What I can't miss in San Francisco in 4 days?

1. Bike the Golden Gate Bridge to Sausalito or Tiburon- Get lunch and drinks at Bar Bocce (Bar Bocce) for the former or at Sam's Anchor Cafe (Sam's) for the latter. Both spots have outdoor seating, good food, a cool vibe, and beautiful view of the Bay. 
2. Day trip to Sonoma. Rent a car for the day and head to Sonoma. It's only an hour outside of the city and beautiful. Some good wineries, close to SF are: Scribe Winery (Scribe) (personal favorite, but you need a reservation); Saintsbury LLC (Saintsbury) (extremely knowledgeable about wine); Ram's Gate Winery (Ram's Gate) (beautiful property inside and out) 
3. Hang out in the Mission District. Dolores Park (Delores Park) is the best place to be on a nice Saturday or Sunday or anyway. Mexican food is top notch around here. El Techo de Lolinda (El Techo de Lolinda) is a great rooftop Mexican restaurant that won't totally break the bank. 
4. Haight-Ashbury. Quintessential San Francisco. Visit Club Deluxefor live music and the best greyhounds in town. (cash only)
5. Bike or walk around Golden Gate Park. There are gardens, museums, people-watching. 
6. Lands End. On of the best in-city hikes. Beautiful views, great hike. End at Baker Beach to soak up some rays. 
7. Off the Grid: Picnic at the Presidio (Presidio Off the Grid). On Sundays, food trucks line the sidewalks. You can bring your own booze, a picnic blanket and just hang out. 

Eat an ice cream sundae at Ghiradelli Square. You know you want to. And eat an Italian meal at whatever place smells best in North Beach (California). 

And sure, take a selfie in front of the Golden Gate Bridge (which is much easier to do if you're not too close to it).

Don't forget the SF coffee scene, if you're into it, all of which you can do in one day or sprinkle it into your schedule throughout your long weekend.***

1. Pick-up a siphon filtered or cold drip coffee at Blue Bottle Coffee (Old Mint Building) and take a stroll around or sit and sip in the Yerba Buena Gardens - next to where Apple releases many of it's new toys.  

2. Strut west a few more blocks - about 15-20 minutes - for your next fix at Sightglass coffee where they have a beautiful space, a slow pour bar upstairs or espresso downstairs.

3. Hop on a bike to Fourbarrel Coffee in the Mission, say "hi" to the hipsters on your way in and grab a stool at the back to watch their roastmasters at work.

It's a nice walk to Dolores Park from there, too.

4. Finally, on the way to the California Palace of the Legion of Honor, the Presidio, or any of the Off the Grid options (e.g., Off the Grid: Picnic at the Presidio), Bike, Uber or Lyft your way to The Mill on Divis for an expensive (but delicious) piece of toast and a cup.

The Mill

Rodin's Thinker in front of the Legion of Honor

*** Disclaimer: many will say you must hit Philz Coffee, among many other incredible coffee roasters, baristas and local shops around town.  There are a lot more very good places to go to get your fix, I simply chose the ones I have enjoyed for their staff, surroundings, space and, especially, the coffee.  Looking forward to hearing the favorites and pro tips coming from others...

Depending on the weather, rent a bike and ride around the Presidio, Crissy Field, the Marina District and Marshall's Beach and then across the Golden Gate Bridge. Visit the Ferry Building Marketplace farmer's market on Saturday for breakfast (beautiful view of the Bay Bridge), arts and crafts in Justin Hermann plaza and then ride the ferry to Sausalito for lunch/shopping and come back for dinner/drinks at the Slanted Door. Take the trolley up/down Market Street and shop in Union Square and then ride the cable car at Powell Street station. Visit Whole Foods and pick up some lunch and dine in Golden Gate Park. Dinner on Union Street or in Hayes Valley or the Fillmore. Visit the Mission and have delicious Mexican food for lunch and shop on Valencia Street. Have dinner and tiramisu in North Beach (California). Walk thru San Francisco Chinatown and buy some souvenirs.Visit the Castro and view a movie at the historic theatre and then Thai food across the street. Drive up to Twin Peaks for the best views of the city. Go to Japantown for Shabu Shabu and shopping. Visit any of the fabulous museums downtown and take in a free concert at Yerba Buena Gardens. Check out the club scene in Soma. Late dinner at NoPa in the pan handle.

