Things To Do In Napa

A Guide to Winter in San Francisco

Since it is wintertime, it's quite obvious that it will be cold in San Francisco. But temperatures can actually vary quite a bit during the winter - anywhere from the mid-high 30s to the low 60s on a warmer winter day. One thing is guaranteed: the weather in SF is completely unpredictable and will vary throughout the day. In the city itself, the different districts and neighborhoods also have their own micro climates. During the same hour on a given day, one end of the city to the other (a distance of just 7 miles) can bring banks of thick fog, patches of sun, wind tunnels, and areas of rain, which means that it helps to be prepared for anything. Tips for what to wear during the winter in San Francisco: Layers are key - both lightweight and heavier layers: warm sweaters, t-shirts, scarves, hoodies (anything that is easy to remove if the sun peeks out and it becomes warm suddenly, but easy to carry and put back on when the clouds roll in) A warm coat, especially for walking around the city. Comfortable closed toed shoes & socks - flip flops are for the August/September/October months. Casual for all seasons: San Francisco is one of the more casual cities out there - even during the winter when it's easier to dress up. Jeans, khakis, etc. are all acceptable - even at nicer restaurants. Comfortable and casual (with layers) is the way to go. Tips for what to do during the winter (on a nicer day): San Francisco will be cold, but will definitely have a good number of days in the winter where there isn't any rain - so outdoor activities are still doable! Outdoor Ice Skating: Yerba Buena Gardens and the Embarcadero Center both have great ice rinks in the winter. City Lights Cruise: The Red and White Fleet offers cruises around the Golden Gate Bridge, Alcatraz, and more during the winter season, dubbed the City Lights Cruise. This two-hour cruise offers views of the city skyline at night, while a hearty buffet, drinks, and live music keep the ambiance enjoyable. Point Reyes Whale Watching: Dress warmly and grab some comfortable shoes for some of the best whale watching in the Bay Area. During the winter, the clear views at Point Reyes around Chimney Rock and the Lighthouse are hot spots for whale watching. Visit Alcatraz: Tours to the island are offered year-round, and entrance to Alcatraz is free (although the ferry to get to Alcatraz requires a ticket, best bought in advance). Tips for what to do during the winter (on a rainy day): Museums are great places to hide out on a rainy day - the MOMA and Exploratorium are open daily during the winter and offer hours of enjoyment. Take a factory tour: TCHO chocolate offers tours of their factory daily, and just across the Bay Bridge in Berkeley, you can learn how sake is made at Takara Sake. A drive north takes you to the Jelly Belly Factory. Mission Cliffs Climbing and Fitness: Looking for something active even in bad weather? Mission Cliffs offers indoor climbing (from beginner to expert levels), regardless of the winter weather outside. Go Shopping: San Francisco has some of the best shopping around. The hot spots are in the Union Square / Westfield Mall area (which has the largest selection of brands, stores, and clothing items, Chestnut Street (lined with a mix of boutique, sophisticated shops, beauty outlets and restaurants alongside brand name retailers), and Hayes Valley (which is full of art galleries, contemporary boutiques, interior design studios, outdoor cafes and wine bars). For more ideas, explore all our deals for things to do in SF.

