The ferry ride to Sausalito is a nice relaxing economical way of getting a water view of the city and Golden Gate Bridge.
Or since you are from the bike country, rent a bike at Fisherman's wolf and bike cross Golden Gate Bridge into Marin and get to the Marin Headlands immediately north of Golden Gate Bridge. That gives you a very nice view of the city.
Don't recommedn going south to Silicon Valley, nothing scenic there (OK, except for Stanford Univ.).