{"id":34940,"date":"2014-09-23T09:00:43","date_gmt":"2014-09-23T09:00:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.lastminute.com.au\/blog\/?p=34733"},"modified":"2018-05-02T05:00:40","modified_gmt":"2018-05-01T19:00:40","slug":"san-francisco-top-5-must-dos","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.lastminute.com.au\/vc\/blog\/san-francisco-top-5-must-dos\/","title":{"rendered":"San Francisco top 5 must-dos"},"content":{"rendered":"

Famous for the Golden Gate Bridge, clam chowder and Alcatraz Prison, San Francisco<\/a> is a must-visit if you happen to be in West Coast USA.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Mr LML and I visit SF<\/a> (take note: apparently only tourists call it \u2018San Fran\u2019) in the middle of August \u2013 summertime. However, as anyone who’s familiar with the Bay Area knows, summer in SF does not necessarily mean warm weather. When we\u2019re there, it\u2019s 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!<\/p>\n

\"Walking<\/a>

Walking is the best way to discover a new city<\/p><\/div>\n

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):
\n1. Hire bikes and cycle across the Golden Gate Bridge <\/strong>
\nA must-do for both visitors and locals, this journey is popular for a reason. We hire bikes from Bay City Bikes<\/a> and opt for a 13km ride across the bridge to Sausalito.<\/p>\n

\"Crossing<\/a>

Crossing the bridge<\/p><\/div>\n

Riding down the steep hill into Sausalito inspires us to ditch our original plans of riding back, and once we\u2019ve 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\u2019s<\/a>. I choose the fish tacos and Mr LML picks the blackened cod burger \u2013 both are delicious and perfectly complemented by the Oregon pinot gris that we order.<\/p>\n

\"Scoma's\"<\/a>

Scoma’s<\/p><\/div>\n

We\u2019re glad we chose to come back on the ferry because it\u2019s 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.
\n2. Eat Mexican in Mission<\/strong>
\nComparable to Sydney\u2019s 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 \u2013 Puerto Alegre<\/a>. I choose a Mexican street salad and a classic margarita and am not disappointed. They pride themselves on having the \u2018best margaritas in the Bay Area\u2019 and I\u2019ll definitely back that claim.<\/p>\n

\"The<\/a>

The best margarita in town<\/p><\/div>\n

\"The<\/a>

The San Francisco Women\u2019s Building<\/p><\/div>\n

After lunch we visit a local bookshop, Dogeared Books<\/a>, then make our way to Dolores Park nearby. Sadly most of the park is under construction, so instead we pop into Bi-Rite Creamery<\/a> to sample some of their famous creamy offerings. Yum!
\n3. Eat dinner at Kin Khao<\/strong>
\nA friend who lives in SF recommends we visit Kin Khao<\/a>, a new Thai restaurant in the Union Square<\/a> district. We\u2019re not sure what to expect, as we have some damn good Thai food in Sydney and I\u2019m 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\u2019ve ever eaten (and I\u2019ve eaten a lot!). The owner wanted to open a restaurant that didn\u2019t 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<\/a> \u2013 and that\u2019s saying something!<\/p>\n

\"Image<\/a>

Image courtesy of SF Eater<\/p><\/div>\n

If you\u2019re after a recommendation for a bar nearby, head to Rye<\/a> on Geary Street, where you\u2019ll find a huge list of local beers and delicious cocktails.
\n4. Do some obligatory sightseeing<\/strong>
\nSan 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<\/a> for breakfast, and then down through Chinatown to Fisherman\u2019s Wharf and Pier 39. Pier 39 is where you depart for Alcatraz tours, but also where you\u2019ll find SF\u2019s resident sea lions. You won\u2019t miss them \u2013 they\u2019re super chatty!<\/p>\n

\"Sunbaking<\/a>

Sunbaking sea lions at Pier 39<\/p><\/div>\n

\"Paint<\/a>

Paint me like one of your French girls<\/p><\/div>\n

After we\u2019ve 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 \u2018Painted ladies\u2019 made famous by the TV show Full House<\/em>.<\/p>\n

\"Lombard<\/a>

Lombard Street<\/p><\/div>\n

\"Painted<\/a>

Painted ladies<\/p><\/div>\n

5. Visit Point Reyes<\/strong>
\nWe actually visit Point Reyes before San Francisco, but if you\u2019re heading north from SF then you should definitely check it out. Just over an hour\u2019s drive, it\u2019s a windy, precarious journey out to the coast, but the reward is well worth the effort.<\/p>\n

\"Inverness,<\/a>

Inverness, a small fishing town on the way to Point Reyes<\/p><\/div>\n

After continuing down Sir Francis Drake Boulevard for a while, you\u2019ll be rewarded with fantastic views of the Point Reyes Lighthouse. If you\u2019re lucky you\u2019ll even spot some local wildlife \u2013 we saw plenty of deer and heard some seals barking. Sadly we didn\u2019t spot any sunbaking on the rocks at the Elephant Seal Lookout, but keep an eye out because you just might.<\/p>\n

\"Point<\/a>

Point Reyes Lighthouse<\/p><\/div>\n

So there you have it: my SF top 5. Now to stop daydreaming and get back to work!
\nDo you have any San Francisco tips to add to the list? Share them in the comments below.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n