My Perfect Day in the San Francisco Bay Area

San Francisco is known all over as one of the world's most beautiful cities.   Its inspiring history, postcard-perfect views, romantic weather, mouth-watering restaurants and melodic tingling of the cable car bells all conjure a city unparalleled in its appeal. A perfect day in San Francisco for me would commence with a breakfast brunch at the beautiful and historic Garden Court on Montgomery Street.   The moment you walk in, you will be swept away by the elegant ambiance as you look up to the Austrian crystal chandeliers hanging from the magnificent domed stained-glass ceilings.   Who would have thought that this was once a mere carriage entrance to the Palace Hotel in 1875?   From there I would walk down Market Street to Powell Street and catch a cable car to Fisherman's Wharf.   After enjoying the sights and sounds of the wharf, I would take a ferry to quaint Sausalito and spend a couple of hours there.  This is a perfect place for taking awesome pictures of the San Francisco skyline and the Golden Gate Bridge!  After exploring Sausalito, it's another ferry ride back to the Ferry Bldg, Embarcadero. By this time I would be needing a well-deserved late lunch.  A visit to Chinatown for Dim Sum will hit just the right spot for San Francisco has some of the best Chinese restaurants in the country.  To walk off my satisfying lunch, I would trek around Union Square.  Its bustling fervor makes one shop till you drop! If I had kids with me, I would also visit the Yerba Buena Gardens for a majestic ride on its beautifully-restored antique carousel. Zeum (4th Street and Howard 777-2800) is another place where kids would enjoy unique hands-on arts & crafts.  The Sony Metreon nearby would be next to peruse for the latest tech gadgets both for the young and old. As the day closes to an end, I will take my car and go on a scenic drive from Geary street towards the ocean.  One of the best-kept secrets of the locals is the awe-inspiring sunset at Eagle's Point in the Seacliff area.  A special favorite is the wooden steps leading to a lone bench facing a view of the rocky coastal cliffs stretching from China Beach east towards the Golden Gate Bridge. This is surely another picturesque moment! After witnessing the heartwarming sunset, dinner and drinks at any of the city's restaurants will do. I have a lot of favorites, and I'm sure you do, too. 

San Francisco is one city that touches you to the core. It is no wonder that so many people left their hearts in San Francisco.

By:  James Lim