5 Unique Things To Do In San Francisco This Fall

The City By The Bay has long been considered one of the most beautiful metropolises in the nation. San Francisco’s rolling hills and fog-soaked scenery have led to amorous affairs and love songs with the California city for generations. During the fall, the mild temperatures lure you into a sense of well-being—so much so that you might consider a move. But let’s keep those rent prices in mind! However, even if your time in this romantic city is short, the multicultural wonderland of Victorian Homes and awe-inspiring views have much to offer.

While San Francisco’s reputation as a dirty city may be true in some neighborhoods, many locales across the diverse 7×7 city are pristine and uniquely exciting. Although this list could very well be endless, here are five unique things to do in San Francisco this fall. 

Visit The Japanese Tea Garden

The Japanese Tea Garden in Golden Gate Park is a serene collection of Japanese plants, buildings, wildlife, and traditional customs. Akin to stepping into a world untouched by Western influence, the Garden gives visitors a look into Japanese culture and traditions. It was constructed in 1894 for the California Midwinter International Exposition and has been a park staple ever since. 

After walking through its bountiful Koi ponds and Zen gardens, you can taste traditional teas and Japanese snacks in the garden. The Japanese Tea Garden is open to all visitors for free on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday between 9:00 a.m. and 10:00 a.m., so be sure to get up early! It allows you to explore the rest of the park. Tickets are $18.75 otherwise, and the park is open from 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. in the fall. 

Fall is one of the best times to visit, as the indigenous Japanese trees in the garden are some of the only ones in the city that change colors! 

Other Attractions in Golden Gate Park 

Golden Gate Park is full of life and laughter, with new adventures waiting around every corner. The 1,017-acre park is one of the most visited in the United States and has a little something for everyone. You can see majestic Buffalo in real life or pieces of fine art at the de Young Museum. Travel through the park to Ocean Beach and stroll through the tulip fields waiting underneath the shadows of the park’s iconic Dutch Windmill along the way. 

Exploring Golden Gate Park is like turning the pages of a storybook. Give yourself at least a half-day to enjoy everything the park has to offer. 

Take A San Francisco Ghost Tour

Since it is a spooky season, why not take a ghost tour of San Francisco? US Ghost Adventures provides one of the city’s best San Francisco Ghost tours and will clue you into the Bay Area’s most heinous and terrifying tales. See historic Union Square in a new light while learning all about how the city got its start. It is a perfect addition to any Halloween or fall trip to San Francisco. Tickets are only $26, and tours begin at 8 pm. These tours are a fun, historic, and spooky adventure for all ages, so if you have your children with you, bring them along! 

For those more interested in history, US Ghost Adventures also offers a tour of the long-gone Barbary Coast—one of the fascinating chapters in the city’s past. Food tours and pub crawls are also available for those looking to taste the city’s culinary scene. 

Check Out A Candlelight Concert

San Francisco comes alive with music during the fall. Across the city, various candlelight concerts are held, an experience captivating for all the senses. Orchestras perform anything from Beethoven to Beetlegeuse, hip-hop classics to Taylor Swift’s biggest hits, in some of the city’s most beautiful venues. Don’t miss out on this unique event. Candlelight Concerts run from September until December. 

Grab A Bite During Restaurant Week

From November 8th to the 17th, San Francisco’s world-renowned restaurant scene offers vast discounts on what are generally considered very pricey meals. Dinners are no more expensive than $90, with lunch and brunch capped off at $40. It is very possible to taste the entire world during Restaurant Week on a decent budget. 

One last thing to remember: San Francisco has great public transportation. For just $2.50, you can ride the clean energy buses running throughout the city’s vast networks of streets for two hours!  

Grab your favorite sweater and head to the City By The Bay for an unforgettable fall vacation.