Top things to do in the San Francisco Bay Area

Pier 39

I always take my Bay Area visitors to Pier 39! There's so much to do and see here: plenty of great restaurants on the pier where you can get everything from Ghiradelli sundaes to clam chowder, fun stores to poke in, the nearby aquarium, and of course, the sea lions. It's also right by landing for the Alcatraz tour ferries - definitely take a tour of the island at night, you get great views of the city and the prison itself takes on a creepier feeling.

Rent a sailboat

What better way to see the bay than out on the water? You can get a closer view of Treasure Island, Angel Island, the Golden Gate, or sail to Marin! If you're an experienced sailor, you can rent your own boat from a number of rental facilities. Otherwise, you can charter a boat with a crew, or join a larger boat tour. I'd recommend Spinnaker Sailing (http://www.spinnaker-sailing.com/) located in South Beach at Pier 40 or OCSC in Berkeley (http://www.ocscsailing.com/.)

Horseback Riding in the Marin Headlands

Just across the Golden Gate Bridge is the Marin Headlands, a great place to go for a hike or a horseback ride. I've been on Miwok Livery's trail rides - you get great views of the bay and the staff is great! But if you're not excited about horseback riding, just bring a bike or your hiking shoes, there's tons of trails.

Carnelian Room

For some of the best views of the bay, try the Carnelian Room, located in the Bank of America Building on the 52nd floor. It is the highest public viewing place in the city (you'll find yourself looking down on the popular Transamerica Pyramid landmark. During the day, most of the restaurant is a members-only club but at night it becomes one of the most elegant (and pricey) restaurants in the city. You can even skip the dinner and just take in the view while sipping a glass of wine or a cocktail - it's worth every penny.

Tech Museum of Innovation

The Tech, as it is called, is less well-known than the Exploratorium as a great place to take kids, but its just as fun. What better place than Silicon Valley for a hands-on museum which explores technology and its impact on our lives? They give you a bar coded wrist ban which tracks your activity in the museum so you can then access some of the things you did from their website later. From the "design your own roller coaster" to the Ride a Segway activity, it's a great place to spend an afternoon.

Winetasting on the Silverado Trail

One of the best day trips from SF or Silicon Valley is Napa. You can visit plenty of wineries during the day or you can choose to spend the night. My favorite place to go winetasting is along the Silverado Trail. It's easy to find and there's plenty of wineries to choose from, both well-known and smaller ones. Generally tastings will run you anywhere from $5-$20 for a flight. Domaine Chandon, Silverado, Miner, and Robert Mondavi are some great ones to try! If you get hungry, I'd recommend the Culinary Academy or Taylor's Refresher.

San Jose Sharks Hockey

If you're in the mood to watch some sports, a fun alternative to a baseball or football game is to catch a hockey game at the HP Pavillion in San Jose. There's lots of different ticket prices to choose from though be warned that parking costs are pretty steep. The venue is very nice and clean and fans are a fun, friendly group. It's relatively small for a hockey stadium, which only adds to the familiar feel during the game.

Ferry to Sam's Anchor Cafe

For one of the best brunches in the Bay Area, hop a ferry from SF and head to Sam's Cafe in Tiburon. The bloody marys are delicious and the views are truly amazing. It's a crowded but fun mix of locals and tourists though service can get slow. Definitely be in the mood to relax, take your time, and shell out quite a bit for your meal, though for Marin County it's pretty average prices. Some of the best Cioppino in the Bay.