Growing up in San Francisco and having my family live in different neighborhoods over the years has led me to a rich understanding of this City, which I call Home. San Francisco is diverse, rich with history, and stunning views. I’ve tried many times to escape, but for some unknown reason, I end up back here in the City famously known for Karl, the fog, its iconic landmarks, stunning scenery, and vibrant culture.
When any of my friends (sober or not) visit, I first place them in my car and take them on a City tour. San Francisco is known by locals who grew up here as The City; please do not try to be cool and say Frisco or San Fran… Please say, San Francisco, we love our City. (Sober Curator Pro Tip: Also, don’t reference The City; if you don’t live here or have grown up here, it will look not good if another local start asking questions… about being a local)
The City is a 7×7 block and can be covered in under 2 hours
The City is a 7×7 block and can be covered in under 2 hours at least; that’s how long it takes me! I will explore some of these places here with you, so you’ll know exactly where to go when making your itinerary to San Francisco sober. Oh, and before I go any further, please don’t dress like a tourist; this is San Francisco, and it’s cold for most of the year; July is one of our coldest months. You MUST bring layers of clothing, or you will end up purchasing an overpriced sweatshirt at Fisherman’s Warf like every other tourist.
Bernal Heights: A Sleepy Neighborhood with a Stunning View
If you’ve landed in SFO, one of the first places to explore before coming into the city is Bernal Heights, a sleepy neighborhood on the south side of town. Here you will find one main street, Cortland, and on that street, there are several restaurants, Pinhole Coffee, the Little Bee Bakery, a fantastic plant store, gift shops, and a local grocer where you can grab anything you forgot at home! The entire street can be walked in under an hour. Maybe you’re thinking, why this street? If you’re standing in front of the grocery store, you will want to head up the hill right in front of you to get to the top of Bernal Hill.
Discover Bernal Heights
You will thank me later. It’s quite a nice walk, and once you’re up there, you have an epic view; this is not to be missed. The hill also has a hidden garden filled with beautiful flowers and plants. This city has different perspectives, and I want you to see them; they are all unique! (Just like the microclimates!)
Musee Mecanique: A Fun-Filled Musuem
Next, head to Musee Mecanique, a unique museum Musee Mecanique, a unique museum located on Pier 45 in Fisherman’s Wharf. Do you have kids? If so, great; if not great, either way, you’ll love it. This was one of my son’s stomping grounds, he grew up here, and I had no clue; he and my husband would sneak away on the weekends after soccer games. Needless to say, they fell in love with it the first time they went. By the time he was 6, he was a pro at Skee Ball! It features a collection of over 300 antique arcade machines, including mechanical fortune tellers, music boxes, and video games.
Feeling crabby?
Visitors can try their hand at old-fashioned penny arcades and experience the nostalgia of bygone eras. When you’re down on the Pier, you can mosey around and be a total tourist, make your way over to Alitos, grab some delicious fresh crab, and grab yourself some delicious fresh crab, and you can ship it home. This iconic one-of-a-kind restaurant ended up closing during a pandemic; so sad; I have so many childhood memories… it’s only a six-minute walk from the Musee. #freshcrabisthebestcrab
Kid-Friendly
When I found recovery, I wasn’t planning on becoming a mother; it was not on my list of things I wanted to achieve. But when I became a mother, my recovery activities amplified. Other moms were at the playground and in sandboxes with sippy cups of wine. I didn’t have that luxury; I was sober, with my kid on my hip, and had to find things to do… If you are with a kid or NOT, it doesn’t matter; the significance of these places I’m sharing with you is their uniqueness; not every tourist will be standing with you as you oodle over the sites of San Francisco. And kids are welcome.
The 16th Avenue Tiled Steps in Golden Gate Heights
Let’s head out to another neighborhood. Golden Gate Heights is located in the Inner Sunset; here, you will discover, The 16th Avenue Tiled Steps; this staircase is not to be missed. It’s stunning, and the community maintains it. The steps are covered in a colorful mosaic of tiles that depict images of the sun, moon, stars, and other celestial objects. You can climb the steps and enjoy the beautiful artwork while getting some exercise. But once again, you will have a stunning view. Maybe I should write a post on the VIEWS of San Francisco!
Golden Gate Park: A Landmark of Natural Beauty & Endless Activities
It would be remiss of me not to mention Golden Gate Park; this is a given you will go there, right?! This City thrives because of this landmark; within this iconic landmark, there’s the local dog park, wild buffalo, fly fishing, archery, horseback riding, BMX riding, geo-caching, the rose garden, and on and on… This park is magical. I grew up here with my pot-smoking hippie parents and making daisy chain necklaces, grab a bite from Luke’s Local and plant yourself, then walk around and head to the De Young Museum and the Academy of Sciences!
