Few things are greater than spending a summer in San Francisco, where it never gets too hot and there is always plenty to do. Given its relatively small size, San Francisco boasts an incredibly high density of culture, art, and history. If you could only fit a few things into your schedule this summer, these are the ones that you absolutely cannot miss:
Lands End
Perhaps one of the best-kept secrets of San Francisco, Lands End is located north of the Richmond. It's a long, winding trail through the woods, where you can come across the remains of old buildings, famous shipwrecks, sites of WWII posts, and cliffs overlooking the Pacific and the Golden Gate Bridge. Lands End is the perfect place for a picnic, as it has everything - gorgeous views, the sound of water crashing on the shore, and the perpetual option for isolation. Whether you go off the beaten trail or not, one thing is for sure: Lands End is the one place in San Francisco where you can go and feel like you're miles away from the city.
Dolores Park
This classic locale in the Mission District is packed on weekends all year round, but when warmer weather comes out to play, so does everyone else. Dolores Park has a little bit of everything: soccer games, picnics, drum circles, dogs, and people lying in the sun. Head to Dolores Park in the summer and you'll wonder why it seems that absolutely no one is working when the sun is shining.
Pier 39
Sure, Pier 39 is a well-known tourist spot because of the fancy restaurants (where most locals wouldn't eat, due to the outrageous prices), but many San Franciscans live in the city for years and never go. The sea lions are a lot of fun to watch - they're goofy and playful, and you can't help but admire their simplicity. The pier is far too cold in the winter, and the ocean air can cut right through you; summer makes it an ideal time to see the sea lions and walk around, taking in the sites.
Take a walk around SOMA
One of the best things about San Francisco is its international appeal; walking around Market and into SOMA, you can walk down the street and hear 10 different languages, none of them English. If the cultural variety weren't enough, SOMA also has some of the best museums in SF, including the Ansel Adams photography center and the Contemporary Jewish Museum.
Get to know the Haight
Like Pier 39, Haight/Ashbury is a popular tourist stop, albeit one that's far enough out of the way that most tourists don't ever actually make it there. Not only is the Haight a historical center for San Francisco, but it's also home to pop culture icons (the park from the opening credits of "Full House" is in the Haight) as well as some of the best restaurants, street art, and small shops anywhere in the city.
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