5 A.M.: Golden Gate Bridge: Did I Tear Up? Maybe.

This was not planned. Well, we planned to go to the Golden Gate Bridge. What we didn't plan was for the sun to rise as we got there. If you ever have the chance to experience watching the sun rise over the bridge, you need to seize the moment, because words could not describe how beautiful it really was. Pictures don't do it justice!

6 A.M.: Fort Baker

Initially, we decided to drive further up to find more viewpoints of the Golden Gate Bridge, but we stumbled upon Fort Baker! It was really cool exploring each Battery, as well as the Nike Missile Site, and gaining some knowledge on the history of San Francisco.

9 A.M.: Mr. Holme's Bakehouse: Cruffins and Donuts and Instagram Oh My! 

Oh yeah. Here's the good stuff (spoiler alert: it's food related). I knew immediately that I wanted to visit this bakery, what seemed like a, San Francisco staple. Mr. Holme's Bakehouse is noted as an "Instagrammable" location in San Francisco, most notably for its fluorescent pink sign that reads "I got baked in San Francisco." However, there's one other thing that sets Mr. Holme's Bakehouse apart from other bakeries: the cruffin. A cruffin is a croissant-muffin hybrid, a Holme's specialty, and it wasn't uncommon for tourists around the world to come and enjoy this treat. It was well worth the visit, and a great way to officially start the crazy busy day.

Inside!

What We Chose

10 A.M.: San Francisco Museum of Modern Art: Not Enough Time!

I could have spent all day in here. We managed to make it through the entire museum, but one day I would love to come back and really focus on each piece. There were so many unique works, and so much meaning behind each of them.

SF MOMA

SF MOMA

SF MOMA

SF MOMA

1 P.M.: Media Noche: Dangerous Cuban Cuisine

Media Noche's website describes them perfectly: "media noche (meðjaˈnoʧe) noun 1. midnight 2. a dangerously addictive Cuban sandwich 3. a fast-casual Cuban counter in the heart of the mission district."

I had never been a fan of ham before, but I absolutely loved the El Cubano sandwich that consisted of roasted mojo pork shoulder, smoked ham, swiss, house pickles, and mustard. To pair with the sandwich, we asked the employee at the front counter for an appetizer recommendation, and he did not disappoint! We went with Croquetas de M.N., they are basically small fried food bites filled with smoked ham, swiss, pickle, and Media Noche's aïoli.

Media Noche

The Menu

2:30 P.M.: Paxton Gate, a Reminder of Home. 

When I saw that Paxton Gate had a San Francisco location, I was stoked. I am very close to Portland, so we got to visit the Portland location on multiple occasions and go to a butterfly pinning class. Paxton Gate is known for oddities such as pinned bugs and taxidermy (all ethically sourced), as well as plants, jewelry, rocks and crystals, and a few other odds and ends. A lot of little things in my dorm such as posters, crystals, keychains, and pins are from Paxton Gate.

4 P.M.: Hotel break!

Nothing super exciting here, but we got to check in to our hotel for the night and get some rest in before heading to dinner.

6 P.M.: Little Italy - An Italian Food Lover's Haven

Two words can describe dinner: Pure bliss. Mona Lisa had been recommended to us, and it did not disappoint!

7 P.M.: The Trek to the Pier

From the restaurant we decided to walk to the famous Pier 39. I would not recommend this after a heavy meal, especially if it consists of Italian food, at least we burned off what we ate! We experienced San Francisco's steep streets firsthand, but the architecture definitely made up for it. We got to pass the famous Lombard street and marvel over the adorable apartments.

7:20 P.M.: Fisherman's Wharf: Going With the Flow

A lot of our evening was impromptu, spent at Fisherman's Wharf and areas around it. Our first stop was Pier 39, where we enjoyed a view of Alcatraz, we then continued on to Pier 45 and looked at USS Pampanito, a Balao-class submarine used in the Navy. After that we stumbled upon Musée Mécanique, a museum full of 20th-century penny arcade games that you can still play. From there we navigated some of the shops in the area, laughed at the novelties, admired the galleries, and stopped at the San Francisco Chocolate Store for some homemade ice cream.

Fisherman's Wharf

Fisherman's Wharf

SF Chocolate Store

SF Chocolate Store

9 P.M.: Coffee Break? Essential. 

We wanted to find a place that wasn't exactly in the heart of the wharf to sit down and relax, so with the help of Google Maps, Brick & Beam was discovered. We didn't order any food because we were still full from Italian food, but when I come back I will be trying something off the menu, it all sounded super good!

10:30 P.M.: An Uber to Snoozeville

And finally, it was time for bed. to go He gave us fun tips about buildings we were passing, discussed some of his background and how he ended up in San Francisco, and shared some suggestions for the next time we would be in town. Over all, it was day, and I am so excited for the day where I can come and enjoy more than one day in this huge city!