Sydney & Ryan
Things To Do
Presidio of San Francisco
The Presidio is a 1,500-acre park on a former military post, and is a major outdoor recreation hub. It has forested areas, miles of trails, a golf course and scenic overlooks. Other highlights include grassy Crissy Field with Golden Gate Bridge views, Civil War–era Fort Point and sandy Baker Beach. We love to walk here, have picnics, and even toured some wedding venues in this area. There are stunning views of the Golden Gate Bridge from Fort Point (the address linked here is for Fort Point), Chrissy Field, and Baker Beach (Baby Zoe and Ryan pictured here). The Palace of Fine Arts (a huge pavilion with Neoclassical and Art Nouveau architecture) is also in this area and is worth a stroll through for pictures, or to sit and enjoy the view for a while.
Ghirardelli Chocolate Experience at Ghirardelli Square
Ghirardelli Square is considered the first successful adaptive reuse project in the country. Its history spans more than a century and covers three continents. This specialty retail and dining complex, housing shops and restaurants, was originally a chocolate factory established by Domenico “Domingo” Ghirardelli. Our favorite things to order here when we bring visitors are a hot chocolate if it’s cold, or we order a sundae with two spoons to share. Ryan’s favorite is the “Salted Caramel Brownie Sundae — Land’s End” but we’ve also enjoyed the “Cookie Bits Sundae — Crissy Field” (pictured here).
PIER 39
Pier 39 and Fisherman’s Wharf are easily walkable from Ghirardelli Square. Here, you’ll find tons of restaurants, the famous Boudin bakery (did you know that sourdough was invented in San Francisco?), and souvenir shops. If you walk to the end of the pier, you can also see Alcatraz (the view here is way better in person than it is in pictures). The best time to spot sea lions is between late July and mid-May. There are typically hundreds, and the best view is from the end of the pier on the left side, bottom level. When Ryan moved to the Bay Area, he road-tripped across the country with his stepbrother Jake. It’s very windy in San Francisco year round, but especially on the coast. The boys thought they could handle the temperature that day, in June, so they didn’t listen to Sydney when she told them to grab a jacket. By the end of the day, the two had to cave and buy San Francisco tourist sweatshirts at Pier 39 (pictured here).
Philz Coffee
Philz is a Bay Area favorite: the coffee shop was founded by Phil Jaber in San Francisco’s Mission District, and now has multiple locations in the Bay, and all over the country. The baristas grind your beans, and make each cup to your toast. Sydney’s favorite coffee to order here is the Dancing Water (pictured here), which is a lighter roast with notes of chocolate, grains, and cashew. We especially like taking visitors to this location in The Castro District, an iconic neighborhood for gay culture with rainbow crosswalks, flags, LGBTQ+ events, and businesses.
The Painted Ladies
What ever happened to predictability? The milkman, the paperboy, the evening Sydney. While the Painted Ladies are a touristy spot, they are beautiful! The best views are if you walk up the hill a bit in the park, so you can see the city skyline. Zoe is pictured here in front of them in 2019, the first time Sydney’s college roommate Clare came to visit. The Full House house itself (1709 Broderick) is in this area, but a family lives there. You used to be able to take pictures on the stoop and there was a sign out front with lots of catchphrases from the show, but the new owners don’t want people there all the time. Which is understandable, but kind of comes with the territory? If you’re a giant fan and this is on your bucket list, go for it; otherwise, we’d recommend skipping it, and sticking to the Painted Ladies.
Twin Peaks
Looking for a very short but rewarding hike in San Francisco? Twin Peaks is actually mostly driving up to the base of the hills, and then climbing them on very clearly defined paths. You can see much of the city (as pictured), but make sure to bring a jacket because it’s very windy.
Mission Dolores Park
Delores Park is one of our favorite spots in the city, and we’ve taken many friends here. Because it is situated on a hill, you can see much of the surrounding San Francisco neighborhood, and skyline. Mission burritos are a must, and there are many taqueria options near here, plus a Bi-rite ice cream shop across the street: Sydney enjoys a cone of Honey Lavender. We love to picnic here, or day drink with friends. It’s always crowded for holiday weekends, and during San Francisco Pride.
Golden Gate Park
Golden Gate Park is San Francisco’s version of Central Park. It contains walking and biking trails, San Francisco Botanical Gardens, a Japanese Tea Garden (pictured here), and museums. In 2021, Sydney won a membership to the de Young Museum (located in the park) through her teachers union, so the couple went multiple times throughout the year and she brought her brother Tyler when he came to visit that summer.
Drake's Dealership
Drake’s Dealership is currently a brewery and restaurant in Oakland but used to be, you guessed it, a car dealership. They have rotating local beers and ciders, and their menu touts burgers, and pizzas. Ryan always goes for the Dude Ya (aka the most meat that you can fit on a personal pizza), while Sydney usually opts for the Joey (with mushrooms, onions, garlic, and greens) or the Lori (with figs, goat cheese, and olives). The picture here was from the first time Zoe went to an outdoor restaurant.
Humphry Slocombe
Humphrey Slocombe is a gourmet ice creamery, with shops in San Francisco, and a stand located right next to Drake’s Dealership. They have flavors named after Bay Area icons, like the Harvey Milk Graham. It’s the perfect end to a date night. Sydney’s childhood friend Kaitlin is pictured at the ice cream stand here.
Homeroom
Homeroom is a gourmet Mac and cheese restaurant with a seasonal menu full of creative Mac n cheese. When Sydney and Ryan were doing long distance for 2 years before Ryan moved to the Bay Area, they had dinner here almost every time he came to visit. Ryan’s favorite is the Bacon Mac and he has been known to bring leftovers through TSA with him. Sydney loves sampling the whole vegetarian menu, but her favorite is the Jalapeño Popper Mac.
