San Francisco is one of the best cities I’ve ever been to—it’s so magical and lively. The nature, the spots, the architecture, the food, the culture, the people, the overall vibes—it’s all so enjoyable. I lived in San Mateo for two years, a city in the Bay Area just 20-25 minutes from San Francisco, and every trip to SF was pure bliss. The best and most fun way to get to SF is by taking the Caltrain or BART. I used to take them with my friends and my brother; they’re fast, and the ride itself is always an experience. If you take the Caltrain, it drops you off at the station on King St & 4th St, a great starting point to explore the city. Right next to the station, you can rent bikes or take buses—the best one is definitely the N Judah, which takes you to some of SF’s best spots, including The Embarcadero. If you’re taking the BART, well… ask Google Maps, because to this day, I still don’t know how I managed to ride that thing.
To celebrate that incredible city, I’m sharing a few of my favorite memories and places.
The Embarcadero & Meeting Simone
One of my favorite places in SF is The Embarcadero. I have so many great memories there, but one that stands out is the day my friend Maya and I were going to SF and decided to take the Caltrain into the city. Of course, we took too long to get ready and ended up missing our train, which meant waiting 30 minutes for the next one. When we finally got to SF, we hopped on the N Judah (God bless that bus) and got off at The Embarcadero & Folsom St—perfectly located.
We were starving, but instead of eating at The Embarcadero, which honestly has some of the best foods in SF, we wandered around the city for nearly two hours. It actually felt like a classic NYC walking experience, just like it always does, I loved wandering around SF. Eventually, we went to McDonald’s—AKA mine and my friend group’s heaven—before heading back to The Embarcadero, eating our burgers and fries along the way.
That’s where we met the most precious artist ever: Simone Guimarães (Instagram @fridacatloart). We were admiring the art on display when Simone approached us, smiling. Within seconds, we discovered she was Brazilian too, and we immediately clicked. From then on, every trip to SF included a stop to chat with Simone.
Pier 39 & Getting Completely Lost
Thinking about SF, I can’t help but remember the times I spent there with my best friend Sofia and my brother Victor. We used to go there together now and then, and it was so fun. One of our favorite spots was Pier 39, which totally deserves its flowers. I might sound boring saying it because it’s one of the most cliché tourist spots in SF, but it’s genuinely fun—the atmosphere, the sea lions, the neighborhood around it, the aquarium, the ferry rides, everything.
One of my funniest memories happened at Pier 39. After a long day exploring the city, it was time for us to head home. We had to take a bus to get to a BART station, so we walked nearly 20 minutes to the bus stop. It was summer, and after waiting for what felt like forever, the bus finally arrived—a huge relief. Sitting there on the bus, talking about our day, we checked Google Maps to see how long it would take to get to the BART station… only to realize we were headed in the complete opposite direction.
The bus had taken us to a part of SF I didn’t even know existed. To make things worse, it was the bus’ last stop, and we had no idea how to get back. Thankfully, the bus driver was super kind—after explaining our situation, he let us ride the correct bus for free until we reached our stop.
The SF “Bad Reputation”
That experience, like so many others, is just one example of why I love SF—the people, the kindness, the little adventures. So, whenever I see people trashing the city online, it really annoys me, because it’s really not that bad. I’ve had this conversation with multiple friends, and we all agree that people only go to the wrong places and blame it on the entire city. People act like the entire city is some kind of chaotic mess, but in reality, they’re just going to the wrong places and blaming the whole city for it. Every city has rough areas—it’s common sense.
If you visit Rio de Janeiro as a tourist, you’re not going to wander into Rocinha alone and expect to be safe. The same logic applies to SF. Yes, there are dangerous parts, and I’m not going to lie, those issues have grown over the years, but the internet loves to exaggerate. I’ve walked around SF countless times—during the day under the bright sun and at night with my friends—and nothing ever happened, because we avoided high-risk areas. SF isn’t perfect, but it’s far from the nightmare some people make it out to be.
SF: A Feeling, Not Just a City
Exploring a city—especially with friends and family—is always a joy. It leaves you with unforgettable memories and a deep connection to the place. SF will always have my heart. From Dolores Park to SFMOMA, the Golden Gate Bridge, the craft fairs, the Caltrain and BART rides, the photo booths, the amazing restaurants, sports games, concerts, The Embarcadero, the piers, the Ferry Building, Chinatown, Downtown, and so many other spots—it’s all permanently engraved in my memory.
San Francisco is truly a feeling. It’s a warm, welcoming, vibrant city, full of diverse cultures, kind and happy people, and endless things to do. I always describe it as a “hippie New York City,” and it’s honestly one of the most unique places I’ve ever been. Walking around SF with my friends felt like something straight out of a 2000s movie. Not to mention, the incredible cities nearby—Napa, Half Moon Bay, Santa Cruz, and so many others—all add to the Bay Area’s magic, offering even more places to explore. I’m beyond grateful I got to experience it, and I hope I’ll visit again someday.
