Guidebook for San Francisco
Food Scene
Our favorite Mexican cuisine in the city is right down the block! A family-run restaurant preparing Mexico City-Style food, with the best ingredients, like a home-cooked meal. We like to take our kids for lunch. Very San Francisco!
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El Buen Comer
3435 Mission StOur favorite Mexican cuisine in the city is right down the block! A family-run restaurant preparing Mexico City-Style food, with the best ingredients, like a home-cooked meal. We like to take our kids for lunch. Very San Francisco!
A few blocks up Cortland street, stop here for delicious coffee and pastries, and friendly neighbors.
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Pinhole Coffee
231 Cortland AveA few blocks up Cortland street, stop here for delicious coffee and pastries, and friendly neighbors.
Just a few blocks away, great coffee and delicious pastries that highlight the warm and friendly owner's Portuguese heritage.
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Cafe St Jorge
3438 Mission StJust a few blocks away, great coffee and delicious pastries that highlight the warm and friendly owner's Portuguese heritage.
Just a few blocks up Cortland you'll find restaurants, cafes, groceries, shopping, plus our wonderful local Library and playground if your kids need a place to play.
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Cortland Avenue
Cortland AvenueJust a few blocks up Cortland you'll find restaurants, cafes, groceries, shopping, plus our wonderful local Library and playground if your kids need a place to play.
The best pie you'll ever taste . . . made from all local ingredients from organic farms near the Bay. The owner Karen is very involved in supporting local organic farming. You HAVE to try the peach-blackberry pie in summer, and the house specialties walnut pie or lemon pie, even in the winter. Yum!
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Mission Pie
2901 Mission StThe best pie you'll ever taste . . . made from all local ingredients from organic farms near the Bay. The owner Karen is very involved in supporting local organic farming. You HAVE to try the peach-blackberry pie in summer, and the house specialties walnut pie or lemon pie, even in the winter. Yum!
The ONLY place to go for real SF Mission tacos and burritos. Right on your way to BART downtown from our house. Delicious tacos with real freshly-prepared ingredients. Don't forget to order "super" -- with everything! And order an agua fresca!
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La Taqueria
2889 Mission StThe ONLY place to go for real SF Mission tacos and burritos. Right on your way to BART downtown from our house. Delicious tacos with real freshly-prepared ingredients. Don't forget to order "super" -- with everything! And order an agua fresca!
Delicious and top quality Nepalese food. Our family’s favorite!
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Cuisine of Nepal Restaurant
3486 Mission StDelicious and top quality Nepalese food. Our family’s favorite!
Essentials
Fresh, organic, and healthy options if you need good snacks for your kids! Friendliest service -- a real neighborhood market.
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The Good Life Grocery
448 Cortland AveFresh, organic, and healthy options if you need good snacks for your kids! Friendliest service -- a real neighborhood market.
Pleasant spot to do laundry or drop it off to be washed. Right in Bernal village.
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Bernal Bubbles
397 Cortland AvePleasant spot to do laundry or drop it off to be washed. Right in Bernal village.
Entertainment & Activities
In late June we have seen up to 10 humpback whales, very active, just outside the Golden Gate Bridge. The naturalist on board is extremely knowledgeable and the crew is very friendly. An amazing experience!!
SF Bay Whale Watching
Beach StreetIn late June we have seen up to 10 humpback whales, very active, just outside the Golden Gate Bridge. The naturalist on board is extremely knowledgeable and the crew is very friendly. An amazing experience!!
A collection of antique (and newer) arcade games from the 1920s onward. An absolute favorite of our kids (ages 5 and 8)!
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Musée Mécanique
Fishermans WharfA collection of antique (and newer) arcade games from the 1920s onward. An absolute favorite of our kids (ages 5 and 8)!
Cal Academy natural history museum — a favorite for children! Love the penguins, aquarium and rain forest. Located in beautiful Golden Gate Park.
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Academy Of Sciences station
Cal Academy natural history museum — a favorite for children! Love the penguins, aquarium and rain forest. Located in beautiful Golden Gate Park.
Steam Train Ride in the beautiful redwood forest with views out over SF and the Bay. If you can drive to Berkeley, this is a favorite!
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Redwood Valley Railway (Tilden Dampfzug)
2481 Grizzly Peak BlvdSteam Train Ride in the beautiful redwood forest with views out over SF and the Bay. If you can drive to Berkeley, this is a favorite!
Besides the animals, petting zoo, pretty place to walk around, we like the steam train and fantastic nature-themed playground.
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San Francisco Zoo
Upper Great HighwayBesides the animals, petting zoo, pretty place to walk around, we like the steam train and fantastic nature-themed playground.
Getting Around
BUS STOP TO GET DOWNTOWN:
Public transit is the best way to get downtown to Union Square, Powell Street, Embarcadero, Chinatown and more.
Walk downhill on Cortland Street (or head left outside your door and walk down the Kingston Stairs). The Bus Stop is at corner of Mission & 30th Streets in front of SF Wash laundry and across the street from the Walgreens Pharmacy. Here you can catch the 14-Mission or 49-Van Ness, both of which take you close to downtown. Or, ride either bus to 24th and Mission Sts and catch the underground BART and you'll be downtown in 15 minutes. You can walk down Mission Street to 24th-Mission BART in about 15 minutes.
sfwash
3377 Mission StBUS STOP TO GET DOWNTOWN:
Public transit is the best way to get downtown to Union Square, Powell Street, Embarcadero, Chinatown and more.
