san francisco summer bucket list

20 ways to squeeze every drop out of summer in the city

summer in san francisco is a little bit of a beautiful lie. the rest of the country is at the beach and we’re putting on a third layer to walk to coffee. BUT the few perfect, sun-drenched, can’t-believe-this-is-real days we do get are the best summer days anywhere on earth, and the events, the produce, the escapes just over the bridge more than make up for the rest <3

let’s get into it:

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#1 catch a free sunday concert at stern grove festival, reserve your free ticket in advance because it’s a lottery now (then blanket down early and pack a sandwich from devil’s teeth before you head over), schedule linked here

#2 spend a whole foggy saturday chasing the sun across the bridge to stinson beach, where it’s somehow always 15 degrees warmer (stop at parkside in stinson for a post-swim treat)

#3 grab oysters straight from the source at hog island in marshall, the drive up tomales bay is half the magic

#4 ferry to sausalito just to wander and eat ice cream by the water (a scoop from lappert’s and then watch the sailboats)

#5 build a bonfire at ocean beach as the sun goes down, the only place in the city you can legally do it (bring the makings for s’mores and a thermos of something warm, it gets cold fast out there, BYOW bring your own firewood!)

#6 catch an outdoor movie under the stars (sundown cinema does the presidio - bring wayyyy more layers than you think, it gets cold the second the sun dips) more info here

#7 day-drink your way through a giants game at oracle, mccovey cove splash hits and the whole bit (favorites: gilroy garlic fries, slice house, and hearth table - a completely gluten free stand!)

#8 wander the fort mason night market on a friday evening, food trucks and craft vendors and djs right on the water (go for sunset, obviously)

#9 golden hour at the presidio tunnel tops, and be one of the first through the doors at the brand new mess hall when it opens this summer

#10 post up at china beach, the tiny tucked-away cove below sea cliff (calmer than baker, with the same bridge view - grab snacks on clement street on the way and stay for golden hour)

#11 sunset picnic on bernal heights hill with the whole city glittering below you (grab a rotisserie chicken and sides from good life grocery on cortland on the way up)

#12 street fair season is upon us! fillmore jazz fest, north beach, union street - pick one and wander (and eat everything that comes on a stick)

#13 cold plunge at aquatic park with the dolphin club, shiver a little, feel deeply refreshed (then warm up with an irish coffee at the buena vista)

#14 do a frozen treat crawl across the city (garden creamery’s black sesame, smitten’s liquid-nitrogen magic, and salt & straw - a perfect day)

#15 watch the fog pour over twin peaks at dusk, the way it spills over the hills in slow motion (bring a thermos, it’s the best free show in town !!!)

#16 tomato season “tasting menu” at home: heirlooms from the alemany farmers market, good olive oil, flaky salt, that’s the whole thing (the best recipe)

#17 rooftop spritz at golden hour somewhere with a view (cubita - the rooftop formerly known as el techo - for the mission sunset, charmaine’s for the full skyline)

#18 lay out at baker beach on a clear day with the bridge right there in front of you, the most cinematic sand in the city (pack a deli sandwich and make an afternoon of it)

#19 do the lands end trail at golden hour out to the sutro baths ruins, the whole pacific glowing pink

#20 the holy grail: one perfect dolores park afternoon when the sun fully shows up and the entire city is out and glowing (a bi-rite scoop, a bottle of something cold, and your favorite people)

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Thank you all so much for reading - some of these I do every single summer like clockwork, some are new for me this year too. let me know what I'm missing!! xoxo

Love Always,

Su