Golden Gate Bridge, cable cars, a beautiful bay, friendly giants, an upbeat history, dramatic beaches, some of the world’s finest wines, and trend-setting cuisine all make San Francisco Bay area a dream destination for almost every type of traveler. After multiple visits to San Francisco, here are just a few of the experiences you shouldn’t miss regardless if you’re there for a day or a month.
San Francisco Bay Area Hidden Gems
Activities and Sights
AT&T Park

AT&T Park is a baseball park located in the South Beach neighborhood. Since 2000, it has served as the home of the San Francisco Giants, the city’s Major League Baseball franchise. It’s the ballpark where hitting a home run could mean going for a swim to get that ball and the breathtaking Bay views are worth seeing even if you’re not a baseball fan. This is a perfect activity if you are coming into the city later in the day, as you can drop your bags at a San Francisco luggage storage company and head over to the park. They offer behind-the-scenes tours that give you access to places only players and staff go including: The Field Warning Track, A Major League Dugout, Visitors’ Indoor Batting Cage, The Visitors’ Clubhouse, and The Press Box. The only other baseball park that I’ve visited before is Fenway Park in Boston. While I’m a Red Sox fan, they can’t complete with these views.
Muir Woods

For only $6 return, we were able to use public transportation from downtown San Francisco to Muir Woods in Marin County. Nestled in a cool, foggy canyon north of the Golden Gate Bridge, Muir Woods is the world’s most famous grove of giant redwoods. We spent over two hours amidst the tall trees that are a spectacular remnant of the vast redwood forests that once filled the hills surrounding San Francisco Bay. Redwoods grow taller than any other tree species in the world, and the average age of the redwoods in Muir Woods ranges from 400–800 years old. As soon as we entered the woods, we felt like we were a million miles away from the city and concrete.
Ride a Cable Car

Via pexels.com
No experience is more uniquely San Francisco than a ride on a cable car. Cable cars have come to symbolize San Francisco, and they are the world’s last manually operated cable car system.
Victoria, from Bridges and Balloons, thinks that cable cars are a big hit for the whole family. She says that “they get super crowded, but are worth the squeeze for the fun of riding up and down the city’s giants hills. Plus, they’re a good way to get from A to B.”
She has some other great suggestions for what to do in San Francisco with kids too. While I haven’t visited with my kids yet, I look forward to seeing the city again through the eyes of my children.
The Beat Museum

North Beach was the home of the Beats, which made the 540 Broadway location of the Beat Museum a fitting tribute. With a meager $5 admission fee, it was well worth our time. Jack Kerouac, Allen Ginsberg, William Burroughs, Neal Cassady, and Michael McClure are just a sampling of the people who comprised the spirit and the force that became the Beat Generation and filled the walls of the museum. We spent an hour enjoying the spirit of the Beats through writings, photos, artifacts, and history, as well as taking in a portion of a documentary that was playing in the make-shift theatre in the back. The museum was a step back to where it all started, celebrating the spirit of The Beat Generation. It’s a great introduction to the movement. I left with a desire to learn more about the fascinating history and culture that made up The Beat Generation and an understanding of why even “Jesus was a beatnik.”
Saturday Farmer’s Market

