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One of the best things about California is the number of different sceneries you can experience in a single day. SoCal may have Disneyland and Hollywood, but NorCal has redwoods and the state capital. San Francisco is a great weekend destination for SoCal residents to escape for a change in scenery and cooler temps!
Why Go?
I think San Francisco is a must-do for any city lover. It has iconic landmarks, fantastic museums, and a rich history. Think of the Golden Gate Bridge, Alcatraz, and cable cars!
Where to Stay?
I normally visit San Francisco to visit friends, but when I went with my family, we stayed at Hotel Nikko which was in a great central location with ample room space. It also had an indoor pool which was a really nice amenity.
How to Get Around?
San Francisco is walkable but can get pretty hilly. For major attractions, there is normally a form of public transportation for a more economical option. However, if you don’t want to wait for a bus, Uber is the next best option. I wouldn’t recommend a car since the city can get pretty congested and parking is difficult to find (or pricey).
Day 1
The first day is focused on the most iconic landmark in San Francisco – the Golden Gate Bridge. My favorite way to see it was to sign up for a free walking tour (but make sure to tip your guides!). Taking in the bridge while learning stories about its creation definitely made the visit more meaningful and educational. The tour I took was with San Francisco City Guides, and it was great! We also got to visit the gift shop before the tour and ended up on the bridge when the tour was done to walk a bit on the bridge. My favorite fact that I learned is that one end of the bridge is in the water while the other is on land. For some reason, I just never really paid attention to that!
Afterwards, I would recommend continuing walking through the Presidio. My personal recommendation would be to walk towards the Walt Disney Family Museum. You’ll get to see a lot of archived artifacts from Walt Disney and his family and go through his life from moving to Hollywood, making movies, enduring studio struggles, and of course, creating Disneyland. My favorite piece was the Oscar bracelet he gave to his wife Lillian after winning for Snow White and the Seven Dwarves. The final room with the big model of Disneyland though is jaw droppingly beautiful and fun to hunt for specific effects that are hidden within. However, if you’re not a Disney adult like I am, you can also aim to go see the Palace of the Fine Arts, hike or bike the trails, or hang out in Crissy Field and enjoy the Golden Gate Bridge beach views.
Day 2
Get ready to explore Chinatown in the morning on the second day! I recommend getting some dim sum for brunch before visiting the Cable Car Museum. It’s a free, short museum (30 minutes if you’re not a big museum person and about an hour to an hour and a half if you are since there are a lot of detailed placards), but it is a fun visit since cable cars are symbolically associated with San Francisco.
After exploring the history of cable cars, head your way to Pier 39 or the Embarcadero area to board a boat to Alcatraz Island. Unfortunately, I don’t have fun facts for this place since I have yet to visit. It’s constantly on the list, but something else always comes up!
Day 3
For the third day, get ready to explore Golden Gate Park. It’s kind of like Balboa Park in San Diego where in addition to grassy areas, it is surrounded by museums such as the California Academy of Sciences or the deYoung Museum. The California Academy of Sciences is great if you have kids and if you don’t have kids because it has a planetarium AND an aquarium AND a rainforest! They’re also known to house an albino alligator, Claude, who’s pretty cool. The deYoung Museum is an art museum that I have yet to go to, but it looks like they focus on American art as well as international textile arts and costumes, African art, Oceanic art, and arts of the Americas. If museums are not your thing, they also have gardens such as the Conservatory of Flowers, Japanese Tea Garden, and the San Francisco Botanical Garden.
Afterwards, you can take a quick look at the Painted Ladies on your way over to Mission District for murals, dinner, and drinks!
Where to Eat?
You may have noticed I didn’t include places to eat since I always have a growing list of places I want to try. Some of these get long lines so sometimes, the food is the destination. A few on the list…
- Arsicault Bakery – known for the best croissant in the US
- Brenda’s French Soul Food – if you’re craving some soul food
- Garden Creamery – classic flavors and unique Asian-inspired flavors. I’ve actually had this one and can attest that it is delicious and in a great location to other restaurants.
- Golden Boy Pizza – for when you want pizza
- House of Prime Rib – it’s in the name! I’ve also been here and can say it’s always busy (you need a reservation like 6 months in advance) but you do get delicious prime rib and fantastic martinis!
- Swan Oyster Depot – long line and cash only but a pretty iconic spot on social media
Extra Things To Do
If you’re intrigued, Lombard St is a famous windy road but I wouldn’t prioritize it as I rank it similar to the Painted Ladies. An attractive sight and a fun picture to take, but not much to do when you’re there.
San Francisco is also filled with many other museums, filming locations (any Princess Diaries fans out there?), and LGBTQ+ history so I do recommend doing additional research if any of these subjects sound interesting. I tried to highlight the major attractions in my 3 day itinerary, but of course, edits are always encouraged!
Final Thoughts
San Francisco definitely has a unique culture made of new tech and a rich history that is worth experiencing. It’s also a place to get great food and visit some iconic landmarks! What’s your favorite fun fact, experience, or memory in San Francisco? Mine is of my friends and family and the memories we made exploring this city together.
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