I’m separating The Japanese Tea Garden and the Golden Gate Park Conservatory of Flowers because they are two stand-alone, beautiful oases located in Golden Gate Park. The Tea Garden features a variety of traditional Japanese elements, including a koi pond, a tea house, and a pagoda. The matcha is perhaps overpriced, but the other teas are well worth it. Bring a sketch pad or a journal – this is a place where you can lose track of time and enjoy the peaceful surroundings.
The Infamous Haight and Ashbury neighborhood
The infamous Haight and Ashbury neighborhood is right at the foot of Golden Gate Park. You could drive through if you want to – but trust me, you’re not missing out; it’s become dirty and run down; if you’re looking for a vegan burger, this is where you will find it! Get in and out quickly, oh, and don’t leave anything in your car, like nothing! This neighborhood has a lot of car theft, and there are signs to warn tourists, but for some reason, they overlook them; I’m telling you now, beware!
Clement Street: The Hidden Gem
Since we are on this side of town, I will mention one small wonder, Clement Street. This hidden gem is in the Inner Richmond district, aka neighborhood. The best day to visit this street is Sunday; on this day, you will find the best farmer’s market in the city, with my favorite sprout vendor, Rize Up Bakery, and the Spanish Table, but really why I want you to go here is for the two or three blocks of Asian yumminess, fresh dim sum, smoked duck, fresh octopus… At the end of Clement Street, at Arguello Blvd., turn left and walk past Brecks to the French croissant place, yes, there will be a line, and you will wait for 30 minutes, but everyone who does tells me that every bite is worth it. Enjoy.
Seward Street Slides
Who says slides are for kids? Being sober is a journey of discovering who we are, perhaps reconnecting to our childhood past, and creating new experiences that nurture that little one who may have missed out on life events. I discovered the Seward Street Slides one day while walking the hounds! This is not obvious (and if you don’t know, you won’t know) unique playground located in the Castro district of San Francisco.
Fly a Kite on Kite Hill
They are made of concrete and are designed to resemble giant slides. Visitors can ride the slides and enjoy a fun and unusual experience (bring a towel or find a piece of cardboard on your way to this location). Above this small wonder is a relaxing community garden where I often sit and ponder life – it’s extremely quiet, and there’s enough room to think here, alone or with friends. If you walk up to Corwin Street and take a left, then head to the end of the street, you will land upon Kite Hill, another hidden gem, a park for off-leash dogs, and guess what’s included… A VIEW!
Castro Country Club offers sober hangout meetings
While in the Castro neighborhood, I will also mention the Castro Country Club, a sober hangout with meetings, a cafe, and lots of friends waiting for you. This is one of the coziest sober clubs I’ve ever been in; all are welcome. The Castro is iconic, and you will find many entertaining stores, cafes, and restaurants, oh and I teach my meditation/mindfulness class on Wednesday nights at the Eureka Valley Rec Center; if you’re in town, please make sure to reach out to me, and I’ll get you in the class!
So Many Activities To Do Sober!
There are so many places I could take you but I’m going to wrap up with where I got married, down at the beach, The Sutro Baths. This is a stunning area, once the largest indoor swimming complex in the world. Today, the ruins of the baths are a popular destination for tourists and locals alike. I love climbing the stairs down to the ruins, and hiking Land’s End. Go ahead and lose time here, one hour is not enough, maybe plan for two hours.
SFO Dress Code
Bundle up and wear a hat, take off your shoes, walk along the beach, and wear a scarf. The stunning views of the Pacific Ocean are worth every moment. This area of the city, aka the Outer Sunset District, is cold, wet, and foggy, but it’s not to be missed.
If you love surfing, this is where you will be hanging out; you can rent a board or bike, get to know the locals, grab lunch at Hook Fish on Irving Street, and enjoy your coffee or matcha; there are several good things rent a board or a bike around, get to know the locals grab lunch at Hook Fish on Irving Street and enjoy your coffee or matcha; there are several good places. One more thing I must mention before leaving this neighborhood is Ocean Beach Cafe, San Francisco’s first sober bar; the purveyor is super friendly and creates these stunning mocktails if you’re into that kind of thing!
If you visit my city, please say HI!
Well, friend, I hope this little road trip is fun for you; when you’re here, make sure to reach out and say hi; I love meeting up with others in recovery. Let’s recap the neighborhoods in this post: Bernal Heights, Fisherman’s Warf, Golden Gate Heights/ Inner Sunset, Golden Gate Park, Haight and Ashbury, Inner Richmond, The Castro, and the Outer Sunset. Wow, that’s a lot of pavements you’ll be walking to; comfortable shoes are essential, and a water bottle in tow is also good to have.
Check out this map, you can’t do it all in one trip, so you’ll have to visit again. Have fun.
If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out, over on Lanekennedy.com Take good care!
SOBER IN SAN FRANCISCO: Sober living in the greater San Francisco Bay area doesn’t have to be boring; living free of substances opens the door to a world of new explorations and experiences. With our Sober in San Francisco section, you have access to some of the hottest spots in the Golden Gate City! Sober Curator Lane Kennedy will be leading the charge in this vibrant sober city!
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