This summer, we decided we wanted to take a trip to Napa. One of the easiest airports from Portland to get to Napa is the San Francisco Airport. So, rather than rushing straight to Napa, we decided to stay in San Francisco, and spend about 24 hours exploring this city. Even though there is way more to do in this city than you can accomplish in 24 hours, I researched a ton and found some of the top attractions to do and see, and we felt we were able to get what we needed and saw what we wanted to see while there. So, if you find yourself in San Francisco for 24 hours or more, here are some great things to do and see while there.
Where to Stay
The first thing I had to do was to determine where to stay. I knew we had limited time, so I wanted a place that would provide us a convenient location. After looking at many hotels, I settled on Hyatt Centric Fisherman's Wharf San Francisco, based on many reviews saying this hotel had the perfect location. This reviews were right, and did have a spectacular location, allowing us to walk to most of the big attractions. With parking being often hard to find in these areas, being able to walk was priceless.
The hotel itself was very clean, modern, and the rooms were roomy. There is a pool and hot tub located on the 3rd floor, which were small, but never seemed overly crowded, even though we were there on a warm day. And there is a gym on the 4th floor, providing extra conveniences.
There is one restaurant on the premises called Brick & Beam. We didn't eat there, but it seemed to always have people in it. Another perk offered by the hotel was that if you ate at one of several restaurants located on Pier 39, which is only about a 10-minute walk from the hotel, you would get a discount off your meal by showing a card the hotel gives you when you check-in.
The only negatives I found with this hotel was that it was hard to find. Putting the address in both Google Maps, and my iPhone, led us to the wrong direction. We had to end up calling the hotel. If you do stay here, find the Holiday Inn Express, and look across the street from it. There you will find a very small parking area.
The only other negative was the parking. You can self-park about two blocks away for $45. But that is in a public lot. Or, you can pay $65 per night, and have the valet take care of it for you at the hotel. We opted for the valet, because everywhere you turn in San Francisco are signs warning you about car break-ins. We didn't want to risk it. Although $65 is a lot of parking, it's pretty standard in that area of San Francisco.
Overall, it proved to be a great choice, allowing us to accomplish a lot in our short time there.
The hotel itself was very clean, modern, and the rooms were roomy. There is a pool and hot tub located on the 3rd floor, which were small, but never seemed overly crowded, even though we were there on a warm day. And there is a gym on the 4th floor, providing extra conveniences.
There is one restaurant on the premises called Brick & Beam. We didn't eat there, but it seemed to always have people in it. Another perk offered by the hotel was that if you ate at one of several restaurants located on Pier 39, which is only about a 10-minute walk from the hotel, you would get a discount off your meal by showing a card the hotel gives you when you check-in.
The only negatives I found with this hotel was that it was hard to find. Putting the address in both Google Maps, and my iPhone, led us to the wrong direction. We had to end up calling the hotel. If you do stay here, find the Holiday Inn Express, and look across the street from it. There you will find a very small parking area.
The only other negative was the parking. You can self-park about two blocks away for $45. But that is in a public lot. Or, you can pay $65 per night, and have the valet take care of it for you at the hotel. We opted for the valet, because everywhere you turn in San Francisco are signs warning you about car break-ins. We didn't want to risk it. Although $65 is a lot of parking, it's pretty standard in that area of San Francisco.
Overall, it proved to be a great choice, allowing us to accomplish a lot in our short time there.
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What to do WHile in San francisco
A world renowned city, the 2nd most densely populated city in the U.S. behind NYC, known for landmarks, diverse culture, history, and so much more, San Francisco is a place many will want to visit. But what if you only have 24 hours to see it? I had to narrow it down to what we really wanted to do and see, and I settled on having more of a tasting of the big iconic things San Francisco is known for, rather than spending long amounts of time at one or two things.
So, the first thing I suggest is to simply drive around to see the sights and check out the different neighborhoods, each with their own charm. The first place I would go check out is the Painted Ladies or Postcard Row. If you are a fan of the tv show, "Full House," you will instantly recognize these iconic homes from the beginning of every episode. With their jaw-dropping backdrop of the city behind them, and their pastel painted exteriors, these Victorian homes are a spot not to miss. This is probably one of the most photographed spots in all of San Francisco.
One thing I didn’t expect were all the people. On a sunny day, expect that park to be filled with people. So you aren’t going to get that picture on a blanket all by yourself with these in the background, like they did in "Full House."
So, the first thing I suggest is to simply drive around to see the sights and check out the different neighborhoods, each with their own charm. The first place I would go check out is the Painted Ladies or Postcard Row. If you are a fan of the tv show, "Full House," you will instantly recognize these iconic homes from the beginning of every episode. With their jaw-dropping backdrop of the city behind them, and their pastel painted exteriors, these Victorian homes are a spot not to miss. This is probably one of the most photographed spots in all of San Francisco.
