San Francisco is a remarkable city. For years, we were limiting ourselves to only the typical things every tourist does. This year, however, we decided to do a better job exploring San Francisco’s neighborhoods.
The Marina District
The Marina district is where we decided to stay this time. We booked a very comfortable room at the Cow Hollow Inn right off Chestnut Street. This is a fantastic neighborhood to stay in. Chestnut Street offers a plethora of vibrant bars and restaurants, so finding a good place to eat is easy. It is an affluent area and the buildings here are beautiful. I love San Francisco’s architecture, so strolling along the neighborhood was certainly pleasurable.
If you’re here, definitely visit the Palace of Fine Arts located right next to the east side of Presidio. It was built for the 1915 World’s Fair and is on the US National Register of Historic Places. Today, the Palace and the lagoon attract residents and visitors alike.
Another great thing to do if you’re here is to stroll along the Marina Blvd. There is a pedestrian walkway and a bike trail along the water with stunning views of the Golden Gate Bridge and Alcatraz.
Pacific Heights
This is another lovely residential neighborhood with spectacular views of the San Francisco Bay. In fact, you can see the Golden Gate Bridge from the top of several streets on a clear day. Fillmore Street is a great street to walk along and has many options for food and drinks.
Cow Hollow
Cow Hollow is an attractive area of the city. We walked along Union Street and enjoyed the shopping options. There are great restaurants and bars in the neighborhood as well. We actually watched the 49ers vs Seahawks game on Monday Night Football in one of the bars here and had lots of fun. More importantly, the Seahawks won👍!
Presidio
The Presidio used to serve as a military post and became a national park site after the military departed in 1994. We explored this magnificent park by walking from the Palace of Fine Arts all the way to China Beach, and ultimately to Lands End. I took a little detour to check out the beach and the spectacular views of the Golden Gate Bridge from Crissy Fields. It’s a wonderful place to relax and have a picnic, so if you have the time, absolutely do that.
Presidio is enormous, so in order to do it justice, stop by the visitor center and pick up a map. You can explore the park’s military history by visiting the Officers’ Club or if you have your children with you, you can go to the Walt Disney Museum. We passed on those attractions and headed towards the cemetery. As it was Veterans Day, the cemetery was decorated with flags and flowers. From there, we followed Washington Boulevard along the golf course to Battery Caulfield Rd, and eventually to Lobos Creek Valley Trail.
The trails take you through the forest of very fragrant cypress, eucalyptus, and pine trees. If you want to get away from the hustle and bustle of the city, Presidio will certainly offer the seclusion you seek.
Lincoln Park and Lands End
From China Beach, we continued our hike along Lands End Trail to the Lands End Overlook. The trail hugs the cliff offering expansive views of the San Francisco Bay, the Golden Gate Bridge, and the Pacific Ocean.
On the way out of the park, we stopped at the Lincoln Highway Western Terminus– the final point on the first road across the United States. It was a cool sight to see.
Exploring San Francisco's more popular neighborhoods: Fisherman’s Wharf
Fisherman’s Wharf is one of the most popular spots in San Francisco. Thousands of tourists come here every day to browse the souvenir shops, eat wonderful seafood, and sea the barking sea lions at Pier 39. The waterfront offers great views of Alcatraz, the Bay Bridge, and the Golden Gate. You can take a boat to Alcatraz from here, something I will eventually have to do. Bay cruises are also available. If you like Ghirardelli chocolates, head west to Ghirardelli Square. You can get your fill of Ghirardelli chocolate deserts or just a couple of free chocolate bar samples at one of their stores. Either way, it’s a fun area to check out.
Telegraph Hill
One of the original seven hills of San Francisco, Telegraph Hill is where the Coit Tower is located. Built in early 1930, the Coit Tower was designed to add beauty to the city. Take the Filbert Steps to go up and enjoy the lovely houses along the way. You can climb up to the top of the Coit Tower or you can simply enjoy the 360 degree panorama of the bay and the city from its base. On a clear day, you’ll have gorgeous views.
North Beach
If you have been to San Francisco, you have most likely been to this neighborhood. Located right next to Chinatown, North Beach is home to the Italian neighborhood. It’s a great place to have a bowl of pasta sitting in one of the outdoor restaurants.
I recommend visiting the beautiful St. Peter and Paul Church. This is where Joe DiMaggio married Marilyn Monroe, so the church is on many tourists’ itineraries. Washington Square is right across the street, a nice green space to relax.
North Beach is also home to many Beat Generation sights. Jack Kerouac, Allen Ginsberg, and other writers frequented bars and cafes in this area. You can read more about this topic here.
Chinatown
Exploring San Francisco’s neighborhoods would not be complete without visiting Chinatown. One of the most popular areas in the city, San Francisco’s Chinatown is also the oldest in North America. It is a vibrant district that boasts beautiful and colorful buildings, lots of cheap souvenir shops, and a ton of good food. Grant Avenue is the main shopping street but it is fun to walk in and out of the side streets as well.
Union Square
Union Square is, in my opinion, one of the most beautiful main squares in America. Situated in the heart of San Francisco, the square itself is lined with beautiful palm trees and surrounded by department stores and upscale hotels. There is a great coffee shop right in the middle of the square. One of my favorite things to do actually is to sit in the outdoor area of the coffee shop sipping a coffee while people watching.
The Civic Center
The Civic Center Historic District of San Francisco is home to City Hall and the United Nations Building. Many cultural attractions are located here such as Herbst Theatre, Davis Symphony Hall, and the Asian Art Museum.
There are many other great neighborhoods in San Francisco worth exploring. I will add on to this list after my next trip there.
