One Great Day in San Francisco

Golden Gate under fog

Do you only have one day to spend in San Francisco?  Need help planning your itinerary? Take a look at my suggestions for what to see and what to skip on a quick trip to San Francisco. 

• Golden Gate Bridge- As I mentioned in a previous post, the Golden Gate Bridge has become the symbol of San Francisco.  Even with all the hype, the Golden Gate Bridge doesn't disappoint.  It is beautiful, powerful, and inviting.  It will only take about an hour to explore the areas around the bridge, making it an easy stop for those on a tight schedule.

• Golden Gate Park- Larger than New York City's Central Park, Golden Gate Park has a bit of everything; tulip and rose gardens, fly fishing, windmills, lakes, trails, bison, and much more. You could spend your entire day exploring the park and not be disappointed.  If you only want to spend a couple of hours in Golden Gate Park, I'd suggest renting a bike to see as much of the park as possible.   FYI, Golden Gate Park is NOT located next to the Golden Gate Bridge. 

Harvey Milk Plaza

• The Castro- I realize that the Castro neighborhood might not be everyone's cup of tea.  However, it is a LGBT neighborhood unlike any other in the United States.  There is nothing that you have to see or visit in the Castro, simply take time to explore the area.  Stop for a coffee or lunch to experience San Francisco's most vibrant community.  My second choice for a neighborhood to visit would be Haight-Ashbury.  

What to Visit on a Second Day...

• Muir Woods National Monument- Explore the wonder of the giant old growth redwoods trees without having to travel across the state. Muir Woods is only a twenty to thirty minute drive from the Golden Gate Bridge.  My advice would be to arrive early to avoid crowds, and if you are really feeling adventurous, continue your journey to Napa Valley.   



Muir Woods

• Alcatraz- Visiting the old prison is a memorable and chilling experience.  Be sure to reserve tickets ahead of time!

Not Worth Your Time...

• Fisherman's Wharf- Touristy...in the worst way.  Avoid it like the plague.  
• Chinatown- While the architecture is very cool, too much of the neighborhood has been taken over by tourist-trap shops.  I think there is much below the surface to discover, but you'll have to work hard to find it.  

Skip Fisherman's Wharf

Fisherman's Wharf Boardwalk

San Francisco is one of America's top tourism cities for good reason.  The city is surrounded by amazing views and warm people.  Like any major travel destination, there are places in San Francisco that you want to avoid.  Fisherman's Wharf tops that list.  Fisherman's Wharf is a tourist trap that should be avoided by those wanting to experience the "real" San Francisco.  

What to Expect

Fisherman's Wharf is capitalism at it's worst.  In a city known for unique restaurants, architecture, and people, Fisherman's Wharf has none.  It is full of chain restaurant and overpriced souvenir shops.  My wife and I visited Fisherman's Wharf while exploring San Francisco on bikes.  We stopped at the wharf because many websites listed it as a top San Francisco attraction.  We quickly realized it was a mistake to visit, snapped a couple of photos, and left to spend more time in other neighborhoods.  The only cool part of Fishman's Wharf were the Sea Lions that rest on docks near the shops.  Though they smell awful and don't move much, they were still the best part of Fisherman's Wharf.

Fisherman's Wharf Sea Lions

Is Fisherman's Wharf worth visiting?  The answer is a resounding "no." Trying experience San Francisco by going to Fisherman's Wharf is like visiting Disney's Epcot Center to experience China.  Your time in San Francisco would be much better spend exploring Golden Gate Park or neighborhoods such as Haight-Ashbury or the Castro.  If you are a stubborn tourist and still decide to visit Fisherman's Wharf, make it a short trip.  

Just the Basics

• Location: Pier Concourse #2
• Website: http://www.fishermanswharf.org/
• Advice: Check it out if you must, but devote more of your time to the neighborhoods of central San Francisco.  

Quintessential San Francisco

This photo of San Francisco's Golden Gate Bridge was taken from Fort Point while biking around the city.   Despite the rain, wind, and fog that we endured that day, renting bikes is a great way to explore San Francisco.

This photo reminds of the two things that come to mind first when I think of San Francisco; the Golden Gate Bridge and fog.

