It’s hard to tear your eyes away from the giant redwood trees in this forest, but if you can, you may glimpse a shy bobcat streaking across the path or a chipmunk foraging for nuts. Some of the trees at Muir Woods National Monument are more than a thousand years old, and as you hike the 6mi (10km) of trails, it’s easy to convince yourself you’re the only person around. It’s particularly atmospheric on gray days when rain pitter-patters on the canopy and the forest floor comes alive with insects.

Explore Earth without leaving Golden Gate Park at the groundbreaking California Academy of Sciences, featuring an aquarium, a planetarium, a rainforest dome and a natural history museum. The curved building itself looks more like a spaceship with a 2.5-acre (1ha) living roof home to 1.7m plants. Also, the institution supports several conservation initiatives, including a breeding program for endangered African penguins.

Near Union Square, Hotel Spero is a colorful and cultured spot to base yourself during your San Francisco trip. In the lobby, packed shelving contrasts with modern art, while original features, such as beamed ceilings and a stone fireplace, create plenty of character. To reduce water consumption, the hotel installed low-flow faucets, toilets and showers, and there’s also a program called the Giving Rack, where you can donate unwanted clothes to local shelters.

The pink facade of this non-profit thrift store has brightened Valencia Street since 1982. It was founded by a group of gay bar owners and originally supported people with Aids; however, you can now choose where your money goes from a list of 200 local charities. The shelves heave with an eclectic mix of records, second-hand books and clothes. Give yourself plenty of time, as it’s impossible to leave empty-handed.

Every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday, farmers, bakers, cheesemakers, picklers and other food-related vendors in the area converge outside the historic Ferry Building for this colorful farmers’ market. The Center for Urban Education about Sustainable Agriculture organizes the event and aims to teach visitors the benefits of alternative food systems. It also offers a Veggie Valet service, meaning you can leave your vegetables free of charge while you continue shopping or explore the waterfront.

In a 100-year-old building in the artsy SoMa neighborhood, the Good Hotel is one of the best-value options in the city. The vibe is minimal and relaxed, with furniture made out of recycled materials and water-saving sinks and toilets. Expect fun touches, including a chalkboard wall to save paper. As a bonus, you also get access to the heated rooftop pool at its sister hotel, the Americania, across the street.

This no-frills, worker-owned cooperative has been satisfying carb lovers in the Inner Sunset neighborhood since 2000. It has a huge roster of signature recipes (many drawing inspiration from the multicultural locals who live in the city), so the menu rotates every day. Expect flavored sourdoughs, muffins, pastries, cookies and focaccia, and there are always several vegan options on offer. Order your pizza online to skip the queue.

The clue’s in the name at this waterfront warehouse hotel in Fisherman’s Wharf, which contrasts kitsch nautical design – telescopes and vintage trunks – with exposed brickwork and polished floorboards. Argonaut is working hard to reduce its environmental footprint by recycling kitchen grease into biofuel and compost, fitting toilets and showers with low-flow water valves to conserve water, and utilizing motion-sensor control panels in guest rooms and public spaces.