I’m guilty of accomplishing a lot more international travel than domestic at this point in life, but there’s a reason for that, I swear. I often find that it’s cheaper to leave the country, or at least more justifiable for the price. Also, time is of the essence. I plan to settle down with a family eventually, and I don’t see month long trips to Oceania being an option at that point. So for now, I’ve been traveling as far and wide as I can, figuring it will be easier to stay closer to home and explore the U.S. when I’m a bit older.
California, however, was a place I’ve always longed to see and when my brother and I began contemplating the perfect location for a sibling weekend together, San Francisco became the destination best meeting our interest criteria. We could only take one day off from work, so it became a tricky ordeal planning cross country flights with the travel distance and time change, and making sure to see the best of what the city had to offer. I jumped into planning mode. Here’s a synopsis of how it played out:
Neighborhoods we chose to stay in: 1) Union Square. Why? It’s a transportation hub and walking distance to many attractions. Hop-on hop-off buses are available at the main park. The B.A.R.T (train) is easily accessible. And the area is full of good restaurants, shopping, hotels/hostels, and more. 2) Oakland (Merritt Lake). I wanted to see San Fran’s grittier counterpart, a city that a few of my friends had lived in, and a place often recognized for its up and coming scene and better cost of living adjustment. Additionally, my friend Juliana offered us a free place to stay.
We left Raleigh extremely early and arrived in San Fran mid-afternoon. We checked into USA Hostels San Franciso and hit the ground running. We walked to the main Union Square plaza where my favorite pieces of public art easily became the giant heart sculptures. The Hearts in San Francisco art installation started in 2009 and are auctioned off annually for charity, then replaced with new designs. We jumped on a hop-on hop-off bus (which I’m a big fan of, especially when time is limited and you are unfamiliar with a city’s transportation routes). We rode through the Financial District, and through China Town, and got off at Pier 39. This is the pier famous for sea lions, who flocked to the pier after an earthquake in the late 80’s, and are now one of the biggest tourist attractions of the city. We enjoyed snapping some photos and then had a seafood dinner nearby.
Tip: If you don’t have time to visit Alcatraz – we decided we did not have a half day to sacrifice – you can take some great pictures of the notorious prison from Pier 39. There are also binocular telescopes for an enhanced look.
After dinner we walked through the Fisherman’s Wharf, home to many of SF’s fisherman fleets, plenty of restaurants, street entertainers, views of the bay, and more. It’s well worth a stop, especially as you continue onward for dessert nearby at Ghiradelli Square! I will save you the excitement of exploring all the chocolate options yourself, but I selected a sea salt caramel hot chocolate and it was absolutely delightful. Because we were there in March, and with the bay breeze, it got chillier heading into evening so the hot chocolate could not have been more comforting.
We had two more stops to make before calling it a night. First, we made our way to Lombard Street, also known as the crookedest street in the world. The street has eight hairpin turns, and tourists love to both drive down this one block road or walk, as we did. I’d recommend walking down and not up! Heading into sunset, we walked to the San Francisco trolley. I was pretty reluctant because of the long line, and dropping temperatures, but my brother insisted we wait it out. I’m so glad we did because it was really amazing to ride down the road, hanging over the side of the trolley car. Besides being perhaps the most iconic image of San Francisco other than the bridge, the fresh air felt glorious and invigorating after a long day.
Day 2: It was time to see the Golden Gate Bridge. Back on the hop-on hop-off bus we went, circling the same route but skipping the stops we had made the day before. If you sit on the top deck like we did, be aware of the intense wind you’ll endure crossing the bridge. With my hair whipping me in the face, accompanied by a shit-eating grin, I was thrilled to be on the big red bridge I’d always seen in pictures. After crossing we stopped at the overlook to take a few pictures and soak in the scene. We continued on the bus to the Golden Gate Park. At the park we ate hot dogs, sat in the sunshine, and watched tourists entering the Japanese Tea Garden which looked beautiful but a bit too flooded with tourists to justify the steep entry fee. There are a few museums and lots of space to play, but unless you have a specific purpose for attending the park, I’d say it’s something that can be skipped.
The next stop was Haight-Ashbury, former neighborhood of Janis Joplin, Jefferson Airplane, and one of my personal favorites, the Grateful Dead. Also known as “Hashbury,” this is definitely the eclectic, hippie district of San Fran. With the right company, you could spend a whole day here bouncing from cafe to bar and doing some great thrift store shopping. My brother isn’t exactly what I’d call the granola type, so we continued on by foot toward Alamo Square. This square features beautiful views of the city, space for picnicking, and most famously of all- the Painted Ladies homes from Full House!
Heading back toward our hostel, we walked through Japantown before retreating for a quick nap. That evening we met up for a delicious ramen dinner with a high school friend of mine, Marcus, followed by creative cocktails at an underground club, Local Edition.
Day three: While some may have opted to spend another day navigating the fabulous SF, we decided to leave the city and explore the abundant nature of California’s coast. I love both the mountains and the ocean, so I knew this sweet combo was a must-see during my short time so far from home. We took the B.A.R.T to Oakland where Juliana picked us up. We headed directly toward the Muir Woods, less than an hour away, and home to the tallest redwoods on earth. If you enjoy trees and find yourself in northern California, this park is not to be missed. If you don’t have a rental car or friend with car at your disposal, there are tour buses directly from San Francisco.
After close to two hours strolling the magical forest, we drove to the nearby Muir Beach. The Pacific Ocean is a bit different from the Atlantic, for instance, it appears more blue (the Atlantic reflects a greener color), and it’s much colder in temperature. I also loved climbing the huge rocks littering the beach. The wind was unforgiving so after frolicking for a bit, we drove back to Oakland. Dinner that night was at a fabulous Burmese restaurant, with ice cream afterward. We reluctantly woke up early the next day to begin the cross-country journey home.
All in all, we absolutely loved San Francisco and I had an awesome time with my brother. Being from a much smaller city, I always enjoy getting lost in a bigger place, where the opportunities are endless. If you are energetic and willing to wake up with a “seize the day” attitude, three days will afford you plenty of time to conquer this city as well as get a taste of its surrounding areas.
Recap of the trip-
Day 1: Union Square, Financial District, Chinatown, Pier 39, Fisherman’s Wharf, Ghiradelli Square, Lombard Street, San Francisco Trolley
Day 2: Golden Gate Bridge and lookout, Golden Gate Park, Haight-Ashbury, Alamo Square, Japantown, Union Square nightlife, Financial district nightlife
Day 3: Muir Woods, Muir Beach, Oakland nightlife
Noteworthy restaurants/bars: Ghiradelli chocolate factory to satisfy your sweet tooth, Chilepies Baking Co SF for an awesome Frito bowl, the Owl Tree for a pre-game beer, Ramen Underground for build-your-own Japanese ramen, Local Edition for fancy cocktails in a speakeasy, Honey Honey for a fabulous brunch, and Burma Superstar for something different but delicious.
Have you visited San Francisco? Leave a comment below if I missed anything you would personally recommend!
