These places make the Bay Area feel like home, according to locals.

When you picture San Francisco, chances are you're visualizing the iconic Golden Gate Bridge. Well, don't worry, this itinerary definitely gets you to that bridge to take in those astounding views. But with five days, you'll also have plenty of time to comfortably fit in loads of other must-sees, like the sea lions at Fisherman’s Wharf and the drama of Alcatraz Island. And I’ve built in breaks for sipping California wine, downing dim sum, and riding cable cars, too.

If you have just one or two days in San Francisco, you might not get much farther than Fisherman’s Wharf and a handful of nearby attractions. Lucky you, you’ve got four days, which is more than enough time to snap pics of sea lions lounging in the sun, sail across the bay, sip artisanal wines, play vintage video games, sample the goods at a fortune cookie factory, and soak in epic views of the iconic Golden Gate Bridge. In other words, with four days, you can really plug into San Francisco’s personality.