there is only one place any ever needs to go: LOVEJOY'S TEA ROOM. really though, i swear by it. it is in the Noe Valley District, between the Mission and Castro districts. Affordable tea. Mismatched cups and saucers. flipping awesome Shepard's;s Pie. Ever better scones. and it's fun to go to tea!

First things first, if Alcatraz is a must-see, you should get your tickets now because it books out well in advance. Here's my favorite three day itinerary for San Francisco (I'm not a morning person so if you are, you might need to make some adjustments).

Day 1 - Get an early brunch/lunch at the Ferry Building, my favorite is Hog Island Oyster. Walk yourself north through Chinatown, stop and get some dim sum if you're hungry. Work your way into North Beach (on the way, if you're able hike up the hill via a staircase to Coit Tower, enjoy the walk, the flowers, and the view). In North Beach, grab espresso and a pastry, or if you're ready for dinner, get Italian at just about any restaurant that looks good to you. Take your time through dinner, get some wine and tiramisu, and walk it off by strolling through the rest of North Beach. If you get Alcatraz tickets, you can do the reverse of this trip after your Alcatraz tour is over (avoid Fisherman's Wharf). If you need to ride a cable car, the California line can take you back to the Embarcadero without the hassle of the more touristed Powell line.

Day 2 - Catch some local flavor in the Mission District. Grab a taco on 24th Street before taking a Mission Mural Tour with Precita Eyes Mural Center. Then walk over to Valencia Street, and walk north, enjoying the eclectic shopping (don't miss 826 Valencia also known as "The Pirate Store" and Paxton Gate). If you're hungry, some of the city's best affordable restaurants are on Valencia Street. Wander west to Dolores Street and tour the Mission, for a very old view of San Francisco. Head over to the Castro neighborhood for dinner for a glimpse of gay San Francisco, an vital part of the city.

Day 3 - Get in your car and drive over the Golden Gate Bridge, stopping to take in the view. If you leave early enough, you can probably get in the impressive redwoods of Muir Woods and sip a little wine in Sonoma (I prefer Sonoma over Napa, which is crowded and the tastings often very expensive). If you're heading back to San Francisco, there's many amazing restaurants in Sonoma, but the Fig Cafe & Wine Bar in Glen Ellen has no corkage fee (perfect for that bottle you bought at a tasting room) and the food is outstanding (it's sister cafe to the amazing The Girl & The Fig Restaurant).

Have a wonderful visit to San Francisco. It's truly an incredible city!

Lauren
=====
Global travel and art adventures: http://www.ephemerratic.com

I also second the drive north towards Napa/Sonoma County for wine tasting. Also, it would be worth heading south towards Monterey too, and even spend a night down there if you can. The views are nice and there are great places to eat downtown.

If you're in to wines, I also wouldn't miss a quick trip to Napa Valley.

Marin Headlands, Muir Woods and Sausalito are all north of San Francisco, right across the Golden Gate Bridge. The headlands have some beautiful hiking trails and views over the ocean. Sausalito is a small city by the water that has a rustic and traditional feel with plenty of “mom and pop” shops across the main street. If you decide to rent bikes, there are a couple trails that will take you from the Golden Gate into the headlands too.

If you have a couple days in the Bay Area I’d also suggest venturing out of San Francisco. Berkeley is a pretty nice place to check out (UC Berkeley campus with tons of shops downtown). If you have the time to drive south (about 1-1.5 hours), you can check out the mountains in Santa Cruz, and the aquarium in Monterey. The 101 and 880 freeways tend to get pretty jammed during commute hours so try and leave earlier/later.

If the weather is nice, I recommend spending a relaxing afternoon in Golden Gate Park. The Strybing Arboretum is my personal favorite spot. Stowe Lake and the Japanese Tea Garden are also beautiful.

The stop by the Inner Sunset neighbourhood at 9th and Irving for dinner. The most popular restaurant in the neighbourhood is Park Chow - a fitting end for your trip to the park!

Driving through San Francisco can always be a bit nerve-racking. Public transportation is pretty good in the city and can get you to most of the major sites. Depending on the weather, I’d recommend renting a couple bikes and taking the bike route from the piers across the Golden Gate Bridge. I believe they also offer ferry rides back from Sausalito too if you only want to bike one-way.