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Sorry no great suggestions for LA but lots to do in the SF area, ideas broken out by neighborhood/area.
North Bay (Sausalito/Marin):
-Take ferry over to Sausalito and eat at Le Garage for weekend brunch. After brunch you can rent kayaks and kayak around the area, see harbor seals and check out the estuary OR take the shuttle to Muir Woods and hike Muir Woods. Don't try to drive to Muir Woods in the summer, there is no parking.
-Visit Mt. Tamalpias State Park and hike any of the trails. Ditto with Pt. Reyes National Seashore. You can get a good lunch at the restaurants in Stinson Beach.
San Francisco - The Mission:
-Visit Dolores park on the weekend or weekday afternoon/evening for people watching and some of the best weather in the city
-Eat at Beretta or Delfina for fantastic upscale italian
-Eat at almost any of the taquerias for great cheap mexican, drink some mezcal at Mosto or get fancier tacos at Tacolicious (next door to Mosto)
-Get coffee at Four Barrel and stroll Valencia St
-Get Ice Cream at Bi-Rite by Dolores Park
San Francisco - Golden Gate Park / NOPA / Richmond
-Visit California Academy of Sciences and DeYoung for great museum experiences
-Take the kids to the Exporatorium
-Visit botanical gardens or conservatory of flowers in GG Park
-Eat at Nopalito on Divisadero or 9th Ave for fantastic upscale mexican food
-Visit Lands End and Sutro Baths for short hikes and great views of GG bridge, grab some clam chowder at the Cliff House (voted one of the best in the city by people that actually live in the city)
-Eat delicious artisan Pizza at Pizetta 221
-Take the lady for a Mani/Pedi/Massage at Utoepia Foot Massage & Nail
-See a show at The Independent
San Francisco - Haight/Ashbury
-Visit intersection of haight/ashbury and get some ben and jerrys
-Drink craft cocktails at The Alembic
-Eat at Parada 22 for the best value meal you will ever eat (great food that's unbelievably cheap)
-Try tapas at Cha Cha Cha
-Climb to the top of Buena Vista Park for an excellent view of the city and bay
San Francisco - Downtown/SoMA
-Eat Sunday brunch at Farmer Browns (live soul music and bottomless mimosas)
-Shop at Union Square
-Visit the ballpark and grab a beer at Public House
-Drink craft beer at 21st Amendment Brewery
-Ride the cable car from Powell St turnaround
-Leave the kids and go out on Polk Street
-Visit the cable car museum
San Francisco - Northbeach/Marina and everywhere else
-Catch a ferry to Alcatraz and take a tour, bonus points for including a hike on Angel Island
-Visit Rogue Brewery taproom
-Eat great italian food somewhere off Columbus, or grab Pizza by the slice at one of many venues
-Walk around Union St Shops and get a burger at Umami
Santa Cruz/Monterey (bit of a drive from the city but totally worth it for a day trip):
-Get lunch at Gayles Bakery in Capitola
-Visit Monterey Bay Aquarium
-Stop at Santa Cruz beach boardwalk and ride some rides on the way home
I know a lot of people suggested Fisherman's Warf and Pier 39 but I would honestly avoid - it's a tourist trap with not a lot of interesting stuff to see.
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