If you have enough time you can really explore and get to know the city, but say you only have a few days, what would I recommend? Here is my top 10 list:
1. Run the Nike Women's Marathon. NWM is seriously one of my favorite memories out of all of my travel adventures. The race starts in Union Square, winds along the Wharf, with views of Alcatraz and the Golden Gate Bridge, goes out along the Sea Cliff districts and Great Highway, through Golden Gate Park and back along the Pacific Ocean. When you cross the finish line a member of the San Francisco Fire Department, wearing a tuxedo and holding a silver platter, congratulates you and hands you a little blue box which contains your special edition Tiffany's finishers necklace! Unfortunately, you need to win the lottery to get a bib (which I somehow managed on my first try) so there are no guarantees. I will definitely be attempting to get a spot in this prestigious race again in the future.
With my parents at the finish line of the NWM
2. Take a ferry to Alcatraz. The Rock is located in the San Francisco Bay and an easy ferry ride from the Pier. If you are a first timer to the San Francisco Bay area, Alcatraz must be on your list of things to do.
3. Hang out on Pier 39. From the carousel, to sea lions, to vendors selling things you never knew you needed, Pier 39 is full of surprises. While you are visiting the Wharf make sure you watch out for the Bush Man!
The Pier 39 Sea Lions
4. Shop Union Square. Every thing you need is conveniently located around Union Square: the cable cars, restaurants, Tiffany's, Macy's, Niketown and more. Also a great place to make your home base, Union Square is only a short walk or cable car ride to many of the other attractions such as the Ferry Building, Chinatown, Little Italy and the Fisherman's Wharf.
5. Wine tasting in Sonoma. Not technically in San Francisco, but an easy day trip. Sonoma and Napa Valleys are no more than a 2 hour drive from the city. If you're up for it you can stop at Muir Woods along the way to see the Redwoods.
Muir Woods
Sonoma Vineyard
The wine tasting cave at Bella Winery in Sonoma
6. See Ghirardhelli Square. Located in the Fisherman's Wharf, Ghirardhelli Square features specialty shops and restaurants including the Ghirardhelli Chocolate company. A trip to San Francisco is not complete without tasting some divine Ghirardhelli chocolate or ice cream.
7. Visit the Ferry building. San Francisco's historic ferry building used to be one of the busiest in the world. Now the main floor is used for an upscale marketplace and farmer's market featuring local delicacies.
8. Bike across the Golden Gate Bridge to Sausilito. Scott and I rented bicycles and rode across the Golden Gate Bridge the day after I completed the Nike Women's Marathon in 2011. My legs were totally useless for walking the hills of San Francisco, but I found cycling was a bit more tolerable. Unfortunately, the day we biked across the bridge was the only day there was fog on our whole trip. But the fog just made it seem more adventurous. We met up with my parents in Sausilito for some shopping and lunch before taking the ferry back to San Francisco.
Biking across Golden Gate Bridge
9. Walk down (or up) Lombard Street. None of my Lombard Street pictures turned out very good. It's supposed to be the crookedest street in the world. Go check it out, it's cool.
10. Bargain hunt in Chinatown. The Chinatown in San Francisco is said to be the largest Chinatown outside of Asia. Stop here for some of the famous chinese cuisine, visit the Golden Gate Fortune Cookie Factory, or just spend your time wandering aimlessly and bargain hunting in the many unique shops.
