San Francisco an amazing iconic city which is built on hills and is known for its consistent fog, the iconic Golden Gate Bridge, cable cars and colourful Victorian houses. I got a chance to visit this beautiful place last year. I spent 3 days in San Francisco while I was staying with my family in Los Angeles and thought it is a chance I might not get anytime soon if I didn’t go then itself. It was the best decision I made!
Let the 3 Days in San Francisco begin!
I stayed at SF Plaza hotel which is near Dragon’s Gate entrance to china town. I loved walking up and down those hills, enjoying the cool weather in the height of summer. Near the seaside you need a jacket, the wind is so cold! And there were hordes of tourists.
The Big Bus Tour to Golden Gate Bridge
The big bus tour is a good way for a quick tour and ride across the Golden Gate Bridge. It is an amazing experience (that is the least one can say about it). Covered in a mysterious fog, the bridge is a sight to behold. It is a truly magnificent piece of architecture and makes one awestruck when you see it for the first time (pictures and movies do not do justice to it!). It was so windy that my hat flew off in the open bus. I had a great time enjoying the lovely views you get to see while driving through the fog. The big bus commentary informs you about everything during the ride so there is no chance of you missing out on anything or feeling lost.
From Fisherman’s Wharf to Golden Gate Park
I got down at Fisherman’s Wharf which is a cool place with lots of restaurants serving seafood and lots of other cuisines too. Street musicians performing keep the families entertained and I would say it is a good family place as I saw many while I was loafing around there.
One must see the Alcatraz Island, the prison we have seen in so many movies (you can even take a boat ride out to it), the Haight Ashbury District and the Golden Gate Park. It is a humongous green space for people to hang out and have fun, in the shade of huge Sequoia trees, one can spend an hour or more very easily enjoying the breeze and reading your favourite book under the trees or having a quiet peaceful time.
Embarcadero to Sausalito
Early morning the next day I took the ferry from the Embarcadero, which is the ferry station with lots of cafes and shops which keep you occupied while you wait for your ferry to come. I took a ferry to Sausalito, a small quaint town. The short sea cruise was fun but I would advise you take a jacket as the sea breeze is chilling. I had lunch there and then caught a bus to the Redwood forest.
Enjoy some peace and silence in the forest
The ride is through some beautiful hilly terrains to the Redwood Forest. The tallest, most massive and oldest trees in the world are found here. They are a world heritage site (800 years old). There is an amazing silence in the forest, if you close your eyes and stay there for some time you will feel like you are in some parallel world where there is no hustle and bustle!
Coit Tower and Cable Cars
Next, I went to the Coit tower which I reached after climbing lots of steps up a hill but it was worth it as there were great views from the top which compensated my walk. Next on the agenda was a ride on the cable car, the world’s last manually operated system. It was fun, crawling up a steep hill and then faster down other and there were amazing views from the top and on the way down.
The Crooked Lombard Street
Lombard Street is worth a visit too. You see the traffic crawling down the world’s most crooked street between beautiful flower banks. It is a very steep hill which is why the street has to be so crooked. I just had to see the Church where the sniper hides in the movie “Dirty Harry “! My last visit was to the North Beach neighbourhood, across from Washington Square Park after which I also went to Pier 39 near Fisherman’s Wharf to see the sea lions.
It was a delightful trip and I wish I had more time to spend there. As they say, the more you get the more you want!
Read more: Things to see and do in San Francisco