Walk downhill on Cortland Street (or head left outside your door and walk down the Kingston Stairs). The Bus Stop is at corner of Mission & 30th Streets in front of SF Wash laundry and across the street from the Walgreens Pharmacy. Here you can catch the 14-Mission or 49-Van Ness, both of which take you close to downtown. Or, ride either bus to 24th and Mission Sts and catch the underground BART and you'll be downtown in 15 minutes. You can walk down Mission Street to 24th-Mission BART in about 15 minutes.
TAKE A LYFT OR UBER: If you don't have a car and are sightseeing anywhere BESIDES downtown SF, a Lyft or Uber is a great option. For example, Fisherman's Wharf / Pier 39, Golden Gate Park, Golden Gate Bridge, Ocean Beach, or North Beach, all will cost in the $20 range by Lyft. If you are on a budget and would like public transit advice or details, see below, or please ask!
The Lyft Hub
2300 26th StTAKE A LYFT OR UBER: If you don't have a car and are sightseeing anywhere BESIDES downtown SF, a Lyft or Uber is a great option. For example, Fisherman's Wharf / Pier 39, Golden Gate Park, Golden Gate Bridge, Ocean Beach, or North Beach, all will cost in the $20 range by Lyft. If you are on a budget and would like public transit advice or details, see below, or please ask!
PUBLIC TRANSIT INFO at www.511.org -- For detailed public transportation routes and options to get around in San Francisco, visit 511.org on your phone or mobile device.
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Market Street
Market StreetPUBLIC TRANSIT INFO at www.511.org -- For detailed public transportation routes and options to get around in San Francisco, visit 511.org on your phone or mobile device.
Sightseeing
Ride the cable car to the museum — I can tell you where to go to avoid the crazy long line!!
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San Francisco Cable Car Museum
1201 Mason StRide the cable car to the museum — I can tell you where to go to avoid the crazy long line!!
Parks & Nature
Most beautiful and scenic beach in SF. View of the Golden Gate Bridge, Creek for kids to splash in, can see whale spouts sometimes!
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Baker Beach
Most beautiful and scenic beach in SF. View of the Golden Gate Bridge, Creek for kids to splash in, can see whale spouts sometimes!
Walk to the top of Bernal Hill from our house for stunning 360 degree views of SF and the Bay. There’s a slide built into the hill on the way up and a swing on top of the hill. Ask me for directions!
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Bernal Heights Boulevard
Bernal Heights BoulevardWalk to the top of Bernal Hill from our house for stunning 360 degree views of SF and the Bay. There’s a slide built into the hill on the way up and a swing on top of the hill. Ask me for directions!
In the Presidio, gorgeous view of the Bay and Alcatraz. Start here for a short 1 mike loop hike through redwood forest, native prairie meadow (Ecology Trail), down to a stream and historic homestead (El Polin spring). Ask me for details!
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Inspiration Point station
In the Presidio, gorgeous view of the Bay and Alcatraz. Start here for a short 1 mike loop hike through redwood forest, native prairie meadow (Ecology Trail), down to a stream and historic homestead (El Polin spring). Ask me for details!
Dolores Park Playground is a super fun playground in a beautiful setting with amazing views of the city and the Bay. Great food on 18th nearby.
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Helen Diller Playground
Dolores Park Playground is a super fun playground in a beautiful setting with amazing views of the city and the Bay. Great food on 18th nearby.
Beautiful setting for walking and exploring, see California native habitats as well as plants from Mediterranean climates around the world. South Africa, Australia, Chile, Andean cloud forest, to name a few!!
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Botanischer Garten von San Francisco
1199 9th AveBeautiful setting for walking and exploring, see California native habitats as well as plants from Mediterranean climates around the world. South Africa, Australia, Chile, Andean cloud forest, to name a few!!
Arts & Culture
Tours of the Mission’s famous murals and street art. Try the Women’s Building at 18th and Dolores, and Balmy Alley off of 24th St, for a few treasures.
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Precita Eyes Muralists
2981 24th StTours of the Mission’s famous murals and street art. Try the Women’s Building at 18th and Dolores, and Balmy Alley off of 24th St, for a few treasures.
Try Dance classes with the Bay Area's best dancers -- hip hop, Afro-cuban modern, Haitian, Samba, Cuban salsa, and more. I can recommend more laid-back Zumba classes, too :)
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Dance Mission Theater
3316 24th StTry Dance classes with the Bay Area's best dancers -- hip hop, Afro-cuban modern, Haitian, Samba, Cuban salsa, and more. I can recommend more laid-back Zumba classes, too :)
SF's Mission district is home to incredible artists, musicians and dancers. If you visit over Memorial Day Weekend (last Sunday in May) come see the Mission's Carnaval parade, a celebration of Latin American and Caribbean music and dance!
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Mission Cultural Center for Latino Arts
2868 Mission StSF's Mission district is home to incredible artists, musicians and dancers. If you visit over Memorial Day Weekend (last Sunday in May) come see the Mission's Carnaval parade, a celebration of Latin American and Caribbean music and dance!