Things to Do in San Francisco in February

San Francisco's Chinese New Year Parade runs along Kearny Street through Chinatown, with over 100 floats, the 268-foot Golden Dragon, lion dancers, marching bands, and firecrackers. The parade has been running since the 1860s, and tens of thousands of spectators pack the sidewalks on parade night. The noise of drums and firecrackers bounces off the buildings, and the air smells like gunpowder and fried food from the street vendors.

Booking tipArrive at least 90 minutes early to claim a spot along Kearny Street near Clay Street for the best views. Dress warmly, as you'll be standing still in evening temperatures around 8-10°C (46-50°F).

February is peak Dungeness season, and the crab stalls along Jefferson Street sell freshly cracked crab on newspaper. The crabs are at their heaviest this time of year, pulled from waters off Half Moon Bay. The salty, sweet smell of crab cooking in huge pots fills the sidewalk. You can also sit down for cioppino at Sotto Mare in North Beach or warm crab rolls at Swan Oyster Depot on Polk Street.

The San Francisco Museum of Modern Art in SoMa holds over 33,000 works across 7 floors, including pieces by Frida Kahlo, Andy Warhol, and Alexander Calder. In February, you can stand in front of a Gerhard Richter painting for 10 minutes without anyone nudging past you. The building itself, designed by Mario Botta with a later expansion by Snøhetta, feels like an exhibit on its own. The top-floor terrace has views toward Yerba Buena Gardens.

The Lands End trail runs about 2.5 kilometers along the rocky coastline at the northwest corner of San Francisco, between the Sutro Baths ruins and the Eagle Point overlook. On a clear February day, the views of the Golden Gate Bridge, the Marin Headlands, and the Pacific Ocean are sharp. You'll hear waves crashing against the rocks below, and the cypress trees along the path carry a strong green, resinous scent after rain.

Booking tipCheck the National Weather Service Bay Area forecast the morning of your walk. February storms can make the trail slippery and the exposed sections windy.

The Academy of Sciences combines a natural history museum, aquarium, planetarium, and 4-story rainforest dome under one living roof in Golden Gate Park. The rainforest dome is warm and humid, a noticeable contrast to February's cool air outside. Free-flying butterflies land on the handrails. The aquarium level holds a 7.6-meter deep Philippine coral reef tank. On Thursday evenings, the NightLife series opens the museum to adults with drinks and DJ sets.

The Saturday morning farmers market at the Ferry Building on the Embarcadero draws vendors from across Northern California. In February, you'll find Meyer lemons, blood oranges, winter greens, fresh-caught fish, and early spring vegetables. Inside the Ferry Building itself, permanent vendors sell artisan cheeses, freshly baked bread, coffee, and oysters. The space has a wet-stone-and-sourdough smell that's hard to forget.

The Powell-Hyde cable car line runs from the turntable near Union Square up and over Russian Hill, then drops steeply down toward Aquatic Park and Ghirardelli Square. In February, the typical summer wait of 45 minutes or more at the Powell Street turntable shrinks to a fraction of that. The views from the Hyde Street descent toward Alcatraz and the Bay are unobstructed. You'll feel the cold wind off the water as the car descends.

For about two weeks around Chinese New Year, San Francisco's Chinatown fills with lion dancers, firecrackers, and red lanterns. The bakeries along Grant Avenue and Stockton Street sell sesame balls, egg tarts, and nian gao (sticky rice cake). Incense smoke drifts from the Tin How Temple on Waverly Place, and the narrow alleys like Ross Alley fill with the sound of firecrackers. The flower fair on Grant Avenue sells kumquat trees and peonies.