Golden Gate Bridge draped in fog

Photo of the week is part of "Photo Thursday," started by Nancie at the Budget Travelers Sandbox. Please visit her site to check out other amazing photos!

Short Bike Rides in and Around San Francisco, 2nd (2nd Edition) (Google Affiliate Ad)

Best Time to Visit Muir Woods

Muir Woods Redwoods

Muir Woods National Monument is only a twenty minute drive from San Francico's Golden Gate bridge.  Visiting Muir Woods is the easiest way to get up close and personal with giant redwood trees from the Bay Area.  The problem is that everyone visiting the Bay Area also wants to visit Muir Woods.  A poorly timed trip to Muir Woods can leave you fighting traffic and crowds the entire day.  The trick to making the most of a visit to Muir Woods National Monument is to visit when others are not--early in the morning and/or on weekdays.  

What to Expect 

Tour vans and buses begin to arrive at Muir Woods around 9am.   Both Muir Woods and the narrow roads that lead to it will fill up quickly by late morning.  Arrive at Muir Woods as close to 8am as possible if you want to enjoy an hour to yourself to walk among the beautiful trees.  Even if you decide to take on the longer hikes through Muir Woods, you'll still have a head start to walk well ahead of the crowds that will fill up the park by late morning.  As you can expect, Muir Woods is especially busy on weekends, as tourist and locals both visit the park.  If at all possible, visit Muir Woods during a weekday.  The park is open year-round, even on holidays.

Muir Woods at 8am--no other tourists!

Just the Basics

• Park Operating Hours: Muir Woods opens at 8am year-round, including all holidays! Closing varies from 5pm-8pm, depending on the time of year.  
• Visitor Center Hours:  9am to 30 minutes before the park closes.
• Entrance Fee: $7 per adult.  Parking is free.   
• Website: http://www.nps.gov/muwo/index.htm
• Advice: Unless you are traveling alone, it is more economical to rent a car to visit the park rather than book a tour. I would recommend renting a car and visiting Muir Woods in the morning and Napa Valley in the afternoon.  

Surprising Napa Valley Vineyard

Are you looking for a truly unique Napa Valley experience?  Raymond Vineyards in St. Helena has put a incomparable twist on wine tasting in Napa Valley while still delivering great wine.  I have toured dozens of vineyards around the world, yet none of the wineries left a strong impression on me.  The vineyard tours and wine tastings became predictable.  Nevertheless, I was excited to visit Napa Valley this past fall with my wife Nora and good friend Daniel.  However, my expectations were tempered from past vineyard letdowns.  I thought I knew what to expect from Napa Valley...until we visited Raymond Vineyards.  

What to Expect

Theater of Nature, Raymond Vineyard

Our visit to Raymond Vineyards was not planned.   On our drive through Napa Valley, we stopped to check out several vineyards, but they all seemed to be copycats of each other.  Each vineyard offered beautiful views and exceptional wine, but they lacked creative distinguishing features.  After a couple of hours of driving, we had given up on finding something different and instead focused on finding a vineyard close to our lunch destination of Farmstead in St. Helena.  Just before we entered St. Helena, we decided to pull into Raymond Vineyards and take a look around.  From the highway, it seemed like every other vineyard in Napa Valley.  We were wrong.

We were immediately impressed by Raymond Vineyards outdoor Theater of Nature that combined art, nature, and Biodynamic farming education.  While Nora and I explored the Theater of Nature, Daniel went inside to scope out the tasting room.  He returned minutes later very excited. "We are staying here. This is exactly what I've been looking for...there isn't anyplace else like it!"  Nora and I looked at each, shrugged our shoulders, and figured we better see for ourselves what got Daniel so excited.

Once inside, Daniel pointed out several tasting rooms, each with a unique theme.  Some were open to the public, while others were only available to members.  The Tasting Room was open to the public and offered a traditional experience where one can sample wines in a room with windows overlooking the valley.  We also liked the vibe from The Library Room, which was a small space tucked behind the tasting room.  One area that we only got a glimpse of was The Red Room,  a plush space packed with old-school elegance, that unfortunately was only open to members.

Yes, that is a mannequin hanging upside down between us. 

