The Golden State promises a wealth of experiences. You could spend a lifetime exploring each of the places we visited, but we only had the luxury of five days.
About this itinerary
It’s insane. It involved driving before dawn and after midnight, and eating a 19-course meal the night before an 11 hour, 17-mile hike up one of America’s most famous natural landmarks.
Depending on your interests, this itinerary may or may not be for you; we love to eat and we love the outdoors, so we tried to take advantage of San Francisco’s food scene and just some of the unforgettable landscapes that California had to offer.
- Day 1: Koi Palace, In-N-Out Burger, Golden Gate Park, Californios
- Day 2: Yosemite National Park: Half Dome
- Day 3: Yosemite National Park: Tunnel View, Washburn Point, Glacier Point, Taft Point, El Capitan, Merced River, Mariposa Grove
- Day 4: Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Park: Moro Rock, Tunnel Log, Crescent Meadows Loop, Grant Tree Trail, Congress Trail, Zumwalt Meadow Loop
- Day 5: Muir Woods, Swan Oyster Depot, Lombard Street, Golden Gate Park, San Francisco Botanical Garden, The Progress
Overview of Day One: We will feature a more in-depth look at the other days in future blog posts.
Koi Palace
Halfway between San Francisco International airport and the city center is a town called Daly City, which is home to the iconic dim sum restaurant Koi Palace (America’s 38 Essential Restaurants, Eater). Attached to an unassuming shopping mall, this place was packed for good reason. We circled the parking lot for nearly 45 minutes until finding an open space.
Inside we were greeted with a warm pot of green tea heated by a tealight and an extensive menu.
- Cost: $-$$ (Under $10 to $45)
- Don’t Miss: The Shanghai dumplings (Xiao Long Bao)
- Zimmern Award: Pumpkin and Sea Cucumber Rice Roll
- Tips: Parking will be limited; get here early for a spot.
In-N-Out
Right across the street from Koi Palace is this famous burger joint. This west coast delicacy lives up to the hype. It’s not the “best burger” you’ve ever had but it is pretty great and does linger in the back of your mind, so much so that anytime you see the sign in the distance, your meal plans instantly solidify.
- Cost: $ (Under $10)
- Don’t Miss: A double-double animal style.
- Tips: The secret menu isn’t that secret for a reason: everything is delicious.
Golden Gate Park
This park is over 1,000 acres of land, and over three miles long, epitomizes the thought behind “something for everything.” Windmills, flowers, lakes, museums, bison – you name it, you got it. You don’t have to travel outside of San Francisco to see the famed Redwood; they grow here in the heart of the city. This park is huge and worth more than one visit.
First day highlight: Conservancy of Flowers
- Cost: Varied; there are open, free areas, and other areas that require an entrance fee
- Don’t Miss: A samosa and hot chai from a food cart vendor on the Music Concourse.
- Tips: If you are limited on time, make sure that the sights you want to see are close to each other. It can take longer than anticipated when walking between points of interest.
Californios
San Francisco has no shortage of Michelin star restaurants. At the two starred Californios, Chef Val M. Cantu writes a love letter to his culture, transforming traditional Mexican dishes with extravagant ingredients and impeccable presentations. The 19 course meal was a mosaic of contrast, interweaving humble corn tortillas with vibrant Uni from Hokkaido, Japan. It was more of a journey than a meal. It was expensive, but an experience we will never forget.
- Cost: This is a splurge – $$$$ (Over $100+ per person)
- Tips: Save up to eat here and be ready to spend a few hours at the table to fully experience the intention behind the chef’s tasting menu