Things To Do on a Cold Day in the City

Baby it's cold outside! Here in San Francisco we are used to a certain amount of chilliness throughout the year. But when it gets a little too cold there are still plenty of things to do in and around town to warm you up. Mad for Museums The city has an incredible amount of museums, large and small and covering nearly every theme under the sun. Get out of the cold and into some art at the DeYoung Museum in Golden Gate Park or the Asian Art Museum in Civic Center or the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art in the Financial District (once it reopens). For the inner geek in you, check out the California Academy of Sciences in Golden Gate Park or the Exploratorium at Pier 15. You don't have to be out in the cold to see green, head to the Conservatory of Flowers in Golden Gate Park and stay in the warmth of the greenhouse while checking out rare and exotic plants. Lastly for the kid in everyone skip on over to the Walt Disney Museum in The Presidio. Get a little Culture Besides a plethora of museums there are plenty of indoor venues for the performing arts. On the weekends the San Francisco ballet; the San Francisco Playhouse, the San Francisco Opera and many theaters such as the Orpheum have matinee shows. Not only will you get out of the cold, you save money by going during the day, leaving your evenings for other forms of entertainment. Get Sweaty Golden Gate Park has plenty of indoor activities, but if you want to get the inner core temperature up then get on a bike, slip on some roller skates or blades and get moving. It's three miles long with trails of all sizes and shape, something for every level of physical stamina. Not in the mood for the park? You can do some indoor adventuring by climbing at spots like Mission Cliffs Climbing & Fitness. Or if exercise is not your thing, steam it up in the community baths at the Kabuki Springs & Spa in Japantown. No community baths for you? No problem. There are plenty of private services as well, all designed to make you forget your cold weather blues. Get stepping Plenty of hills around town. Amazing staircases as well. Hit the Telegraph Hill, Filbert Steps near Coit Tower or the 16th Avenue tiled steps project. You'll be warmed by the climb and delighted by the view. Eat, Drink and be Merry One of the best ways to warm up is to eat or drink something hot (and spicy). On a cold day, nothing is better than a bowl of soup. Have ramen at Izakaya Sozai or Saiwaii, both on Irving, or hot pot (shabu shabu) at Old Islamic Mandarin on Vicente. If you'd rather drink the heat, the hot toddy at The Redwood Room or Alembic will serve you well. Or an Irish coffee at the Buena Vista. For a non-alcoholic treat try the the hot apple cider at any of the Grove cafes. There aren't that many spots with fireplaces in San Francisco, but there are few. Check out the Matrix in Fillmore, serving classic tunes from the 60-80's with a side of flame. Or bars like Zeki's in Nob Hill or The Riptide in Outer Sunset, friendly spots where you will find inexpensive drinks and a cozy environment. No reason to bury your head like the groundhog and wait for spring. Every neighborhood in San Francisco has something to offer to distract you from the chill. Photos by: Jeff Keyzer, Ken Lund, Dustin Jensen, Chao-Wei Juan, & gomiko respectively.

Not Just for Kids: SF's Grown Up Bowling Alleys

Bowling around San Francisco has changed greatly over the years. No longer are the lanes only the domain of children’s birthday parties and greasy finger food. These days, there are slick, stylish and even hip bowling alleys competing for the adult market, which means this city has more options than ever to set ‘em up and knock ‘em down. The Yerba Buena ice-skating rink and bowling alley is an unsung hero of central SoMa, standing out amongst its artsier neighbors. Although relatively slick and stylish compared to other bowling spots, this twelve lane semi-secret retains most of what people remember from growing up: easy shoe rentals, daytime discounts, glow-in-the-dark bowling sessions and big group events. There’s no bold 70s stripy paint job on the inside, just clean, amusing fun in the heart of one of San Francisco’s best neighborhoods. Housed in one of the odder locations for a bowling alley, Presidio Bowl sits in a decommissioned military building just off the Main Post. Odder still, it serves breakfast starting at 9 a.m., along with salads and the usual assortment of deep-fried fare. This twelve lane facility can feel like a delightfully weird time-warp, but reasonable rates, retro video games and occasional free pizza on Sundays make it an ideal outing for big groups on the hunt for some retro fun. Far more modern is South of Market’s Lucky Strike, the San Francisco location of a lounge-y national bowling chain that stays open late. Billiards, a dance floor and lane-side food service keeps the atmosphere light and swanky, and everyone enjoys the on-site photo booth after a few cocktails. By serving elevated entrées like truffle mac ‘n’ cheese, it’s entirely plausible that you could spend a fun night with friends at Lucky Strike, and never even end up strapping on bowling shoes. The humble game of knocking over pins with a ball reaches the peak of fanciness at Mission Bowling Club on 17th Street. This hard-to-book alley has only six lanes, so the wait to throw strikes can be long. But with couches in lieu of plastic lane benches, a gourmet kitchen – including weekend brunch service on the back patio – and a respectable wine list, Mission Bowling does everything to win both the hipster and the bowling enthusiasts’ vote. And all without being the least bit ironic.

Things To Do In Napa

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