I love visiting a city and doing as the locals do. I know every traveler wants to see and do everything they can fit into their short visit, especially the “touristy” and famous landmarks, but I’ve found that whenever I host friends or family, we end up having the best time just strolling my neighborhood, popping into a local bar for a cocktail, or laughing over a leisurely lunch. Sometimes the best travel days are spent wandering with no agenda, going wherever your feet take you.
Have a picnic & take in the iconic views of the most popular landmark, the Golden Gate Bridge
Guys, I loooove to picnic. Baker Beach in the Sea Cliff neighborhood of San Francisco is my favorite place to be. I even have one of those fancy picnic baskets that pops open, and holds all the picnic necessities. Talk about being a dedicated picnic-er! I grab my girls or cousins, and everyone brings whatever snacks and drinks they’re feeling like to share. My go-to’s are popcorn, pasta salad, fruit, cheese, and hummus.
For drinks, I usually stick to my current favorite, Wyder’s Cider. I’ve been so into cider lately, and Wyder’s is naturally low in sugar, and gluten free. It’s the perfect afternoon drink – light, fresh, and fruit-forward. Wyder’s Cider has so many great flavors, too! Raspberry, Pear, Prickly Pineapple, and, my personal favorite, PEARSECCO. I mean, is there a more “me” drink?! The best part? They are brewed and bottled in my home state of Vermont! I love sharing a little piece of the east coast with my friends. You can find Wyder’s Cider at most Safeways and Whole Foods across the city, specialty grocery stores, and many bars and restaurants.
Check out a local Farmers Market
There are so many large weekly markets around the city on Saturday’s and Sunday’s! Check out the locations in the Civic Center, Nopa, The Ferry Building, Fort Mason, and my usual stop, Clement Street. I love grabbing fresh whole wheat bread, organic almond milk, and fruit to fill my fridge for the week ahead. Most of the markets have awesome food tents and live music, so it’s a great activity even if you aren’t exactly food shopping.
Walk across the Golden Gate Bridge to Brunch at Cavallo Point
I recently did this with a group of girls, and it was the perfect weekend activity! It took us a little less than two hours to get from the Marina District in San Francisco to Cavallo Point, located right across the bridge in Sausalito. The walk is about 4.5 miles, so you’re able to get your steps in for the day while chatting with friends. Cavallo Point is a luxury hotel and spa with a beautiful restaurant with outdoor seating that looks over the San Francisco bay. You can easily Uber back to the city after.
Spend the afternoon at a local park
I love hanging out and sipping rosé in Fort Mason, Dolores Park, Alamo Square, Golden Gate Park, or the Presidio.
Grab a local coffee and Spend the day exploring a neighborhood
Hayes Valley has the best boutiques and coffee shops, you could be entertained for hours. I love the hip and young vibe in the Marina District. The food is incredible, and diverse in the Inner Richmond, and Pacific Heights is the perfect place for a San Francisco photo session, with the best views in town as your backdrop.
Take a cooking class at a local shop or someone’s San Francisco victorian home
Sur la Table has daily classes with lots of different choices when it comes to the menu of the day. Cozy Meal is also super fun – I did a class last year in a chef’s home with a few other couples. We spent the whole night laughing, drinking red wine, and learning how to make pasta!
Check out a festival or neighborhood party
There are tons of these offered almost daily! My neighborhood recently had a wine walk, and I’m always a fan of the Union Street festival in the summer. Last weekend, we spent our Sunday sipping Cider at the San Francisco Cider Festival in SoMa. Eventbrite is a great place to find these events.
Thank you Wyder’s Cider for sponsoring this post. As always, opinions are honest and my own.
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