How to Spend a Weekend in San Francisco
You've made your plans to visit campus for your residency requirements, and you have a few hours planned to meet your classmates and head to class, but what are you going to do with the rest of your time in San Francisco? Even if you're visiting for a quick weekend, there are some very classic San Fran things to do.
*Note, Masks are no longer required in most public indoor settings but are still strongly recommended. Check the sf.gov website for the most up-to-date information before making plans.
Golden Gate Bridge
There's nothing more iconic about San Francisco than the Golden Gate Bridge, so make sure that's on your list. There is parking available at the Welcome Center or Battery Godfrey. If you choose the latter, you can get a view that many others don't know about.
Walking across the bridge is a great (and free!) way to spend part of your day. It's windy, so make sure you plan accordingly. You can also walk up Conzelman Road to Battery Spencer for another great bridge view. Don't forget to enjoy the view -- and take some great photos.
Bonus: Snowbird Coffee -- after you walk across the bridge, head towards Golden Gate Park and visit Snowbird Coffee. Take a break and chat with friends over affogatos (espresso over ice cream) or a matcha latte.
Painted Ladies
Around sunset on one of the days of your weekend adventure, head towards the Painted Ladies. You'll recognize these houses as trademark images of San Francisco life. Sunset is the best time to get photos of them, and you can also picnic in nearby Alamo Square. The square has lots of lavish Victorian architecture, so you can plan on spending some time walking around the area.
Ride a Cable Car
Cable cars are perfectly San Francisco, and you can couple this experience with another of your must-see locations. Depending on how long you have and what you want to do, you have a few options. You can take the cable car from Powell St & Market St and ride it to Fishermans Wharf.
You have a few options if you want to see a gorgeous city view. The first is the Powell Hyde Line from that same stop as above. The route takes you through Russian Hill and Lombard Street and shows a great view of the bay. You can also take the California route to Nob Hill.
If you're looking for a photo for posterity, check out the empty cars parked at Francisco & Taylor and snap some pictures for free.
Bonus: Saint Frank Coffee Shop -- if you take the cable car to Russian Hill, check out this bright and fun coffee shop. Try the Kaffe tonic, a shot of espresso poured over tonic and ice while you're there.
Fishermans Wharf
Fishermans Wharf is definitely a tourist area, but that doesn't make it less fun. You can see sea lions sunbathing, play old-school arcade games and check out the mirror maze. It's also the only place in the city with an In-n-Out, so you can get a burger and animal-style fries. Take your burger to-go and head to the Aquatics Cove, and watch people swim in the cove.
If you have more time to explore, there are many more options of amazing things to see. Put some of those things on the list for your visit next term.
Join a strong community of military veterans and their family members by connecting with other students at GGU.