Juliet Hemmati

By now, most of us have experienced the "touristy" parts of San Fransisco, from the Embarcadero and Fisherman's Wharf to Union Square. With summer upon us, there's no better time than now to venture out a bit further into the city. For your next San Francisco day trip, grab some friends and head over to the Northwest side of the city, just hugging the Golden Gate Bridge. Don't know what to do there? Here are some ideas for fun activities in Golden Gate Park, the Presidio and the Marina. If you're wondering — yes, they can all be done in one day. Just remember to grab some breakfast before you head out.

While you might have heard the name Gourmet Ghetto spoken a dozen times since arriving on campus, you might have never actually taken the journey there. On the surface, it's simply the part of Shattuck Avenue sandwiched between Hearst Avenue and Rose Street. But in reality, it's so much more: what some claim to be the birthplace of California cuisine.

While we might have once found it acceptable to order just a plain old cup of joe, living in Berkeley has taught us differently. We still have the old second-wave coffee shops like Peet's and Starbucks, but we have the added benefit of the Bay Area's third-wave artisanal coffee, like Philz Coffee, and soon, Blue Bottle Coffee. With all the different choices, it can become unnecessarily overwhelming to order. The person in front of you got a non-fat triple-shot caramel macchiato, but what's the right taste for you? Luckily, we at Clog are here to help you decipher the menu.

We've all been there — standing in line at Chipotle. We have succumbed to paying a couple more dollars for a small scoop of some delicious guacamole. Luckily, we don't have to anymore. Not only is guac significantly cheaper to make on your own, it's also surprisingly easy and fun to whip up. You can step up your game even further by adding surprises like corn and black bean, like we do in this recipe that serves three. Just be sure to share with your friends.

During the school year we can often get caught up in a cycle of studying for midterms and bingeing on junk food. Summer provides us the extra time we need to abandon instant ramen in favor of cooking bright and healthy meals. We at the Clog have come up with fun ways to incorporate the fruits and vegetables currently in season into your diet.

Finals stress is long behind us, but we at the Clog would like to unwind before summer classes and internships make work pick back up again. What better way to cool off than with a mojito that features strawberries, which scream summer, and basil, which is known for its relaxation properties? We promise it’s almost as good as taking a trip to the spa. This recipe makes only one mojito, but feel free to multiply it to share with your inevitably jealous housemates.