Some 80 vendors and growers spread out around the waterfront Ferry Building during the Saturday Farmer’s Market. The market offered fruits, vegetables, herbs, flowers, meats, and eggs from small, regional farmers and ranchers. Have you ever seen cardoons, pawpaws, or purple carrots at the supermarket? We saw it all at the Farmer’s Market! A wealth of other products including regional artisan specialties such as breads, cheeses, and jams filled our senses with delight. We walked by alligators made of bread, huge pallets filled with fish, and hundreds of other viewers and shoppers that searched the market for a good deal. The food that comes to the market is often picked the day before, or even that very morning, it is sold. Since 1993, the market has been a crucial link between San Francisco residents and the farmers who practice sustainable agriculture in the region.
Jack London Square
Jack London Square is a vibrant destination in Oakland with dining, retail, recreation, and exciting events year-round. From lively summer night markets and outdoor movies to kayaking and bicycling along the waterfront, there is no shortage of unique activities in Jack London Square. We dined on the waterfront at Il Pescatore and enjoyed delicious Italian dishes.
There is also a ferry service between Oakland’s Jack London Square or Alameda Main Street terminals in the East Bay and South San Francisco’s Oyster Point Marina terminal. It’s a beautiful way to see the Bay at a much cheaper cost than using a boat tour.
Free Walking Tour
A lot of these activities can be covered on the Free Walking Tour San Francisco. This tour starts at Union Square, visits Chinatown, Grace Cathedral, the Cable Car Barn and Museum, North Beach (the Little Italy part of San Francisco), Lombard Street, Pier 39 and Fisherman’s Wharf.
Dining
Chop Bar
Chop Bar is a neighborhood favorite near Oakland’s Jack London Square, serving breakfast, weekend brunch, lunch, and dinner. Using the finest ingredients found in the Bay Area, they make affordable and nourishing food designed to be enjoyed by everyone. I’d suggest visiting for breakfast and strolling along the pier before making your way into San Francisco.
Calzone’s
North beach is known as the Italian District, and this neighborhood has the best Italian food that the city offers. This sparkling bistro had a large awning along the front with tables and chairs beneath it, which was perfect for watching the crowd go by after a long day of exploring San Francisco. The crisp, oblong shaped, thin-crust pizza was an excellent choice. Coupled with a spinach salad, it made a delicious evening meal. We shared the unique, homemade Italian pot stickers, an intriguing combination of Asian and Italian flavors, stuffed with sausage, wild mushrooms and ginger and served with a soy-sesame dipping sauce. With Italian service and authentic ingredients, we were transported to Italy, and all the serenity that it encompasses, without enduring the long flight.
“I left my heart in San Francisco, High on a hill, it calls to me.” –singer Tony Bennett
All of this and I didn’t even venture out to the wine region or try any of the wild San Francisco adventures. The San Francisco Bay Area is home to a little bit of everything. The most popular attractions are definitely cable cars, Golden Gate Bridge, the Painted Ladies, and Alcatraz. They really are not to be missed, but if you’re looking for something a little different in the San Francisco Bay Area these are a few options to wet your San Fran taste buds.
You had me at Muir Woods and the Beats. I remember scouting out every ‘Beat’ locale I could find in Paris and in New York. Now I have another trip to plan.
I have very fond memories of San Fran but wish I had read this before I went – Muir Woods looks like a cheap awesome day trip. I like to mix city with a bit of nature and of course food!
San Fransico always looks amazing. If we were to go to the US san Fransico would be my first port of call for sure. Fishermans Wharf looks amazing it would be great to just wander around
I admire you whittling down the list to this handful. There’s so much going on and to see in the Bay Area that I’d be procrastinating forever. I need to check out the ballpark again and love walking the Embarcadero at the end of Market Street.
I’ve been meaning to go to San Francisco for so long now, and I’ve just not made it! I’ve heard such great things. Maybe later this year I’ll finally get to see for myself.
I have wanted to go to San Francisco for a while now! It just seems like there would be so many things to explore there! And, I agree with you, everyone rides the cable cars and goes to the Golden Gate Bridge. But, there are other great things to do in the city as well. Personally, I love your picture of the Muir woods. That looks like such a neat place to visit!
thanks for the tips, I am visiting the area in Summers
Great recommendations. I haven’t seen most of these on other lists, which is great. I like finding unique recommendations.
I was just recently in San Francisco but was limited due to the rain so I missed out on John Muir! There are so much to do in San Francisco especially hidden gems. Im planning on going back, I would love to camp near John Muir. Did you get a chance to eat Ike’s place? They have good sandwiches!
I loved the Muir Woods! I’ll be up in SF around the end of April! Can’t wait to be back!
Whatever we do first we need to get rid off extra luggage San Francisco is the city of fog and fantasies where technology and cultural adrenaline go hand in hand. However, wading through the fog at Golden Gates while dragging along your baggage could turn a dream into a nightmare. Catch up with this rapidly evolving fast-paced city and move swiftly by finding San Francisco’s luggage storage place closer to where you might be exploring.
Great blog!Another famous attraction along the water bay is Pier 39 and Ghirardelli Square. Their beautiful streets filled with charming performers and boutique shops make them an ideal place to wander.