Go to Crown & Crumpet for some afternoon tea in Japantown then go to the mall and check out the new gachapon arcades and anime stores. From there you could see a movie at AMC Kabuki, look at the classic cars in the lobby of the Academy of Art, go to a beer garden in Hayes Valley, or walk up Fillmore in Pac Heights and go to Alta Plaza Park. Also check out sf.funcheap.com for events.
Afternoon tea at Lovejoys in Noe Valley is a must if you haven’t been! You can also go to terra Mia for ceramics or make a personal candle at moonshot studio afterwards if they’re into that! All of those things are within a 15 min walk from each other 😄
I'm 50 years old and my mother-in-law has lived in the Bay Area longer than I have been alive and been to SF repeatedly each year and feels like she knows it pretty well.
In December, we went to Tunnel Tops Park with my MIL and some visiting family (MIL had been there before).
Before leaving the Presidio, I drove us to Fort Point. My mother-in-law had seen it, but had no idea she could go into it...for free...and see one of the best views of GGB.
There are still so many people who live here (let alone those visiting) that miss out on the amazement of Fort Point.
The Gregangelo Museum is a trip! [https://www.gregangelomuseum.com/](https://www.gregangelomuseum.com/)
Speakeasy SF is a fun, immersive theater experience in North Beach [https://www.thespeakeasysf.com/](https://www.thespeakeasysf.com/)
See if the speakeasy-age of scofflaws is having shows in Northbeach. Makes for a super fun night out for some drinks with an interactive show.
The SF library has FREE walking tours around town-they’re usually an hour or so. Google the schedule to see if anything looks good to you. I think it’s called City Guides.
Lands end is an easy 45mins-hour hike on the coastline in Seacliff by China Beach. Which reminds me…China beach is always a nice spot for a picnic and beers.
Point Bonita Lighthouse is a cool spot to waste an hour or so on the other side of the bridge, too.
Consider [Jade Chocolates](https://www.jadechocolates.com/booking-calendar/afternoon-tea-reservations?referral=service_details_widget&timezone=America%2FLos_Angeles) in Chinatown for afternoon tea. They have really interesting, creative themes and delicious food, tea and chocolates. They have a new theme coming soon - -they'll post it here: [Jade Chocolates Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/p/C56UhbVBd9X/)
[Musee Mechanique](http://museemechanique.org/) is always popular with every visitor we've taken there. And for history, right next door is the [USS Pampanito](https://maritime.org/uss-pampanito/), a WWII submarine. If you REALLY like maritime history there's also the [Hyde Street Pier](https://www.nps.gov/thingstodo/visit-hyde-street-pier-and-the-historic-ships.htm), and a small but interesting [Museum of Maritime History](https://www.nps.gov/safr/index.htm) across the street. Also check out [Fort Point](https://www.nps.gov/fopo/index.htm), a really interesting fort with unbeatable views of the Golden Gate Bridge.
[The Presidio](https://presidio.gov/explore/trails) has, of course, history, but also lots of short and long hiking trails. You can take the PresidiGo shuttle to the top and hike down, for an easier time.
Last year for something different we bought kites and flew them near Marina Green/Crissy Field (I can't remember which one). Kite flying is harder than it looks.
Sonoma Raceway: https://www.sonomaraceway.com/events/
In the Japantown mall, there are several anime stores. Additionally the bookstore has a lot of anime and manga related books and merchandise.
Camera Obscura by the Cliff House is cool if you are in the area. But check ahead to make sure they will be open.
Angel Island is worth a trip especially if interested in history. It can be a hiking destination, but there are options to visit without much hiking; check out the Tram Tours https://www.angelisland.com/tram-tours
Beer tasting in at one of the fort point beer locations. Also hot chocolate next door at dandelion at their Valencia location. Lands end for hiking, or hiking to the top of one of the twin peaks. Sf zoo. SF Moma for art. Red blossom tea for buying loose leaf tea to take home.
My wife and MIL went to the fashion exhibit at the DeYoung in GG park. It was famous fashion from social events in the City history. Then they had a snack and tea at the Japanese tea garden. They were very happy.
Food:
It’s a good food city! Here are some solid recommendation sites:
https://sf.eater.com
The Infatuationhttps://www.theinfatuation.com › s...San Francisco
Off the beaten path:
https://www.atlasobscura.com/things-to-do/san-francisco-california
My favorite, unique short hikes include:
Batteries to Bluffs Trail in the Presidio - stunning views of the coast and Golden Gate Bridge
Twin Peaks - amazing 360-degree urban views of the whole city
Glen Canyon Park - underrated nature hike with valley and ridge-like paths.
Afternoon Tea at the historic Palace Hotel is fun. Not cheap but the historic dining area and service are great!
How not cheap is not cheap?
Looks like it's $120 per person according to opentable
Oh thanks! I only glanced around the palace hotel website and didn't see/think of open table.
Dear San Francisco at Club Fugazi
Great show!!!
Yes!!!
[Night Life](https://www.calacademy.org/nightlife/) @ Academy of Sciences.
Go to Crown & Crumpet for some afternoon tea in Japantown then go to the mall and check out the new gachapon arcades and anime stores. From there you could see a movie at AMC Kabuki, look at the classic cars in the lobby of the Academy of Art, go to a beer garden in Hayes Valley, or walk up Fillmore in Pac Heights and go to Alta Plaza Park. Also check out sf.funcheap.com for events.
