After four flight cancellations due to winter weather conditions, we almost considered canceling our trip. Instead, we kept rebooking—and I’m genuinely glad we did. What followed ended up being one of my favorite trips in recent memory: quality time with my parents, jam-packed days exploring San Francisco with Justin, and a short road trip along Highway 1 down to Carmel-by-the-Sea and Big Sur.

Where you stay determines how much you walk, how often you rely on transit, and how the city feels after dark. We didn’t rent a car until our road trip down to Carmel-by-the-Sea so we highly recommend staying in an area that is walkable. Public transportation is there, but not the best way to get around the city. We stayed in the Marina District and Japantown.

Best for: walkability, waterfront access, first-time visitors

The Marina is flat (a rarity in SF), scenic, and easy to navigate. You’re close to the bay, Crissy Field, and the Golden Gate Bridge, with plenty of cafés and casual restaurants nearby. Public transportation is accessible, and car rentals are close, which makes it a convenient base for day trips.

We stayed at Hotel Zephyr, a quirky, nautical-themed hotel near Fisherman’s Wharf. It’s dog-friendly, comfortable, and more relaxed than you might expect given the tourist-heavy surroundings. While the area can feel busy during peak season, it was noticeably quieter during the off-season, especially in the evenings. If you plan on renting a car, there are ample rental car agencies within walking distance.

Best for: calm atmosphere, food-focused travelers, design-forward hotels

Japantown is quieter and more residential, with excellent Japanese restaurants, bakeries, and coffee shops clustered around the Japan Center. It feels lived-in rather than touristy.

We stayed at the Kimpton Hotel Enso, A polished, modern hotel that fits seamlessly into the neighborhood. Rooms are thoughtfully designed, and the overall vibe is calm and refined without feeling stiff. A good option if you want to come back to somewhere peaceful after full days out. We had an incredible balcony view of the Peace Pagoda, which was under construction, but still neat to see.

Note: The Peace Pagoda was under renovation during our visit, but the neighborhood itself was still worth exploring for food alone.

The Tenderloin is one of the more affordable areas to stay in San Francisco, but it comes with some trade-offs. It’s centrally located and close to transit, but it’s also gritty, with visible homelessness. Our friend, who is a local, recommended that we avoid this area.

1. Walking: We found that walking from Marina wasn't too bad, but the hills can really wipe you out! I highly recommend wearing comfortable shoes.

2. Public Transit (MUNI & BART): Reliable for most major routes. Easy to use and cost-effective.

3. Rideshare & Waymo: We rode in a Waymo for the first time, which felt very on-brand for SF. We took a Waymo from our hotel to Mission District, which was supposed to be a 10-minute drive but ended up being a 28-minute drive. Out of curiosity, I checked to see if there are certain routes that the Waymos are restricted to. The Waymo website states that they map out the "safest, most efficient route". It was also interesting seeing the lidar technology and how it maps its surroundings. Rideshare is easiest for getting to/from airport because public transportation was ~$15 pp/ea way.

4. Car Rental: Useful for day trips (Sausalito, Muir Woods, Big Sur). Less practical for getting around the city itself due to parking and can be a risk for window smashers (it happened to my parents)

A striking, open-air structure that feels almost out of place in the city. Calm, spacious, and worth seeing in person. A large pet supply store is nearby and we got our pup a new jacket.

We walked from the Marina with our dog, passing green spaces with clear views of the Golden Gate Bridge and rolling hills. A great option if you have the time and want to see the city at a slower pace. Highlights- wide sidewalks, scenic views and m friendly dogs to pet along the way!

We were obviously going to see it at some point, but there is some beauty in being able to park somewhere and really admire the bridge and how the vibrant red can be seen even through fog.

An easy day trip across the bridge. We stopped for coffee and walked along the waterfront—simple, scenic, and unhurried.

After our quick stop in Sausalito, we headed up to Muir National Woods. We highly recommend purchasing a parking pass and entrance tickets prior to arrival. Ensure that the tickets are already downloaded before entering the park because cell service is sparse and often nonexistent in the park. We took the 2.77 mile loop around the park and it was an easy hike! The park is not dog friendly though, so Pluto did not come.

We decided to stop by the Muir Overlook to catch the sunset before going down to Stinson Beach. Stinson Beach is dog friendly, so we obviously had to go for Pluto. It was such a stunning drive down (with brief cell service, which was nice for mapping the route back home). The roads are narrow and windy down to the beach, but the views are incredible.

Palette Tea House (Marina District- SF): Next to the Ghirardelli factory, great soup dumplings, aesthetically plated food

R&G Lounge- family-style dinner (Chinatown - SF): Large portions, family-style dining. We ordered lobster sticky rice, Peking duck bao, steamed eggs with clam, and oxtail with radish—the duck skin was perfectly crisp. Best with a group.

Mamahuhu (Mill Valley, CA near Muir Woods): recommended for a no frills Chinese-American meal.

Café de Casa: Brazilian café with strong coffee and incredible pastries. Good for a casual stop. A little pricy for coffee, but the tapioca breakfast wrap with eggplant and the fluffy coconut bread were both phenomenal.

Best Boy Electric- Coffee/Pastries (Japantown): This spot was walking distance from our hotel (200 ft) and I cannot recommend enough how good the spicy miso ramen is. Don't forget to add Ichimi Togarashi to the ramen for an extra spicy kick.

Hinodeya Ramen (Japantown)

After my parents flew home, we drove south for one night in Carmel-by-the-Sea before returning to San Francisco for our final days. The drive down Highway 1—especially the stretch near Big Sur that had been closed for three years—was worth the detour alone. Stay tuned for a blog post about Carmel....

We typically don’t travel with a plan, and once again, it worked out for us. San Francisco gave us structure—neighborhoods, food, architecture—while Carmel offered contrast and quiet. Together, they struck a balance that felt restorative rather than indulgent, a reminder that the right mix of energy and stillness can be exactly what you need when life feels particularly loud.