Yes, go see some of the touristy things but those aren't the best things about the city. If you must, go to Fisherman's Wharf just to walk through, but for heaven's sakes don't think for a minute it has anything to do with San Francisco's actual personality or for that matter eat anything there at those tourist traps.  No one who lives here goes there.  Also, Avoid the Tenderloin at all costs, especially at night - it's frightening.  Go to Off the Grid: Picnic at the Presidio on a Sunday, and you'll have a great view of the Golden Gate bridge.  Check out any festival that might be going on, San Francisco folks love their festivals.  Yes, go the San Francisco Ferry Bldg, especially if you can go on a Saturday between 8AM and 2PM for the Farmer's Market which is out front and out back.  Humphry Slocombe ice cream is there and worth having, so is a grilled cheese at Cowgirl Creamery Sidekick Cafe & Milk Bar and some cured pork product Boccalone Salumeria.  Walk through San Francisco Chinatown, it's an entirely different culture.  Grab a sweet Pineapple bun with either Pineapple milk, custard, or sweet bean paste (make sure it's a sweet one, they have one's called pineapple buns with bbq pork in them) for 90 cents at AA Bakery & Cafe and if you go during lunch time grab some dim sum.  Go shop in Hayes Valley and grab something to eat at one of the many great places there (use Zagat as your guide for food).  If you like Jazz, Hayes valley is home to the San Francisco Jazz Center where you can get tickets to see a live show.  Go to a dance party at a festival or a club (use the internet, follow SFGate on Facebook to find events and ask people if the place is in a sketchy area and if it is, take a Lyft there and back rather than walking at night) go to a morning rave that's also an exercise class. Go to the Mission and grab a world famous burrito from La Taqueriaor El Farolito.  Walk through North Beach and grab a slice of pizza Tony's Coal-Fired Pizza & Slice House.  If you have time, BART out to Berkeley and check out UC Berkeley's gorgeous campus, go into a time warp back to the 60's Amoeba Music  and if you feel like going upscale, get a reservation and dine at Chez Panisse (upstairs is the lower cost Cafe, where reservations aren't always necessary and the food is just as good) It is a true icon, still among the best in the country and influenced cuisine worldwide.  A less expensive option would be to grab pizza Cheese Board Pizza - it's an experience in itself, and don't forget to put the green garlicky herb sauce on top of your pizza.  If you have friends in the city, ask them where they hang out, and go do what they do - that's the best way to know what a city is truly like.  

Melissa, 

You've got to get to wine country - it's the ultimate girl's getaway, even if you manage to do a day trip. I like Sonoma - beautiful boutique wineries, great restaurants and spas. 

In San Francisco, check out the boutiques in Hayes Valley and on Union St. 

Enjoy!

Kaamna 

Momaboard.com - Custom trip planning services for families

You MUST go to Muir Woods!!! It is a little bit of a trek getting out of the city but so worth it. It is one of my all time favorite places.

Some good answers already.  

I'd say they're really missing out on Crissy Field in the Presidio of SF. In fact, I'd recommend you rent a motorized cart or bike from Pier 39 area and bike this and other areas mentioned along the bay, which are all relatively flat (e.g. Aquatic Park/Ghiradelli Square, Marina District, Palace of Fine Arts, and Fort Point National Historic Site.

It can be really windy at Golden Gate Bridge, but at same time not too windy right beneath it at Fort point. 

Also, if you do have a car, go to Fort Baker on the marin side (north side of gg bridge, here https://goo.gl/maps/1ypfDtRfKak). For my $, it's the best view of the gg bridge without having to hike because it frames SF in the background. 

 Finally, again if you have a car, take a trip to the top of Twin Peaks, the highest point in the city for one of the best views anywhere for sunset. Only go if not too foggy.

If you happen to be in SF on a glorious beautiful day, there is nothing better than jogging, biking, or walking Golden Gate Park all the way from the Japanese Gardens to the seashore. You can ride public transit to get there.

San Francisco Chinatown is much more then junky tourist shops. Talk to some of the Chinese locals to find out about restaurants that the locals favor (rather than the tourists).

Ride the cable cars -- all the routes. They're a San Francisco trademark and they're really great. 

If you're on a budget, take a cable car to Fisherman's Wharf, buy a loaf of that amazing SF sour dough bread and a fresh steamed Dungeness Crab. Find a park and have a picnic. A bottle of Napa Valley wine would be good too.

All the answers are great, it's hard to go wrong no matter what you choose. My own "favorite"...Pier 39 upper level anywhere at sunset, with a great drink in hand - watch the sun set behind the Golden Gate Bridge! Best way to top off a day in S.F.  I'm 71 & have been visiting there since I was 4(and the planes were props only).

Hi Melissa,

There's so much great stuff in San Francisco, which makes your question tough! However, here's a shortlist of some can't-miss faves:

• Visit Palace of Fine Arts at night
• Take a $15 boat ride under the Golden Gate Bridge and around Alcatraz . You can find these individually owned boats right across from Joe's Crab Shack Fishermans Wharf
• Get burritos at Papalote
• Get ice cream at Bi-Rite Creamery
• Taste test at San Francisco Ferry Bldg
• See bridge to bridge views at the top of Twin Peaks
• Check out the De Young Museum or California Academy of Sciences inside Golden Gate Park . The Conservatory of Flowers is beautiful too!
• Explore Hayes Valley, North Beach (California), Mission District
• Scope out boutiques on Union St (Union + Steiner is a good place to start, and end at Union + Vanness) and Sacramento Street

I have a longer cheat sheet here, along with some tourist traps to avoid here. Have an amazing time!

Fisherman's Wharf is fun; touristy, but fun.  It's a nice place to visit, but I never eat there.

Golden Gate Park is pleasant.  Even if it's foggy, it's fun.

The Golden Gate Bridge is iconic, and for good reason.

If you enjoy architecture seek out the Painted Ladies; the brightly decorated Victorian era houses.

As silly as it may sound on the surface, ride a cable car.  It may sound touristy and kitchey (and it is), but even jaded S.O.B.s like me find it fun.

What a great list of amazing suggestions. The tourist front has definitely been covered, in style!  

If you find yourself with a few hours of free time and want to experience the local scene, you can also check out Wyndow.com for interesting live experiences available when you are. :-)

Golden Gate Bridge

Napa

Good coffee shops (Fourbarrel Coffee,The Mill)

Golden Gate Park (Museums)