NATALIE DUNN

NOTE: As of 2025, if you are not from the USA, it is not advisable to travel there, due to the risks associated with detainment and possibly deportation risks, due to political turmoil. This blog is migrated from my old website, which was published last year in 2024, at the time of my trip. Things can change, please check the current news for the latest updates.

San Francisco is a lovely city in Northern California, USA, with a vibrant atmosphere and an abundance of activities to enjoy. The city is renowned for its artistic and colorful houses, natural scenery, and wildlife, including birds and sea lions. Additionally, it is home to two extremely famous bridges: the Golden Gate Bridge and the Bay Bridge. Without further ado, let’s compile a list of fun things to do in San Francisco.

Here are a list of things to do during your time in San Francisco:

Shopping:

• Visit Sausalito, a lovely upscale area in the bay. Not only is it a nice area, with lots of good hospitality delights, but the area is also very picturesque, with window shopping on offer, and there are a few gelato stores there too. Additionally, there is a chocolate store as well, where you can buy some nice treats. It is also a great area for sightseeing too.
• Go shopping in Union Square. The shopping area in Union Square offers a whole lot of choice for shopping, from the reasonably priced brands to high end luxury brands. My favourites department stores are Neiman Marcus, Macy’s and Bloomingdales. There are a whole lot of luxury stores too, such as Chanel, Valentino  and Burberry. This is not an exhaustive list. 

Tours and excursions:

• Go to Yosemite national park. This is a full day trip, which requires you to get up very early in the morning, and go by a coach to get to Yosemite. Once you get there, you have a few hours to explore the park. The tour also allows for several stops to and from Yosemite park for you to take photos and admire the scenery.
• Do a wine tour of Napa and Sonoma Valley. There are two options – the half day tour, and the full day tour. I prefer the full day one, as it takes you to three vineyards – as opposed to two, and in addition, you get to have lunch in Sonoma valley. ​
• Go to Muir Woods national park. This is a redwood forest park, and it is very beautiful and scenic.​ You can either go by tour, car, or any other means (except for the cable car and the trams, obviously!)

Sightseeing:

• Visit the Alcatraz island, where San Francisco’s most famous historical prison is located. It once jailed notorious criminals like Al Capone. 
• Go to the Golden Gate bridge. You can either walk or bike across it. And there is a point after the bridge where you can stop and take photos of the bridge.
• Go and see the Painted Ladies, which is a row of colourful houses near Alamo Square, and is also not far from the city centre. 
• Go to the Palace of fine arts and admire the lovely architecture. The architecture is very much like that of Europe, and it is beautiful. It makes for a picturesque scene.
• Do not forget, Pier 39 Fisherman’s wharf. The sealions are resting on the pier platforms, 24/7. This is a must do, as it is totally free to watch them, and if you are hungry, don’t forget there are plenty of good restaurants right next door!
• ​There are plenty of activities on offer for fisherman’s wharf, including Madame Tussads, cruises, sailing and not to mention, the aquarium of the bay. This is not an exhaustive list, and so I will not list them all.
• The Golden Gate park has a museum and an art exhibition, as well as the botanical gardens (I only went to the botanical gardens, not the other two). They also have the Japanese tea garden too, where you can have some tea! Unfortunately, we did not go in there, either. But, this park is beautiful, open and spacious and if you want to go to a museum, this is a great park to stop off at.

Dining:

While I will include some dining places as part of what to do in San Francisco, it will be in more detail on my food and drink review website. 
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• Go to Ghirardelli Square, near fisherman’s wharf. The chocolates are really good, and they are also known for their desserts too, in addition to chocolate.
• Order a clam chowder in an edible sourdough bowl at Boudin. This is located in Fisherman’s wharf, and the clam chowder is really good. Additionally, you can see through the window how the sourdough is made.
• Go to Fisherman’s wharf. In Fisherman’s wharf, including Pier 39, there are a whole lot of restaurants that you can go to for lunch or dinner.

San Francisco is a wonderful destination, although it may involve a lengthy flight from your local area if you’re traveling from other parts of the world. Additionally, despite California’s stringent gun control laws, incidents of mass shootings, like in other parts of the USA, can still occur. Therefore, it’s essential to remain vigilant and cautious at all times. Despite these issues, San Francisco remains a fantastic place for a holiday!