10Best: San Francisco sites for Super Bowl visitors

You don’t have to be a football fan to get excited about this year’s Super Bowl, held Feb. 7 in Santa Clara, Calif. The general manager of the NBA-champion Golden State Warriors urges visitors to his home city to experience more than just the game. “There’s something for everybody,” says Bob Myers, who grew up in the East Bay area, and now lives in San Francisco with his wife and two daughters. “Lots of communities are very good at one thing, but San Francisco checks as many boxes as you want.” He shares some favorite spots with Larry Bleiberg for USA TODAY.

Picnic at Crissy Field

This Bayfront park with stunning views of the Golden Gate Bridge offers an ideal spot to enjoy a sandwich and conversation. “Words don’t do it justice. It’s a quiet place that’s really only known to the locals. You don’t need have to buy a ticket or wait in line,” Myers says. 415-561-5300; presidio.gov

Walk across the Golden Gate Bridge

While it’s hard to miss the city icon, the best way to experience it is to walk it, Myers says. “Oh, yeah, it lives up to the hype. The Golden Gate has got this quality. It’s a magnet. Your eyes are drawn to it. You only know it by touching it or seeing it up close.” goldengatebridge.org

Graze food trucks and shop at Marin Country Mart

It’s worthwhile visiting this boutique shopping area in Marin County any day, but Myers suggests coming on Sundays when it’s invaded by food trucks. “San Francisco was one of the first places to embrace the food truck, and you can pretty much eat any kind of food you want: Indian, Mexican, Californian, Asian — everything.” 415-461-5700; marincountrymart.com

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Climb the Lyon Street steps

Who need a gym when you can work out on this popular public thoroughfare in Pacific Heights? “It’s a place to enjoy world-class views. It’s utilized by people who just want to be tourists, and people who want to exercise, and the best thing is to do a combination of both,” Myers says.sanfrancisco.travel

Order a cheeseburger and fries at Spruce

This high-end eatery near Myers’ home in Presidio Heights wins raves for its gourmet seasonal cuisine, but he says it’s a perfect spot for a burger and fries. “There’s something about going to a fancy restaurant and ordering a hamburger. It’s illogical, but you know it’s going to be good.” 415-931-5100; sprucesf.com

Explore the California Academy of Sciences

Myers has spent many hours exploring this combination aquarium, planetarium and natural history museum in Golden Gate Park with his kids. “You can go at any age and find something that gathers your attention. It has an albino alligator named Claude that my daughters love.” 415-379-8000; calacademy.org

Eat a Dynamo donut

This local bakery has a cult following with people lining up for a bite. “It’s a tiny little hut that you’d drive or walk by 100 times without noticing,” says Myers, who suggests going to the Marina Green location and taking your bag of goodies to a waterside bench. “I’m big on ambience. It’s not just the food, but the experience of where you’re eating.” 415-920-1978; dynamodonut.com

Ride the Powell-Hyde Cable Car

For Myers, the cable cars are as much about nostalgia as transportation. He rode the line as a kid and now gets to see it through the eyes of his children. “It’s a completely different experience from a child to adult, but they’re equally enjoyable for me.” His preferred route: Nob Hill to Union Square. sanfrancisco.travel

Drink a Manhattan at the Big 4

This wood-paneled bar and restaurant in the Scarlet Huntington hotel in Nob Hill gets its name from four tycoons who built the Central Pacific Railroad, which fueled San Francisco’s growth. “This is one of those places that transport you back to what a bar might have resembled. It’s got the oak and it’s a place to enjoy a conversation and good drink,” Myers says. 415-771-1140; big4restaurant.com

Meditate on the benches at Inspiration Point

Myers and his wife often visit this overlook in the Presidio. “San Francisco is a very busy city and this is where you can slow your mind down and stop talking and stop looking at your phone and just take in life,” he says. “It’s this majestic view. It stops you in your tracks.” 415-561-5300; presidio.gov