To get a feel for the real San Francisco we started our vacation on this beauty!
The Love bus tour.
It is the best way to get a feel for San Francisco.
Instead of riding around in a large tour bus you get to travel in a VW bus painted in the
style of a true hippie.
Starting with a great spot to take pictures at the iconic and breathtaking Golden Gate
Bridge.
Traveling through the city you learn the best tool to understanding San Francisco: Its different
districts.
You pass through the wharf, the presidio, Russian hill, pacific heights, and many others,
all the while learning what makes them unique, hearing stories of their history, and discovering
the beauty of this compact city.
And this is Haight Ashbury which is my favorite part of the tour because I got to see where
my favorite rockstar legends from the hippie era lived on this street.
And you become quite the spectacle as people constantly stop to take pictrues of the bus.
You also occasionally stop and get to take pictures at the most picturesque places in
San Francisco.
One thing you'll notice about San Francisco is that it is impossible to do it all.
That is why I recommend starting with this tour that I will link to with all other points
of my itinerary in the description below this video.
Once you are finished with this tour you will have places you will definitely want to explore
more and other areas you will want to stay away from.
And very few people get to go down lombard street in a VW tie dye bus.
We decided to spend the rest of the day at fisherman's wharf because there is so much
to do.
There is plenty of shopping for cool things you can only get there, as well as gift shops
and my wife's favorite: Candy!
And lots of it.
The wharf is the best place to take a cable care to Union square for some high end shopping.
But we had enough to do at the Wharf so we just stopped by for a few pictures.
Plus the wharf has awesome.
You can only see this stuff a shopping of its own.
I mean take a look at this store.
There is even places where you can buy unique art.
The Boudin Bakery is a great place to watch them roll dough into interesting shapes.
The wharf also is known for its extremely unique
and talented street performers.
This one man band was intense and quite talented.
Pier 39 is like a big fair that sits on the water and overlooks the bay and there is tons
of things to do there like performers, a carousel, and face painters.
On Pier 39 there is fun everywhere you turn your head.
And don't forget on pier 39 to make your way to the sea lions.
They like to lay on their pods and try and kick each other off and play with each other.
Its fun to sit back and watch them play.
And its right outside my favorite part of the Pier which is the mirror maze.
Its trippy walking through trying to decide which is the real you and trying to find your
way out.
I'm not gonna lie it made me feel like a kid again and it's Definitely worth the 15 to
20 minutes.
So which one of these reflections is my wife.
Pretty Trippy, eh?
Speaking of feeling like a kid again.
Nearby is Museum Mechanique.
This is an antique arcade.
And really fun.
Here, there are arcade games from just about every generation and you still get to play
them.
Lets just say our ancestors had an antiquated sense of amusement.
Some of the arcades are bizarre and some are well morbid.
But any way you experience it.. its some good old fashion fun.
Even if it is a 6 foot statue that creepily laughs... you gotta stop by if you have the
time.
About 10 minutes from fisherman's wharf is this little artistic gem.
Its called a wave organ.
If you go when the tide is high these tubes make interesting sounds.
On top of that it is just a serene and magnificent way to experience the bay.
Just in case you werent already planning on going to Alcatraz let me convince you to go.
This is a must do when you go to San Francisco.
Alcatraz isn't just to go look at an old prison, it is to experience what prison life is and
was and on top of that Alcatraz the island is stunning.
In fact we decided to book an evening tour so we could see it at sunset which I do not
regret.
At first you have a tour guide that shows you the premises.
Then you go on a self guided tour that really dives deep into what prison life was like
for the prisoners.
If walls could talk this prison would have some pretty interesting stories to tell.
In fact the closest thing you get to walls talking is this tour.
The tour is about the many inmates that were sentenced here including the most daunting
offenders.
They talk about what life was like for the inmates on a day to day basis.
Also, what life was like for the prison guards and even the different wardens.
You get to see what solitary confinement was like well... sort of.
And frankly I wouldn't have wanted to be any of them.
Most interesting to me was you got to hear of the various escape attempts and see some
of the artifacts etched into the prison from those escapes.
You also get to see plenty of who the Island really belongs to and who it was named after.
Which is the Alcatraz birds.
Alcatraz is now a sanctuary to its seabird.
To finish off our day at the wharf we ended at Ghirardelli square home to Ghirardelli
Chocolate.
