If you’re going to San Francisco, you hope for great weather. Unfortunately, for me it wasn’t, even the Golden Gate Bridge – the icon of SanFrancisco – looks a bit sad in the pouring rain…
I was on a city trip in San Francisco for only four days in March 2011 and did so many fun things! For example, despite the rain, I conquered the Golden Gate Bridge on my steel steed and was rewarded with hot chocolate and a delicious lunch in Sausalito!
NB. Unfortunately, the quality of most of my photos is very poor due to a hard disc crash…
Tip: Click the layers on and off in this map with the square button (with the arrow) on the left in the grey beam.
Since there are already so many books written about the touristy hotspots in San Francisco. Let me briefly summarize my highlights:
- Rent a bike and cycle over the Golden Gate Bridge to Sausalito (rent your bike – and possibly a tour – at Blazing Saddles). Stop on the bridge to enjoy the view and you might see dolphins jumping in the water far below! Enjoy in one of the great fish restaurants on the water for a well-deserved lunch or drink in Sausalito;
- Eat delicious clam chowder and meet the sea lions at the bustling Fisherman’s Wharf and Pier 39;
- Immerse yourself in the stories about the prison Alcatraz on prison island. From the boat to Alcatraz Island you also have great views of the Golden Gate Bridge;
- Go on an iconic cable car ride up the steep roads to enjoy the view from higher grounds. Then drop by Lombard Street – the street with the most bends in the world;
- Imagine yourself in Asia in Chinatown or in Italy in Little Italy;
- Enjoy a gospel choir performance at church Glide on Sundays. Don’t worry if you are not religious or adhere to another faith: everyone is welcome in this community!
- Visit Mel’s Drive-in for a typical American burger, slider or milkshake; without a visit to this iconic American diner (since 1947!) your trip to the United States is not complete.
I hope you’re having better weather in San Francisco than I had 😉 If you’ve been to San Francisco recently, I’d love to hear your tips! Leave them here in the comments or send me a DM/comment on my Instagram.
Tip: If you make a stopover in Atlanta (for example, if you are flying from Europe and traveling on to South America, as I have to Chile), then it is very easy to leave the airport for a few hours and go shopping in one of the many shopping malls! Read my tips here: Stopover in Atlanta.
Other cool cities that you can easily discover by bicycle – and I wrote before on TeppieTravels.com – are Buenos Aires, Lima and Bangkok. For a bike ride in The Netherlands, you can use my cycle route in The Hague. Or discover the real China in Shanghai or Hong Kong.
On vacation with a baby? Then check out my experiences in Curacao with a baby or a road trip in Italy with a baby. I also have the ultimate packing list for traveling with a baby prepared for you.
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