Visiting San Francisco - The Shadrian Chronicles

San Francisco is a wonderful city on the west coast of California. With access to a number of national parks and a number of activities within the city, there is plenty to see and do. Check out our guide below to activities in and around the Bay City.

When should you go to San Francisco?

There is literally no bad season to visit San Francisco. The winter in San Francisco is mild and it never snows. The summer is dry, but not as hot as other places in California, with some nights being cool. Spring and fall offer cool to warm days. The best season for weather and to avoid tourists is in the fall, with summer being peak tourist season.

To drive or not to drive?

San Francisco has one of the best transit systems in America. You can get anywhere in the City via transit, or by using Uber/Lyft. There is a train that takes you from the airport to the City, as well as any the majority of landmarks and tourist areas.

If you intend to visit one of the many national parks that surround San Francisco, you will need to rent a car. Based on our experience, we do not recommend driving in the City. There are a lot of hills and pedestrians, which make driving difficult. If you need to rent a car, rent from the airport, and use it only to travel outside of the City.

Hotel or Airbnb?

San Francisco is like most other major cities, so you have hundreds of Airbnb options. Airbnb is nearly always going to be cheaper than a hotel, especially in places like San Francisco. If you are new to Airbnb, sign up here.

There is a large number of hotels available. All of the major and minor hotel chains have at least one hotel available. Hotels can range from the average of $150-200 a night to well over $400 a night, depending on where you stay. Our favorite hotel is the Intercontinental San Francisco but it does come with a hefty price of around $300 a night. The hotel is walking distance from the train station and close to Chinatown.

If you are going to spend all of your time in the Fisherman’s Wharf area, there are hotels and Airbnb’s in that area that would be better options.

Top Things to do in San Francisco

Below is a list of the top sights and experiences in San Francisco.

Alcatraz Island – One of the top two tourist attractions in San Francisco. The island is home to the famous U.S. Penitentiary Alcatraz and the homes and buildings of the families that lived there. Take the walking tour of the prison, and pick some of the scheduled activities once you are on the island. You can purchase ferry tickets through the NPS website, but plan ahead as tickets do sell out.
Golden Gate Bridge – With a number of great viewpoints, this is probably the picture everyone wants to get when they visit. In the morning and late afternoon a fog usually takes over the bridge, but if possible sunrise or sunset make some stunning pictures. Just before the bridge is a huge park with numerous viewpoints.
Fisherman’s Wharf – An area full of food, activities, and the home of Ghirardelli Chocolate make up the area known as Fisherman’s Wharf. This is by far the busiest area of San Francisco, and majority of the people are probably tourists. Access to Alcatraz is through here (Pier 33)
Chinatown – The moment you walk into Chinatown you feel like you have changed cities. There are a number of authentic restaurants and shops to explore. During the holidays, the area can be very lively and heavily decorated.
Lombard Street – Do not try and drive down the street, it is not worth your time. The street gets extremely crowded, and everyone is trying to take a picture. The best time to visit is early morning before the crowds get too big.
The Castro District – Home to the Castro Theatre and gay rights history, the Castro District is a hodgepodge of bars, shops, restaurants, and homes. A majority of the bars, shops, and restaurants are gay owned or gay friendly.
Golden Gate Park – The Golden Gate Park is a pretty large park in western San Francisco. The park has a number of activities and attractions on its own. This is a great place for kids and families.
The Presidio – Another great place for families, the Presidio is a huge park area just south of the Golden Gate Bridge. The park is huge and offers a number of attractions and sites, including the Palace of Fine Arts, the Walt Disney Family Museum, and Golden Gate Bridge viewpoints.
Baseball/Football/Basketball Games – For baseball you have the San Francisco Giants and the Oakland A’s, for football you have the San Francisco 49ers and the Oakland Raiders, and for basketball you have the Golden State Warriors. All options have transit options to reach them.

Day Trips from San Francisco

The following is a list of day trips from San Francisco. Some of these are better treated as multi-day visits, but they can all be done within a day.

Napa Valley – You can reach the Napa Valley area in about 1.5 hours from the San Francisco airport.
Muir Woods – Around an hour away from the airport lies Muir Woods. The park is often crowded and has a limited availability of visitors each day. If you want to check out the park, plan to arrive early and reserve your spot in advance.
Redwoods National Park – The national park is about 6 hours north of San Francisco. The best way to visit the park is to spend a few days. The towering redwoods are a true wonder. Check out our guide to visiting Redwoods National Park here.
Yosemite National Park – Around four hours to the east is one of the most famous national parks in America. The park can get crowded during holidays and the peak summer season. A portion of the park is closed from late fall to late spring due to snow.
Lassen Volcanic National Park – Around four hours to the northeast, the national park offers some unique landscapes from waterfalls to thermal features.
Point Reyes National Seashore – Around an hour and a half north of San Francisco, the seashore is home to over a thousand different plants and animals. The shore itself is fairly impressive and there are a number of activities to keep you busy.
Big Sur – Probably best known for its picturesque bridge and beach, the Big Sur area is a beautiful portion of the coast line just south of San Francisco. You can camp in the area or spend a day just checking out the area. The area is a little over two hours south of San Francisco along the coastal highway.

Hopefully our guide to San Francisco helps you plan your next visit, but feel free to comment below or contact us with any questions!