Exploring San Francisco’s Iconic sights in 2020
San Francisco, California is one of the coolest cities on the west coast. If you’ve been following along with our epic cross country road trip, then here’s the long awaited final stop. It feels good to finally reach your destination after thousands of miles of driving! We spent 3 days sightseeing in the culturally diverse and upscale bay area, which was a decent amount of time to see the city’s highlights. Some attractions and restaurants are closed due to this damn virus, but we still managed to have an amazing time. Here’s the top 10 best things to do while visiting San Francisco.
10. Explore the Diverse Neighborhoods of San Francisco
San Francisco has an eclectic mix of culturally diverse neighborhoods all over the city. The Mission district has a Latino vibe with lots of art murals and live music clubs. Plus you can try the famous Mission style burrito at La Taqueria. Union Square is a great place to find upscale shopping and ride the antique trolley car. Hayes Valley is a trendy social community where there’s lot of bars and parks to gather around.
Stop by Japan town for for some high quality sushi or ramen, and an authentic ambiance that will feel like you’re in Tokyo. For all the Full House fans, you can find the original house on 1709 Broderick Street in the Pacific Heights district. Head to the Haight-Ashbury for an interesting bohemian atmosphere and that weird building with legs on it.
9. Lombard street
Take a trip to the Russian Hill neighborhood to find the crookedest street in the world. Lombard Street is just a windy road, but it does have a certain esoteric aesthetic to it. Just be ready to walk up the infamous steep hills of San Francisco.
8. Coit Tower
This 210 ft tower on Telegraph Hill offers impressive panoramic views of the city below. Admission to the ground level is free, but you’ll have to purchase a ticket to visit the top floors. Coit Tower is currently closed due to Covid19, but it’s still a cool sight to observe from outside.
7. Sausalito‘s Skyline View of San Francisco
It’s always a good idea to look at things from a different perspective. This small town just north of the city offers a more relaxed vibe than downtown. Sausalito has incredible views of the San Francisco skyline and Golden Gate bridge too. The chill European vibes make it the perfect place to grab a few drinks and hang out by the water.
6. Aquarium of the Bay
This San Francisco Aquarium is both beautiful and inspiring. Located right on the famous Pier 39, are thousands of marine animals and a great opportunity to learn more about life under the sea. You can also walk through a multitude of underwater tunnels filled with sharks, sting rays, and various other kinds of fish. Buy your tickets online here.
5. Fisherman’s Wharf & Pier 39
This bayside waterfront is one of the busiest places in San Francisco. The Fisherman’s Wharf is lined with food stalls with the beast seafood in the city. Try some of those delicious Bay shrimp, dungeness crab, and those famous clam chowder bread bowls as you gaze upon some of the beast views of Alcatraz Island. Stop by Pier 39 for tons of souvenir shopping and a colony of sea lions just chilling on the docks.
4. San Francisco China Town
New York and Seattle may have really awesome China Towns, but this might be one of my favorites. The ambiance from walking around the streets is completely different than the rest of the city. Try some of the best dim sum I’ve ever had at Hang Ah Tea Room, which has been around since the 20s. What else do you need besides a cool friendship gate and delectable food?
3. Alcatraz Island
This former prison in the San Francisco Bay is one of the most interesting historic tours in the city. Alcatraz held some of the most dangerous prisoners in the world until its closure in the 1960s. Reserve tickets for a guided tour of the creepy yet interesting island of incarceration here. The ferry departs from Alcatraz Landing on Pier 33. The island is closed now but plan to visit after January 4th, 2021 once it reopens.
2. Golden Gate Bridge of San Francisco
Of course, one of the top spots had to be reserved for symbol of San Francisco. The Golden Gate Bridge is a 1.7 mile long suspension bridge that offers great views of the bay area. Take a walk along this engineering marvel and feel the breath of the world! Baker’s Beach is another great vantage point to see the bridge.
1. Land’s End Lookout
What better way to end your trip to San Francisco than with even more amazing views of the Golden Gate Bridge. Head to the Land’s End Park and hike the trail towards the Land’s End Labyrinth for some of the most spectacular views in the city. Stop by during right before dusk for those magnificent California sunsets. The hike is around 1.5 miles round trip. It gets a little windy on the rocky shoreline so best to bring a jacket.
San Francisco is an awesome city with tons of iconic sights and diverse cultures to see. Even during this pandemic, you can experience the vibe of the bay. Although you should probably plan your visit once everything reopens and goes back to normal (if there is a normal to go back to…). It’s not as big as Los Angeles, so getting around is a bit easier. If you’re interested in making San Francisco the final destination of your own road trip, check out these tips. Thanks for reading and keep leveling up!
Check out our San Francisco bucket list tour video for all the coolest things to do in the city!
