A weekend in San Francisco?  Heck yes it’s possible.  I get joy from short getaways and mini trips, and this was definitely one of those short but worth it escapes.  Sometimes it’s good to get away and be somewhere else new.  It gives me a sense of serenity into the unknown.

MAJOR TIP:  BE AN EARLY RISER!!!  PARKING IS REALLY HARD IN SAN FRANCISCO

Hotel:  La Quinta Inn & Suites San Francisco Airport West
Address: 1390 El Camino Real Millbrae
Includes: breakfast

Transportation: We rented a car at the airport.  Very pricey but that’s expected with rental cars always telling you a different price than what you originally booked online… but anyway… an important tip I can share is make sure you include or purchase the unlimited toll pass.  Honestly, this is beneficial because for every time you enter the bridge there is a toll fee.  We had missed so much turns or entered the wrong way, which is very common especially if you are in a new and busy city.  Traffic is also quite stressful so by having this pass we were able to skip the long lines and was able to go to the fast lane, which means they just take a picture of your license plate and off you go! The lines were ridiculously long, and if it weren’t for that pass we probably would have spent most of our vacation waiting in traffic.

Sights to See

Golden Gate Bridge

• Best time/day to visit the Golden Gate is on a Sunday morning.  7AM early! This place is probably the most difficult place to visit due to parking and the amount of tourists that surrounds this place.  I say wake up early and catch the sunrise! Picture above was taken from Battery Spencer.   

Bakers Beach

• Warning:  THIS IS A NUDIST BEACH! Do not be surprised if you see naked people!

Palace of Fine Arts

• Again, GO EARLY!
• no entrance fee
• Address: 3399 Lyon Street

Lombard Street

• Crookedest street in the world.  Try and drive through it, but just be very careful and cautious!

Fisherman’s Warf

• view of sea lions
• pier 39
• make sure to eat sea food!!

 

Japanese Tea Garden

• 75 Hagiwara Tea Garden Drive
• Mon, Wed, Fri: FREE admission, if entered by 10:00AM (FREE IS GOOD, WAKE UP EARLY!!)
  Entrance Fee after 10:00 –  $9.00 (Non-Residents)
• Don’t miss out and enjoy a cup of tea at their Tea House

Painted Ladies

• This is where Full House was filmed so don’t miss out on seeing this
• best time to visit? I’m sure you should know by now… GO EARLY!!

a busy day                                              an early start

Chinatown

Tiled Steps

• Located on Moraga St. between 15th & 16th Ave. This is located in a neighborhood, so parking was much easier.  

• 163 steps
• view from the top was definitely worth it

 

 

 

 

Reminder:  All my travel itineraries are based on my own travel expectations.  Of course it’s up to you to omit or add more to it, I’m just here to hopefully be that stepping stone for those who simply seek suggestions.