Things To Do
Golden Gate Bridge
*Shay's favorite viewpoint is Battery Spencer, located just north of the bridge and offering panoramic views of the city and bay.
Pier 39
A bustling, two-level waterfront marketplace and attraction complex. *Be on the lookout for Chonkers, the 1 ton sea lion!
Alcatraz Island
Former military fort and high-security federal prison - it housed notorious criminals like Al Capone and Birdman Robert Stroud.
Ghirardelli Square
Specialty retail and dining complex, housing shops and restaurants - was originally a chocolate factory established by Domenico “Domingo” Ghirardelli.
Japanese Tea Garden
The oldest operating public Japanese garden in North America.
Palace of Fine Arts
A renowned landmark originally built for the 1915 Panama-Pacific International Exposition.
Muir Woods National Monument
554-acre old-growth coast redwood forest. *For those driving, parking reservations are required.
Filoli
Historic House & Garden Where Shay and Scott got engaged!
Hiller Aviation Museum
A Smithsonian Affiliate focused on Northern California’s aviation history and future. It features over 50 aircraft, interactive flight simulators, and hands-on STEM exhibits.
Computer History Museum
Sit in a Waymo self-driving car, learn Photoshop from the pros, try your hand at coding, and experience the sights and sounds of classic computing.
Happy Hollow Park & Zoo
Children's Discovery Museum of San Jose
California's Great America
A 100-acre theme park featuring over 40 rides.
Municipal Rose Garden
Winchester Mystery House
Renowned for its bizarre, labyrinthine design, featuring doors to nowhere, staircases leading to ceilings, and a fixation on the number 13 - designed to confuse spirits.
Santana Row
Silicon Valley's Rodeo Drive
Apple Park Visitor Center
Features an Apple Store with exclusive merchandise, a café, and a rooftop terrace with limited views of Apple Park - Apple's futuristic headquarters and one of the most iconic corporate campuses in the world. Scott's workplace too!
Carmel-by-the-Sea
A picture-perfect storybook village on the Central Coast. One of Shay's favorite places in California! *Often foggy and chilly.
Monterey Bay Aquarium
Big Sur
A dramatic stretch of rugged California coastline where the Santa Lucia Mountains meet the Pacific Ocean. It is renowned for breathtaking, undeveloped views, towering redwood forests, and iconic landmarks like Bixby Creek Bridge and the McWay Falls waterfall that drops onto a beach.
Sausalito
A picturesque, affluent seaside town located just north of the Golden Gate Bridge - can be reached by car or ferry. *If the weather is nice, rent an electric boat and take in the stunning views of the San Francisco skyline from the water. Be sure to cruise by the house boats and be on the lookout for sea lions and seals!
Tiburon
Another beautiful, affluent waterfront town across the bay from San Francisco, most easily accessed by ferry. Known for high-end dining on Main Street, unique shops, and outdoor activities like biking, hiking, and boating.
Napa Valley
World-renowned premier wine region located about 50 miles north of San Francisco.
