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My weekend getaway to San Francisco can be summed up in just one word and that’s foggy. Foggy in the physical sense – there was a lot of low hanging cloud when we were there! And also foggy in the sense that it flew by so fast that it was such a huge blur.
I’ve long had a fascination with San Francisco, passing through it frequently on road trips with my parents as a kid, but I hadn’t been there much as an adult. In many ways, it’s similar to Vancouver, but just a way cooler and more happening place. While I had my cell phone stolen on my last visit in 2010 (something I was desperate to not replicate this time around), I was looking forward to revisiting the city by the bay (Pro Tip: don’t call San Francisco, Frisco).
The weatherman was predicting rain the whole weekend and being Vancouverites, we didn’t let that faze us. Armed with rain jackets, umbrellas and spare pairs of shoes, we were ready for a weekend getaway. It actually didn’t rain as much as we were prepared for. The rain came down at us sideways the Friday evening we arrived and for most of Sunday morning, but otherwise, it was dry if a little cloudy. Monday was absolutely stunning with clear blue skies and actual warmth which made leaving the city a tough choice.
With so much to see, we tried to be strategic about it, organizing activities in the same area together. However, we adjusted our schedule based on the weather. Whenever there was a break in the rain we headed outside!
Mission District
The Mission District is San Francisco’s oldest neighbourhood and is home to the city’s oldest building, the Mission San Francisco de Asis. The neighbourhood has a huge population of immigrants from Central and South America which can be clearly seen among all the taquerias and other shops around. We spent our first morning in the city wandering around the Mission district checking out some of the murals in the area. We joined a street art walking tour and explored a few of the alleyways dedicated to street art.
A Food Lover’s Dream: The Ferry Building
The San Francisco Ferry Building is a transit hub, connecting all of the city’s neighbourhoods and surrounding areas. Situated at the end of Market St., along the Embarcadero, it has great views of the city and of the water. Inside the building is home to a number of independently owned food businesses. We visited the Ferry Building which had its well-known farmer’s market going on. The place was swarming with people and restaurants and food stalls had lines out the door and around the corner. Clearly, good food can be found here.
A Must: The Golden Gate Bridge
When in San Francisco, you make time to go see the Golden Gate Bridge. We experienced an interesting phenomenon. Much of the city was clear and sunny, but the bridge was shrouded under a cloud of thick fog. You could barely see the top of the bridge. Instead of walking or riding across the bridge, we opted to go under it on a boat cruise as a part of our San Francisco City Pass.
Tourist Central: Fisherman’s Wharf and Pier 39
The famous Fisherman’s Wharf and Pier 39 is well known to visitors of San Francisco. We wandered around Fisherman’s Wharf and Pier 39, enjoying the view, the tacky shops at the pier and checked out the resident sea creatures – the sea lions. Better watch out for the Fisherman’s Wharf bushman who managed to spook my friend and I really well. Stop off at the Musée Mécanique at Fisherman’s Wharf as well for a bit of quirky San Francisco.
Cable Cars
Another must do in San Francisco is riding the cable cars. This cable car system is the only manually operated system remaining in the world. It’s incredible how they’re able to make their way up and down the very steep hills of the city. At one point, there were 23 lines around the city, but today only 3 remain. They’re a popular form of transportation and lines to get on them can be quite long and the cars themselves very packed.
The Food
Eating well is easy in San Francisco. There are so many restaurants in the city and with many food-related startups (like Yelp), calling the Bay Area home, if you’re not good, you’re going to be sticking around for very long. We hit up a lot of really popular places and surprisingly encountered no lines the whole weekend.
Shrimp and Grits at Brenda’s Soul Food – so so amazing.
Before heading down, virtually everyone I talked to told me to go eat at Brenda’s Soul Food. Soul food isn’t something that we have much of in Vancouver so I was pretty eager to check it out. We ordered way too much food for the two of us, but everything was so delicious. Full review on this and everything else delicious we ate in San Francisco coming up soon.
Architecture
One of the things I love the most about San Francisco are all of their interestingly coloured houses. Each one had their own unique colour scheme. Some neighborhoods were Victorian inspired. Others, more random. Regardless, it made exploring neighbourhoods a lot of fun.
3 days was not enough in San Francisco. There were so many things I had wanted to explore and I didn’t get a chance to do. Hopefully I’ll get another chance to pop down to the city and even perhaps make it out to Napa and Sonoma Valley.
Have you been to San Francisco? What were some of your favourite things to see and do?
P.S. 7 Free Things To Do in San Francisco & Touring Alcatraz in San Francisco
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I’m glad you had a wonderful 3 days despite the fog. You covered a lot too. I have yet to visit the Ferry Building but I can imagine I would be there for awhile. I’ve never thought to go under the bridge on a cruise. We’ve been going to SF for years and there’s still so much we haven’t seen. Here’s hoping we both return soon!
Agreed, there’s just so much to see and do in the city. Always something new to discover. I already have a growing list of things to do next time I’m there. I hope you get to the Ferry Building – I wish I had more time (and stomach space!) to eat around it all.
