After living in the Bay Area for 33 years, I’ve entertained a lot of guests, so I thought it would be helpful to make a list of ideas for out-of-towners. I’ll try and update this with new ideas when I get them.

  • Rent a bike and ride over the Golden Gate Bridge to Sausalito, have lunch, take the ferry back
  • Visit the Clare-Lilienthal House
  • Go to the SFMOMA, eat lunch in Yerba Buena Gardens
  • Visit the Legion of Honor
  • Rent a bike and ride through Golden Gate Park from east to west, then south through Sunset Dunes Park
  • Walk south down Valencia in the Mission and look at the murals in Clarion Alley, turn east and walk doen 24th Street, with detours along Balmy and Orange Alleys
  • Walk along the Land’s End Trail
  • Visit the Cable Car Museum
  • Have lunch at The Ramp in Dogpatch, then walk through Crane Cove and Bayfront Parks
  • Go to Alcatraz, or if tickets aren’t available, just take the ferry somewhere to enjoy the boat ride
  • Walk up the Filbert Steps to Coit Tower and then check out the WPA murals inside
  • Go roller skating at the Church of 8 Wheels
  • Visit the historic ships at Hyde Street Pier Walk along the Embarcadero and stop at the Ferry Building for lunch
  • Go to the Conservatory of Flowers
  • Check out the sea lions at Pier 39
  • California Academy of Sciences, especially if you can go on one of the adults-only nights. Visit the Japanese Tea Garden at the same time
  • Combine the Japanese Tea Garden with the SF Botanical Gardens
  • Tour Filoli Gardens (south down 280)