City vs. nature: San Francisco & Point Reyes

Our second great American road trip after this one took us through gorgeous landscapes in California and Nevada – an attractive mix of mountains, lakes, ocean and cities.

1. San Francisco

First and last stop was San Francisco. I found a city full of beautiful architecture and photogenic corners – a city caught between the booming tech industry and its hippie heritage. While some streets are eye-catching pretty with it’s Victorian-style homes, vintage trams and steep hills, others are gritty and mostly taken over by the neglected homeless population and drugs. What a controversy in such a wealthy city!

Don’t get me wrong: As a visitor, San Francisco leaves an overall good impression with tons of history and beautiful places to explore. I loved the laid-back coastal lifestyle and impressive views of the Pacific, including the world famous sea lions of Pier 39 and the prison island of Alcatraz (which I haven’t been to because tickets were sold out weeks before…).

And then there’s the iconic Golden Gate Bridge which just looks fabulous from any angle (as long as the infamous fog doesn’t block the view). Whether you’re coming from San Francisco or Sausalito, there are dozens of viewpoints and trails along the way. Although the climate of San Francisco is known to be distinctly cooler than other parts of California, I certainly underestimated the cold breeze in mid-July!

2. Recommended eats and drinks:

San Francisco has a brimming food scene! From hipster cafés, to fresh seafood and Asian food that tastes just like in Bangkok, Seoul or Tokyo, I’m not exaggerating when I say that San Francisco has some of the best restaurants in the continent. Here were some of our outstanding meals:

Sightglass Coffee: Delicious pastries and house-roasted coffee inside a cool, industrial space (with several other locations).

Cioppino’s: One of the best seafood soups I’ve ever had! The cioppino (a San Francisco signature dish) is a must-order and big enough to share!

Kin Khao: Modern take on Thai cuisine inside the Parc 55 Hotel.

Barnzu: Great mix of traditional and contemporary Korean dishes.

Whitechapel: Not pictured here because it was too dark for my camera but especially gin lovers will love this London-inspired cocktail bar!

3. Recommended stay:

The Bartlett Hotel & Guesthouse: We found that hotel was the perfect compromise between comfort and location without spending a fortune. It also has shared rooms and a nice bar which offers a fabulous breakfast special for hotel guests. You can book a room here.

4. Point Reyes

Only one hour north of San Francisco you’ll find yourself in the Point Reyes National Seashore area. Hundreds of miles of hiking trails and isolated beaches make this piece of land – which has been shaped by dairy farming and rough seas – one of the most rewarding destinations, not only for San Franciscans. A day trip doesn’t do justice to this wild and beautiful place but made us curious for more trips in the future.

Limited dining options don’t mean you won’t find excellent food at this rather quiet nature preserve: Side Street Kitchen in Point Reyes Station fulfills everyone’s expectation for locally sourced, tasteful Californian cuisine. People flock in for their rotisserie chicken and we can’t recommend it enough!

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