How to Spend 48 Hours in San Francisco

Planning a quick trip to San Francisco? Wanna fit in some fun stuff without running yourself ragged? We had a brief stopover in San Francisco on our way back from the East Coast and were able to fit in quite a few things while we were there. By prioritizing what we wanted to do with where we stayed, we were able to see a lot without feeling the rush and stress of the lack of time. Here’s how to spend 48 hours in San Francisco.

When planning a recent trip to the East Coast to visit family, we decided to make a couple of stops to ease the long flights and sandwich the trip with a couple of mini vacations. Our flight back to Hawaii included a 2 day stopover in San Francisco.

The last time we were in San Francisco was over a decade ago, when my daughters were both quite young. My now 17-year-old, was in a stroller at the time as we explored the city and created memories that only I would now have a faint recollection of. So we were all excited to revisit the city.

Be Strategic About Where You Stay

When you only have a short amount of time to explore somewhere new, its important to be strategic about where you stay. The less time having to travel, means the more time to experience. This is a big reason why I chose to stay at The Lodge at the Presidio, a beautiful historic hotel located in Presidio National Park.

Beautiful trails, with park and beach right outside, with upscale comfort to lay your head. There is so much to do right there, you’re able to jump right into exploring. That’s exactly what we did on our first day in San Francisco.

I also wrote all about our stay at the Lodge at the Presidio in another post, but suffice to say it was a great strategic move especially with such a short stay. Being able to come back to a great hotel after a long day of exploring only enhances your overall experience.

Presidio Tunnel Tops / Crissy Beach / Golden Gate Bridge

Located in Presidio National Park and right outside The Lodge at the Presidio, exists a beautiful environment of winding trails full of native plants and amazing views of the Golden Gate Bridge and bay. A newly renovated expanse of gardens, a playground, firepit seating and more welcomes you to wander to your hearts content.

This was the first place we explored as it was so convienent to where we were staying. We explored the gardens and got some pretty amazing photos. Then walked along the trail across to Crissy Beach where we continued down closer to the Golden Gate Bridge.

We continued all the way down to the Warming Hut Park Store where we got some coffee and a few souvenirs. Next we puttered around Topedo Wharf, a fishing spot that offers additional views of the bridge and bay. It’s a great way to spend a few relaxing hours on your trip that offers both beautiful views and some interesting history.

Downtown San Francisco / Pier 39

On the morning of our second day we decided to take advantage of the free Presidio Go Shuttle located right outside The Lodge at the Presidio, to get to downtown San Francisco. Keep an eye on the schedule as there are some times where the shuttle is for residents only. I think we ended up taking the 10AM shuttle and road it all the way to the 50 Beale Street stop.

From there, we walked over to Ferry Building to explore. The weather was getting nicer so we decided to continue the walk up the Embarcadero and made our way to Fisherman’s Wharf and Pier 39.

Once at Pier 39 we took our time exploring all the unique shops. The pier has a great vibe and also includes a variety of food options, and other attractions. Oh, and views of numerous seals and sea lions basking on the docks right outside the pier. One shop that was a particular favorite for us was called Lola. There really is something for everyone here.

We also took a spin on the Ferris Wheel which offered more great views of the bay and beyond. It wasn’t too expensive and worth the novelty.

Food-wise, we enjoyed some shared apps at Pier Market and were able to snag a table with water views. We got the Sour Dough Garlic Bread and the Fisherman’s Platter, a perfect amount of food to share for the three of us.

Muir Woods

Muir Woods is located about a 20 minute drive from where we were staying and was at the top of our list to see while in San Francisco. A part of California’s Golden Gate National Recreation Area, Muir Woods is known for its towering old-growth redwood trees. There are accessible wooden paths as well as a variety of trails to explore.

One important note is that you need to reserve parking/entry into the park before arriving. I’d recommend doing it a couple of days in advance to ensure you get a spot. It was quite busy when we went, not atypical for a park like this, but expect some crowds.

One way to avoid some of the crowds is to chose a trail to explore off the main path. We did one that what a couple of miles and we barely saw anyone else on it. It was a perfect escape from other people and a true immersion into the beauty of this park.

Palace of Fine Arts

The last stop we made after Muir Woods was to the Palace of Fine Arts located just outside the Presidio. Since it was so close to our hotel, it was an easy decision to stop by and explore the outside grounds. Here, it feels like you’ve stepped back in time, in a far off land.

Monumental is an understatement as you explore what feels like ancient Rome. We enjoyed walking around and it was a bonus as it was free. We parked nearby and only paid a small fee for that.

Overall we had a fantastic couple of days in San Francisco. With that amount of time you can only fit in so much while also being able to relax a bit and enjoy yourself. Will any of these things make your list next time you’re in San Francisco? Let me know in the comments. Until next time, Aloha!

Wanna know where to stay while in San Francisco? Check out this post.

From Army Barracks to Boutique Hotel: A Wonderful Stay at the Lodge at the Presidio