San Francisco – the city of steep rolling hills, seafood chowder and fog. How many of you know that the famous San Francisco fog has a name? Karl, the city’s most famous resident, has been floating around the golden city for decades. I met him in person during my 2 week trip of a lifetime to San Fran in June but needless so say, I was glad when we parted ways!
Visiting this eclectic, bohemian city in the Golden State has been on my bucket list for years. There’s so much that makes San Francisco a fun travel destination with tons of must-see historic sights and funky neighbourhoods. Here are some highlights of my trip as well as recommendations on where to stay & some tasty cuisine:
1. Fisherman’s Wharf
The home of the famous Pier 39, Fisherman’s Wharf boasts stunning views of the bay, Golden Gate bridge & Alcatraz island. While strolling along the boardwalk for the first time, I felt as if I was visiting the movie set of Moby Dick or Popeye! I stayed at the nautically inspired 4* Argonaut Hotel which is housed within the historic red brick Haslett Warehouse building. Located on Jefferson St, it’s the perfect base for exploring Fisherman’s Wharf. Make sure to avail of the 20% discount for hotel guests on Ben & Jerry’s ice cream next door to the hotel! Pier 33 where you board the ferry to Alcatraz is only a short stroll away.
During a sunny, summer afternoon, the wharf is alive & buzzing with street dancers, musicians and tourists enjoying the spectacular bay views. If you’re lucky, you might catch a glimpse of the sea lions who regularly make an appearance on the wharf. For tasty burgers & cool drinks, check out Wipe Out Bar & Grill. For starters I’d recommend the coconut fried shrimp – delcious! If you fancy yourself as a rock chick & want to pick up a cool t-shirt, make sure to drop into The Hard Rock Cafe at Pier 39.
2. Monterey
San Francisco is the perfect base to take a day trip along the rugged Pacific coastline to visit Monterey, the seaside town that inspired John Steinbeck’s 1945 novel, ‘Cannery Row‘. My first stop was the Monterey Bay Aquarium (ensure you buy your ticket online first before you join the queue). In the Open Sea Exhibit, you can see cute sea otters, giant octopus, sharks, jellyfish and crabs. Ideally you’d need at least 2 hours to fully enjoy the aquarium as there’s lots of fascinating exhibits. Visitors can even feed some of the deep-sea animals during the tours!
3. Carmel-by-the-Sea
“At Carmel-by-the-Sea, every day is a work of art”. This was especially true as I strolled along the fairytale cottages and galleries of its village-like centre. Carmel mingles old world elegance with modern day charm. While there I browsed the gallery of local Impressionist artist, Delia Bradford. One particulary striking painting of hers is of the Bixby bridge (if you’ve seen the HBO TV show, Big Little Lies, you’ll know the one I’m referring to!) Anyone who views her Impressionist landscape and floral paintings realises her passion and vitality for life and for nature.
4. Alcatraz Island
No visit to San Francisco is complete without visiting the legendary Alcatraz island. The former military fort and notorious maximum security federal prison that housed the likes of Al Capone & Machine Gun Kelly during the 1930s, finally closed in 1964. Once you board the ferry at Pier 33, get ready to take in the spectacular views of San Francisco bay and the Golden Gate bridge. Arriving on the island, you’ll be greeted by a National Park Ranger for a brief welcome & orientation. Walking up the steep hills to the Cellhouse is the equivalent of walking up 3 flights of stairs so wearing a comfortable pair of trainers is recommended! As well as being a former prison, the beautiful island is also a bird sanctuary.
The self-guided audio tour gives fascinating accounts of prison life regaled by both former inmates & correctional officers. Inmates arrived on “The Rock” handcuffed and shackled: some defiant, some resigned. Upon entering the Cellhouse, these “fresh fish” submitted to a thorough search for contraband such as weapons & drugs. During the tour, you’ll also get to see the former showers, changing rooms, kitchen & library used by inmates during the prison’s “hey day”.
Boarding the ferry on the return journey back to Fisherman’s Wharf, I was relieved to be ‘escaping Alcatraz’!
5. Open Top Bus Tour
As a first time visitor to San Francisco, the best way to see the city is by a Big Bus Hop On, Hop Off tour. I hopped on at Jefferson St for the evening tour departing at 6:30pm local. From the top deck of the bus, you’ll enjoy spectacular views of Russian Hill, Nob Hill, Chinatown, the Salesforce tower and Rincon Hill. The breathtaking sunset bay views while driving over the Oakland bridge on the way to Treasure Island are unforgettable! You’ll pass through Yerba Buena island (the orignal name for San Francisco meaning “good grass”) before the final stop at Treasure Island. The hilltop park is the perfect photo op for views of the Oakland bridge & the bay.
6. Seafood Chowder & Sourdough
On a cool, foggy day in San Francisco, there’s nothing better to warm up your insides than creamy seafood chowder in a sourdough bowl. You can’t leave San Francisco without sampling the best Irish coffee and tasty chowder at the famous Buena Vista Cafe on Hyde St, Fisherman’s Wharf. The Irish coffee is made with Tullamore Dew, the perfect tasting Irish whiskey. Watch the barman dressed in a white jacket pour ten Irish coffees at once – it’s straight out of the movies!
7. Cable Cars
Riding the quaint San Francisco cable cars was the final adventure I ticked off my extensive bucket list. I boarded the Powell-Hyde line at the waterfront near Ghiradelli Square which ends at the corner of Powell and Market Streets. It’s $8 per ride and you pay each time you board the cable car. You can pay via the MuniMobile app. I must admit going up & down the hilly streets of San Fran was certainly a treat for the eyes & the soul!
As you can see, there are so many great reasons to visit San Francisco. From the funky neighbourhoods, historic landmarks, bay views, marine life, diverse cultural events and tasty cuisine, there’s something for every type of traveller to enjoy.
San Francisco has only one drawback – it is hard to leave.
Rudyard Kipling
All photos copyright of the author