The Ferry Building farmer’s market looks fun. I’d love to visit San Francisco and see the Golden Gate bridge
I had a very similar experience visiting SF once in December… I so much wanted to drive across the Golden Gate Bridge but you couldn’t see ANYTHING. Oh well… I guess the fogginess adds some sort of mystical, magical quality 🙂 Brenda’s Soul Food looks delicious! I am fondly recalling a huge seafood platter I enjoyed at a joint near the Wharf. Some of the freshest oysters I can remember!
I’ve been there a couple of times, and I love the city! A must for me is getting clam chowder in a sourdough bowl. I know, probably soooo touristy and stereotypical, but I love it!! The couple of times I went, I just did all the really touristy things and sites. I never knew about the Ferry Building, but it sounds like it’s exactly up my alley. I’ll have to check it out next time!
San Francisco is definitely a city I’d love to visit at some point. I just arrived yesterday in Lisbon with my husband, and looking through your pictures, I spot several similarities between these two cities: Lisbon has a red suspension bridge (just like the Golden Gate Bridge), both cities have trams/cable-cars that are very much a tourist attraction, and both places are known for being foodie cities!
I haven’t been to Lisbon, but from your description it does sound quite similar. I think you’d love San Francisco. Lots of great food and things to do here.
Oooh, I loved San Francisco and would go back in a heart beat, I had such fun there. Love your pics. Thanx for hosting the lovely linkparty this weekend!
Esther.
Thanks Esther! San Francisco is fantastic. Everyone seems to love the city it seems 🙂
I think you almost need to see San Francisco in a little bit of fog since it’s such a part of the city! I’m glad you had some sun, though. I need to go back to that city–I was only there for one day on my way to Napa Valley. Which, by the way, I LOVED and would definitely recommend!! 🙂
That’s very true. The fog does add some mystery to the whole city though. Thanks for the note – next time I definitely will head to Napa as well.
Looks like a fun trip. I’ve always wanted to go to San Fran for the architecture and the mission district.
I’d love to visit San Francisco. You have some lovely pictures here, I love the first one of Mission District.
Thanks Natasha! I hope you get a chance to visit. It’s a fantastic city.
I’d love to visit San Fran! A friend of mine has relocated nearby, and I’m trying to figure out a good time to go visit!
Yes! I hope you go! It’s a great city and lots to see and do.
You packed in a lot in only 3 days. My last trip through San Francisco was literally a quick drive -through. I had just enough time to hop out of my car to take a picture of the Golden Gate Bridge before driving over it. That shrimp and grits looks really tasty. I don’t think I’ve ever been to either the Ferry Building or the Mission District, but both look like excellent places to explore.
I did so much walking in 3 days! There’s a lot to see in the city. At least you managed to see one of the best things about the city. The bridge is pretty cool looking 🙂
Love, love, love SF! I love the ferry building, golden gate, all of it. Glad you enjoyed it!
Everyone I talk to seems to love San Francisco. It’s a great city.
We visited SF in January and loved it. There are a million reasons to visit again and again! That bridge!!
Yes! San Francisco is a great city. So much to discover.
I lived in San Francisco for 2 years and seeing these pictures made me wish I was in the Mission digging into a burrito at taqueria San Jose.
I missed out on the burritos in Mission, but I’d love to go back for one. I really like San Francisco and wouldn’t mind living there for a bit.
I never have luck with the Cable Car. Too many tourists.. Always
The only time I’ve really had any luck is by getting on in the middle, not at the end points. They purposely don’t fill the cars completely for people to get on along the way. Means you have to stand though, but its not the worse thing.
I absolutely loved San Francisco on the 2 occasions I’ve been – it’s one of those cities in the world where I really felt like I could see myself living! I must admit, I haven’t been to the Mission district before – it sounds so multi-cultural and fascinating – I’d love to discover some of the lesser-known areas if I ever return!
I feel the same way about San Francisco! There are so many cool neighbourhoods that I didn’t get a chance to visit this time around that I’d like to go back for. Such a vibrant city.
I’ve never been to San Francisco, but seems nice! You saw a lot of places in spite of the adverse weather 🙂 I’d like to discover the Mission district and ride the cable cars.
The cable cars a lot of fun when you can get on them! Wandering around the Mission district was really cool too. Rather off beat compared to the rest of the city.
Last year I spent a couple of days in San Francisco and I really felt like if they weren’t enough. Somehow I managed to spend half a day just in Chinatown! I still don’t know how it happened exactly. I would love to go back there with a bit more time, it’s a really nice city and I like the fact that is easier to walk around than drive, which is rare in California!
Chinatown in San Francisco is so vibrant! I miss that about the Chinatown in Vancouver which is now more or less a ghost town. There is a surprising amount of things to do in San Francisco. I definitely want to go back one day too.
best city in the US! loved it!
Great post! I especially enjoy the photos and descriptions of the Mission District and the Ferry Building. They look like great places to get a real feel of San Francisco. I hope to make it there one day myself, but for now, your story does it justice. – Emme @ Green Global Travel