Romantic Weekends: San Francisco

by Liz Dodder

It is easy to find romance in San Francisco; the beautiful city is brimming with energy around every corner, with charming nooks and crannies on each street and people bustling everywhere, in local markets, the expansive parks and sidewalk cafés. Then add the city’s own natural view; the gorgeous bay landscape of glittering blue water, mountains and sailboats peeking through the Victorian homes at every turn. Whether you get glorious sunshine whitewashing the walls of the city, or mysterious fog that rolls in to touch the golden gate bridge, San Francisco epitomizes romance.

The biggest problem of visiting San Francisco for one weekend is deciding what to do and when to do it. To get the most romance out of the city, just keep reading.

Friday:
Arriving in town in the early afternoon allows you to take advantage of Friday afternoons in the city when places are much less crowded. This is the best day to rent a bike and ride across the golden gate bridge together, but first, check in to the Marina Inn, a charming European style hotel that is walking distance to both Fisherman’s wharf as well as the trendy Marina area. The rooms are spacious, with cottage-style furnishings and the building is typical San Francisco Victorian architecture. Drop off your bags and dress for some easy bike riding, and don’t forget your jacket.

Walk north towards the water, and then turn right to stroll through Fort Mason park. An old army base now used as a cultural center and recreation area, the park houses five museums and five theaters, with performances and events throughout the year. Continue east along the water towards Fisherman’s wharf. Look for Blazing Saddles at 2715 Hyde Street, just south of Beach Street, located at the last Powell/Hyde cable car stop near Ghiradelli Square. Rent bikes and helmets, and add a bottle of water or two for the trip. The shop will also provide you with a map to your destination 8 miles away, an easy ride with only 2 uphill areas along the water, across the bridge, then downhill 2 miles to Sausalito. From here, you will take a ferry back across the bay, so make sure you know the schedule, and which boat takes you to the pier closest to Blazing Saddles.

Once you start biking, you will see why everyone in San Francisco is outdoors. The ride winds along the coast of San Francisco bay and through the Presidio on dedicated walking and biking paths. Then, you will begin a gradual uphill climb to the bridge. This the most challenging part of the ride, but relatively easy if you take it slow. As you ride, you will see magnificent views of the bridge around various corners, which are great places for photo taking. Riding across the almost 2-mile bridge high above the bay is very exhilarating, and the highlight of the ride. Then, begin downhill through rolling countryside to beautiful Sausalito. Following the map will take you to downtown and the ferry landing, where you can find historic buildings, Riviera style parks and walkways, and fine restaurants, cafés and coffee shops. Take some time to stop for a snack, browse in the small shops or take a walk before boarding the ferry back to the city.

After a quick rest back at the hotel, head to the Marina area for dinner. Walk west on Chestnut about four to eight blocks, and pick a restaurant. The area is full of good quality places to eat at all price ranges, and the Chinese, Mexican and Japanese restaurants in this area are exceptional. There are also plenty of small tucked-away bars along the streets for a nightcap before heading back to the hotel.

Saturday:
Wake up bright and early, and take advantage of the hotel’s free continental breakfast. Then, it’s time for a morning walk back along the bay to Fisherman’s Wharf, pier 41, for your early departure for Alcatraz Island. Be sure to book your tickets at least a week in advance, and pick them up at the pier 41 ticket window. The tour takes about 2 hours, and leads you on an award-winning audio tour of the prison building, the cells and the dining hall while ex-inmates tell stories about famous convicts and attempted escape plans. Then, you are free to roam the island. Be sure to watch the film in the building closest to the ferry landing and check out the exhibit about civilian family and social life on the island. Afterward, take the ferry back to the wharf just in time for lunch.

There are many great places to eat seafood on Fisherman’s Wharf, from full-service restaurants overlooking pier 39, which has been taken over by sea lions as their permanent home, to small seafood stands that deliver the best Dungeness crab in the city. One of the best is Boudin Sourdough Bakery and Cafe, home of the original San Francisco sourdough bread, where you can order steaming west coast clam chowder or chili in a large bread bowl.

Head west to Taylor Street, then south to Bay Street to get to the end of the Powel Mason Cable Car line. It will cost you $2, and if you’re lucky you can grab the best seat in the house; the standing room along the sides. Cruise along at 9mph all the way to Post Street, near the end of the line, arriving at Union Square. This is where it all happens; from the great department stores, small luxury boutiques and other shops you recognize, like the San Francisco-headquartered Gap and Banana Republic. Spend some time checking out the best shopping San Francisco has to offer.

Hop back on the cable car going back towards the wharf until about Pacific Avenue, then walk east a few blocks to Chinatown. Here you can amble through streets packed with produce, food markets, chickens, souvenirs and the best Asian food in the Bay Area. Meander on down to Grant Street and turn left towards North Beach, stopping in any shop or café that intrigues you.

As the neighborhood gives way to the Italian and artsy influences of North Beach, you will be passing some of the highest-rated food in the city. First home to Italian immigrants, and then welcoming the artists of the beatnik era in the 1950s, this neighborhood has one of the most interesting histories. As you stroll through the area, check the menus displayed on the sidewalks, pick out a restaurant for dinner and make reservations.

Take a taxi back to the hotel for a bit of relaxation before dinner, then head back to your restaurant in North Beach. For a real treat after dinner, take a taxi to the W hotel on Market Street and 3rd Street for a nightcap before turning in for the night.

Sunday:
Sleep in today, then walk north to Union Street for a late breakfast in a crepe shop or breakfast café. This neighborhood is full of independent shops, small businesses and one-of-a-kind eateries. Spend the morning browsing the area and savoring your last views of the bay through the city streets. Then, you can walk toward the bay to stroll through the Presidio and the fine views around the Palace of Fine Arts, or take a cab to Golden Gate Park for more picturesque strolling. Sunday is a wonderful day in San Francisco to visit the city’s parks, which all showcase the area’s natural beauty and fresh air.

San Francisco has plenty of beauty and romance, so just try to get as much as you can before heading back to reality.

Links:

Marina Inn
http://www.marinainn.com/

Blazing Saddles
http://www.blazingsaddles.com/

Alcatraz Tickets
http://www.blueandgoldfleet.com/abcsc.htm

Fisherman’s Wharf
http://www.fishermanswharf.org/

North Beach
http://www.sfnorthbeach.com/