I’ve always wanted to head to San Francisco, and when I decided to jet over to Coachella in California this summer, I thought it was time to finally to visit some friends and to see where the hippy revolution began in the 70’s.
Growing up I loved all things seventies with flowers and braids in my hair and flared jeans so I was super excited to experience it first hand.
I flew from London to San Francisco, which took 11 hours. I flew with American Airlines which was nice but when I go Stateside again I will fly Virgin Airlines as they provide complimentary drinks and snacks and let’s face it when flying on a long haul flight free wine is always a must.
Once I landed in California I was greeted by the warm sun beating down on my face and my friends were gathered at the arrivals gate for me.
Seeing as they were now living in San Fran, they had Uber so we got a taxi straight to our destination. Hassle free and no waiting for public transport.
Our first few nights were spent near the Golden Gate bridge and on my first day I went straight to Baker beach in Presidio to stretch my legs and soak up the evening sun.
After 11 hours stuck on a plane, it was lovely to breath in the sea air and run in the sand barefoot while over looking San Fran’s most iconic bridge.
After a few nights we decided to venture into the city centre to take in all that San Fran has to offer. We booked into a relatively cheap hostel near Civic Centre which is the heart of the colourful city.
Colourful: The streets are decorated all over the city
Our hostel wasn’t exactly 5 star. The rooms were dated and not the cleanest but it had a kitchen and living room for all those staying over. Everyone was friendly and each evening everyone would gather for a few beers so it was a safe environment. Checkout http://www.sfhostels.org/ for more options and checkout tripadvisor for reviews.
One great thing about San Fran is the public transport unlike fellow Californian city LA. Buses are at almost every corner and run quite regularly. Once you purchase a ticket for a bus it lasts for up to six hours meaning you can use it as often as needed in that time. We used the bus to get to the pier which is a popular spot for tourists.
Prisoners: Alcatraz is a popular tourist attraction
From there you can get boats to the infamous Alcatraz but be warned the trips can be booked out weeks in advance so book tickets online in time to avoid disappointment or get yourself down their at 6am and hope for a spare ticket.
While down at the pier you can get treats and snacks such as mini sugared doughnuts which are a really tasty treat. They also have some really cool places to eat like the Rainforest Cafe which is the funnest place for all ages with animated wild animals in every corner and forestry lining the walls and ceilings. Every so often a tropical storm hits and the animals roar.
While down by the water you need to visit Pier 39 where the biggest school of sea lions live. They lounge around in the sun and love all the tourist attention.
Pier 39: Sea Lions chilling in the sun
If there is one thing that has to be done while in San Fran, it’s a hike in the mountains. There is a super handy APP Get Around that let’s you rent a car for a certain amount of hours and all you need is a driving licence and your phone. The car works on GPS so you can pick one up right beside you. There is a device in the car that opens the door using the APP and the key is hidden inside.
We took off over the Golden Gate Bridge which was great for seeing the bridge in all it’s entirety. Once past that we headed off to the Muir Woods National Park. One bit of advice, get to the park on time to get parking and bring a packed lunch. There is a cafe on site but the food on offer is limited and can be pricey. There is also an entrance fee for park maintenance but they sell amazing chocolate at the till which is worth every bite.
Hiking: Muir Woods holds some of the oldest and tallest Red Wood Trees
My friends and I went hiking up along the trails and while it was long and winding, it was beautiful to be amongst the worlds tallest and oldest Red Wood trees. Once at the top the view over the mountains was spectacular.
After our hike, and numerous photo ops, we made our way to Muir beach to watch the sun set over Cali.
Beach Life: Muir Beach at the foot of Muir National Park
There is one things that makes San Fran so unique and that is the street art. There are murals, drawings, collages and grafitti on almost every street corner. Each one as pretty as the next. The best way to see the all the artwork in it’s glory is to get comfy shoes on and walk the streets.
If there is only one thing you should do while in San Fran it is to take a walk along Haight Street. It’s where the Hippy Revolution began in the seventies and when you step onto it, it’s like taking a step back in time. The locals have long wavy hair, wear flares and frills and seem super chilled.
The shops along Haight Street sell everything from vinyls to vintage clothes, pipes, memorabilia from that infamous era and ti-dye clothes are plentiful. I felt like I was living in the seventies as this calmness fell over me.
Hippy: Haite Street is colourful and retro
Night life in San Fran is also something that has to be experienced. The city boasts some of the most retro bars. From rooftops to disco bars, funky food halls and cafe bars.
I wanted to try out various venues as I like to see the diversity in cities. One night my friend and I decided to have a girly night out so what better option than cocktails. We hit a few different places to see what they had on offer and each one was as tasty as the next.
For my last night in the funky city, a group of us decided to hit the tiles and as it was nearing the end budgets were low. That day we went to a food hall which was a set up of pop up eateries. They have everything from chinese to Mexican, seafood to vegetarian. It meant we all got to get what we wanted and still sit together.
Street Art: San Fran has some of the best grafitti
With our bellies full, we went to a cafe bar which served wine in straight glasses for a fraction of the price. It was a small corner cafe and felt just like that. Every corner of floor space was vacated as locals divulged into the cheaply priced drinks.
I have to say San Francisco is one very cool, laid back, artsy city. And while I loved the chilled vibes and retroness the only negative was the homeless situation. It is something nobody had warned me about and it was frightening to see.
The streets, especially in the city centre are full of homeless folk who sit around and keep each other company. While they never bothered us, it was a sad site. They say that the reason so many vacate the streets is because of the warm climate which allows them to survive outdoors.