You can see on display the chocolate machinery but most importantly its a little dessert
bar and it is delicious.
I'm so excited.
Ice cream cause it sounds good.
Ice cream and hot chocolate cause I am freezing.
Ah man just look at how good that stuff is.
You have not really experienced the wharf without going to Ghirardelli Square but I
don't think I have to convince you to go here.
It is delicious.
The next Morning it was off to Golden Gate park which is massive and wedged within the
city with all of its history.
There is too much to do even in this park alone so the best way I found to experience
the park was by a private Segway Tour.
Segways are fun and easy to maneuver and you get a quick lesson on how to use them.
With segways you can efficiently experience more of the park than walking or driving.
The park itself has a nice flow of calm energy running through it.
It is quite green and lush with many spots to stop by including the conservatory of flowers,
Shakespeare garden, lily pond, stow lake, and many other places you will get to see
and a few you will have to see on your own.
My favorite part was learning about how the park was made and all the thought that went
into it including how nothing was to run in a straight line and the story behind hidden
statues within the park.
The park is a refuge from the hustle and bustle in the rest of the city.
You can spend a few hours or a whole day here, have a picnic or go site seeing depending
on your preference.
I will link to the segway tour in the description below this video.
The house of Nanking is a hole in the wall yet consistently wins food awards within the
city.
Delicious food runs in the genes as the owners daughter went on to win Chopped in 2016.
This food is amazing.
So obviously I give it two thumbs up.
Though, don't be indecisive or they just start ordering for you...
Seriously they do.
San Francisco is one of the most artistic cities in the world and a stop at the San
Francisco Museum of Modern Art would be worth your time.
Even if you don't consider yourself a lover of the arts there is still a lot here to appreciate
and to be entertained by for a few hours.
Museum's aren't naturally my thing but even I enjoyed plenty of the exhibits and art pieces
on display.
A lot of it is spacial art which was my favorite form at the museum because you are able to
walk through it and around it.
Each floor of the museum is dedicated to a different style of art.
There are even performances and short films that are heavy in artistic interpretation
to sit down and watch.
I noticed the people enjoyed the art different ways.
Some sat and tried to feel the art, others took pictures with it, I guess even we tried
to mimic the art.
That being said it is hard to deny the crazy artistic talent of some of these artists.
I guess my point is no matter what your artistic IQ is you will get something out of the San
Francisco Museum of Modern Art.
My favorite art piece was this colorful rock, even now makes me want to chew a piece of
gum for some reason.
Anyway I loved this museum.
And admittedly some of the art I still just don't get.
Mona Lisa's is one of my two favorite restaurants in the city for the atmosphere it creates.
Yes the food is delicious or I wouldn't even go there but the whole restaurant is dedicated
to Italian art and yet has a light heartedness to it.
Located in little Italy most of the waiters are actual Italians and the vibe is very authentic
and romantic.
Speaking of romantic you should make reservations at least a month in advance for their car
dinner.
They have this adorable car and you can eat on the side of the road.
It is amazing and people walking by asked if this couple was on a date for the bachelorette...
the date is that good.
A block away is the city lights bookstore.
Specifically this bookstore was frequented by the Beats like Allen Ginsberg and Jack
Kerouac.
Its a great stop for the literature enthusiast.
And now for my favorite San Francisco activity...
Taking a Sailing around the bay.
With this specific sailboat as you set off you are actually part of hoisting the sail.
Its fun to in part feel like a seaman for a few moments.
The trip is at times enthralling and adventurous and at other times relaxing and peaceful.
Traveling around the bay you get to enjoy the sights of the golden gate bridge, the
windsurfers, the other sailboats and even pirate ships.
There is nothing like a sailboat to feel free and at one with the ocean.
And, should you wish they even allow you to steer the boat for a time.
You will never have a better time sailing a boat than around the San Francisco Bay.
And this is no ordinary sailboat this is the USA 76 used by ORACLE for Racing in the 2003
America's Cup.
It runs smooth fast and is an experience you will never forget.
I can't stress it enough you need to set sail with this company I will link to them in the
description below this video.
After my favorite activity we made our way to my favorite dining experience I have ever
had.
This is a Moroccan Food Restaurant and it is an experience from beginning to end.
Not only is it Moroccan food and atmosphere but you also dine how they would dine.
