Weekend Getaways

A Staycation Diary from San Francisco’s Most Surreal Museum

Written by a curiosity seeker new to San Francisco

Photo by Angelica Irreno

I came looking for a weekend escape. Instead, I found an immersive experience in San Francisco unlike anything I’d ever imagined.

This wasn’t a gallery. It wasn’t a theater. And it certainly wasn’t your average museum. It was a full sensory, mind-bending journey through time, space, imagination, and comedy all packed inside a small house in a quiet neighborhood.

If you’re searching for unique things to do in San Francisco, especially if you’re after a family-friendly adventure or a romantic weekend idea that veers deliciously off course, the Gregangelo Museum is a must-see. Somehow still a secret, this local landmark offers a surreal twist on the immersive art experiences trending around the globe except this one is deeply personal, wildly handcrafted, and impossibly San Franciscan.

San Francisco always has something tucked in its fog. You traverse the neighborhoods and suddenly you’re in what feels like another country. But this time, I ended up in another world.

That world was called the Gregangelo Museum, and I have no idea why no one told me about it sooner. It wasn’t on any of the hop on hop off maps. You won’t find it next to the usual tourist sightseeing brochures. And yet, it may just be one of the best family vacation spots I’ve ever discovered. Or at least, the strangest.

Tucked in a quiet neighborhood, this museum doesn’t sprawl like a grand estate. No, it compresses centuries of human wonder into a small space that somehow holds ancient art, outer space, sacred geometry, folklore, and absurd comedy all at once.

The art doesn’t just hit you. It morphs around you. Rooms talk. Figurines whisper. A hallway may or may not teleport you. One moment, you’re learning about ancient mosaics. The next, you’re singing and laughing with your tour guide while crawling into what feels like the inside of a dream.

At one point, I overheard someone say:

“I only found this place because my friend said, ‘You’re weird enough, this place might make sense to you.’” And honestly? That could’ve been the slogan.

Or maybe: Who was the weirdo who found us?

Even the press can’t quite define it:

“This is no ordinary tour. This is immersive, mind-bending performance art.

— San Francisco Chronicle —

“Gregangelo Herrera has created one of the most unique museum experiences in the country… like stepping through a kaleidoscope of the human imagination.” — Condé Nast Traveler —

“A must-see for anyone exploring San Francisco’s cultural oddities and secret spaces.”

— The Bold Italic —

After I left the museum, still buzzing from the ride, I wandered into Lakeside Village, a tucked-away commercial strip just blocks from the cosmic experience. It’s one of those hidden gems in San Francisco where every storefront feels personal. I grabbed a bite at the Dinosaur Vietnamese sandwich shop, then strolled past a colorful outdoor mural that wraps the Muni metro line like a moving canvas. The air smelled of fresh herbs and baked sweetness from Ambrosia Bakery, a beloved local favorite for desserts. Around the corner, I found no-frills family-run restaurants, cozy neighborhood cafes, and a few blink-and-you’ll-miss-it shops serving real-deal flavors. For those looking for walkable neighborhoods in San Francisco, authentic local eats, or a taste of small business charm, Lakeside is a sweet surprise worth discovering.

From there, I made my way to Mount Davidson, where fog hugged the hillside like a wool blanket. The Twin Peaks overlook, Stern Grove, and the San Francisco Zoo are all just a short drive or streetcar away. Or if the sea calls, try the Sutro Baths ruins, Ocean Beach, or wander toward Fort Funston, where dogs fly like kites and cliffs fall into sand. It’s all a hop-on and hop-off kind of adventure. But this time, I stayed longer. I looked harder.

I realized the perfect weekend getaways are not always about distance. Sometimes they’re about depth. That’s what made this one of the most unexpectedly good family vacation spots, and also a truly romantic couples getaway, even if it was just me and my sense of wonder on this trip.

So if you’re searching for weekend destinations near me, sightseeing near me, or planning a quirky staycation in San Francisco, don’t overlook the places hidden in plain sight.

I thought I was just planning a quick escape. But as I turned around to look at the façade of that little house, I couldn’t help but ask myself,

“How did an alternate universe fit into that place?”

— Wyler —