The Complete Guide to a Holiday Walking Tour of San Francisco
When most people think of a great winter destination, they either think of the snowcapped Rocky Mountains that carve out the Colorado sky, or the sandy beaches of the Caribbean that remind you that you are in heaven while everybody back home is in a subzero tundra. Few think of temperate cities that dress themselves up for the holiday season just as beautifully as those in Hallmark Christmas movies. Though not a traditional Christmas-y destination, San Francisco is an awesome destination for anybody looking to avoid drifting snow and ice, but who also doesn’t want to break the bank on a beach villa vacation. Follow my guide for the ultimate San Francisco holiday walking tour, and experience Christmas the NorCal way!
Make your way to Noe Valley to see a small family-oriented neighborhood all dressed up. Not just gussied up in reds and greens, the local art store Scribbledoodles does an amazing job of adorning the local parklet, a free area for residents to hang out and catch up or sip coffee, in every color of the rainbow. Multicolored bows, candy cane cutouts, and string lights flank the parklet, and help any Grinch get in the Christmas spirit. Grab a coffee to go at my personal favorite spot, Bernie’s, and snag a parklet table and chairs to take in the beauty that is 24th street and Noe Valley.
If you’re from San Francisco (or as you will learn if you’re not), you know there’s a giant hill that separates Noe Valley from The Castro. Once you have grabbed a coffee at Bernie’s you’re going to want to cross that hill, or hop on the 24 bus and ride up over the top to 18th and Castro. What you’re going to find is a gorgeously decorated rainbow tree that illuminates the square with love and holiday spirit. The Castro is an amazing neighborhood that tells the story of the LGBTQ+ community, but also has some pretty amazing stuff going on around as well. This tree is one of my favorite things the city does every year in December, and is worth a stop for a quick photo and history lesson. Pro tip: to learn more about the LGBTQ+ community, walk up and down Castro Street and read the golden placards placed in the sidewalk to learn about trailblazers of the community.
Since you’re already in The Castro, hop on the Muni L, M, or T lines underground at Castro St and Market St, and hop off at Powell Street. Here you will find the main shopping district in San Francisco. You will find major flagship stores like Nike, Banana Republic, Valentino, and Nordstrom, and you can get your shop on and grab a few souvenirs for, well, yourself. The beautiful part of the shopping district can be found in the heart of Union Square, which showcases the giant light up Christmas tree, and the outdoor skating rink. Sign up for early morning skating classes and get time on the ice with nobody else around, or sleep in, shop, and rent some skates and a locker midday at the rink. The rink overlooks the giant square, and it is hard to not get in the Christmas mood when you’re skating next to a gargantuan ruby red and pine green tree…and you’re not freezing your buns off! Pro tip: rumor has it that the best view is from the Cheesecake Factory in Macys where you get a bird’s eye view of the rink and the tree. Just make sure you order food and don’t just use their space for pictures.
Since you’re already at Union Square, I highly recommend taking a walk-through Neiman Marcus, directly on Union Square and across the street from the ice rink. If not to just ogle at all of the gorgeous baubles and bottles they sell, there is also an 86-foot-tall Christmas Tree that is constructed in the center of the store. For the best viewing, head to the women’s shoe department, and look over the balcony down at the glittering tree and marble floors. And grab me a pair of Valentino Rockstuds while you’re there…size 8.5. Merry Christmas to me.
The next walk you’re going to make is a doozy and not for the faint of heart. I credit being able to make it up this hill to having lived in San Francisco for 4 years, and walking up and down hills daily. If you choose to take a Lyft or Uber, I would not fault you one bit. I, however, opt to walk uphill to the famous Fairmont Hotel. An absolutely gorgeous hotel with touches of luxury dripping from every bannister and piece of crown molding, The Fairmont puts on one of the most beautiful Christmas Extravaganzas in the city. Step inside and take in their 2-story blue and gold Christmas tree wrapped in gold ribbon and glimmering bulbs the size of your head. Stacks of wine that make the shape of a tree flank the entryway, and remind you just how lush this place is. But what’s the piece de la resistance? The tea room that is constructed entirely of gingerbread. Yep, you read that right, the tea room is transformed into a gingerbread lover’s dream and is fully decorated with gingerbread walls. With candy cane pillars on the porch, snow on window sills, and gingerbread men and women smiling out at you from the inside, this is truly a one of a kind experience. The entire gingerbread house is made by the Fairmont culinary team, and is held together by two stories of gingerbread and royal icing. Have a sweet high tea in the tea room, rent out the gingerbread house for a private dining event, or simply just walk around, but make sure to pay this little slice of Kris Kringle kingdom a visit. The best part? It’s free to see!
Being a Midwest girl at heart, there is nothing I love more than freshly fallen snow, but I also love making my own traditions and seeing how the world celebrates Christmas. Living in San Francisco not only offers me great weather year-round, but also a glimpse into some beautiful traditions that go back decades, and that fill my heart with that fresh cup of cocoa feeling.
