Quick Guide to San Francisco

Sometimes you find a place when traveling that totally resets you. After spending a quick weekend with a close friend in San Francisco, I found myself refreshed after spending a good chunk of 72 hours outside, in the sun. Something I won’t be able to find in Chicago for at least another two months.

When I arrived in San Francisco, I had absolutely nothing planned and nothing on the bucket list. I was making the trip to see a good friend, and thankfully she had done the tour of the city a time or two. (Though I am still fact checking your tour, Effie….)

If you find yourself in San Francisco for a quick weekend, here are a list of spots that you should check out:

I found the Palace of Fine Arts to be the most fascinating, mostly because I had no idea that it existed. It was originally built in 1915 for the Panama-Pacific Exposition, but was demolished and rebuilt in 1965 after it had become a crumbling ruin. The structure looks like it was picked up and moved from Ancient Rome.

The Sea Lions at Pier 39

Hands down my favorite part of the trip? The hiking. If this is something that interests you, take the time to map out different areas outside the city. But let’s be honest, the city of San Francisco is essentially one big hike.