A Local's 3-Day San Francisco Itinerary

An afternoon at Golden Gate Park

Check into your hotel. After your flight, it's the perfect time to stretch your legs with a walk through Golden Gate Park. I love to start at the top of the park near Stanyan St. and walk my way down John F Kennedy Promenade (formerly JFK Drive). This beautiful stretch of road meandering through Golden Gate Park is now permanently closed to cars. You can stop in the Conservatory of Flowers and admire the Dahlia garden along your way to the Music Concourse. From here you will take your pick of four of my favorite spots in the park, The Academy of Sciences, The Botanical Gardens, The De Young Museum and The Japanese Tea Garden. I recommend a stroll through the Japanese Tea Garden with a stop at the Tea House before moving onto the De Young Museum.

After walking and enjoying a late afternoon in Golden Gate Park, you'll be ready for dinner. I recommend a short walk to Fiorella for wood-fired pizzas, fresh pasta and delicious cocktails.

A day in the Presidio

Put your walking shoes on and start your morning with breakfast at your hotel before making your way to the San Francisco Presidio. We'll begin our walk at the entrance near Pacific Avenue and Presidio Blvd. The Presidio is a National Historic Landmark and a true oasis in the city. There are so many gorgeous walking trails, museums, beaches, and a golf course. We will start our day with a walk through the Lover's Lane Trail and make our way through Tennessee Hallow and to the newest feature at the Presidio, the spectacular Tunnel Tops Park.

For lunch, I recommend stopping at any of the pop-up food trucks for a casual picnic with a view or walking over to Colibri, a full-service Mexican restaurant. After you are refueled and ready to go, we will continue on the Park and Ridge Trails, making our way past Baker Beach and finally out to Land's End. Be sure to stop along the way for the countless vistas and picture-perfect backdrops of the Golden Gate Bridge and the Pacific Ocean.

It's time to make your way back to your hotel to rest up before dinner out. A few of my favorite tried and true recommendations are Cotogna, Wayfare Tavern, State Bird Provisions, Kokkari Estiatorio and Nopa.

One your final morning, start your day at the Ferry Building. Here you can grab coffee while browsing the farmer's market (Tuesday/Thursday and Saturday) or strolling the many shops and food stalls. It's a beautiful building, with so many fantastic food stalls and restaurants all set on the edge of San Francisco Bay.

From here, you can walk or hop in a pedicab over to Oracle Park to cheer on local favorite, The SF Giants. You will love this ballpark set on the bay with stunning views of the Bay Bridge. Hopefully the end of your three days in SF concludes with a hometown win!