Sitting on a pillowed couch you relax as they serve you.
They bring warm water and a towel to wash your hands.
You then take bread from a basket and dip it in the sauce and you also drink from the
bowl.
All the food is unique and timely delivered in your five course meal.
And it is so flavorful.
To top it all off the entertainment is a very talented belly dancer that flows to the music
and dances.
It took me away to another time and place.
From the ornate door, to the intricate flooring and then the billowy ceiling every inch of
this restaurant is undoubtedly Moroccan.
The restaurant and belly dancer are linked to in the description below.
Next we made our way to the Painted Ladies.
Most people know the painted ladies as the houses in the intro the old TV Show Full House.
But these Victorian homes are the second most photographed houses in the United States next
to the white house.
And the secret is you can actually vacation in one on the end.
The owners have opened up the lower level of their house to travellers that are willing
to pay for it.
Think about it when people say they visited the Painted Ladies you get to say you stayed
in one.
It is pretty awesome watching the people drive by taking pictures of the house you are staying
in.
On top of all that it's just a chill place to stay.
This will be our secret and I will link to them in the description below as well.
The next secret I have for you is the best place to take pictures of the Golden Gate
Bridge.
To get the best pictures you need to go to past the golden gate bridge and make a short
hike up to Battery Spencer.
Here you will find the best look out over the bridge ideal for taking pictures up close
to the bridge.
Whether foggy or sunny your best chance at a great picture is here.
If you can go during a weekday or very early in the morning on a weekend so you don't have
to share the view with others.
Now that you are in Marin County a little further down the the road is the Point Bonita
light house.
If you are into sightseeing this is a short little hike with a beautiful vista.
Standing next to lighthouse you can look around as the waves crash below you.
Some people like to find hidden gems within the Travel city.
Nestled in the presidio is the Yoda fountain.
But San Francisco has Gems like this scattered and hidden at every turn.
After our Segway tour on day two we decided we really wanted to return to Golden Gate
Park to enjoy the Japanese Tea Garden.
The Tea garden was very zen and the chi can be felt throughout the whole landscape.
Everything from bonsai trees to koi ponds make this a place optimal for self reflection,
relaxation and self meditation.
If there is one thing that stands on its own within Golden Gate park it is the tea garden.
Its serenity makes this an ideal location to wind down from the rest of the trip.
The best part of the garden is the bridges which make for great pictures and provide
a great view of the garden as a whole.
And in the middle of the Garden there is a little tea bar where you can order teas and
soups or in my case I just relaxed with a diet soda and took in the scenery.
The next hidden gem we visited was the tiled steps on sixteenth avenue.
The steps are impressive and worth a climb to take in the details that went into the
workmanship to provide the beauty as a whole.
At the very top is a great panoramic of the city.
And these steps are ideal for selfies as demonstrated.
Thanks girls for being great sports.
The last hidden gem we took advantage of on our trip was the Seward Street Slides.
If you can find these slides grab a piece of cardboard and give them a slide.
Just make sure to check their open times.
Haight Ashbury was the last place we decided to visit before calling it a trip and going
home.
This was the epicenter of the hippie movement and is still thriving today off of its extremely
eccentric shopping.
The stores on this street are worth at least window shopping, but don't be surprised if
browsing leads to buying.
I have found some of my favorite clothes on this street and I dress pretty conservatively.
If you're lucky you may just get to see a few modern hippies that still linger today.
Of all the random stores on Haight there is one that you music lovers should check out.
Amoeba Music Store is the best place to shop for any vinyl record that you may want.
And it just has tons and tons of music on its own.
It doesn't even have to be an oldie nor does it have to be on a vinyl but in this day and
age with digital music it is nice to have a music store that found its way to be so
relevant even today.
For our last night we stayed in the White Swan hotel.
I am all about doing things and staying in places that really give a feel for where you
are on vacation and where you're traveling to.
The white swan is a unique hotel that says you are definitely in San Francisco.
But seriously everything about this place is friendly, artistic and relaxing.
A great place and a hotel that I highly recommend if you like to feel where you are actually
vacationing.
With that said we spin the globe and decide where we are going next.
Once again everything we did on our San Francisco vacation itenerary is linked to in the description
below this video.
Subscribe to my wife's makeup channel, watch my other travel videos, like, subscribe, and
enjoy your San Francisco trip.