From Golden Gate Bridge to Sourdough Bread: Our Top 5 Picks for San Francisco
Recently, Jason and I just got back from a quick trip to San Francisco, California. While the kids were having fun with my parents in Colorado we enjoyed a very rare vacation for just the two of us. Though I’m a native Californian, the last time I had been to the Bay Area I was still in diapers. Luckily, it had only been a few years since Jason had last been there, so he was the perfect tour guide. We got a good deal on a hotel near Union Square but found ourselves spending most of our time down by the water. We had an amazing few days in San Francisco, but these were our favorite things.
The Food
There just isn’t enough time to eat all the amazing food in San Francisco. Seriously! By the end of day three, we realized that we never getting hungry because we were constantly eating! We tried a great little Italian spot near our hotel called Cesario’s. It was so good and I loved the atmosphere of this quaint little place. Of course, the famous Boudin Bakery at Fisherman’s Wharf was fantastic. We each got a bread bowl - clam chowder for me and chili for Jason. And San Francisco Brewing Co. at Ghirardelli Square was your average brewery food, but the beer garden seating outside made this a favorite spot for lunch. Not to mention all the treats we tried around the city - chocolate, ice cream, and even mini donuts.
Dylan’s Tours
Let me start by saying we are not tour group kind of people. We prefer to sightsee at our own pace. It all started because I knew I wanted to get to Muir Woods while we were in the Bay Area. It’s not far and it’s an NPS site I’ve been wanting to see for a while. We were having an unreasonably hard time renting a car from the city because everyone was sold out or unwilling to do a same-day rental. Just as I was about to give up I saw an ad for tour buses to the woods. After a little more research I found Dylan’s Tours. They offer several tour options, but the one that caught my attention was a self-guided e-bike tour across the Golden Gate Bridge then a bus tour up to Muir Woods, and a return back to the city! This was the perfect option for us! Bonus - we’ve both been wanting to try out e-bikes for a couple of years without having to invest in one first.
On the day of our tour we showed up at the shop in San Francisco at 8:15 after a quick, but thorough bike lesson, we were set free to ride around the city, into Presidio, make our way across the bridge, and into Sausalito. We had to meet our tour guide by 11:00, so we grabbed a quick lunch in Sausalito. After that, we boarded a bus led by a fantastic guide who filled us in on the history of the area as we drove the quick trip into Muir Woods. The best part about being part of a group like this right now is that you don’t have to worry about reservations to Muir Woods or parking or any of that not-so-fun stuff. We had 90 minutes to wander around the magnificent coastal redwood forest before getting back on the bus. After a quick stop at the Marin Headlands for some pictures, we were back in San Francisco by 3:00.
Jason and I both agree this was the absolute best decision we made during our entire trip. We can’t recommend Dylan’s Tours enough. This tour was absolutely not sponsored, they have no clue who we are, but we would so happy if you booked a trip with them because the travel industry needs some love right now and everyone we met with Dylan’s was amazing.
Not to mention the fact that we loved the e-bikes so much we went home and Jason bought one for each of us. Stay tuned for that exciting news!
Presidio
You’ve probably seen the picturesque area of Presidio when looking at pictures of San Francisco. The area was once a military base and is now home to an inn, several museums, private homes, a visitors center, and just an all-around welcoming spot. Presidio has been on my list of places to see for quite a while so I was thrilled when we actually managed to visit twice. Once on our bike tour and again as we went to the Walt Disney Family Museum. We are huge Disney fans and didn’t want to pass up the opportunity to visit this museum. I also fell in love with the magnificent gardenia bushes around Presidio. There’s a large lawn in Presidio perfect for bringing a picnic and hanging out, I highly recommend it.
Culture
San Francisco is a city bursting at the seams with culture. The city is a melting pot of backgrounds and that all comes alive in the most beautiful way. From music to architecture, cuisine to history. You really only have to go a couple of blocks in any direction to experience something new and wonderful.
Piers, Wharf and Embarcadero
Some of the most iconic spots in San Francisco are Fisherman’s Wharf, Embarcadero, and the many piers that follow the coastline from the Bay Bridge to the Golden Gate Bridge. As soon as we arrived in the city we got out and started walking towards Embarcadero. As the beautiful Ferry Building came into sight we were greeted by a sea of canopies filling up the open space all around for the city’s Saturday Farmer's Market. I love a good farmer's market and was eager to see everything. Fresh foods and wonderful wears were plentiful. Jason and I treated ourselves to local ice cream and wandered around taking it all in. After that, we continued our leisurely stroll in the direction of Fisherman’s Wharf. This whole area (and most of the city) is wonderfully walkable and we took full advantage of that during our stay. Fisherman’s Wharf is one of those touristy spots that pulls you in. But it’s also a great place to pick up a few souvenirs for your loved ones back at home. Don’t forget to visit the sea lions before leaving, especially if you have the kids with you.
All in all, San Francisco didn’t disappoint one bit. Because there is SO much to do and see in this vibrant city we’re already planning our next trip back.
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