10 Non-touristy Activities in San Francisco:
a local's guide
a local's guide
A quick guide to some of the best activities in San Francisco that doesn’t include Alcatraz or The Golden Gate Bridge.
Some of the most popular things to see while visiting San Francisco are Alcatraz Island, Lombard Street, and the Golden Gate Bridge. Each one of these famous tourist attractions have huge historical significance and should definitely be experiences during your stay in the City by the Bay.
BUT…
…there are are also so many non-touristy activities in San Francisco that you should do during your visit that will allow you to see beautiful sides of The City that all tourist attractions miss.
In this post I’ll show you 10 non-touristy things to do in San Francisco to keep you out of the crowded tourist traps and into the local favorites of this diverse city.
Pedal boat at Stow Lake
Stow Lake is the largest body of water in Golden Gate Park and offers nice non-touristy activities to do during your visit to San Francisco
While Stow Lake is a popular spot for walking, hiking, bird-watching, and picnicking amongst locals, it isn’t usually a place where you’ll find crowds of tourists.
The boathouse at Stow Lake, not only sells stacks for hungry park visitors, it also rents our pedal boats to take out on the water.
Taking a slow, leisurely ride on a pedal boat is a great way to see Stow Lake, which is filled with local wildlife like fish, turtles, geese, ducks, and blue heron. Boating on Stow Lake will also take you past tall waterfalls, past colorful pagodas, and under arching bridges.
A single pedal boat will cost anywhere between $32-$45 per hour depending on the size of the pedal boat, and come with life-vests, which is required for all children.
Paddle boat rentals are on a first-come basis, so no reservations are required.
Walk up Mount Davidson
Another great non-touristy activity to do in San Francisco is to take a quick hike up Mount Davidson.
Mount Davidson is the highest natural point in San Francisco and offers an almost panoramic view of The City, which makes it an awesome place to snap epic photos and even have an unforgettable picnic.
The hike up to the top of Mount Davidson is short, fairly easy, and should take under an hour to complete the entire loop.
However, the trails on Mount Davidson can be uneven, steep, and slippery on wet days, so sturdy, closed-toed shoes are recommended.
Go to the top of Twin Peaks
Twin Peaks is a well-loved viewpoint for many locals and is an activity that will give you an unforgettable, non-touristy experience of San Francisco.
Twin Peaks are a pair of the 2nd highest hills in San Francisco, second only to Mount Davidson. Getting to the top of Twin Peaks on a clear, fog-less day will earn you spectacular 360 views of San Francisco and the entire Bay Area.
There are a couple of ways to get to the top of Twin Peaks. The first way is to hike up the short networks of trails which also give you a great taste of the surrounding landscape.
If you’re not in the mood for an uphill hike, you can also drive up a winding road and park in the small parking lot at the base of the peaks.
Picnic at Baker Beach
If anyone is looking for a non-touristy thing to do in San Francisco, they absolutely must spend some time at Baker Beach.
Baker Beach is a small, mile-long beach located along the western shoreline of San Francisco’s historic Presidio. It’s a great place to spread out a blanket for some ocean-side relaxation or take a stroll along the chilly waters where the San Francisco Bay meets the Pacific Ocean.
In addition to the spectacular view of the Golden Gate Bridge, there are also picnic tables, grills, and restrooms here, which all make Baker Beach a popular place for locals to visit on rare, warm, and sunny days.
Note: You may encounter clothing-optional sun-bathers at the north end of Baker Beach.
Hike Lands End
Hiking Lands End is another non-touristy activity you won’t want to skip during your next trip to San Francisco.
Lands End is a series of paved and unpaved hiking trails that run along the northwest part of the city, where many San Francisco natives enjoy outdoor exercise, all while getting a taste of nature and history.
Some trails will take you towards breath-taking views of the Pacific Ocean, San Francisco Bay, and Golden Gate Bridge. Other trails will take you along the Sutro Baths ruins, small beaches, and a World War II cruiser.
When you visit Lands End, be sure to stop off at the Lookout Visitors Center. Here you can get snacks, hot coffee, and souvenirs from a building that offers a stunning view of the seemingly endless ocean.
