San Francisco has two distinct sides: rainy and sunny, each with its own unique vibe. We were fortunate to experience both during our trip, as we visited the city twice.

Presidio of San Francisco

We arrived in San Francisco on a rainy and foggy evening on November 22nd, rented a car, and checked into a hotel in San Bruno. The next day, the weather improved slightly, though it was still cloudy.

After a short drive along California State Route 1, we parked near Crissy Field East Beach. It has free parking and serves as an excellent starting point for exploring the San Francisco Bay.

The drive was a little bit scary because I experienced a bit of aquaplaning on my first day out in an unfamiliar car. Fortunately, after that initial scare, there were no accidents for the rest of the trip.

This quick scroll offers excellent views of the bridge and the bay. You see people walking dogs, running, fishing on the Torpedo Wharf pier.

It takes about 20-30 minutes to reach the Golden Gate Bridge from the park. San Francisco itself is smaller than you think: it is only 49 square miles, making it one of the smallest major cities in the U.S.

The atmosphere in this area was pleasant and calming, and the sky was stunning that day.

The walk culminates near the Golden Gate “Post Card Viewpoint” with magnificent views of the bridge and the Fort Point constructed in 1861 just below.

Unfortunately, the weather impacted our plans, and we decided that battling the wind and occasional rain was no longer worth it, so we headed into the city.

The main advantage is privacy. The main disadvantage is probably speed – it’s firm, but it won’t do crimes and break the speed limit.

Financial District

Our destination was the Salesforce Park, which opened in 2018 and which I have yet to visit before.

It’s a transit hub with a public space and gardens on the roof, which reminded me of the High Line. The Salesforce employees get direct access from the tower.

We’ve covered around 10 miles on foot in downtown, exploring the areas of the Financial District, Chinatown, Nob Hill, Russian Hill, North Beach, and more.

Walking is my preferred way to explore as you get to see non-touristy spots.

Embarcadero

The first day ended at the Embarcadero, which had a lovely autumn atmosphere that I really miss in Florida. It was quite crowded due to all the activities in the area, including Alcatraz tours, restaurants, and various attractions. Generally, I’m not a fan of crowded places like this, but it’s definitely worth visiting.

This marked the end of our first day, and we took a Waymo back to the car we had parked near Crissy Field East Beach.

Once we returned to the hotel, we realized we had a problem—the weather forecast predicted even more cold and rain for the next few days. We decided to leave San Francisco and head south. We returned so San Francisco at the end of our road trip to spend a few more days there in the sun.

Palo Alto

We returned to San Francisco on December 1st, two days before our departure from SFO. The cyclone has passed, and we could enjoy the city’s sunny side.

The next morning, as the only person interested, I went for a quick tour of the Computer History Museum just 20 minutes away. Apple Visitor Center was an easier sell – everyone knows it, and Caffè Macs is a great place to grab some coffee for a quick break.

Golden Gate Park

We spent the final day in the Golden Gate Park and the surrounding neighborhoods. Golden Gate Park is a sprawling urban oasis spanning over 1,000 acres, making it larger than New York’s Central Park.

Strawberry Hill is one of my favorite parts of the park – the following photo is from there.

We’ve spent the rest of the day visiting Twin Peaks, Mission Dolores Park, The Castro, and the surrounding neighborhoods. There are a lot of photo opportunities and many less-known spots in the area.

Until we meet again, City by the Bay, thank you for your wonders and your warmth. Goodbye, for now. 🌉✨