24 hours in San Francisco was all it took for me to completely fall in love, so I present to you 24 reasons why the City by the Bay is one of my favorite places on earth.
1. Trolleys: What a great way to get around!
2. Seafood: Please go to The Crab House on Pier 39 and order the crab cocktail.
3. Shopping: Every store you could ever imagine surrounding a beautiful town square…Hello Zara.
4. Alcatraz: The creepy island jail was home to criminals like Al Capone…can’t wait to go back to take a full tour.
5. The Landscape: The streets are so hilly, you couldn’t help but have great legs if you lived here! Nearby hiking doesn’t hurt either.
6. Fisherman’s Wharf: Great restaurants, shopping and rides right on the pier.
7. The Golden Gate Bridge
8. The Arts: Great music and art venues galore. We ran into an independent artist sale right in the middle of the shopping square!
9. Cab Drivers: So talkative and some even have life lessons to share! What did I learn? Always know your cross streets…
10. China Town: I’d recommend R and G Lounge for dinner.
11. Ghiradelli Chocolate: The home to the original Ghiradelli factory.
12. The Ocean: Born and raised in central Illinois, I love the idea of living by the sea.
13. Sea Lions: With the ocean comes these cute creatures that sun bathe on the pier.
14. The Real Estate: It comes at a high price, but the terraced homes here are beautiful! See my future digs…
15. Lombard Street: Who wouldn’t love the home of the “Crookedest Street in the World”?
16. Harbor Cruises: The absolute best way to see the Golden Gate Bridge.
17. The Weather: California sun without the blazing heat.
18. Schools just for Cheese!
19. And stores just for lefties!
20. Golden Gate Park: An escape in the middle of the city.
21. Shady Hotels: We got it for a great price and the décor definitely reflected that, but discovering a neighborhood off the beaten path was worth it.
22. Culture: That same neighborhood led us to a great family-run coffee shop.
23. It’s in California: The epitome of the American Dream. Do I need to say more?
24. Time with Friends: 24 hours in San Francisco gave me memories that will last a lifetime, with friends I will never forget!