"My Heart Belongs in San Francisco" San Francisco by brumsch

San Franciscans are blessed by various breathtaking views of this romantic city every time they turn a corner or crest a hilltop. We came to experience in person the deep blue bay, the iconic bridges stretching north and east, and the idyllic pastel Victorians.

The weather was unseasonably warm, with the thick fog lifting early each morning, leaving us bathed in sunshine. Walking around, it felt more like an eclectic, historical version of Southern California than the chilly, hilly town we'd heard so much about. From Nob Hill to North Beach and from Hayes Valley to the Haight, there was something new to appreciate at every turn.

I won't pretend one of our main objectives for our time in San Francisco wasn't to eat as much amazing food as possible. Our foodie sensibilities demanded high quality, but we also had to balance that with our slight less upscale budget.

Luckily, while San Francisco certainly abounds with lux, celebrity chef-run restaurants, it also has tons of cheap, yet delicious, offerings. We sampled both ends of the spectrum as well as our fair share of everything in between.

• Pros:amazing food, amazing views, something for everyone.
• Cons:not the most budget-friendly destination, but doable with a little advance planning.
• In a nutshell:A world-class city that will whet your appetite!