The Best Hobbies To Take Up This Year In San Francisco

We know San Francisco is a city filled with overachievers. If you’re wondering what you can do to fill your free time that will both teach you a new skill and help you have a great time, we’ve got just the hobbies for you.

Cooking

If you’ve been telling yourself you will teach yourself to cook for ages, take the plunge and sign up for a cooking class at the San Francisco Cooking School. The school offers a variety of classes taught by some of the biggest names in the culinary world. There are over 70 classes to choose from, offered three times a year – making this the largest program of recreational classes on the West Coast. The classes range from total novice options to those for more experienced cooks, with highlights including cooking fundamentals, cooking with the Bay Area’s favorite chefs, and workshops with award-winning pastry chef Nicole Plue.

Yoga

True to the progressive nature of San Francisco, yoga has become an incredibly popular way to get fit around here. The practice combines strength training and flexibility with breath work that will help keep both your mind and body feeling their best. Check out some of our favorite yoga studios in San Francisco, as well as the best options around for outdoor yoga. If you’re flowing on a budget, be sure to check out Yoga to the People, a donation-based studio with locations in both San Francisco and Berkeley.

Photography

If your resolution is to capture the memories you make this year, try taking up photography. The Harvey Milk Photo Center offers a variety of exhibits, lectures, and events that are open to the public, and professionally-led classes and workshops are available, too, offering locals the chance to perfect their photography skills. The classes include both fine arts and commercial photography, and there are even scholarships available for interested parties.

Running

An affordable way to blow off steam and get your heart rate up is to take up running. This cardio exercise will allow you to get a work out no matter where you go, but we have mapped out the best running routes in San Francisco for you. If an end goal will motivate you best, try training for a half marathon or signing up for one of the awesome running events SF has to offer. A great way to make this activity social is to find a running buddy or sign up for a local running group.