Beyond cable cars and the Golden Gate Bridge, the beautiful San Francisco Bay Area is full of intriguing and sometimes offbeat things to do. In honor of our 20th Anniversary Platinum Year, we pooled our favorite insider resources and came up with 20 tips to use as you plan your next visit.
1. This is your gateway to wine country. Did you realize that you can spend a full week there and explore a different wine region each day? From the Golden Gate Bridge, you’re 62 miles from Napa Valley, 45 miles from Sonoma County, 44 miles from Livermore Valley, 20 miles from Contra Costa County, and 6 to 16 miles from urban tasting rooms in Treasure Island, Oakland, and Alameda!
2. Chabot Space and Science Center has great, late-night laser light shows. Watch electric light in a starry dome choreographed to classic rock and roll music.
3. SFMOMA rooftop garden is missing a ceiling. With a cool sculpture garden and great Blue Bottle coffee, you’d think you were in a gallery, café, or both, until you look up.
4. Stow Lake is a great place for a first date. Rent a rowboat, electric boat, or pedal boat from Golden Gate Park’s Stow Lake Boathouse and get to know each other after you’ve circled Strawberry Hill Island.
5. The Seward Street Slides were designed by a 14 year old. Located in Seward Mini Park, these steep concrete slides require sturdy pants and cardboard for sliding.
6. Tank Hill Park has few people and fabulous views. On a clear day, you can see all the way from the Marin Headlands to East Bay. And talk about a sunset!
7. Treasure Island is called San Francisco Wine Country. That’s right, there’s an island with 17 tasting rooms in the San Francisco Bay! Make one of your stops Sottomarino Winery, housed in a submarine-like training vessel.
8. The Bay to Breakers race is 103 years old. This 12K race is the oldest consecutively run annual foot race in the world, and it’s a lot of fun to watch.
9. Everything at Musée Mécanique works. From hand-cranked music boxes to modern video arcade games, this fabulous 200-plus collection could keep you busy all day.
10. Hands down, Ina Coolbrith Park in Nob Hill beats the Stairmaster. Named after one of the city’s early poets, this Russian Hill Park gives you one of the city’s best views.
11. It’s all Happening at de Young. Between the sculpture garden, café, permanent collection, and rotating exhibits, you could find yourself here all day. Plus, there’s the view.
12. Oakland’s Jack London Square is amazing. The directions couldn’t be easier: Take the San Francisco Bay Ferry to Oakland’s historic waterfront and you’re there. Something is literally always cooking (restaurants) and playing (entertainment) here.
13. The Wave Organ deserves a listen. This acoustic sculpture is a brilliant endeavor. It lets you hear the “music” of waves. It’s best at high tide.
14. One of the city’s best picnic spots is at the foot of the Transamerica Pyramid. The name Redwood Park states the obvious, but beyond a grove of trees, there are spring-like fountains and sculptures.
15. Lovejoy’s Tea Room’s joys are bottomless. Quaint and lovely! Order a bottomless pot of tea with British delicacies ranging from tea sandwiches to light pub fare.
16. The fortune cookie factory, of course. Ever watch fortune cookies being made? Don’t blink, because it happens fast at Golden Gate Fortune Cookie Factory. Mmmm, smells so good.
17. Off the Grid at Fort Mason is a blast. Said to be the largest network of gourmet mobile food markets anywhere, if you’re a foodie, experience heaven.
18. Even when the bloom is off the rose, Morcom Rose Garden is a hidden gem. Giant trees, serenity, and beautiful roses. Oakland should be very proud.
19. They show people how to make Sake in Berkley. Not only is there a beautiful tasting room where guests can sample Sake in flights, there’s a Sake museum at Takara Sake USA.
20. The parrots on Telegraph Hill are year-round residents. Look up! An estimated 200-plus parrots live along the north waterfront area, from the Ferry Building to east of the Presidio.