About

Looking for ideas of what to do in the San Francisco Bay Area?

According to FreeDictionary.Com to sally means to:
1) to rush out or leap forth suddenly
2) to set out on a trip or excursion

If you’re looking for fun things to do in the Bay Area, whether it is a great restaurant recommendation or cool Bay Area boutiques you are looking for, you’ve come to the right place.

Welcome to the adventures of Sally Around The Bay.

My name is Sally (if that wasn’t obvious already) and I want to thank you for following me as I tour around looking for fun things to do in the San Francisco Bay Area. I’m going to be exploring the Bay – uncovering hidden gems as I go – and using this blog to document my experience.

I have so much fun bopping around from restaurants in the Bay Area to funky shops and boutiques that I decided it would be selfish of me NOT to share all of my experiences with the world.

Whether you’re a bored local or are planning on visiting San Francisco, my goal is for you to discover something new, fun and maybe even thought provoking to do in the Bay Area through this collection of blog posts.

Please note that I live in Marin County so I may be a little biased toward things to do in Marin and I’ll probably focus on more things to do in Marin County than anywhere else in the Bay. However, I promise I will be adventurous as I sally across the bridges and step over the county line on a regular basis. Knowing I have to document lots of lesser known fun things to do in the Bay Area will force me to try new things and get out of my comfort zone.

Thank you for embarking on this journey with me!

When Sally Fell in Love with San Francisco

When I was 15, my mom* took me to San Francisco to go shopping at the Esprit Outlet. You see, I was obsessed with Esprit clothes but they were way out of my family’s budget so my thrifty and brilliant mother decided we’d save our coins for a year and then take a trip to the Esprit Outlet in San Francisco. She agreed to double what we saved and that was our budget for the entire trip.

We would find a bargain hotel and eat normal, inexpensive food so my shopping budget was as big as possible. (My mom taught me to be a bargain shopper, so you’ll notice I’m always looking out for a deal as I travel around looking for fun things to do in the Bay Area!)

The moment I set foot in San Francisco I was in love with the entire area – that mother/daughter weekend in the City was so great.

Information about San Francisco that the guides don’t print

When I was 17 a friend and I drove to “Frisco”. Yes, I admit that at one time I referred to San Francisco as “Frisco” but I’m originally from The OC so I didn’t know any better. I think people in So Cal actually still call it Frisco, but if you’re overheard by a native of Northern CA saying “Frisco” you will instantly be flagged as an “outsider” (Non Bay Area person).

Other than that major faux pas, you can blend in pretty easily here unless you wear shorts in July. When you drive over the Golden Gate Bridge in July and see someone wearing shorts, there’s a good chance you’re looking at a tourist. It’s often cold and foggy in San Francisco in the summer. That’s why so many visitors to the area buy SF sweatshirts. It’s not because they want a souvenir, it’s because they forgot to bring their warm clothes.

*edited to add note from mom: “that trip, if you recall, was also the “carrot at the end of the stick” for you to get a decent grade after you had to repeat a class in summer school!” Thanks mom for bringing me back down to earth.