views of the Bay, but there are other places along The Embarcadero less crowded with gorgeous views. If you want fresh seafood but are fine not having a place to sit, then it may be worth stopping for lunch.
- Pier 39. This is another spot I suggest seeing quickly. Pier 39 has a lot of stores and restaurants with overpriced merchandise that cater to tourists (sorry, just being honest!). I do think it’s worth breezing through because there are great views of Alcatraz from one of the porches, but if your time is limited I would keep it short and sweet. Pier 39 is a short walk from Fisherman’s Wharf. If you want to see both, you can park at the Cost Plus World Market a few blocks away and walk through both (just make sure to buy something at Cost Plus!)
…and last but not least, the Bay Area’s best kept secrets
Everything above is in San Francisco itself. While San Francisco is an incredible city, the Bay Area has many of other things to offer outside its limits. I lived in a town called Pleasanton, about thirty miles east of San Francisco and had a car so I could explore on weekends. Below are just a few of my favorite local spots in driving distance from the city. I labeled it “best kept secrets” simply because most of these don’t seem to get as much hype.
- Hike Mount Tam. Mount Tam is located in Marin County, just north of San Francisco over the Golden Gate Bridge. While it’s a longer hike, the views along the way are absolutely incredible.
- Stay in Glen Ellen CA and tour Sonoma. Napa is extremely touristy (understandably, with its abundance of gorgeous wineries). If you want to see a more authentic version of wine country though, head to its smaller and less commercialized sibling, Sonoma. Benziger Family Winery is a particularly gorgeous spot to relax, sip on incredible blends, and bask in the valley’s sunshine and warmer weather. For dinner, hit up downtown Sonoma Square where you can choose from a great selection of restaurants. Glen Ellen, located just north of Sonoma, is a quaint little town where you can usually stay for less than in Sonoma.
Inside the cave at Benziger Family Winery this past weekend
Top // Shorts // Earrings // Flip flops // Bag
- Hit up Walnut Creek. This was a personal (and frequented) favorite of mine. Walnut Creek features a gorgeous outdoor shopping center with a wide variety of shops up the street from downtown. Wander a few blocks over and you’re in downtown where you can check out retailers selling anything from olive oil to luxury consignment– or dine from an assortment of restaurants at different price points. Walnut Creek is a relatively short drive (24 miles) from San Francisco on Highway 24; just don’t head over between 3 and 6pm to avoid the commuting traffic!
- Drop into Zeitgeist for a drink. This beer garden/biker bar in San Francisco is a favorite spot for locals to kill time, catch up, and enjoy reasonably-priced beer in a quintessential San Francisco atmosphere. It’s also a great place for people watching (hey, we all have a thing!)
Planning, or thinking of planning a trip to the Bay Area? Send me an email: fifteenminutestoflawless@gmail.com. I’d love to answer any questions you may have!
XO,
Terra