We were excited to spend a few days in San Francisco, travelling as a new couple on our first-time adventure. My guy, who travelled here many times before, wanted to show me around, and I couldn’t wait to go!

Tony Bennet sang, “I left my heart in San Francisco,” it’s easy to understand why. With its iconic Golden Gate Bridge, adorable cable cars, ocean breeze, and warm sunny climate, San Francisco is hard not to fall in love with. That said, there are many layers to this vibrant city. We sped past some lovely neighbourhoods in our Uber, wishing we could have stopped and had more time to explore.

Views, views, breathtaking views, San Francisco, is not shy when it comes to the camera. We were fortunate to have sunshine in our forecast, not too hot, with a breeze coming off the ocean. There are many similarities between San Francisco (our big sister?)and my hometown, Vancouver, making me feel right at home.

Where to stay in San Francisco

With so many great options, deciding on a hotel can be difficult. Honestly, it took a little research and having a budget in mind. Nonetheless, we wanted a central location, so Union Square was an obvious choice for us. Villa Florence is only a half-block away and convenient as it is easy on the wallet. Also worth considering is the  San Francisco Proper Hotel, designed by Kelly Wearstler. You know it’s going to be a unique experience. Take the elevator to Charmaine’s, the hotel’s rooftop bar, with its spectacular views, overstuffed lounges and a hip crowd to keep you entertained all evening.

Stepping outside the comfort zone

On this particular visit to San Francisco, I had the opportunity to explore the city with my guy for the first time, adding an extra level of excitement to our adventure. While I had been to San Francisco on a few occasions in the past, this trip held a unique significance as we navigated the city together as a new couple. However, I couldn’t help but wonder if we were compatible travellers.

It all started when he suggested renting segways, which caught me off guard. I must admit, I was incredibly anxious when he signed us up for an advanced 2-hour Segway & Scooter Tour. Yes, there was panic on my face. Up until that point, I had never even considered trying such an activity. However, to my surprise, it turned out to be an overall good experience. I quickly realized that stepping out of my comfort zone added an unexpected element of fun to our journey. So this guy of mine might be on to something?

Not your average coffee

After touring on our segways, we were thirsty! Buena Vista is famous for creating the ever-popular “Irish coffee.” Who knew? An assembly line of glasses lined up on the bar, and a perfect pour of Irish whiskey, coffee and a large dollop of whipped cream made for a yummy end to our afternoon.

Fun things to do

A trip to San Francisco is never complete without visiting Fisherman’s Wharf. Brace yourselves. This is one of the busiest tourist attractions, filled with souvenir shops, restaurants, seafood stalls, and a colony of sea lions. Nearby and worth checking out is Ghirardelli Square, a landmark filled with pubs, a cheese school, boutiques, and a Ghiradelli store. Make sure you get your free chocolate sample. See’s Chocolates is down the road; deciding which was my new favourite flavour was difficult with so many tempting choices. Thankfully, there were more chocolate samples to taste.

Alcatraz, I know what you’re thinking. We all watched Clint Eastwood dig his way out. I promise you. It’s nothing like the movie. However, if you’ve never been, it’s worth considering. It’s an easy ferry ride across the bay. You can explore at your own pace or take a tour once you land. Alcatraz is filled with history and crazy stories of its infamous inmates. It’s scary to imagine what it must have been like in the day.

Where we ate

Hungry? San Francisco’s food scene is second to none, so where does one begin? We discovered Octavia totally by fluke. We initially reserved at Frances (the sister restaurant). Unfortunately, there was a reservation mix-up. The restaurant realizing their mistake, sent us in a cab to Octavia, where a lovely hostess and a glass of champagne greeted us. The entire dining experience was perfect. Did I mention both of these restaurants are Michelin stars? We had no idea. Hands down a memorable evening, and the handsome guy sitting across the table from me had nothing to do with it 😉

There are so many diverse neighbourhoods. A few favourites were Chinatown and North Beach, I loved the small cafés and eclectic restaurants, i.e. not the Cheese Cake Factory, and yes, we ate there too. Which, by the way, has a great rooftop patio but is otherwise a miss. Another great meal and a true classic is the Zuni Cafe. We shared the Ceasar Salad, roast chicken with bread salad, aka stuffing with gravy (to die for); the chicken takes 45 minutes, so come prepared, relax and order a bottle of wine.

Without a doubt, it was a great first-time adventure, I loved San Francisco, but the guy has my heart.

LC

xo