San Francisco is one of the most romantic cities in the United States. You have the picturesque Golden Gate bridge, the hippie communities of Haight Asbury, the spooky prison of Alcatraz, and so much more. Read on for a complete gudie on what to do in San Francisco.
Day 1: Alcatraz, Golden Gate Park, and Fisherman’s Wharf
1.Golden Gate Park
Start your morning out by taking a stroll through this state park that spans 1,017 acres of land. There are many points of interest in this park including several gardens, museums, and hiking trails. We visited the Bison Paddock, the Dutch Windmill, and the de Young Museum that offers fine arts.
2. Ghirardelli
If you are a big chocolate fan like I am, this is a must. This is the original factory for this brand of chocolate and I recommend getting a cold treat from here!
3. Alcatraz
There are many historical layers to Alcatraz. It started off as Native American land. When it was seized from them it turned into the site of the first lighthouse on the coast of California. Then it was changed into the first permanent army base in 1859 then into a prison for military offenders. Later prisoners would include 19 Hopi Indians who resisted government attempts to assimilate them. Alcatraz is mostly known for it being a federal prison for some of the most dangerous criminals such as Al Capone and Machine Gun Kelly. It was eventually abandoned and in 1969, Indian activist occupied this piece of land. The government forced them off in 1971, but not without a fight.
I recommend coming here to learn more about the history of this small island. In addition, they have a beautiful rose garden which has survived many years without being taken care of. The most famous rose found there is called Rosa ” Bardou Job” who helped reintroduce this plant back into Wales after it had gone extinct to their native land.
4. Fisherman’s Wharf
I am not the biggest fan of this touristy area, however since I was close by , I decided to check it out. I recommend eating at a nice restaurant around this area and trying the fresh clam chowder in a sourdough bowl. There are many souvenir shops to pick up any items to take home with you and one area has a bunch of sea lions to see.
Day 2: Hippie Tour, Golden Gate Bridge, Palace of Fine Arts, and Lombardo Street
1.Hippie Tour in Volkswagen Bus
Golden Gate Bridge 
Palace of Fine Arts 
Lombard Street
The company I used is called San Francisco Love tours and they take you on a 2 hour groovy ride through the streets of San Francisco. It is $75 dollars and you stop twice for pictures. One of the stops is at the Golden Gate Bridge and the other is a spot to show you the city skyline. Other places you will see is Haight Asbury, Little Italy, Chinatown, Lombard Street, and more. Furthermore, the guide will tell you factual stories and facts about the neighborhoods you visit while you listen to psychedelic tunes.
Janis Joplin’s old house 
Jimi Hendrix lived here 
Grateful Dead/ Hell’s Angels both lived here
We got to see some famous celebrity houses including my favorite Jimi Hendrix. It was my favorite tour in San Francisco. View the link below for more info:
San Francisco CityTour | VW Hippie Bus | SF Love Tours (sanfranciscolovetours.com)
2. Haight Asbury
This street is known for the hippie movement in 1960’s also known as the ‘Summer of Love.’ There are many shops selling alternative and hippie style clothing, bongs, records, and more.
Day 3: Chinatown and Painted Ladies
1.Painted Ladies
These Victorian houses were constructed during the 1860’s after the Gold Rush when population was increasing to the city. The Tv show ” Full House” also featured these houses in its intro . They are beautiful to look at.
2. Irish Coffee
Buena Vista is famous for introducing Irish coffee to America. The hot drink is made with a mixture of coffee, whiskey, sugar, and cream. I was getting one of these every morning I was there. You must try this boozy cocktail.
3. Chinatown
This is a fun part of the city to explore with your taste buds. I got soup dumplings, boba, and egg tarts while I was here. You should check out the Golden Gate Fortune Cookies shop where the fortune cookie was invented and see how they make them. There are many shops to explore in this neighborhood so spend a few hours here.
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