Todo in SF

Here is a list of things to do in and around San Francisco.

• 49 Mile Scenic Drive

  The scenic drive goes through the most beautiful areas of San Francisco. I've never done it, so I can't say how long it would take. Here's a link to more details on Wikipedia.
  http://mappery.com/map-name/San-Francisco-Neighborhood-Map

• Alcatraz / Pier 39

  Take a tour boat from Fisherman's Wharf and check out the sea lions of Pier 39 on the way over. Make sure you buy your tickets in advance though, they sell out pretty quickly. Some tours offer audio, I recommend add that on.
  http://www.alcatraztickets.com/tours/tourType.cfm?ttid2=83

• Bay Area Attractions

  Six Flags Marine World. Other amusement parks and such. There are a few parks with coasters, but nothing compares to Cedar Point.
  http://www.sfbayfun.com/index.html

• Beach / Stinson Beach

  Hang out, check out the scenery. The drive from Stinson Beach out to the Point Reyes Lighthouse (out by Drakes Beach) is beautiful. The beaches in Northern California are usually pretty cold though, so don't expect to swim!
  http://www.stinsonbeachonline.com

• Beach Blanket Babylon

  Stage show - a musical with some crazy large hats. Best to buy tickets in advance, the seats fill up quickly. The show is quite funny and the jokes reflect current affairs with politics and actors. It's a bit of a walk from BART or an easy cab ride.
  http://www.beachblanketbabylon.com/

• Big Sur

  A small beach town with seafood, beaches, great scenery. About 1-2 hours south of the bay area.
  http://www.bigsurcalifornia.org/

• Bourbon & Branch

  A fantastic experience, Bourbon & Branch is an old-style speakeasy. You actually need a password to get in! The drinks are expensive, but well worth it because they are liquid works of art. Plan ahead and get a reservation for the best drinks in SF.

• Cable Cars

  Touristy and a little cheesy, but hey, some people call it fun. I also found out by watching the movie Reign Over Me, that they are the only moving national monument.
  http://cablecarmuseum.org/
  

• Cal Shakes

  Shakespeare in the summer time. I've heard the plays are quite good.
  http://www.calshakes.org/

• Carmel by the Sea

  A swanky, well-off beach city with seafood, great scenery, art. Very cute and quaint little city. About 1-2 hours south of the bay area.
  http://www.carmelcalifornia.org/

• Chabot Space & Science Center

  Awesome telescope viewing. The museum is in Berkeley up on a hill. The drive is nice and view when you get up there is phenomenal. The web site is always updated with viewing times and weather.
  http://chabotspace.org/

• De Young

  An art museum in Golden Gate Park. Aside from the art they have pretty good lectures from time to time.
  http://thinker.org/deyoung/

• Ferry Building

  Is located at Pier 1. Inside you'll find unique shopping with hand-made items and many delectables. I highly recommend getting some yummy cheeses from the Cowgirl Creamery then heading to the wine bar to eat your cheeses while you drink great wine. Or get some Japanese deli food and then take the ferry out to Angel Island.
  http://www.ferrybuildingmarketplace.com/

• Fisherman's Wharf

  Very touristy, I usually try to avoid it. You can get to it with BART and then a quick hop on a street car.

• Fort Mason

  Fort Mason is at the end of the piers in the northern most part of San Francisco. There you will find many activities for all ages and of all interests. Mappery
  http://www.fortmason.org/

• GoKart Racer

  Located in Burlingame (about 25 minutes sound of San Francisco). It's a little expensive for the amount of time you get to race, but boy is it a blast! The cost goes down the more people you have.
  http://www.gokartracer.com/

• Golden Gate Bridge

  If you head over to Muir Woods or Wine Country you'll cross the bridge. You can also check it out from the Presidio.
  http://www.goldengatebridge.org/

• Golden Gate Park

  At the park you will find a gorgeous flower conservatory, Japanese Tea Garden, and, surprisingly, some buffalo right in the middle! Great place for a picnic or nice long walk. The park ends on the west side at Ocean Beach. Mappery
  http://tinyurl.com/4v9o8

• Jump Sky High

  An old warehouse that's been renovated and filled with trampolines. Located about 45 minutes south of San Francisco. I hear that it's quite fun.
  http://www.jumpskyhigh.com/

• KFOG Kaboom (May)

