10 ways to fire up your next vacay in action-packed San Francisco

We ALL love a vacation, albeit for the travelling, the new experiences or just some much needed R+R from work.  But often, we find beach holidays just that little bit too ‘meh’ after 10 days of doing nothing. We love rest but we also love FUN.

With that in mind, we’re suggesting your next vacation spot to be a little bit of everything all rolled into one...at San Francisco. Brimming with things to do, places to visit and areas to explore, San Francisco is a holiday hotspot this year.

Hand Gliding at Fort Funston

The San Francisco Bay area is in prime position for hiking, walking, sightseeing and hand gliding. If you’re a keen flyer, The Fort is where it all happens. In fact, it has been dubbed one of the best places to hand glide in the whole world - so you can’t really top that! With flyable winds all year round, it won’t matter when you book your annual leave - you can still get your kicks here.

Slides at Seward Street Minipark

Who says that we have to actually grow up when we become adults? We say nay to that. Keep your childhood dreams alive at the Seward Street Minipark, where two long concrete slides await your eager bum. The park was built in 1973 and designed by a 14 year old, who captured the essence of youthful unapologetic fun. But be warned, these slides are not for the faint hearted!

Sailing to Angel Island

With stunning views on route and upon arrival, eager sailors will love a trip to Angel Island.  The island has 7 different anchor points and a whole host of activities to do once moored, including hikes, bicycle routes, picnic areas and even a mini-climb to the top of Mt. Livermore.

Hiking at Grizzly Peak

Fear not, this does not involve a treacherous walk and then one-to-one combat with a grizzly bear.  The famous Grizzly Peak is technically in Berkeley not San Francisco, but it’s nearby and offers incredible views of the Golden Gate Bridge and the bay itself.  For those who like a climb...it’s a must-do for the sunset views.

Watch a concert at the Hemlock Tavern

Even if you are an adrenaline junkie...you’ll still need a night off to rest and recuperate. San Fran has plenty of things to do and watch in the evenings, but we recommend heading to the Hemlock Tavern on Polk Street to catch a concert. With a variety of entertainment booked into their calendar and a happy hour every day...you’ll be able to switch off and chill out.

Eat afternoon tea at The Palace Hotel

Food glorious food...that’s what we live for! Keep refueled by hitting the city’s foodie hotspots, including tasting the prestigious afternoon tea at the Palace Hotel. A taste of culture, if you will. If you want to treat the children, their Prince and Princess Tea features whimsical presentations with a crown to make your child feel like royalty.

Cycle to Sausalito

Bicycle rides are the easiest way to sightsee and explore, but on your own terms. Want to pull over and take a snap of the view? Be our guest. For those who love two wheels, Sausalito has copious bike trails, including across the Golden Gate Bridge.

Sightseeing in a Cable Car

It would be almost rude NOT to have a wee trip on a cable car during your San Francisco vacay.  These are historically iconic modes of transport to navigate the steep hills and sightsee at the same time.  A fun new way to get around the city...ensure you hop on and hop off a cable car at least once during your stay.

Take to the waters on a RocketBoat

This is the ultimate speed boat trip is an epic thrill ride in San Francisco Bay.  Head onto the RocketBoat for a 30 minute speed ride across the Bay, with some rock ‘n’ roll tunes to keep you bangin’ on board. With an infinite combination of twists and turns, you’ll never take the same trip twice.

Surfing at Ocean Beach

If you want to take some time out from surfing the internet, head down to Ocean Beach to surf the waves instead.  Catering for both long and short board, the beach has various different areas that a great for surfers who dig a big wave. As it is a giant beach break, it offers varying surfing conditions daily. So head down and see what happens!

If all of this isn’t enough to get you booking time off work, the icing on the cake is, of course, the flights over there. Whilst we all LOVE some action and adventure, we do not love the long haul flights to do so. Jet lag is no-one’s friend.  However, flying can be painless when you’re on board a comfortable large cabin and it is a non-stop flight. United Airlines have just the ticket, literally, to get you from A to B minus any extra stress.

Aboard their Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner, you’ll relax into the comfortable non-stop flight instantly.  It takes 16 hours from Singapore to San Francisco, departing Changi Airport at 8 45am and arriving at San Francisco the same day at 9 15am. Thank goodness for different time zones! Boasting better ventilation, quieter aircraft noise and larger windows, you’ll be ready to start your vacation as soon as you settle into your seat.