Presidio Tunnel Tops
Presidio Tunnel Tops is 14 acres of free and accessible park space for anyone to enjoy.
It was newly opened in Summer of 2022, so, as of today, not very many tourists use this space and is mostly only enjoyed by San Franciscans. That means if you’re trying to avoid large tourist crowds, this is the place to go.
At Presidio Tunnel Tops, you’ll find large grassy areas, picnic tables, grills, and plenty of seating areas, all offering a magnificent view of the Golden Gate Bridge and San Francisco Bay. In addition, there are often times several local food trucks scattered throughout the park, serving up delicious eats from all over the San Francisco Bay Area.
There is also a nature-based playground for young visitors, complete with climbing structures, rock stacking area, fort-building station, and water play mechanisms.
Have lunch at Spark Social
Spark Social is a fun and hip community gathering space located on the eastern side of San Francisco, and would be a great activity for anyone aiming to avoid touristy areas.
One of the main features of Spark Social is its rotating schedule of local food trucks, which give you a wide variety for food selections. This place is sure to please the biggest foodies in your family. From Filipino sisig and Argentine empanadas, to frosted donuts and decadent cafe mochas, there is no shortage of food in this space.
There is plenty of seating areas and picnic tables where you can enjoy your meal, and on chilly evenings, to keep you warm, you can plop down next to one of Spark Social’s fire pits or grab yourself an alcoholic beverage (or two) at the sangria and beer garden.
Statecoach Greens mini golf
Stagecoach Greens, the only outdoor, 18-hole, miniature golf experience in San Francisco, is located right across the street from Spark Social. This means you can easily to both activities in one day.
This urban miniature golf course is designed for players of all ages, so this is definitely a fun, non-touristy activity you and your entire family can enjoy together.
Each challenging hole was inspired by events from the West’s rich history to help learn the fascinating story of San Francisco. You’ll learn something new and interesting about The City with each hole you play.
As you make your way through the course, you’ll putt your golf balls through Sutro Towers, discover facts about the Mission Bay shipyard, and read up on the San Francisco earthquakes.
A single round of golf for one adult costs only $16, while kids 12-years-old and younger can play for $10 each,
Free outdoor concerts
San Francisco offers several really great free outdoor concerts and music festival throughout the year that are open to both locals and visitors. Here are a couple of the most popular music festivals in the city. Add them to your list of non-touristy things to do in San Francisco.
The Stern Grove Music Festival happens every summer at Sigmund Stern Recreational Grove, which is located more towards the southwestern side of San Francisco. Bring a blanket to sit on, some delicious picnic food, and a bottle of wine, and spend the afternoon outside enjoying great live music and dancing on one single stage. As of 2021, admission still remains free, however, reservations are required.
The Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Festival usually occurs in early-October of every year. This is a multi-stage music festival that takes place in the middle of Golden Gate Park, and gives off Outside Lands vibes on a smaller scale. This is also completely free to enjoy for everyone, but having your wallet in hand will be helpful when you start to crave snacks from one of the many food vendors available at the festival.
Go to a Giants baseball game
If you’re a sports fan, going to a Giants baseball game at Oracle Park is the ideal non-touristy activity to do in San Francisco. However, there’s plenty of things for non-sports fans to do at Oracle Park too.
One of the most special characteristics of Oracle Park is that it’s perfectly situated right along the bay water. The views of the San Francisco Bay from inside the park and even just outside the park make the perfect photo backdrops.
On sunny days, you might even spot kayakers sitting out on the water, waiting and hoping for splash hit home runs to fly outside the park, into the bay water, and into their hands.
The food at the park is some of the best as well. From Filipino lumpia, to clam chowder, to Hawaiian poke, to garlic fries, the food choices are endless and oh-so-delicious.
Time to see the non-touristy side of SF
Photo by Joshua Sortino on Unsplash
The next time you visit San Francisco, feel free to enjoy the usual, iconic tourist attractions like Alcatraz, Pier 39, and Ghirardelli Square, BUT also make sure to set aside some time to experience some San Francisco activities that take you away from the crowded touristy areas and into more of the local San Francisco favorites.
Doing more non-touristy activities in San Francisco will give you a much better idea of the beauty, diversity, charm, and culture of the City by the Bay.
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