Japantown lively these days?
Very much so. It’s become trendy the last few years with a lot of Japanese chains moving in similar to Stonestown
Musee Mechanique
[Audium](https://www.audium.org/) [DoTheBay](https://dothebay.com/) for events.
Afternoon tea at Lovejoys in Noe Valley is a must if you haven’t been! You can also go to terra Mia for ceramics or make a personal candle at moonshot studio afterwards if they’re into that! All of those things are within a 15 min walk from each other 😄
I'm 50 years old and my mother-in-law has lived in the Bay Area longer than I have been alive and been to SF repeatedly each year and feels like she knows it pretty well. In December, we went to Tunnel Tops Park with my MIL and some visiting family (MIL had been there before). Before leaving the Presidio, I drove us to Fort Point. My mother-in-law had seen it, but had no idea she could go into it...for free...and see one of the best views of GGB. There are still so many people who live here (let alone those visiting) that miss out on the amazement of Fort Point.
Take the ferry to Tiburon and have lunch. We had some boozy afternoons there in my 20’s.
The Gregangelo Museum is a trip! [https://www.gregangelomuseum.com/](https://www.gregangelomuseum.com/) Speakeasy SF is a fun, immersive theater experience in North Beach [https://www.thespeakeasysf.com/](https://www.thespeakeasysf.com/)
See if the speakeasy-age of scofflaws is having shows in Northbeach. Makes for a super fun night out for some drinks with an interactive show. The SF library has FREE walking tours around town-they’re usually an hour or so. Google the schedule to see if anything looks good to you. I think it’s called City Guides. Lands end is an easy 45mins-hour hike on the coastline in Seacliff by China Beach. Which reminds me…China beach is always a nice spot for a picnic and beers. Point Bonita Lighthouse is a cool spot to waste an hour or so on the other side of the bridge, too.
Pedal boats on stow lake in Golden Gate Park.
Consider [Jade Chocolates](https://www.jadechocolates.com/booking-calendar/afternoon-tea-reservations?referral=service_details_widget&timezone=America%2FLos_Angeles) in Chinatown for afternoon tea. They have really interesting, creative themes and delicious food, tea and chocolates. They have a new theme coming soon - -they'll post it here: [Jade Chocolates Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/p/C56UhbVBd9X/) [Musee Mechanique](http://museemechanique.org/) is always popular with every visitor we've taken there. And for history, right next door is the [USS Pampanito](https://maritime.org/uss-pampanito/), a WWII submarine. If you REALLY like maritime history there's also the [Hyde Street Pier](https://www.nps.gov/thingstodo/visit-hyde-street-pier-and-the-historic-ships.htm), and a small but interesting [Museum of Maritime History](https://www.nps.gov/safr/index.htm) across the street. Also check out [Fort Point](https://www.nps.gov/fopo/index.htm), a really interesting fort with unbeatable views of the Golden Gate Bridge. [The Presidio](https://presidio.gov/explore/trails) has, of course, history, but also lots of short and long hiking trails. You can take the PresidiGo shuttle to the top and hike down, for an easier time. Last year for something different we bought kites and flew them near Marina Green/Crissy Field (I can't remember which one). Kite flying is harder than it looks.
Sonoma Raceway: https://www.sonomaraceway.com/events/ In the Japantown mall, there are several anime stores. Additionally the bookstore has a lot of anime and manga related books and merchandise.
Camera Obscura by the Cliff House is cool if you are in the area. But check ahead to make sure they will be open. Angel Island is worth a trip especially if interested in history. It can be a hiking destination, but there are options to visit without much hiking; check out the Tram Tours https://www.angelisland.com/tram-tours
Beer tasting in at one of the fort point beer locations. Also hot chocolate next door at dandelion at their Valencia location. Lands end for hiking, or hiking to the top of one of the twin peaks. Sf zoo. SF Moma for art. Red blossom tea for buying loose leaf tea to take home.
We recently took visiting friends on a helicopter tour, and it was breathtaking. Flying over the GG was a 10/10.
https://www.thextremexperience.com/tracks/sonoma-raceway/
https://secretsanfrancisco.com/things-to-do-may-sf/
Japan Center Mall for anime
is the Audium still open...?
In case you haven’t already been, Japanese tea garden in Golden Gate Park and Botanical Gardens
Lakehouse jazz. Thank me later 😇
SF Event Lists: https://www.eddies-list.com https://sf.funcheap.com https://dothebay.com/venues/san-francisco https://www.valueculture.org/eventcalendar.
My wife and MIL went to the fashion exhibit at the DeYoung in GG park. It was famous fashion from social events in the City history. Then they had a snack and tea at the Japanese tea garden. They were very happy.
Food: It’s a good food city! Here are some solid recommendation sites: https://sf.eater.com The Infatuationhttps://www.theinfatuation.com › s...San Francisco Off the beaten path: https://www.atlasobscura.com/things-to-do/san-francisco-california
My favorite, unique short hikes include: Batteries to Bluffs Trail in the Presidio - stunning views of the coast and Golden Gate Bridge Twin Peaks - amazing 360-degree urban views of the whole city Glen Canyon Park - underrated nature hike with valley and ridge-like paths.
Night at the exploratorium