The Best of the West: San Francisco

Admiring the Golden Gate Bridge from Pier Two

Next on my Best of the West tour: San Francisco. This Bay City is beautiful, and truly different from any other place I’ve visited. From the cable cars to the impossibly steep hills (parking a car here seems absolutely horrifying!), the beauty of this destination is in the details. Here are my top ten favourite places to visit in San Francisco.

1. Golden Gate Park – Occupying more than 1000 acres of urban parkland, Golden Gate Park is to San Francisco what Central Park is to New York City. The best way to get around the park and see as much of it as possible, is by bicycling through it. I rented a bike in Hayes Valley at City Ride Bike Rentals, before heading uphill to the Golden Gate Panhandle, which took me straight to the park. Within the park, you’ll find the famous Japanese Tea Garden and the California Academy of Sciences, along with several other beautiful landmarks.

A nice, embarassing photo of me in front of the Japanese Tea Garden in Golden Gate Park

2. The Painted Ladies – As I rode downhill, back from my Golden Gate Park adventure, I made a point of riding past San Francisco’s famous “Painted Ladies”. These are a series of Victorian houses on Steiner Street that are painted in various vibrant shades, and appear on countless postcards sent from the Bay Area. If you’ve watched Full House, you’re familiar with the Painted Ladies, but they’re certainly worth a ride-by while you’re in San Francisco.

3. Hayes Valley – As I mentioned above, I rented a bike in Hayes Valley to venture through Golden Gate Park, but before doing so, I had the best time shopping there, enjoying the chic boutiques and quaint coffee shops the neighborhood offers. Among my favourites were Amour Vert, a store committed to environmentally sustainable clothing that looks and feels amazing, and Azalea, which has a second store on Valencia Street, if you can’t make it to Hayes Valley.

Walking from Civic Centre to Hayes Valley

4. Smitten Ice Cream - While in Hayes Valley, I quickly became distracted by my sweet tooth when I spotted Smitten Ice Cream, which uses the freshest seasonal ingredients to make you your personal serving of all-natural, preservative-free, made-to-order ice cream. So far, there is only one Smitten location in San Francisco, with a few others sprinkled around the Golden State, but a second Smitten Ice Cream will open on California Street this May.

5. City Hall – I found it difficult to resist the charms of San Francisco’s City Hall while walking by, and decided to explore the interior of the stunning architectural landmark. Admission to the public building is free, and you’re likely to feel the romance in the air, as brides and their grooms snap pictures after tying the knot at this historic site. The building is truly magnificent inside and out.

San Francisco City Hall's Magnificent Exterior

San Francisco City Hall's Beautiful Interior

6. The Asian Art Museum – I had planned to visit San Francisco’s Museum of Modern Art, but the world-class museum is under construction until 2016. I’m glad of it, however, as I would not have had time to see the Asian Art Museum, had I spent hours wandering around SFMOMA. Located adjacent to San Francisco City Hall, The Asian Art Museum of San Francisco offers an extensive collection of art and historical items from all parts of the Asian continent, all derived from various historical epochs. Not only are the works within the building beautiful, but the landmark itself is aesthetically remarkable.

A work by an unknown artist at The Asian Art Museum of San Francisco

7. Riding the Cable Car – My first attempt to hop on a cable car was prevented, as I was holding a gigantic coffee cup when I tried to appear as local and non-touristy as possible and effervescently leap onto the trolley. My bubble burst when the driver yelled to me to finish and dispose of my on-the-go Joe before I boarded. Once I boarded, however, it was a ton of fun to ride one of the cable cars San Francisco is known for. If you’re standing like I was, be sure to hold on tightly, as you ricochet up those steep hills!

A closed cable car, near the Ferry Building

8. Fisherman's Wharf (Pier 39) - I took the trolley from the Theatre District, all the way up to Fisherman’s Wharf, a very touristy destination that nevertheless offers panoramic views of San Francisco Bay, Alcatraz and the Golden Gate Bridge. If you’re not a fan of the gift shops lining Pier 39, then you might find the sea lions there entertaining. Dozens of sea lions occupy the docks at Pier 39, and have since the 1989 Lomo Prieta earthquake; the best time to see them there is in the mornings.

Entering Fisherman's Wharf at Pier 39

The Sea Lions at Fisherman's Wharf - they put on a bit of a musical performance in the mornings

9. The Ferry Building – I absolutely loved exploring the Ferry Building and looking in at all the wonderful shops the market there offers. Some of my favourites were Miette, with its almost too-pretty-to-eat baked goods, Pressed Juicery, Stonehouse California Olive Oil, and Mijita Cocina Mexicana, where I officially fell in love with shrimp tacos.

The Ferry Building's Grand Exterior

Enjoying some San Francisco sunshine in a bottle, from Pressed Juicery, while admiring the Golden Gate Bridge from the back of the Ferry Building

10. Piperade – With the end of my journey in San Francisco came a relaxing dinner at Piperade. I absolutely loved the cheese plate appetizer, and the duck confit I had as my main entrée. Dessert was a molten chocolate lava cake with vanilla bean ice cream – simple, yet delicious. The service at Piperade was wonderful, and the atmosphere was especially comfortable, yet elegant.

I didn’t get to some of the stops I hoped to make in San Francisco, including China Town and Valencia Street, but I can’t wait to go back and explore more of the city. One thing I would definitely recommend is layering when you get dressed in the morning while you’re there. I wore a tank top with a sweater overtop, and a raincoat, and peeled off a layer every time I shifted between weather zones. San Francisco is known for its wide range of weather conditions on any given day; it could be raining in the morning by Fisherman’s Wharf, while it's sunny and warm in Golden Gate Park at the same time, so have a rain jacket handy and wear multiple layers!

Stay tuned for my next travel post – a guide to sunny St. Lucia!

#Travel #bestofthewest #SanFrancisco #WestCoast