Long (Full) Weekend in San Francisco

After a wonderful trip to Oahu, my husband and I stopped through San Francisco to visit some friends before heading home to Florida. We packed in a city-full of sites, shopping, eating, and walking! San Fran is a modern city with historical overtones and interesting sites such as the rugged Alcatraz, bustling Fisherman's Wharf, tasty Ghirardelli Square, and Lombard Street (the "crookedest street in the world"). A visit to the Berkley campus, to get a glimpse of redwoods and cherry blossoms, was a treat. We also gawked at the piles of seals on Pier 39, and had our first taste of the popular In-N-Out burger joint. The looming hills we had seen in postcards became true as we hiked straight up and enjoyed the view overlooking the city and the bay. Of course, our trip wouldn't be complete without seeing the grand Golden Gate—which didn't disappoint, but exceeded our expectations!

Quick Tips:

Don't miss a visit to the various ethnic neighborhoods, including one of the most extensive Chinatowns outside of Asia, the Latin area which includes EXTENSIVE wall murals up and down random alleys, and a tasty little Italy! Also, enjoy a picnic on the hill by the "Painted Ladies" made famous by the 80s sitcom, Full House. Stop by the Golden Gate Park for an extensive overview of botanicals, museums, and windmills complete with black tulips in a bed of posies!

Best Way To Get Around:

We were blessed to have our friends as great "tour guides" who swept us around on various types of transportation including the BART subway, famous cable cars, vintage buses, and most of all...our trusty feet! Be sure to hang off the sides of the cable car poles for good measure (at least when it's stopped for a Kodak moment!). To experience the layout of this city, take a walk up Hyde Street from the water to Lombard, and then mosey down the crooked lane. The bay bridges are expensive to cross (-5 tolls) and parking is sparse, so take the unique public transportation when you can!

We'd heard of In-N-Out from our friends who lived out west for years, but living on the East Coast, we'd never had the opportunity to visit, until our trip to San Fran. Founded in 1948 and styled as a retro-style diner, this burger joint is well worth the visit, especially for a cheap meal in an expensive city.

The menu is shockingly simple, with only five items (hamburger, cheeseburger, double hamburger, fries, drinks/shakes) ranging from $.99 to a couple dollars. Fresh ingredients is what this place prides itself on; no burger is ever frozen, and the potato is cut on-site when fries are ordered. Of course, being vegetarians, my husband and I thought we'd be out of luck for the main dish, but there is a "secret menu" that the regulars know. We ordered a "grilled cheese: animal style", and it was amazing! "Animal style" is code for "all the toppings please", which include lettuce, tomato, mustard, pickles, grilled onions, and extra special sauce. You never would've known our burger was missing the meat! So, if you're ever in San Fran, make a stop at the famous In-N-Out - well worth it!

Pulling up to this somewhat grungy building with a funny painted sign made us wonder what awaited us inside, but our friends who were showing us around the city promised it was worth it and one of their favorite places. I think the best way to describe this unique restaurant is "eclectic." It is located in the Bernal Heights area of the Mission district, which explains the mural-type painting of the building outside, but offers creative, homemade Italian cuisine and sends leftovers home with you in Chinese take-out boxes! The atmosphere is funky with pink walls, various hung art pieces, from kung-fu posters to Kahlo-style oil paintings, lacy aprons hanging from a clothesline over the bar, and dim candlelight.

The menus are handwritten in colorful girly writing and sit in frames on the tabletop. The dishes range from the famous spaghetti-and-meatballs, to creative entrees with colorful sauces, eggplant, fish, and veal. Although we were not blown away by the food, a little bland for the price ($15-20/plate), the non-uniformed staff was very friendly.

Expect to wait a while for a seat (opt for tables, because the booths are very uncomfortable). While you wait, pop in for a quick pint and game of pool at the next-door neighborhood pub. Emmy's is worth the stop for the overall experience, but not just for the food or price.

In this park that occupies over 45 city blocks of area, one can get lost in the various-themed gardens, museums, and overall beauty. The things to see and activities to participate in are so extensive, it would be hard to take it all in with one day-trip...but on an overcast Sunday in April we tried! Our first stop was the Botanical Garden at Strybing Arboretum. This section of the park boosts over 6,000 types of plants, many of which have name and fact plaques for the visitors' knowledge. We observed many types of birds and turtles as we picnicked near a pond with a quaint bridge crossing to an open field where the sounds of the Golden Gate Park Band played beautiful tunes. This band has been giving free concerts every Sunday since 1882.

Our next stop was across the street at the Japanese Tea Garden, with acres of ponds, delicate flora, bridges, and statues; and on to the new M.H. de Young Museum with it's breathtaking design of outdoor art and environmentally conscious architecture. Visit the many exhibitions (outdoor courtyard and grounds are free) and climb the Hamon Tower for a glorious view over the city.

Don't leave without visiting the western-most border of the park, where two windmills tower above the Pacific Ocean. One is surrounded by the Queen Wilhelmina Tulip Garden, which in peak season (late winter/early spring) is a sight to behold, with black tulips among colorful poppies. Overall, this park is breathtaking and full of life with bicyclers, joggers, grazing bison, Frisbee tournaments and more! Much to see and do...a "must-see" in San Fran!

After hiking up the steep, steep Hyde Street from the bay, we arrived at the top of the famous Lombard Street: "the crookedest street in the world." The intersection was a hubbub of excitement, where cars from all directions merged awaiting their turn to slowly maneuver down the windy road. This is also a popular cable car stop on the Powell-Hyde route, so the distinct bells are heard down the street signaling the upcoming stop for the lines and lines of hopeful passengers waiting to hop on.

We took on Lombard Street by foot the first time and, of course, stopped at the bottom to take a photo looking up at the confusion. The view from the top is worth a trip to look over the city toward the Coit Tower. Our second trip down Lombard was in a car, and was interesting, although not as much of a view unless you have a convertible. Lombard is great to say you've seen it - and a good photo-op...but bring your good shoes!

The San Francisco Ferry Plaza Farmers' Market is one of experiences-galore for your senses. The market, which takes place each Tuesdays and Saturdays year-round (plus Thursdays and Sundays seasonally), offers a large spread of delicious goods, from unique purple carrots to fragrant lavender bouquets. Each vendor has to pass an inspection and be a California Certified Producer in order to sell. There is an information booth you can visit to find out more about sustainable agriculture and the current vendors. Don't hesitate to strike up conversations with the farmers - they'll tell you the background of the items you choose.

We enjoyed people-watching and taking our time walking through the tents and sampling various fare. Continue inside of the Ferry Building to try a multitude of gourmet treats, including chocolates, coffees, and teas. Grab a quick lunch at the raw-food sandwich tent at the entrance to the building, or at any one of the many healthful shoppes!