Live like you're abroad: The Sunset District

For this week's "Live like you're abroad" post, I'm sharing some of the wonderful places I've frequented over the past year since Cam moved to the Inner Sunset. Cam was moving from NYC and had only been to San Francisco once, so I was very nervous when he started sending me Craigslist listings for the Sunset. "Umm....it's like really foggy and far away," I would tell him while shooting over emails for listings in Pac Heights or the Mission.

He ended up in an apartment just one block from Golden Gate Park and a block in the opposite direction from the N-Judah Muni (which gets you from downtown to the Sunset in 20 minutes), and I have to admit, I was wrong about the Sunset. There is so much to do and everything is close, so there's definitely a city feel, just without the noise and tourist traffic.

Click through to learn more about what to see and do in the Sunset...


Golden Gate Park (which is actually 20% larger than Manhattan's Central Park) is home to The de Young Museum, which is conveniently directly across from the California Academy of Sciences. Both host weekly adult events, where you can tour the latest exhibits while sipping cocktails -- Academy of Sciences is Thursday and the de Young is Friday.

de Young photo found here

California Academy of Sciences

Also in Golden Gate Park is Stow Lake, where you can rent paddle boats or rowboats, The Japanese Tea Garden (entrance fee), my favorite quiet, peaceful part of the park: Shakespeare Flower Garden, a beautiful AIDS Memorial Grove, and great trails for running, hiking, and forgetting that you're in one of America's largest cities.

Cam reading in Shakespeare Garden

"Count only sunny hours"

Golden Gate Park

A perfect way to enjoy San Francisco's natural beauty is a run through Golden Gate Park down to Ocean Beach, which begins at 50th Avenue (a 3 mile run from the 9th and Irving N-stop). The most fascinating part of exploring the Sunset has been the realization that Ocean Beach is EMPTY. Sure it's a little cold, but it's still big, clean, and gorgeous, and you can freely bonfire anywhere on the beach. A few times we've put on sweatshirts, headed down with sandwiches from Yellow Submarine and s'more materials and sat, unbothered by people or noise, by our bonfire from sunset until about 9pm.

Best subs in town at 6th Ave and Irving

While the Sunset is definitely better for daytime activities (actually perhaps the best neighborhood in San Francisco for an active, fun day) there are a few dinner spots that Cam and I enjoy. First is InnerFog wine bar, a warm, cozy bar with lots of beer and wine on tap and a small appetizers/dinner menu. Second is Craw Station -- disclaimer: their crawfish are nothing if you've been to an authentic Southern crawfish boil, but it's still fun to eat at a restaurant where your dinner comes in a bag filled with shellfish and spices. Third is Outerlands, the Sunset's trendy, hipster, fine dining option. We went for Cam's birthday and loved the wood cabin feeling and drinking fancy cocktails out of mason jars.

Golden Gate Park during Outside Lands Music Festival

Drinks at InnerFog

Crawfish and corn at Craw Station

Cam's birthday dinner at Outerlands

To wrap up your trip to the Sunset, take a trip to Grandview Park (first photo in post), where you can look out towards the water, across the park, and over San Francisco.While my list certainly isn't exhaustive, I hope it gives some perspective to the Sunset and enough recommendations for a fun day/weekend trip!