Marin Headlands – This is the area of protected land consisting of rolling hills on the way up to Mt. Tamalpias, north of the Golden Gate Bridge. From this vantage point, your camera can do no wrong. Don’t let fog deter you form visiting this lookout point, because when the fog breaks it breaks fast, and there is nothing like driving up into the fog and experiencing the “reveal” as the fog burns off and the Bay shows your all her glory.

Museums – San Francisco has many museums to include the SF MOMA (Museum of Modern Art), De Young (in Golden Gate Park), and the Palace of Fine Arts. All of the museums have a free public day on either the first Tuesday or Wednesday of the month, and the SF Zoo is also free on the first Wednesdays.

Neighborhood Walks – Don’t yawn until you consider the diversity of San Francisco’s culture and history. Any local will tell you one of the best things about this town is going from neighborhood to neighborhood for completely different experiences around every corner. Check out sfcityguides.org for some great walking tours including North Beach, Haight/Ashbury, Pacific Hts., Chinatown, Mission, and the Embarcadero.

Coit Tower – This landmark San Francisco monument hosts one of the greatest views of the bay and cityscape/skyline without costing you a dime. From the tower and even from the surrounding grounds, you can take in views of the Golden Gate and Bay Bridges, Alcatraz, Angel Island, Yerba Buena and Treasure Islands, and of course the Bay itself.

Crissy Field – Formerly an airstrip for the Presidio Army Base (now decommissioned), Crissy Field stretches along San Francisco’s northern by shore, not far from the foot of the Golden Gate, and is now a part of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area popular with bicyclists, dogs, locals and tourists alike.

Cable Car Museum – Everybody knows about San Francisco’s famous Cable Cars, but few really understand how they operate or much else about their history that doesn’t involve Rice-a-Roni. Head over to 1201 Mason Street (between Russian and Nob Hills) and check out this fascinating piece of San Francisco history. Oh, and it is right on the two major cable lines, so you can even ride one and think up some questions on your way there!

Fisherman’s Wharf / Ghirardelli Square / Pier 39 – You might as well set aside a full day and start either at Pier 39 or Ghirardelli Square and just wonder your way from one end of the Fisherman’s Wharf area to the other. This waterfront neighborhood included many attractions such as the The Cannery Bldg., Hyde Park Cable Car Turnaround, Buena Vista Bar, shops, cafés, and restaurants.

Embarcadero – This palm-lined avenue received an unprecedented facelift following the 1991 removal of the Embarcadero Freeway (seen as an eyesore by many natives). This waterfront drive and promenade walkway stretches for miles along the north and eastern bay shore of San Francisco, and takes you from AT&T Part (home of the SF Giants) under the Bay Bridge, and in front of SF’s famous Ferry Building.

Baker Beach – Recently updated, the trip to Baker beach is less of a “hike” than in the past, as it now includes newly constructed stairs all the way down to the beach from the roadway above and parking areas. This beach might shock travelers unprepared to see Europeans in the nude, but the views from near the foot of the Golden Gate and looking out at the vast Pacific Ocean are unbeatable.