Welcome to one of the most versatile vacation destinations in the US! You seriously get a HUGE variety of sights + things to do in San Francisco... from city views, to shopping & dining, to beautiful beaches and wine country... there is so much to experience!
WHERE TO STAY
Our favorite hotel is the Intercontinental - Mark Hopkins San Francisco. This hotel is beautiful and has so much history, and also holds a special place called Top of the Mark. Here you can sip your favorite martini in the iconic sky lounge with views of the amazing San Francisco skyline. It's quite dreamy!
DINING
(in the city)
1. Akikos (THE best sushi spot EVER) - there is no other that even comes close to this sushi spot. Reservations are HIGHLY recommended as there are less than 20 tables in this restaurant (request the window if you can!). Our favorite server is Alan, his father owns Akikos. If you are an adventurous eater like we are, the best route is to let your server bring you different courses of their choice, like little surprises at your table!
2. Waterbar - this spot has amazing oysters + VIEWS!! The restaurant is situated right next to the bay bridge and has great ambiance + decor. Be sure to get the cheese plate and shellfish bisque to start, and the Queen Bee cocktail was DELISH.
3. The Garden Court at the Palace Hotel - the gorgeous, historical glass-domed atrium of this spot (opened in 1909) makes this a must for Sunday brunch. Tons of beauty and history in this hotel overall!
4. Alma (Union Square) - the perfect patio spot for a quick glass of Chardonnay + lighter fare in the heart of the shopping district. We make a stop here every trip as a tradition to kick off our stay in the city!
THINGS TO DO + PLACES TO VISIT
1. Alcatraz Island - the history here is very fascinating! We've done both the daytime and the nighttime (spooky) tours, and prefer the daytime so that you can really see the beauty of the grounds, and the temps aren't freezing like nighttime. The ferry ride is relatively short and you can get some amazing photos while arriving/departing the island.
2. Sausalito - the CUTEST little sailboat town just a short drive across the Golden Gate Bridge. We love dining on the patio at Salito's Crab House (you HAVE to get one of the sizzling seafood skillets!), and shopping at the unique boutiques on the main strip. There is a great + affordable + BIG portions old school counter breakfast spot too called Lighthouse Cafe. Also worth a stop, but expect a wait.
3. Baker Beach - the best beach spot to watch the famous fog roll in at sunset, and for amazing views of the Golden Gate Bridge midday once the skies have cleared!
4. Montara State Beach in Half Moon Bay - just a 30 minute AMAZINGLY scenic drive down PCH1 to this stunning beach area. We love it because it's more secluded than Baker Beach, and the jaw dropping views on the drive make this stop worth it. We flew kites with the boys on our last trip to SF, so fun! Then we stopped at the Taco Bell Cantina on the way home. That was legit the fanciest Taco Bell I had ever seen, lol.
5. Sonoma (wine country!) - we actually prefer Sonoma over Napa Valley for a few reasons. The majority of wineries in Sonoma have a more laid back atmosphere (also more affordable), we believe the wines are better overall, it's a shorter drive from the city, and we love dining in Sonoma Square after a day full of wine tastings!
Our ALL-TIME favorite winery is BR Cohn. We stumbled upon this hidden gem on our very first trip to SF together and have been in love since. Their wines are perfection all across the board, I've never tasted a wine there I didn't love. The staff is super friendly+relatable and truly love their customers. We became wine club members YEARS ago and love all of the benefits + wine shipments throughout the years. They make amazing olive oils too!
You've gotta dine at the Depot Hotel Restaurant while on your visit to Sonoma. It is DELISH Italian food, and I highly suggest making a reservation to dine outside in the gorgeous garden.
6. Muir Woods - FREAKING MAGICAL y'all. Words can't even describe what it's like to view these massive redwoods with your own eyes. It seriously felt like my heaven. By far my most favorite part from our recent trip, I can't wait to do it again and explore more when we don't have littles to hike with. So much of God's beauty and no doubt about it, is a MUST see.
MY OUTFITS
(with links below to shop)
What I wore to dinner at Waterbar. Comfy enough for city travel, dressy enough for a nice dinner out!
SHOP: ribbed tie dye dress | Chloe sandals
Spent the day at Alcatraz, Sausalito, and dinner at Akikos in this look.
I wore this fun colored confetti Free People sweater (on SALE!) for our chill day at Montara State Beach.
My Sonoma outfit was my overall fave from the trip! This $21 kimono just can't be passed up. Perfect for fall transition.
How cute + unique is this cardigan?! It also comes in neutral tones if color isn't your thing.
You can use code JENN20 to save 20% on your order at Southern Grace!
LOVE this comfy set I snagged from the NSale! It was perfect for our last day with a quick stop at Baker Beach + catching our flight home.
Until next time San Francisco!
XO