The Crystal Cellar is what made Raymond Vineyards stand out from every other vineyard I have visited.  The space was surrounded by stainless steel tanks, mirrors, and scantily clad mannequins.  It was so absurd, but in a strange way...perfect.  We wandered around the room commenting on the chandelier, jewelry cases, and mannequins, all while sampling several of their tasty red wines (cost $25 a person).  We also paused to check out the Barrel Room, a candle-lit room surround by the vineyard's oak barrels.  It was unlike any wine tasting any of us had experienced.  The uniqueness of visiting Raymond Vineyards left me with something no other vineyard has accomplished.  A lasting impression.  

Just the Basics

• Address: 849 Zinfandel Lane, St. Helena, CA 94574
• Tasting Room Hours: Open daily year-round from 10am-4pm
• Website: http://www.raymondvineyards.com/
• Advice: Bring a camera...and a designated driver.  

Golden Gate Park Rose Garden

A couple of weeks ago we visited San Francisco and explored Golden Gate Park by bike.  It didn't turn out as we had planned.  It rained the whole time, and many of the gardens we had hoped to explore had been taken out for winter.  However, the rose garden was still in bloom.  Though it wasn't fun to bike in the rain, the moisture added a great effect to this photo!

Golden Gate Park Roses

Photo of the week is part of "Photo Thursday," started by Nancie at the Budget Travelers Sandbox. Please visit her site to check out other amazing photos!

Best Thing to Eat in Napa Valley

Who knew the power of ham sandwich?  It's been two weeks since I visited Farmstead Restaurant, but still, I can't get those ham sandwiches out of my mind.  A good friend from San Francisco took my wife and I on a tour of Napa Valley.  The entire tour revolved around eating lunch at Farmstead Restaurant in St. Helena.  He kept on saying, "You've got to try their ham sandwiches.  They are unbelievable."  I thought it strange to have such singular focus on pork, but now I understand.  The ham sandwiches at Farmstead Restaurant are truly one of the best things I have ever ate. The rest of their food is pretty good too!

What to Expect

Ham Sandwiches from Farmstead, Napa Valley

Farmstead Restaurant is located in a renovated nursery barn.  The high ceilings and original woodwork give the restaurant an open and rustic feel.  There are tables inside and out, with the patio offering a spectacular view of the landscaped grounds. Stephen Barber, the executive chef, focuses the menu around seasonal and locally produced foods.  I won't attempt to critique the Farmhouse's wine selection, but it seemed extensive.  For those that would like to bring in their own bottle of wine, there is no corkage fee at Farmstead--instead they ask for a $2 donation to a local non-profit.

We arrived around 2pm on a Saturday, and though the restaurant was crowded, we were able to sit down immediately without a reservation.  At our friend's urging, we ordered a plate of the "Mini Ham Sandwiches with Fresno Pepper Jelly" as appetizers.  The sandwiches were the perfect marriage of salty (ham), sweet and spicy (jelly), and buttery goodness (biscuits).  After the sandwiches, I wasn't sure what to do for the second course--my body was telling me to eat more ham, but my mind said I better try something new.  I ordered the pulled pork sandwich, my wife ordered tomato soup, and our friend ordered more ham sandwiches.  While my wife and I thoroughly enjoyed our choices, we couldn't help but stare in envy as our companion sat in culinary bliss with his plate of ham sandwiches.  We should have ordered more ham sandwiches too.    

Farmstead, St. Helena

There is a popular show on the Food Network called "The Best Thing I ever Ate."  On the show, popular chefs share their favorite dishes from restaurants across the country.  If I could, I would  nominate the ham sandwiches from Farmstead Restaurant as the "Best thing to eat in Napa Valley."  Even if you choose to forgo the ham sandwiches, Farmstead Restaurant is a must-stop lunch destination for any tour of Napa Valley.

Just the Basics

• Location: 738 Main Street, Helena, California
• Hours: Open daily from 11am to 6pm 
• Website: http://www.longmeadowranch.com/Farmstead-Restaurant
• Cost: First course $7-$13, Second Course $15-$27
• Advice: Order the mini ham sandwiches to share at your table.  You may decide to order another round as your main course.