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things to do in the san francisco bay area
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items the bay is beautiful and has so much to offer, especially with opportunities to get outdoors! some of these options are low/no-cost. when i choose places to eat, i prioritize good eats over atmosphere, so these might not always be the most vibe-y pla...
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low- or no-cost
higher cost, but worth the spend
good eats
low- or no-cost
i try to incorporate lower cost activities into my life because i know it's important to get out of the house, but i simply can't be balling out every weekend!
this is a great way to see the redwoods without trekking all the way up to the north bay! heads up, cell phone reception is nonexistent up here, so make sure you go with a plan and a map.
Reinhardt Redwood Regional Park
the museum has a ton of antique, coin-operated mechanical musical instruments and arcade artifacts you can play with, it's so fun!
Musée Mécanique
northern california beaches are not the same as southern california beaches. they're often cold and windy, and the sand isn't soft and luxurious. but they have their own kind of beauty! check out the tide pools, where you can walk off the shore to se...
Fitzgerald Marine Reserve
this is the Central Park of san francisco! there are lots of things to do here: take a stroll on one of the many walking paths; have a picnic literally anywhere in the park; admire the art at the de young museum; say hi to the bison in the bison padd...
Golden Gate Park
wander along the trails through the trees along the coastline and get beautiful views of the golden gate bridge.
Lands End
higher cost, but worth the spend
these are worth splurging on, at least to experience them once. i promise!
ok, admittedly, this is not in the bay area, but if you're up for a day trip, it is 100% worth the drive. it's one of the best aquariums in the world, and for good reason! if you have time after, grab some cioppino for dinner at phil's fish market in...
Monterey Bay Aquarium
good eats
some of my favorite restaurants across the bay! these might not always be the most vibe-y places, but you WILL have a yummy meal!
go get the xiao long bao (soup dumplings), they are SO DELICIOUS! all of their other dumplings and noodles are fantastic, too!
Din Ding Dumpling House (Union City, CA)
CIOPPINO!! if you like seafood, this is the spot for you. their cioppino is soooo good, but everything else i've tried is phenomenal too (louie salad, risotto). i highly recommend calling and making a reservation.
Sotto Mare (San Francisco, CA)
my favorite burmese spot i've tried in the bay (and yes, i have tried burma superstar)! this is a hole-in-the-wall spot in fremont, and i've tried many menu items and they've all been amazing. i especially love their tea leaf salad and various meat c...
Kyain Kyain (Fremont, CA)
i mean, it's a classic for a reason. might you be able to find a better burrito in the bay? sure. but is this spot SOLID, consistent, and inexpensive? absolutely. at present, it's ~$10 for a super burrito. bring cash!!
El Farolito (San Francisco, CA)