  If you happen to be in the area around mid May, I highly recommend checking this out. They are the best fireworks I've ever seen. Takes place on pier 38 or so. The fireworks are synchronized with music.
  http://www.kfog.com/kaboom/

• Lindsay Wildlife Museum

  See live, non-releasable California wild animals closer than you can imagine. Hawks, owls, eagles and other birds of prey perch overhead. Go eye-to-eye with a fox, bobcat, opossum, coyote or other native mammals. Snakes, toads, turtles and other reptiles and amphibians are just around the corner.
  http://www.wildlife-museum.org/

• Monarch Butterfly Migration

  A city by the sea offering seafood, candy shops, and whale watching. Monterey is about 2 hours south of San Francisco. The aquarium is great and well known in the area.
  http://www.seemonterey.com

• Mount Tamalpais

  Great drive, great view, near Muir Woods. Also good for hiking. Mappery
  http://www.mttam.net/

• Muir Woods

  Here you'll find the tallest trees in the U.S. This forest will make you feel very, very small and humble, a wonderful place to visit. The woods can get chilly, so dress in layers. Also, parts of Return of the Jedi were filmed here.
  http://www.nps.gov/muwo/

• North Beach / Coit Tower

  A cute Italian neighborhood with good food. I enjoy walking around, stopping to have coffee here and desert there. The area offers many good restaurants, cafes, bakeries and bars. Here you'll find Coit Tower, one of San Francisco's most recognizable landmarks. It's a long walk from BART, or you can drive there, but parking can be difficult.

• Rodin Sculpture Garden

  Explore the garden on Stanford campus. About 45 minutes south of San Francisco.
  http://museum.stanford.edu/view/rodin.html

• Safari West

  Take a look at some wildlife and visit wine country in the same trip.
  http://www.safariwest.com/

• San Francisco City Guides

  Free walking tours of San Francisco.
  http://www.sfcityguides.org

• Santa Cruz

  A quaint little city with beaches, an old fashioned boardwalk, dining, and art. Mix your own perfumes at the Perfumer's Apprentice on Pacific Ave (fun and cheap!), and have decadently rich chocolate to drink at Chocolat. Mappery
  http://www.santacruzca.org

• SF Moma

  Modern art museum in the city with four floors full of work.
  http://www.sfmoma.org

• SF Neighborhoods

  A summary of SF neighborhoods, some are BART-able, some need a car. Check out the Haight, the Mission, Chinatown, North Beach, Hayes Valley or the Marina. All cool spots!
  http://www.sfgate.com/traveler/guide/sf/neighborhoods/

• The Presidio

  Gorgeous views and historic sites. Visit Baker beach and have a picnic. Park in the Presidio and walk across the Golden Gate Bridge.
  http://www.nps.gov/prsf/

• The Winchester Mystery House

  This Victorian mansion is filled with so many unexplained oddities, that it has come to be known as the Winchester Mystery House. Located in San Jose.
  http://www.winchestermysteryhouse.com/

• Union Square

  Like to shop? Then you must visit Union Square. Mappery
  http://www.unionsquareshop.com/

• Victorian House Walking Tour

  Get some exercise and check out some beautiful old houses. Begins in Union Square.
  http://www.victorianwalk.com/

• Wine Country

  Wine tasting in Sonoma offers smaller and less crowded wineries. Napa Valley is a little more touristy and has bigger wineries. Drive up the Marin and Sonoma coasts and then come back inland through the Russian River Valley. Stop at the Wild Flour Bakery for treats. Or drive up to Mendocino for gorgeous views.
  
  Our personal favorites are:
  • Goosecross (small and quaint, you get a lot of attention from the staff)
  • Sterling (for the view)
  • St. Supery (smell-o-vision, need I say more?)
  
  http://www.winecountry.com/

• Yelp

  Great resource for restaurants and other things to do in the bay area (or elsewhere).
  http://www.yelp.com/?location=San+Francisco%2C+CA

• Yerba Buena Gardens

  Have a picnic in the garden, see some art, or go ice skating. Also great for children. http://www.yerbabuenagardens.com/

• Yosemite

  National wildlife park about a 2 to 3 hour drive from San Francisco. Head to Wawona or Mariposa Grove and see the giant sequoias (the biggest trees, wider than redwoods). You might want to stay over night, and if so, book way in advance! Mappery Auto Tour
  http://www.nps.gov/yose/