As novelist and Pulitzer Prize winner, William Saroyan once said, “If you’re not alive, San Francisco will bring you to life.” I’d highly recommend if you’re a Southern Californian going through a quarter-life crisis, head to NorCal, see the Golden Gate Bridge, and feel the life come back into your body…. kidding. All drama aside, San Fransisco has enough charm and energy to pull anyone out of a funk, or just serve as a great domestic vacation spot!

I personally went to San Fransisco during the Kentucky Derby, and had the opportunity to attend the 10th annual Guardsmen Derby Party (would definitely recommend if you aren’t able to fly all the way to Kentucky), but there is plenty to do on short notice in SF without a preset itinerary.

Here’s a list of things I’d Recommend:

Dinning:

–Yank Sing: If you’re looking for a traditional Dim Sum spot, Yank Sing is absolutely mesmerizing. To me, this was the best food I had in all of San Fransisco, it seemed to simply get more decadent with every bite. The only thing to pay attention is their operating hours. Yank Sing has very specific hours, and isn’t open for dinner, so plan out your Yank Sing lunch time ahead!

–Ozumo: Not only does Ozumo have delicious sushi and sake, but it also has an immaculate vibe. The music, the speciality dishes, and strong sake makes for an ideal date spot.

–Shlocks: These lox bagels are definitely worth the wait (and it’s quite a long one at that). If you’re not into lox, this is still a breakfast pop up spot worth the trek to, even though it’s pretty much uphill from any direction you’re come from. These bagels are the closest thing to a New York bagel on the West Coast, so indulge if you get the opportunity.

Activities:

–Baseball Game at Oracle Park: Personally, in my biased opinion, this is the best sports stadium in the United States. Even if you are not a baseball fan, going to a Giant’s game is still a San Francisco treat!

–Picnic in front of Painted Ladies: For tourists aside from traveling by cable car, seeing the Painted Ladies is probably one of the next most popular attractions. There’s a vast grassy area right in front of the Ladies which makes for an ideal picnic spot.

–Japanese Tea Garden: Zen and beautiful! Take a leisurely stroll through the serene Japanese gardens and perhaps take a quick break for a cup of matcha, the admission cost is worth it!

–GoCar Tour: The GoCar Tour is by far the most phenomenal way to see San Francisco in a timely yet educational manner. The Car is a fun motive to get around but it also tells you all the information you could possibly desire about the city while navigating you through. If you only have a weekend in San Francisco, definitely prioritize doing this.