Stone bridge at Blue Heron Lake, formerly Stow Lake, in San Francisco

The City by the Bay 🌉 5 Must-Visit Places in San Francisco

I’m a little biased, fine! This is my hometown and even after living here for decades, I’m still enchanted by it on a daily basis. A simple drive to the grocery store or commuting work, you’re surrounded by natural and architectural beauty at every turn. I’ve seen it through ups and downs, dot com booms and busts, and regardless of what you’ll hear on mainstream media – San Francisco remains a phenomenal city through every bit of change.

Locals have a lot of opinions on their favorite places to see, and favorite activities to try out – of course you should walk across the Golden Gate Bridge, ride on a cable car up and down the famous hills, and eat soup in a sourdough bread bowl at the famous Boudin Bakery. Definitely add this to your list! But here are some of my (somewhat-not-entirely) off-the-beaten-path things to do and see in San Francisco:

Blue Heron Lake (formerly, Stow Lake)

Undoubtedly my favorite attraction in Golden Gate Park, if not the entire city. A photographer’s dream and one of the most picturesque, peaceful places you’ll find in a bustling city. You can walk around the lake in about 20-30 minutes, marveling at the incredible views, especially the lush green landscapes, waterfall, unique bird species and other wildlife (just don’t feed the ducks!), a historic stone bridge (which may be my favorite view of all), and the iconic Stow Lake Boathouse.

A popular way to also experience the lake is by renting paddle boats or rowboats. The scenery is beautiful on a bright, sunny day – but don’t fear the fog! If you happen to be visiting on a day that’s a bit more overcast or chilly (and it might be the case considering how close it is to Ocean Beach), you’ll find that Blue Heron Lake is a whole other realm of stunning shrouded in mysterious fog! Regardless, don’t think you’ll be able to put your camera down the entire time.

Bonus: Make a day of it – Blue Heron Lake is short walking distance to a wealth of attractions in Golden Gate Park, all a short walk away:

Japanese Tea Garden: the oldest public Japanese garden in the United States.

de Young Museum: prominent art museum built in 1985, housing significant collections of American painting, sculpture, and decorative arts. 

San Francisco Botanical Garden: featuring over 8000 plant species across 55 acres.

California Academy of Sciences: offering a variety of interactive exhibits and immersive experiences, including an incredible aquarium, rainforest, and planetarium.

Learn more in this article in our local newspaper, the San Francisco Chronicle: How to spend the perfect day at Stow Lake, a Golden Gate Park gem

Valencia Street

The guidebooks will tell you to go to Haight Street (and you absolutely should), but one of the City’s most vibrant streets is located in the heart of the historic Mission District. You’ll find an incredibly unique, eclectic mix of local culture, art, shopping, dining, and nightlife.

Valencia features a star-studded culinary scene representing some of the very best restaurants the city has to offer. Not only can you find amazing traditional Mexican food, like La Taqueria and Poncho Villa, to really unique options. Try out Tartine Bakery, Dandelion Chocolate, or Foreign Cinema, or any number of these delicious options – it’s a phenomenal opportunity to try cuisines spanning the globe. There’s also tons of independent boutiques and vintage stores, and a host of bars and nightclubs up and down the street, and nearby on Mission Street.

Walking around Valencia Street, you’ll also get to see some of the City’s most famous murals, particularly in Balmy Alley and Clarion Alley. You’ll see bright, colorful, stunning street art reflecting the Mission neighborhood’s rich history and social activism.

For help planning your perfect day in the neighborhood, visit this guide for “The Perfect Day Along Valencia St.”.

Fort Point

Visit this historic military for the fascinating stories, but also for the view. Located directly underneath the southern base of the Golden Gate Bridge, it was built between 1853 and 1861, designed to protect the San Francisco Bay from potential naval attacks during the California Gold Rush and the Civil War. If you love military or California history, this is really a magical spot – so much of the original fort has been preserved, and now managed by the National Park Service as a National Historic Site. They offer educational tours, exhibits, and views of the bridge up close.


San Francisco Ferry Building

For all you farmers market lovers, this is next level and a San Francisco travel must! The gorgeous historic building (which used to be a main transportation hub) has been transformed and now home to the Ferry Building Marketplace, a vibrant public market featuring artisanal food vendors, restaurants, and specialty stores, like Cowgirl Creamery, Hog Island Oyster Co., Humphry Slocombe Ice Cream and Blue Bottle Coffee.

Ocean Beach / Travel Street

Ocean Beach is a 3.5 mile strip of Pacific Ocean beach, on the west side. The beach runs parallel to the Great Highway and is bookended by Golden Gate Park and the San Francisco Zoo. It’s beautiful and expansive, and the perfect place to take a break from running around the city playing tourist – to just hang out and stare out at the ocean.

While this stretch is really peaceful and the view is incredible, you won’t find a ton of businesses on this stretch of sand, that you might be used to at other beach destinations. But they’re just a short walk away – there are small eateries on La Playa Street and a Safeway grocery store, for bonfire and picnic essentials. And right in the middle of the stretch, between the Richmond and Sunset districts, there’s the historic Beach Chalet restaurant, which promises “views of the Pacific Ocean from every seat.” Highly recommend!

What are your favorite places to visit in San Francisco?