San Francisco top 5 must-dos
Famous for the Golden Gate Bridge, clam chowder and Alcatraz Prison, San Francisco is a must-visit if you happen to be in West Coast USA.
Mr LML and I visit SF (take note: apparently only tourists call it ‘San Fran’) in the middle of August – summertime. However, as anyone who’s familiar with the Bay Area knows, summer in SF does not necessarily mean warm weather. When we’re there, it’s sunny but with maximum temperatures of around 19/20 degrees Celsius. I thank myself for the pair of jeans I threw in my suitcase at the last minute!
Walking is the best way to discover a new city
We spend three nights in SF and manage to pack a whole lot in. Read on for my San Francisco top five (in no particular order):
1. Hire bikes and cycle across the Golden Gate Bridge
A must-do for both visitors and locals, this journey is popular for a reason. We hire bikes from Bay City Bikes and opt for a 13km ride across the bridge to Sausalito.
Crossing the bridge
Riding down the steep hill into Sausalito inspires us to ditch our original plans of riding back, and once we’ve locked up our bikes we check out the ferry timetable. We give ourselves a couple of hours to have a look around the seaside town and have lunch at a restaurant on the water called Scoma’s. I choose the fish tacos and Mr LML picks the blackened cod burger – both are delicious and perfectly complemented by the Oregon pinot gris that we order.
Scoma’s
We’re glad we chose to come back on the ferry because it’s so nice to be on the water with direct views of Alcatraz. We unfortunately miss out on tickets for an official tour of the island prison, but this is a great second-best.
2. Eat Mexican in Mission
Comparable to Sydney’s Newtown, the district of Mission is quite grungy and cool. It has a large Mexican population, so the streets are lined with Mexican restaurants and taquerias. We eat at the busiest restaurant on Valencia – Puerto Alegre. I choose a Mexican street salad and a classic margarita and am not disappointed. They pride themselves on having the ‘best margaritas in the Bay Area’ and I’ll definitely back that claim.
The best margarita in town
The San Francisco Women’s Building
After lunch we visit a local bookshop, Dogeared Books, then make our way to Dolores Park nearby. Sadly most of the park is under construction, so instead we pop into Bi-Rite Creamery to sample some of their famous creamy offerings. Yum!
3. Eat dinner at Kin Khao
A friend who lives in SF recommends we visit Kin Khao, a new Thai restaurant in the Union Square district. We’re not sure what to expect, as we have some damn good Thai food in Sydney and I’m not convinced that this place could be any better. However, we let our friend order for us and I am impressed; it is hands down the best Thai I’ve ever eaten (and I’ve eaten a lot!). The owner wanted to open a restaurant that didn’t follow the trend of serving Western-style dishes like Pad Thai, but instead plated up traditional Thai with a modern twist. While I could rave about everything we eat, the standout dish is the Green Curry with Rabbit, which is incredibly delicate and smooth. After we visit, Kin Khao makes it into Bon Appetit magazine’s Top 50 Nominees for America’s Best New Restaurants – and that’s saying something!
Image courtesy of SF Eater
If you’re after a recommendation for a bar nearby, head to Rye on Geary Street, where you’ll find a huge list of local beers and delicious cocktails.
4. Do some obligatory sightseeing
San Francisco has been rated one of the most walkable cities in the States, so we make the most of the sunny weather and hit the pavement. You can tick off most sights in one day, whether you walk or jump on a streetcar to cut some time. From our apartment we stroll to Nob Hill for breakfast, and then down through Chinatown to Fisherman’s Wharf and Pier 39. Pier 39 is where you depart for Alcatraz tours, but also where you’ll find SF’s resident sea lions. You won’t miss them – they’re super chatty!
Sunbaking sea lions at Pier 39
Paint me like one of your French girls
After we’ve had a chat to the barking sea lions, we head back past Lombard Street’s beautiful zigzagged road. We check out the Victorian-style houses and ‘Painted ladies’ made famous by the TV show Full House.
Lombard Street
Painted ladies
5. Visit Point Reyes
We actually visit Point Reyes before San Francisco, but if you’re heading north from SF then you should definitely check it out. Just over an hour’s drive, it’s a windy, precarious journey out to the coast, but the reward is well worth the effort.
Inverness, a small fishing town on the way to Point Reyes
After continuing down Sir Francis Drake Boulevard for a while, you’ll be rewarded with fantastic views of the Point Reyes Lighthouse. If you’re lucky you’ll even spot some local wildlife – we saw plenty of deer and heard some seals barking. Sadly we didn’t spot any sunbaking on the rocks at the Elephant Seal Lookout, but keep an eye out because you just might.
Point Reyes Lighthouse
So there you have it: my SF top 5. Now to stop daydreaming and get back to work!
Do you have any San Francisco tips to add to the list? Share them in the comments below.
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