20 Things to Do, See, and Eat in San Francisco
Sometimes you just need to get away! Although I love a good international trip, there are still places in my own backyard that I’ve yet to visit. After living in LA for 4.5 years, I no longer had an excuse to not get out of So-Cal and see what else the state of California had to offer. Even though I only had 3 days, I tried to pack in as much as possible, knocking out most of the major sites by hopping on and off a double decker tour bus, via Big Bus Tours. It was a great way to see the city and learn some of San Francisco’s history along the way, but be warned it gets very windy on the top deck, when crossing the Golden Gate Bridge. ( like extremely windy). All in all, I had a great time exploring San Francisco and would definitely visit again!
If you’re thinking of visiting San Francisco, heres a list of 20 things you want to see, do, and eat, while you’re there.
SEE & do
Take a big bus tour around the entire city and be sure to get a seat on the top deck!
Find the perfect spot to take photos of the golden gate bridge. Crissy Field is one of the best places to take in views of the Golden Gate Bridge.
Roam around the streets of Chinatown, at night, and admire the red lantern lined streets. San Francisco is home of one of the largest Chinatown’s in the US (many debates online whether New York or San Francisco has the largest)
Visit the San Francisco Ferry building and take in a history lesson, eat, and shop, while you wait for your ferry.
Visit Pier 39, at Fisherman’s wharf, and enjoy views of the Golden Gate Bridge and Alcatraz, take a ride on the carousel, shop, and enjoy food from a plethora of restaurants.
6. See the painted ladies and have a whole Full House moment of nostalgia.
7. Take a bike ride across the golden gate bridge, but careful, it’s rumored to sway up to 25 ft on a windy day.
8. Take the Ferry over to Sausalito and spend a couple of hours roaming around in and out shops. Be sure to pop into of the many ice cream shops, like Sausalito Sweet, for a sweet treat!
9. Take in 360 views of the city and the bay from the top of Coit Tower.
10. Go shopping on Market street, San Francisco’s main street for all of your shopping needs.
11. Give your legs a rest and take a ride on a cable car up one of San Francisco’s many hills.
12. Browse through the aisles of City Lights Bookstore, which has been a San Francisco favorite since 1953.
13. Hike to the top of Lombard street for a great workout and view of the city.
14. Go to a Giants game. Even if you’re not a baseball fan, AT&T park is said to have the best food and views of any baseball field in the US.
EAT
15. Have a burrito in the Mission District, the birth place of the mission style burrito ! I like to go the authentic route so the smaller the restaurant the better, like El Toro Taqueria.
16. Have brunch at Cracked and Battered, located in the Potrero Hill neighborhood. I suggest the chicken and waffles. ( trust, you wont be disappointed)
17. Take a food crawl through Chinatown, led by a local and learn all about the history of Chinese cuisine while enjoying the food, in the process.
18. Enjoy roman style pizza at trendy fast casual pizzeria, Delarosa, where the seating is communal, so even if you go alone, there wont be a shortage of conversation!
19. Satisfy your inner seafood lover, by feasting on garlic-buttery whole crabs at No. 9 Fishermen’s Grotto, located at Fisherman’s Wharf. I hear the clam chowder is great, as well. (keyword: hear, as clams are on my list of food allergies)
20. Try the infamous cruffin ( croissant-muffin) at Mr Holmes Bakehouse, which is also a great place for to get some great insta-worthy content in front their neon sign which reads “ I got baked in San Francisco” !
To see more from my trip to San Francisco, check out my San Francisco story highlights on Instagram !
Happy Travels ,
