Early in the year, my best friend moved to San Francisco. With an excuse to see my best friend and the city, I started planning a last minute trip to see her. Eager to show off her new home, my friend created an itinerary for us to see as much as possible.
Getting Around
Do to its proximity to Silicon Valley, San Fran is one of the most technologically innovative cities in the world. Therefore, travel can be made simple right from your palm. With an app, you can rent a car without the hassle of waiting in line at the airport. Instead, you can book the car and pick it up without a physical location or talking to a salesperson. Another option to get to your next destination is getting picked up by an Uber or Lyft.
We rented a convertible Smart Car to get around.
Day 1: Arrival to San Francisco
Leaving out of Philly, the flight to San Francisco was fast and beautiful. Luckily having clear skies, I could look out the window to see the states passing by. Once I landed, the airport was easy to navigate and pick up by an Uber was simple. Before I knew it, I was off to the heart of the city.
Now that you landed and checked in, it’s time to see the city. I would suggest to take a walk around the neighborhoods and discover the area for yourself. You do not have to be bound to a time slot or schedule. Instead, make mental notes of things you see and get a bite to eat.
As a warm welcome to the city, we got all dolled up and went out dancing. The club we went to offered Salsa and Bachata classes before the regulars joined in later in the night. It was a great way to get to learn all the basics and get swept off your feet.
Suggested Schedule:
Arrive to San Fran
Check in and unpack
Afternoon: Walk through the neighborhoods
Evening: Grab Dinner
Night: Dancing
Day 2: A Day at the Bay
On the second day, put on your walking shoes and get to the bay.
First stop, check out the Ferry Building Market Place. Check out the homemade goods and pick up any produce you may want to snack on over the week. I would suggest starting here for breakfast to start your day.
Now, it is time to check out the Aquarium of the Bay. This multilevel aquarium has a large display of sea creatures and knowledgeable employees. You can walk through the underwater halls and feel as though you are in the ocean with them. At the end of the aquarium, you can see adorable sea otters frolicking around, before entering into the gift shop.
The further you make your way down the bay, you will reach Pier 39. If you wanted to, you could spend hours walking in and out of the shops. There are plenty of activities to do, such as a merry-go-round, arcade games or novelty restaurants. It’s a great place to pick up some souvenirs.
As soon as you round the building, the smell of fish hits your nose. That is how you know you are close to the Sea Lions—San Francisco’s very own sea-lebrities. These entertaining sea creatures have been lounging in the sun at the pier over 30 years.
I am a seafood lover, so Fisherman’s Warf was paradise. With our stomachs growling, we walked by restaurants filled to the brim with fish and hungry visitors. In the end, we picked out a delish basket of various types of seafood and fries, and then sat at a table overlooking the bay and Golden Gate Bridge.
One of my hopes for this trip was to ride on the back of a Powell-Hyde Cable Car. Sure enough, we got a spot right in the back with the conductor. We watched as he navigated and pulled the levers, and saw the dramatic hills rise and fall behind us.
Suggested Schedule:
8 a.m.: Ferry Building Market Place
10:30 a.m.: Aquarium of the Bay
12 p.m.: Take a walk on Pier 39
1 p.m: Fisherman’s Warf
2:30 p.m.: Cable Car Ride
3 p.m.: Ghirardelli Square
Day 3: Bird’s Eye View of the City
Rise and shine with a walk through the Golden Gate Park. Along the way, stop for a yummy breakfast and grab a table outside.
I had an incredible experience of flying over San Francisco in a private plane. A friend of a friend has been flying for years, and offered us an Aerial Tour of the city. I got fantastic shots of the cityscape, Golden Gate Bridge and even a glimpse at the tops of the redwoods.
Suggested Schedule:
Morning: Visit the Golden Gate Park
Morning: Take a photo at the Painted Ladies
Afternoon: Get the bird’s eye view of the city in an Aerial Tour
Day 4:
What is a better way to relax on a vacation? A short drive away from San Francisco, spend time exploring—and drinking!—your way through Napa Valley. For more suggestions about a day trip to Napa, check out my Sip, Sip in Napa Valley post.
In the evening, go out and see something new. For me, I knocked off one of my bucket list items by seeing a Burlesque Show. It was an amazing girls’ night out experience and extremely entertaining.
Suggested Schedule:
Morning: Depart San Francisco for Napa Valley
Noon: Wine Tasting at a Napa Vineyard
Afternoon: Castello di Amorosa
Night: Burlesque Show
Day 5:
Spend the day with the giants! By giants, I mean the redwoods and sequoia trees at Muir Woods National Monument. For more information about the National Park, check out my Exploring Muir Woods post.
Want to experience love at first bite? I was a little apprehensive before going to In-N-Out Burger. Since I am from the East Coast, this was my first experience with their burgers, and I worried it was over-hyped. Yet, I was not disappointed. For a fast food burger, it was a great lunch on a busy day!
The most iconic site in San Francisco is the image of the Golden Gate Bridge. You want to make sure you get there early enough in the afternoon before the fog rolls in. Otherwise, plan to spend an hour or so here walking around and taking hundreds of photos.
Suggested Schedule:
Morning: Muir Woods National Monument
Lunch: Grab a bite at the famous In-N-Out Burger
Afternoon: Golden Gate Overlook
Alternative Adventures:
Alcatraz – This is one of the most popular tourist attractions in San Francisco. Located on Alcatraz Island, it is a short boat ride out to the infamous prison. Unfortunately, we did not get tickets early enough, so they were completely booked up the week I was there.
Full House - Made famous by the 90’s sitcom Full House, the house is a popular picture stop. Due to the traffic and congestion, the city is cracking down on tour buses and stops to this location. Although commonly mistaken, this house is not one of the Painted Ladies.
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What Would You Love To Do In San Francisco?
