Ready for winter break? Me too! Thinking about taking a mini-getaway? Need a suggestion? Well I have one for you, San Francisco! As someone who lived in the Bay Area for 10 years, I have a learned a thing or two about what great things SF has to offer.
- Late night bite: check out Golden Boy Pizza in North Beach. This hole in the wall pizza place is worth the wait, because trust me there will be a line. Also, keep in mind it’s cash only.
- Sightseeing: please skip Pier 39– it’s so OVERRATED. There are so many better places to explore like Twin Peaks. Twin Peaks provides you an amazing view of the entire Bay, you can go during the day or night. Keep an eye out for Karl The Fog though, he likes to swallow-up the city making it difficult to see anything.
- Sightseeing 2.0: As a Robin Williams fan, I would recommend you check out the Mrs. Doubtfire House. After he passed away, folks gathered to write special messages on the trees in front of the house. The Painted Ladies are also cool to see, for any of those who want to live out their Full House Dreams. Plus, there’s Baker Beach which has an amazing view of the Golden Gate Bridge, (as an FYI, part of the beach is a nude beach).
- Hiking: If you’re up for a decent trek try Lands End. Soak in the ocean views that will lead you to a giant circular labyrinth.
- Satisfy your sweet tooth: Ice Cream, ice cream, and more ice cream. There are so many great places like Bi-rite, Mitchell’s, and Smitten Ice Cream.
- Just for fun: There is a historic Victorian building that used to be a mortuary that is now home to an indoor mini-golf course in SF’s Mission district. Urban Putt is open to all ages, but starting at 9 PM it’s only open for folks 21 and up. The actual mini-golf course is on the first floor with a bar area while the second floor is a full restaurant and second bar.
- Museums: If you decide to take a walk-through Golden Gate Park, you’ll come across the De Young Museum, California Academy of Sciences, and the Conservatory of Flowers. There are also other attractions within the 1,000 plus acre park.
- Bar/Lounge: Check out Novela: this literary themed bar has delicious cocktails, good small bites, lots of seating, and always plays good music. As a perk you can make a reservation to secure a table.
As Tony Bennet said, “I left my heart in San Francisco,” which I couldn’t agree with more and I’m sure you’ll feel the same after you visit. SF is such a beautiful place, that always has something going on, and you can easily get where you need to be on public transit.
One last thing, if you decide to visit SF please DO NOT refer to it as Frisco or Cisco– you’ll give your tourist self away real quick! Now go start checking-out flights or if you’re feeling super adventurous grab a few friends and take a road trip down.