A Week in San Francisco

A Week in San Francisco

Day 1: Lands End Hike, a Beer Garden & The best fish tacos ever.

Day 2: Farmers Market, Croissants & Golden Gate Park Day

Day 3: Alcatraz & Dim Sum

Day 4: Visit Sausalito, Grab a Hike & Take in the Incredible Views

Day 5: Wine Country Day!

Day 6: Beach Day at Stinson Beach & The Famous Highway 1 Drive

Day 7: Other Little Things to Do (not whole days)

Day 1: Walk Lands End, then hit the park chalet & Chow on The best damn fish tacos you’ve ever had

Lands End Hike, is our favourite thing to do in San Francisco! Many people have told me it is one of the most scenic hikes they have ever done. Also calling it a hike is a stretch, think more “nature walk”.

Tips:

Start from the entrance of 32nd and California and work your way down towards “cliff house”.
Go around 9.30AM. You’ll have the hike to yourself and it will feel so peaceful.
Grab a coffee from Garden House Cafe and then start your hike!

Lincoln Park Steps: Where your hike starts! (go right up the steps, all the way down till you reach the hike entance :) — **Lincoln Park Steps:** Where your hike starts! (go right up the steps, all the way down till you reach the hike entance :)

After your hike and exploration morning, you deserve a drink and a snack! Head over to “Park Chalet” and take a seat in the sun. Order the calamari to share and some drinks. (their shoe string fries and deviled eggs are also yummy and great to share!)

If you are a foodie, you must get up from your comfy chair and go have lunch at Hook Fish Co. This is a no-frills restaurant which usually has a line - but so worth it! You can even grab blankets they offer and sit on the floor. It’s two fishermen who started this and their small menu will always consist of the fish of the day which they caught that morning!

Day 2: Farmers Market, Delicious Croissants & an afternoon in Golden Gate Park

If you like farmers markets, or you are in town for a week, heading over to Clement Street Farmers Market is a true treat! It’s sadly only open on Sundays from 9AM-2PM.

Right next to the farmers market, is a bakery “Arsicault”. Truth be told, they only make “croissant” type pastries and therefore, they have perfected the dough like you could not imagine! My French mother claims they are some of the best she has ever had and can put many croissants in France to shame!

My favourites are: the ham and cheese and the Almond Croissant; My husbands favourite is the regular butter Croissant and my mother’s was the Kouign-amann!

No Frills Bakery with the best pastries ever

Now It’s time to head to Golden Gate Park and get lost. From the bakery there is an entrance to the park about 15 mins away. Then there will be quite a bit of walking around.

Things which are interesting in Golden Gate Park:

De Young Museum: Must go to the top floor for one of the best views in SF — **De Young Museum:** Must go to the top floor for one of the best views in SF

California Academy of Science: The favourite for us is the jellyfish exhibit — **California Academy of Science:** The favourite for us is the jellyfish exhibit

Then you have three choice for lunch or afternoon snack close to the park that are great. You’ve walked around a ton and deserve it! (there are more options but these are the non-tourist options )

Nopalito Restaurant (9th Avenue): Delicious “fancy” Mexican food. Great sophisticated dishes, amazing Margaritas and a great vibe! — **Nopalito Restaurant** (9th Avenue): Delicious “fancy” Mexican food. Great sophisticated dishes, amazing Margaritas and a great vibe!

Sip Tea Room: If you are with your mum or girlfriends, consider Sip Tea Room. It is adorable, delicious high tea which you won’t forget! — **Sip Tea Room**: If you are with your mum or girlfriends, consider Sip Tea Room. It is adorable, delicious high tea which you won’t forget!

Lale: Delicious little restaurant with amazing Mediterranean cuisine and yummy brunch! — **Lale**: Delicious little restaurant with amazing Mediterranean cuisine and yummy brunch!

Day 3: Alcatraz & local Dim Sum

Alcatraz is an absolute must do when you visit San Francisco. When we moved to San Francisco we had no wanting to do another tourist trap. However, when my mother visited and wanted to go, we ended up both being shocked at how great it was! The audio tour is impeccable, with past prisoners as the tour guides and all the sound effects!

Tip:

Ensure to book your tickets at least 1-2 weeks ahead of time as they never have day of available.
Try to go in the morning, its a little less crowded and then you can get off and head over to lunch! (the tour usually takes 2-3 hours).

Once you are finished with Alcatraz, we recommend a delicious Dim Sum place in the City! “Harbourview Restaurant”. It’s in the Embarcadero center, about a 20 minute walk from when you get off the ferry. What’s great is that the walk is along the water on the boardwalk and oh so beautiful and lively!

