Tara & Evan
Things to Do
GoCar Tours - San Francisco
The BEST way to explore a lot of ground in a little bit of time. Worth the splurge!
Fisherman's Wharf
SF's touristy area, but one of Ev's favorites. Must go play in Musee Mecanique, an old school arcade with both old & new games. Lots of weird stuff. Very entertaining! Grab a bucket of beers & a chowder bread bowl at The Chowder Hut across the street. While you're up here, you HAVE to see the sea lions basking in the sun at Pier 39. You can also book a trip to Alcatraz up here. Highly recommend getting the guided audio tour. And last but not least, The Ferry building is filled with great coffee, food, drinks, & shops! You may even catch the Farmer's Market depending on the day!
The Dogpatch
Catch a game at Oracle Park if you can - preferably if the Phillies are playing! Seats on first base side give you the best view of the Bay. Rent paddleboards at Dogpatch Paddle and enjoy a day on the Bay. Grab drinks on Mission Rock Resort's beautiful bayside patio - great bloodies! Enjoy brunch at Just For You Cafe - Tara's first job in the City! Must get the beignets & Louisiana coffee, and if you're lucky, the Corned Beef Hash will be the special of the day.
The Castro
SF's boisterous & loving Gayborhood! Grab coffee at Philz - Ev's favorite is the Tesora (sweet and creamy) & Tara's is the iced Mint Mojito. DELICIOUS! Hike or drive up to Twin Peaks for a 360 view of the city, grab drinks & chat with old-school locals at Moby Dicks or Twin Peaks Tavern, snag some kinky, yet delicious cookies from Hot Cookie, & peruse the rainbow-painted crosswalks. You will not be disappointed! You will leave The Castro feeling happy & loved!
The Mission
SF's lively & beloved "Little Mexico" that has quickly turned into a hipster paradise over the years. Catch some rays in Dolores Park. If you see The Coconut Man, make the smart choice & buy a drink from him. If you see anyone selling food or snacks, enter at your own risk & ask for the ingredient list. Enjoy delicious tapas, Sangria, & the endearing Mariachi band at Picaro - our favorite go-to restaurant for visitors. Shop for unique & unusual gifts at Paxton Gate - which also has a great plant selection & garden! If you've got a sweet tooth, do not pass up Bi-Rite Creamery. And if you need a coffee pick-me-up, stop at Stable Cafe & enjoy their beautiful ever-changing courtyard garden.
Haight-Ashbury
SF's "Hippy" neighborhood will transport you back to the 1960s! Check out Janis Joplin's house at 635 Ashbury Street or the Grateful Dead House at 710 Ashbury Street. Get your coffee on at Ritual & then get your heart pumpin' & blood flowin' on the climb to the top of Buena Vista Park - views of the Golden Gate Bridge & beyond. Reward yourself with a microbrew at Magnolia Brewing - sit on their sidewalk patio to watch the people & traffic go by. Lots of window shopping here: relax with some good reads at The Booksmith; revive your senses at The Mellow - a beautiful & hip plant shop; and browse good tunes at Amoeba Music - the ultimate music store with endless supplies of vinyls, CDs, & cassettes. And if you really want to be a local, snag some freshly made sammies, meats, cheeses, & vino at Haight Street Market and have a good ol' fashion SF picnic in the nearby Panhandle or Golden Gate Park.
Ocean Beach and Golden Gate Park
If it's warm enough, you may be lucky enough to have a true beach day, but don't forget to pack your layers! Check out Sutro Baths - ruins of recreational ocean swimming pools built in 1894 that burnt down in a 1966 fire. Hike the nearby Lands End Trail that boasts amazing views of the Pacific Ocean and Golden Gate Bridge. Grab a beer and lunch at Beach Chalet and Brewery and enjoy their outdoor garden. Rent Lyft bikes and ride through Golden Gate Park, stopping along the way to enjoy the bison, Stowe Lake (rent pedal boats!), SF Botanical Gardens, the California Academy of Sciences, and so much more! The possibilities through the park are ENDLESS and the smell of eucalyptus will leave you pining for more!
North Beach
Known as SF's "Little Italy," you'll find lots of wine shops and open window cafes. Start the day with a cup of joe at Reveille Coffee and head to the infamous three-level City Lights Bookstore. Get lost in the Beat Museum and learn about adventurers and dreamers like Jack Kerouac and the like. Keep the Beat vibe going with a drink at Vesuvio Cafe (a favorite of the Beatniks) or get a fancy cocktail at Comstock Saloon. Grab a delicious sammy at the old school Molinari's Delicatessen and take it to Washington Square Park for a picnic in front of the gorgeous St. Peter and Paul Church - where Marilyn Monroe and Joe DiMaggio married. If you're feeling really ambitious, climb the 387 steps through beautiful gardens up to Coit Tower (a monument to firefighters). Or you can drive. End the day at one of our favorites, Sotto Mare, a tiny seafood restaurant serving amazing cioppino and wine.