Happy 2026, friends! I hope you enjoyed the holidays. Despite the unusual rainy Christmas and New Year in SoCal, we made a weekend trip up north to close out 2025.
During the holiday break, my husband and I met up with a grade school friend and her husband in the Bay Area. Technically, us wifeys were just tagging along, since the real mission of the trip was Sunday Night Football — the San Francisco 49ers vs. the Chicago Bears, the final game of the year for both teams.
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We drove up in the morning and picked up the Chicago crew in San Jose. Since we had time to spare before hotel check-in, and we all just traveled 6 hours for this meet-up, we got brunch in Palo Alto and decided to head into San Francisco. Somewhere along the drive, we learned that one of them had never been to the city. What we thought would be a relaxed walk quickly turned into a four-hour sprint to hit as many classic San Francisco sights as possible. Thankfully, we had already fueled up with brunch and coffee — we were ready to go.
As my husband drove, I reviewed my very “loose itinerary,” pieced together from text messages exchanged months earlier. Spoiler alert: it worked out surprisingly well.
🛍️ Ghirardelli Square
Ghirardelli Square turned out to be the perfect introduction to San Francisco, especially for a first-time visitor. Originally home to the Ghirardelli Chocolate Company, the square dates back to the late 1800s and was once a working chocolate factory.1 Today, it’s a National Historic Landmark filled with shops, restaurants, and — of course — chocolate.2
Beyond its history, the location is hard to beat. It’s surrounded by iconic views of the bay and sits just steps away from Fisherman’s Wharf. Since we visited right after the holidays, the square was still glowing with Christmas lights, adding a cozy, festive feel to our first stop.
🌊 A California Landmark with a View
From Ghirardelli Square, we crossed Beach Street and wandered toward Aquatic Park, a lesser-known but incredibly scenic area. This spot marks where the first ship entered San Francisco Bay in 1775, making it an important historical landmark in California’s maritime history.3
We ended up at the Aquatic Park Bleachers, which offer postcard-worthy views of the Golden Gate Bridge and Alcatraz. For a city famously known for “Karl the Fog,” we were incredibly lucky — the views were crystal clear. Even more impressive? There were swimmers and paddleboarders in the water, proving that San Francisco locals truly embrace the cold.
☕ A Stop at The Buena Vista Café
Continuing our stroll through the Maritime National Historical Park, we landed at The Buena Vista Café — a San Francisco institution. Known as the birthplace of Irish Coffee in the U.S., this historic bar has been serving caffeine-and-booze combinations since the 1950s.
Luck was on our side again: only a 10-minute wait before snagging a table. I happily indulged in two of my favorite things at once — coffee and liquor — opting for coffee with tequila. No regrets.
🥣 Clam Chowder Cravings
What else is San Francisco known for? Clam chowder in a sourdough bread bowl, of course. Conveniently, we were parked right next to The Codmother Fish & Chips, a beloved food truck known for its no-frills, high-quality seafood.4 Side note: It’s technically part of Fisherman’s Wharf, so if you have time, keep walking, and you’ll end up at the heart of the wharf.
The timing couldn’t have been better. A late lunch of creamy clam chowder in warm sourdough was exactly what we needed to recharge before the next stop.
📺 Drive-By Nostalgia: Full House & Lombard Street
As we reminisced about TV shows from the ’80s and ’90s, we realized we were close enough to make a quick drive-by stop at one of the most recognizable filming locations in television history: the “Full House” house.
While the interior scenes were filmed on a studio set, the iconic cold open shots — featuring the Painted Ladies — became synonymous with San Francisco and helped cement the city’s place in pop culture during the late ’80s and early ’90s.
However, the actual exterior of the Tanner family is in the Lower Pacific Heights neighborhood.5 It’s a private residence, so if you decide to take photos, please be mindful of the homeowner and the neighboring houses.
On the way, we also caught a glimpse of Lombard Street, famously dubbed “the crookedest street in the world.” Built with eight sharp turns to reduce the hill’s steep grade, Lombard Street is now one of the most photographed streets in San Francisco — and a must-see, even if it’s just from the car.6
Tips for a Quick Trip to San Francisco
- Check your car’s brakes if you’re driving. San Francisco’s steep hills are no joke — every turn can feel like a roller coaster.
- Leave room for spontaneity. This tip is mainly for me, but some of our best moments came from going off-plan.
- Parking requires patience. Or a small prayer to the parking gods. It took us about 10 minutes, which honestly felt like a win.
- Always dress in layers. Even in late December, the weather in the Bay Area can change quickly — fog, wind, and sunshine can all happen in one afternoon.
Final Takeaway
One thing I did love about the spot we ended up in was being in a modern, yet historical setting. I’ve never seen so many Waymo driverless cars in less than a square mile. It was cruising the streets dropping off eager passengers just like the historic trollys on San Francisco. At the same time, you’re surrounded by historical buildings, most of which are California Historical Landmarks.
Even with just a few hours, San Francisco managed to deliver history, food, views, and nostalgia — the perfect reminder that sometimes a short, spontaneous visit is all you need to fall in love with a city.
As always, I hope this blog inspires you to kick off your travels in 2026!
Oh, in case you were wondering who won the SNF — the Niners won 42-38.7 Bang, Bang, Niner Gang!
- https://www.ghirardellisq.com/history ↩︎
- https://www.inside-guide-to-san-francisco-tourism.com/ghirardelli-square.html ↩︎
- https://www.opensfhistory.org/osfhcrucible/2023/02/24/streetwise-san-francisco-landmarks/ ↩︎
- https://www.fishermanswharf.org/listing/the-codmother-fish-%26-chips/171/ ↩︎
- https://www.sfchronicle.com/entertainment/article/full-house-victorian-sold-20265170.php ↩︎
- https://www.sftravel.com/things-to-do/attractions/iconic-sf/lombard-street ↩︎
- https://www.espn.com/nfl/game/_/gameId/401772935/bears-49ers ↩︎
Hey there! Just a heads up – this post includes some affiliate links. If you click through and make a purchase, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. I only share products I actually use and love! Thanks for supporting this blog. Full disclosure here.