Most people have bucket lists of things they want to do (that don't involve IKEA trips) when they first move somewhere new. But, since San Francisco is a city like no other, our checklist is equally quirky and odd. Here’s my list of things to accomplish your first year here. Feel free to keep the bucket list growing with things you think are must-do’s in San Francisco.
1. Ride a phantom MUNI.
You’re running late for work and the MUNI tracker tells you the next buses are in 15 and 40 minutes. You sigh and grab your phone to pass the time when OH HELLO, Phantom MUNI! This MUNI wasn’t on the tracker but you’ve now caught it. Your day is officially ten times better now. (Bonus points if your phantom is also empty except for the driver).
2. Catch at least one San Francisco sunrise.
San Francisco is known for its pastel houses, but nothing beats a pastel sky early in the morning, especially as the fog burns away and the city is just coming to life (along with the Safeway sign at Church & Duboce).
3. Take a shot of Fernet ... maybe just once.
After which you will either love it or warn people away from it.
4. Eat a Mission burrito … every day for a week.
In other cities people subsist on cheap pizza, but San Francisco is known for the Mission burrito. You haven’t lived until you’ve eaten one every day from a different taqueria (which will help you pick your favorite).
5. Complain that you have to go to work on a sunny, 75 degree-day, while the rest of the country is below freezing level.
Bonus points if you complain on social media and then skip work.
6. Wear a dress or shorts even though you know you’ll be freezing by evening.
Your legs will have at least lived in the sun for a day.
7. Spend all day at Dolores Park.
Where else can you get a truffle, a coconut filled with rum, and a pizza slice in one place?
8. Have a bonfire on Ocean Beach.
While you can't really tan on a beach in San Francisco, you can definitely curl up by a bonfire.
9. Go for an urban hike.
San Francisco is home to some magical trails in the Presidio as well as a hill so big that we call it a mountain —all within city limits.
10. Master the Wiggle or at least know how to direct people to it.
The Wiggle is the worst kept secret for traveling the flattest paths around the city, but everyone's biggest calf-saver.
11. Witness three unsightly things on BART in one day.
Dog in a backpack? Check. A kid licking the window? Check. Someone clipping their fingernails? Check. BART is truly a diverse spectrum of Bay Area activities and etiquette.
12. Roll your eyes whenever someone says the misattributed Mark Twain quote.
“The coldest summer—“*sigh.* Your street cred just went up for disliking this quote.
13. Break out your parka the minute the temperature drops below 65.
Perhaps it's relatively not that cold compared to other cities, and any friend you have on the East Coast or Midwest will mock you for doing this, but it really does get chilly here!
14. Use the word “hella” in a conversation and vigorously shake your head when someone says “Frisco.”
If Taylor Swift can pretend to own the word hella, so can you.
15. Go to Fisherman’s Wharf for the In & Out and then vow to never go back again.
Because really, who can resist a little In & Out.
Top photo courtesy of Matthew Roth/Flickr
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