Rosenblum Cellars
Rosenblum is a local winery to which Sydney’s best friend, and the couple’s former roommate, Alison is a member. They have their own wines and Prosecco. When Sydney heads here with teacher friends, they tend to order flights, or will order a bottle of the Blanc de Bleu (pictured here) if they’re celebrating.
Boichik Bagels
This popular Berkeley bagel shop is known to have a line around the block. Though Ryan can be a “bagel snob” because he has the “elevated palate” of a New Yorker, even he enjoys the bagels here. While a traveling critic for the New York TImes asserts that the bagels here are the best, Ryan's a harsher critic: he says that they must be rated on a “West Coast Scale.” Pro tip: order ahead, and head to the entrance for pickup, rather than waiting in the long line! Pictured here is a bagel sandwich with hummus and veggies (Sydney’s order, of course! Ryan is exclusively a Bacon, Egg, and Cheese man.).
Almanac Beer Co.
Alameda Point is a former naval air station, located in the heart of the bay on the West End of Alameda. There are many abandoned buildings, and some have been inhabited by breweries, wineries, and a distillery. It’s near the water on Alameda, and a few minutes from where Ryan and Sydney live. This brewery is super charming, and one of the couple’s favorites in the area. There’s a food truck, and dozens of local beers in fun, colorful branding. If it’s a nice day, expect to see families and dogs basking in the sun at Almanac. Sydney loves to try the sours and IPAs, and Ryan usually sticks to stouts or the kolsch. Another favorite close by in The Point is Faction, whose beers are stocked in bars and restaurants all over the Beer Area, we mean Bay Area. Faction has Scolari’s restaurant on site which has sliders and fries.
Joaquin Miller Park
Staying in the East Bay and looking for a hike? Joaquin Miller Park is a large parked in the Oakland Hills, owned and operated by the City of Oakland, and is one of Ryan and Sydney’s favorite places to take Zoe hiking. It’s shaded, full of lush landscapes, and is a great non-touristy way to see second-growth redwood groves.
Riggers Loft Wine Company-R&B Cellars
This wine loft and cidery is right on the water in Point Richmond. On weekends, Riggers has live music and plenty of ambiance: if there’s live music, make a reservation by calling ahead because it fills fast. They have rotating food, both indoor and outdoor seating, and sweeping views of the bay; from Riggers you can see Oakland, Berkeley, and San Francisco and can often see sailboats passing. Sydney has been here numerous times with her teacher friends for Happy Hour, and the United Teachers of Richmond Christmas Celebration. This is a favorite spot of Sydney’s and Ryan’s in the summer, and they even spent 4th of July here once! Sydney’s favorite cider here is the Proper Dry, but the guava is one of their best selling.
AsiaSF
AsiaSF is a world renowned dinner show cabaret which has been operating in San Francisco for 24 years. It has a very high quality Asian fusion menu, great service, and delicious cocktails. It’s expensive, but totally worth the experience and the caliber of its transgender performers and their costumes. Sydney has been for her friend Nguyen’s birthday, and rang in 2022 here with friends as well: it was one of her favorite New Years celebrations ever.
Viansa Sonoma Winery & Tasting Room
Looking to experience a bit of wine country? Viansa Sonoma is one of Sonoma’s most beautiful wineries, with a deli, views of the vineyards, fire pits, and picnic tables. Sydney became a member here after an overzealous tasting with Ryan’s childhood and high school friends in the summer of 2021: they bought so many bottles that she became a member. Sydney and Ryan celebrated their fifth anniversary here last December, and frequently come to pick up their quarterly wine shipment or to show visitors. Sonoma is usually less busy and more relaxed than Napa, but both are amazing experiences.
Lagunitas Brewing Company
This is a bit farther out of the city, so if you’re looking to experience wine country but are usually more of a craft beer drinker, head here, to the Lagunitas brewery and beer garden. They offer tastings, snacks, and sometimes have live music. Lagunitas is one of Sydney’s go-tos for a day at the lake, a concert, or a baseball game. We’d also suggest Russian River Brewing Company in the redwoods of Sonoma County. Pliny the Elder is a legendary double IPA which put them on the map, and became one of their flagship brews. If you’re feeling adventurous, try Pliny the Younger, their triple IPA.
Pegasus Books
Pegasus Books is an independent publisher and bookstore, local to Oakland and Berkeley since 1969. If you love indie bookstores, check it out, it is endlessly contributing to Sydney’s “To Be Read” pile. It has 3 locations, but this was the first, and there are many cute, local restaurants nearby in Oakland’s Rockridge neighborhood. Kitchen Story is across the street; it’s a great Asian fusion brunch spot (which also has a location in the city: if you’ve come to visit, Sydney may have taken you to their location in SF). If there’s a long line, put your name on the list, and head to browse at Pegasus which has a great “New Arrivals” stock of used books.
Lake Merritt
While Ryan was visiting, during their 2 years of long distance, the couple would come here to walk the lake (which is 3.4 miles in circumference). In Lakeland, they’d walked Lake Hollingsworth together as a cheap (aka free) date while they were broke college students, and enjoy walking Lake Merritt with Zoe now in Oakland. In the spring and summer on hot days, the two frequently picnic here, either by bringing drinks and snacks, picking up In-n-Out on the way, or by grabbing food to-go from a neighboring Park Street restaurant and walking to the lake to enjoy it. In the summer of 2021, they brought Sydney’s brother Tyler here while he was visiting and played card games while enjoying the sun (pictured here). When Sydney lived in Oakland, she was a reasonable walking distance to Lake Merritt. Lake Merritt BART station is still Sydney and Ryan’s closest point of access for the Bay Area’s train.