Some of our favourite dishes are: - Wontons in chili oil , - Soup Dumplings, - Roasted duck, - Green Beans.

Great view of the Ferry Building from Harbour View Restaurant!

The best green beans i think i’ve ever had! We get them every time we come here without fail.

Once you’ve had lunch, you are just next to the Ferry Building! It’s a great time to visit. There may be a farmers market going on. Or, maybe you just need a nice glass of white wine, beer or cocktail,with a nice view, at Hog Island Oyster Co.

If you are interested in shopping, there are lots of stores nearby (specifically at the various Embarcadero Centers) Enjoy!

Day 4: Hike, Visit Sausalito & Take in Beautiful Views

If you have a car, or rent one for the day, this is a great little day trip! Head over the Golden Gate Bridge, and go towards the “Tennessee Valley Trailhead”. This is one of our favourite things to do! It' is not hard, and you end up on a beautiful secluded beach. At first you don’t realize you are near the ocean, and after a little You start to see the ocean. When you get to the the beach drink your water, have a snack and just enjoy the Pacific Ocean.

Once you walk back to your car, it’s time for lunch! Head over to the magical town of “Sausalito”. It truly is charming and filled with beautiful views and yummy food!

We have three favourite spots in Sausalito, depending on our mood!

Le Garage : This is a delicious restaurant, very trendy and always delicious brunch! — **Le Garage :** This is a delicious restaurant, very trendy and always delicious brunch!

Joinery: The food here is also very very good! It is more casual. You order at the counter, get a number and sit at a communal table (or outside if there is room). — **Joinery:** The food here is also very very good! It is more casual. You order at the counter, get a number and sit at a communal table (or outside if there is room).

Bar Bocce: This place is good food. However, i do think it can be a bit expensive for what it is. That being said, the vibe is pretty great! Amazing view, fire pit and Boccie court to play as you wait (and there will always be a wait) But you can dr… — **Bar Bocce:** This place is good food. However, i do think it can be a bit expensive for what it is. That being said, the vibe is pretty great! Amazing view, fire pit and Boccie court to play as you wait (and there will always be a wait) But you can drink while you do, phew!

After lunch, spend some time walking around Sausalito and admiring how charming and beautiful it is. Lots of picture opportunities.

On your drive back to San Francisco it’s time to stop and see a last set of views of the city. Right before you cross the bridge, you’ll make a right turn and head to “Golden Gate View Point” . However, when you get there, don’t stop at the first stop where everyone is, keep driving and find a spot with way less tourists. The whole drive will be beautiful and you’ll find a secluded spot to stop and take a picture. If you are feeling up for it, you can go all the way to the Point Bonita lighthouse.

okay, back to the city you go! and head over to one of our where to eat in San Francisco Section for dinner and drinks.

Day 5: Wine Country Day!

Tips on Wine Country:

You need a designated driver.
Frankly two wineries is plenty (and allows your DD to sober up before the drive home).
Always make reservations and give yourself plenty of time.
Napa and Sonoma are the most popular, but usually very busy areas. Healdsburg, is by far filled with locals and our personal favourite region to go wine tasting!

We are lucky to have an amazing friend, Liz who is our winery guru and taught us to stay away from all the tourist ones!

Oakville Grocery: Grab a sandwich for lunch here, delicous! and then head to the wineries (you’ll be thankful you did this!) [and pick up some chips for later]. — **Oakville Grocery:** Grab a sandwich for lunch here, delicous! and then head to the wineries (you’ll be thankful you did this!) [and pick up some chips for later].

Reeve Winery: (MUST DO!) An absolute gem of a winery. the setting is beautiful, the wines are delicious and almost only members come, which means no tourists! yay! (Reservations are required!) — **Reeve Winery**: (MUST DO!) An absolute gem of a winery. the setting is beautiful, the wines are delicious and almost only members come, which means no tourists! yay! (Reservations are required!)

Acorn Winery: A much more casual vibe than Reeve Winery. — **Acorn Winery:** A much more casual vibe than Reeve Winery.

Day 6: Drive down one-and-only pacific coast highway, and Hit Stinson Beach while you’re at it

The highway 1 drive is likely one of the most beautiful highways that exist! Take it from San Francisco all the way to Stinson Beach and you are in for a treat!

Once you get to Stinson Beach, have lunch at “La Siren Canteen”. The setting is amazing! an old lighthouse turned restaurant. Very chill, beach vibe with yummy tacos!

After you are done with lunch, go enjoy the beach. Locals are tanning, playing games walking the miles of the beach. Grab a milkshake (from Siren Canteen) and set up to watch the sunset.