Things To Do In San Francisco
San Francisco
Born and nurtured in the City by the Bay, I may not have left my heart in San Francisco, but I did leave my Tomagachi at Fisherman’s Wharf during a field trip in 2002. As a Los Angeles immigrant, I’ve frequently found myself a tourist in my city; family trips have forced me to rediscover the city’s allure despite the botched facelift of the tech boom. Today, tech bros are an invasive species infiltrating our communities with tacky decor and Tesla charging stations. The Marina is packed with hedge fund professionals dressed in Patagonia vests receiving B-12 IV treatments to cure their hangovers.
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North Beach & Chinatown
When I have friends in town, this is the first place I visit. Nearly every hilltop offers panoramic views of the city, stretching from Coit Tower to the Golden Gate Bridge. The neighborhoods are so close together that you can stroll a block from North Beach’s beautiful Little Italy to the center of historic Chinatown.
The Mission & Castro
The Mission District, perhaps the most brutally gentrified neighborhood in San Francisco in the last 20 years, is home to a mix of long-standing authentic Mexican eateries, new-age stores, and “$$” fine-dining Eater restaurants. With the historic Castro neighborhood close, I recommend taking a stroll around on your route to the park. As much as I adore the historic LGBTQ, rainbow-flagged area, it’s more of a tourist stop on the route to the Mission (particularly in terms of food).
Golden Gate Park to Lower Haight
Golden Gate Park spans from Haight Ashbury (also known as the park’s “panhandle”) to the Pacific Ocean. If you spend the day crisscrossing the park, you can tour numerous nearby neighborhoods. Whether you like a day in nature, museums, shopping, or simply eating your way through the city, here are a few highlights you may combine for the perfect day in the city.
Arsicault Bakery
Forget the underwhelming hotel croissants. Bon Appetit called Arsicault the greatest bakery in America in 2016, and it remains as popular and tasty today. While the croissants are a must-try, the rest of their carefully crafted menu is equally delectable. There is no seating, however Breck’s next door serves excellent coffee and ignores people carrying visible Arsicault bags. Breck’s also sells a variety of wines and spirits, so make a stop for some hard kombucha before heading to the park, which is a short 15-minute walk away.
Shopping on Haight Street
Don’t be put off by the tie-dye and hippie-oddity shops; this area is much more than a throwback tourist trap. Haight-Ashbury boasts the best thrifting spots in the city, so if you’re in SF to shop, don’t miss it. Aside from “do your own digging” stores like Goodwill and Buffalo Exchange, there are well-curated if more expensive options like Wasteland, Indigo, and Decades of Fashion. If you enjoy music, don’t miss the legendary Amoeba Records. They still have up to 100,000 CDs and vinyl records, both new and secondhand, at their original 1997 location.
