At just six square miles, Burlingame is quaint and charming with a walkable downtown district, great golf facilities, and quirky museums perfect for perusing.
DAY 1
8:30 a.m. – Wake up in one of the 688 newly-renovated rooms at the San Francisco Airport Marriott Waterfront hotel. Change into some workout clothes and take the elevator down to the ground floor. Strap on your headphones and go outside for a short jog along the shore of the San Francisco Bay—a paved trail is located immediately outside the hotel. Run for a bit and then come back to your room, shower and change into clothes you’d be comfortable walking around in.
10:00 a.m. – Park in front of Alana’s Café, walk in and grab a table (note: this place gets busy and there is often a wait, but it's always worth it). Start with the South Pacific scramble (eggs with bay shrimp, green onions and cream cheese) and then move on to a serving of French toast and Martha’s famous Swedish oatmeal pancakes. Wash it down with a glass of water and an espresso.
11:00 a.m. – Ready for an adrenaline rush? If so, drive to 1541 Adrian Road and walk in the doors of GoKart Racer. GoKart Racer offers an extreme experience with timed races and exciting courses. Call in advance to make a reservation. Adult Kart drivers must be 18 or older and have with them a government-issued ID. Kids (8-17 years old) are allowed, but only when accompanied by a guardian. Get ready for a thrill!
1:30 p.m. – Time for a late lunch. Drive to Little Lucca Specialty Sandwich Shop. This place has been around since 1980 and is arguably one of the most popular lunch spots in Burlingame. Try the egg salad sandwich, the meatball sandwich, or the prosciutto sandwich. If you're looking for something more fancy, Little Lucca’s has great specials—the spicy buffalo and hot bird sandwiches top the list.
2:00 p.m. Those in the mood for something sweet (calories don’t count while on vacation) are smart to drive down the road and park at 865 Burlway Road. This is the factory where the world famous It’s-It Ice Cream sandwiches are made. It’s-Its were created in the Bay Area back in 1928 and have since become a dessert staple for anyone west of the Rocky Mountains. Walk into the factory store and bite into history (this history is delicious).
3:00 p.m. – Just in case you haven’t gotten your sugar fix, drive two miles down the road to the Burlingame Museum of Pez Memorabilia. Remember Pez? At the memorabilia museum, you and your family can check out Pez dispensers from the past and the biggest one ever made—standing at 7 feet 10 inches. Admission is $3 for adults and $2 for kids 4-10 years old.
5:00 p.m. – Head back to the Marriott. Relax and take a nap or read next to your room’s picture window overlooking the San Francisco Bay.
6:30 p.m. – Drive to Barrelhouse, a trendy lounge bar located at 305 California in downtown Burlingame. This place has an extensive beer and wine list, but it is known for its cocktails. Try the hibiscus margarita, barrel aged Manhattan, or the classic old fashioned. Yum!
7:30 p.m. – On foot, make a right out of Barrelhouse, another right on Burlingame Avenue and stop just after you cross Lorton Avenue at the front of Mingalaba Restaurant. Try not to be dissuaded by the line stretched outside the door—this Burmese eatery serves mouthwatering grub. Once seated, start with an order of pot stickers and vegetarian spring rolls. From there, move on to the sweet and sour prawns, basil spicy pork, and shan noodle (the last one is pretty hot, so have a full glass of water close by).
DAY 2
8:00 a.m. – Wake up a little earlier this morning, put on your golf clothes, a hat and a generous amount of sunscreen and walk downstairs for a grab-n-go breakfast at the Marriott ($5/person).
8:30 a.m. – Time for a morning of golf. Drive four miles south to the Burlingame Golf Center, grab a large bucket of balls and spend the next 45 minutes hitting them out onto the driving range in front of you. Interested in getting a lesson instead? Call in advance to reserve a spot with one of several qualified instructors.
9:15 a.m. – Head across Burlingame until you hit Crystal Springs Golf Course, a gorgeous course inside a wildlife sanctuary and right on the Crystal Springs Reservoir. Settle in for 18 holes of golf and remember to eat snacks and drink water along the way.
1:30 p.m. – Sufficiently starving, drive into downtown Burlingame and ask for a table at Pizzeria Delfina, a San Francisco-based shop that has been expanding outside the city as of late. Order the Daisy pizza or the Clam Pie. You will not be disappointed.
3:00 p.m. – Since you are already downtown, it is time to shop! Enjoy walking down Burlingame Avenue and bopping into local stores like Les Deux Copines (women’s specialty items) and Adia Opera Candies (ask for a free sample—trust me).
If you happen to be walking around on the first Friday of the month, stay for “First Fridays” live music between 5:30 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. under the pergola at Park Road and Burlingame Avenue.
5:30 p.m. – Head back to the Marriott to shower and relax. When you are ready, drive to 1400 Broadway Avenue and step into Broadway Grill, a popular steakhouse in town (reservations are highly recommended). Start with a serving of cast iron skillet cornbread and Ahi tuna nachos. From there, move on to the four cheese rigatoni and king cut prime rib. Stay late into the evening listening to the night’s live music performance (check the online calendar in advance for specifics).
DAY 3
9:30 a.m. – Wake up slowly this morning, pack up your things and throw them into the car. Before driving off, walk a few steps outside the Marriott and into Joe’s Café By The Bay, located at 1669 Old Bayshore Hwy. Order the Joe’s scramble and some corned beef hash. Wash it down with a hot cup of coffee, then drive over to the Peninsula Museum of Art to spend a few hours checking out works from local artists.
This article comes to us courtesy of the San Francisco Bay Area Super Bowl 50 Host Committee. Each week the San Francisco Bay Area Super Bowl 50 Host Committee features a #Perfect50 Hours series detailing how to spend 50 hours in a different San Francisco Bay Area city. See more here.