One thing I didn’t expect were all the people. On a sunny day, expect that park to be filled with people. So you aren’t going to get that picture on a blanket all by yourself with these in the background, like they did in "Full House."
The Painted Ladies or Postcard Row
Some people confuse the Painted Ladies with the recognizable Full House, house. But that home is not one of the Painted Ladies. You can check it out next on your drive around the city. The actual home is located on Broderick Street. It no longer has the red door, and there is a sign outside asking you to be respectful and not trespass, as this is a privately owned home.
The "Full House" House
As you are driving around, one thing you will instantly notice are the steep hills you have to drive up and down. San Francisco is known for its steep hills and is considered one of the hilliest cities in the world. These hills are all due to tectonic activity known as subduction. During the Gold Rush, San Francisco rapidly grew, and rather than deciding to take the time to create smooth curves, they decided to keep the steep hills. And with the use of cable cars, it allowed the city to expand even more over these steep hills.
Speaking of cable cars, that would be another thing to do and see while in San Francisco. These historical landmarks travel these steep streets, carrying San Franciscoans and tourists alike. The cable cars are the world's last manually operated cable car system. These cars are pulled along by cables embedded in the street, and were named a national historic landmark in 1964. Hang on to the poles and let them give you a ride up those insanely steep hills.
One hill not to be missed while in San Francisco is Lombard Street. Known as, "The crookedest street in the World,” this is a tourist Mecca, and one of San Francisco’s most famous landmarks. Every year millions of visitors will walk up or down these hairpin turns, or wait in a long line of traffic to maneuver their car down them. There is nothing quite like the switchbacks on this road.
At first glance, you would think these switchbacks were dangerous. But in reality, they were designed for safety. The natural steep grade of Lombard St. was thought to be too dangerous. So, in the 1920s, a property owner suggested creating a series of switchbacks to not only make the street safer for pedestrians, but also to add to its visual appeal.
Between the lovely homes that line it, there are beautiful bushes, creating an almost garden-like environment. If you choose to drive down it, expect to stay in a queue, almost like at Disneyland, in which traffic cops will direct you down once it is your turn. Besides the uniqueness of this road, it is really unique, and can’t be missed.
At first glance, you would think these switchbacks were dangerous. But in reality, they were designed for safety. The natural steep grade of Lombard St. was thought to be too dangerous. So, in the 1920s, a property owner suggested creating a series of switchbacks to not only make the street safer for pedestrians, but also to add to its visual appeal.
Between the lovely homes that line it, there are beautiful bushes, creating an almost garden-like environment. If you choose to drive down it, expect to stay in a queue, almost like at Disneyland, in which traffic cops will direct you down once it is your turn. Besides the uniqueness of this road, it is really unique, and can’t be missed.
Lombard Street
Some people might equate San Francisco with some of its popular locations such as Fisherman’s Wharf and Pier 39. So, two more sights to see are these two places, located right by each other. Both are very family friendly, with many things for both adults and children to do. Loaded with restaurants, things to do and see, and all sorts of shops, you could spend quite a bit of time here. This area is packed with people, especially on a sunny day. It’s very busy, so be aware. With that said, the whole area felt very tourist trappy, if you catch my drift. I highly suggest going to them, just to check them out. Fisherman’s Wharf is also home to the iconic Boudin Bakery and their famous sourdough. It’s also the oldest continually operating business in San Francisco.
And at the very least, go to Pier 39 and just walk the boardwalk. Make it to the end of the pier and you will be rewarded with sea lions sunbathing. But be aware, the stink! You’ll also get picturesque views of the bay. And one thing you may notice right away is Alcatraz eerily isolated out in the bay. There are boats that depart from this area where you can take a trip to go visit it. We didn’t have time, so just seeing it from the pier was fine, and actually quite interesting. I didn’t expect it to be so close to the mainland. And also at the end of the pier, if you’re lucky, you’ll get a great look at the Golden Gate Bridge.
And at the very least, go to Pier 39 and just walk the boardwalk. Make it to the end of the pier and you will be rewarded with sea lions sunbathing. But be aware, the stink! You’ll also get picturesque views of the bay. And one thing you may notice right away is Alcatraz eerily isolated out in the bay. There are boats that depart from this area where you can take a trip to go visit it. We didn’t have time, so just seeing it from the pier was fine, and actually quite interesting. I didn’t expect it to be so close to the mainland. And also at the end of the pier, if you’re lucky, you’ll get a great look at the Golden Gate Bridge.
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You might be wondering why I said “if you're lucky…” Well, seeing the bridge is not a given. While we were there, we could only make out parts of it. Even driving across it the first day, we could barely make out any of its iconic spires.
According to Golden Gate Bridge Highway and Transportation District Website, “The Golden Gate Bridge has an influence in directing fog as it pushes up and pours down around the Bridge. 'Advection fog' forms when humid air from the Pacific Ocean swoops over the chilly California current flowing parallel to the coast. The fog hugs the ground and then the warm, moist air condenses as it moves across the bay or land. This is common near any coastline. Sometimes, high pressure squashes it close to the ground. By the way, the color of the Bridge is International Orange and was chosen in part because of its visibility in the fog.”
Unfortunately, we were not so lucky, finding the bridge enrobed in fog majority of the time we were there. This was not something I expected, and something that we found out later, happens a lot. So odds are, you’re not going to get that picture perfect view of the bridge like you see in pictures. I wish I would have known that so my expectations weren’t so high.
If you do find yourself lucky while in San Francisco to see the Golden Gate Bridge not enveloped in fog, then you definitely need to check it out. Take a drive across it and/or find one of the many viewpoints to take it in.
According to Golden Gate Bridge Highway and Transportation District Website, “The Golden Gate Bridge has an influence in directing fog as it pushes up and pours down around the Bridge. 'Advection fog' forms when humid air from the Pacific Ocean swoops over the chilly California current flowing parallel to the coast. The fog hugs the ground and then the warm, moist air condenses as it moves across the bay or land. This is common near any coastline. Sometimes, high pressure squashes it close to the ground. By the way, the color of the Bridge is International Orange and was chosen in part because of its visibility in the fog.”
Unfortunately, we were not so lucky, finding the bridge enrobed in fog majority of the time we were there. This was not something I expected, and something that we found out later, happens a lot. So odds are, you’re not going to get that picture perfect view of the bridge like you see in pictures. I wish I would have known that so my expectations weren’t so high.
If you do find yourself lucky while in San Francisco to see the Golden Gate Bridge not enveloped in fog, then you definitely need to check it out. Take a drive across it and/or find one of the many viewpoints to take it in.
After checking out the city for a while, you will want a cool treat. So there is no better place to grab one than at Ghirardelli Square. The building that houses Ghirardelli's has been a bayside landmark since 1862, and is considered one of San Francisco’s oldest buildings. Located near the San Francisco Maritime National Park, and once the home of Pioneer Woolen Mills, Ghiraradelli purchased it in 1863, because they needed more room. The building was granted National Historic Register status in 1982, a move that ensured the preservation of Ghirardelli Square for future generations.
There are many shops and restaurants here, but the one you need to go to is the Ghirardelli Chocolate and Ice Cream Shop. Here you can get ice cream treats and handpick your own assortment of chocolates, making perfect souvenirs to bring back home. A quick tip, if you want ice cream, don’t wait in the long lines. Go down below to the street level, and you will find Ghirardelli-on-the-Go, which also serves ice cream with much shorter lines. You will find all the same delicious options of sundaes you would find up above, but you’ll be able to enjoy it much sooner.
And there are also some pretty great views of Alcatraz and the San Francisco Bay from the upper levels of the square. Check it out for yourself!
There are many shops and restaurants here, but the one you need to go to is the Ghirardelli Chocolate and Ice Cream Shop. Here you can get ice cream treats and handpick your own assortment of chocolates, making perfect souvenirs to bring back home. A quick tip, if you want ice cream, don’t wait in the long lines. Go down below to the street level, and you will find Ghirardelli-on-the-Go, which also serves ice cream with much shorter lines. You will find all the same delicious options of sundaes you would find up above, but you’ll be able to enjoy it much sooner.
And there are also some pretty great views of Alcatraz and the San Francisco Bay from the upper levels of the square. Check it out for yourself!
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And probably my favorite thing we saw while in San Francisco was the Palace of Fine Arts. After San Francisco suffered the major earthquake and fires in 1906, they were determined to show the world they had risen from the literal and figurative ashes. So city leaders worked together to get San Francisco to be the site of the 1915 Panama-Pacific International Exposition. They were successful and the Palace of Fine Arts was constructed. The iconic structure was supposed to be torn down after the end of the fair, but it remains to this day, It was rebuilt from 1964-1974 to become permanent and is now a part of the U.S. NationalRegister of Historic Places. This place was absolutely beautiful and the size of it was more than impressive. The grounds themselves are beautiful and it’s worth taking a stroll around.
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And lastly, make sure to try out the food in San Francisco, especially the bakeries, such as B. Patisserie. You have to try their famous Kouign Amann (coon-yah-mahn). It’s basically a layered pastry with sugar and butter flavor and it’s delicious.
Like I said before, San Francisco is a world renowned city, and for good reason. And if you find yourself there, even for 24 hours or less, it’s worth checking out.
Like I said before, San Francisco is a world renowned city, and for good reason. And if you find yourself there, even for 24 hours or less, it’s worth checking out.
B. Patisserie
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Kouign Amann
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