Sign in with Facebook"I left by BART in San Francisco" San Francisco by goodfish
San Francisco Travel Guide: 9,084 reviews and 19,094 photos
"It seemed like a matter of minutes when we began rolling in the foothills before Oakland and suddenly reached a height and saw stretched out ahead of us the fabulous white city of San Francisco on her eleven mystic hills with the blue Pacific and its advancing wall of potato-patch fog beyond, and smoke and goldenness of the late afternoon of time."
- Jack Kerouac, On the Road
Apologies to Mr. Bennett for the title here but couldn't resist the pun.
This wasn't our first foray to San Francisco and certainly won't be the last. The Husband had a business conference that allowed me to tag along on the cheap and run about on my own for 4 days, and some extra R&R time for the both of us. The City By The Bay teeters near the top on my list of America's most beautiful urban centers and I made it a mission this time to explore some places a little off the usual tourist grid. No, I won't be writing about Fisherman's Wharf. I don't have pictures of Union Square. I can't tell you much about shopping meccas or how to get to Alcatraz. What I can tell you is that there are plenty of places to ditch the crowds and just as many things to do which don't require amassing frightening amounts on the plastic: necessary in my case, having recently joined the ranks of our lousy economy's unemployed.
Mission, Castro, the Haight, Marina, SOMA, North Beach, Presidio... If you don't find a quiet, Victorian-lined street, sunny park or glorious hilltop overlooking the bay that captures the whole of your heart, I guarantee you'll leave at least piece of it.
NOTE: These tips were written to be viewed in order so please click the blue "Members choice" sorting option at the top of the "Things to do" page!!!!!
- Pros:Diversity, architecture, food, outdoor activities, eco-friendly
- Cons:Lousy place for bad knees
Reviews (74)
An Urban/Coastal Trek
Sports & Outdoors
(1)
(Repeating from my Things to Do pages) This was the highlight of our week. It's also somewhere around 16 miles on foot... more travel advice
Watch Chinese Funeral Processions
Things to Do
(46)
OK, this sounds a little strange but we found this Irish pub in North Beach with a place to sit outside for a beer. It's... more travel advice
Whatever
Tourist Traps
(1)
This is one of those tourist magnets that locals avoid like the plague. What promises to be a... more travel advice
Under the sun
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(2)
I'm throwing this in for one reason: the patio. The Cannery as a whole is a complete waste of space but this place has... more travel advice
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Comments (18)
What a great page! I love that your tips are slightly whacy and a bit different. You have made me want to visit here. Cheers, Irene
Thank you, Irene! I've been meaning to do some work on the photos but haven't gotten around to it yet: too many reviews to write lately! :O)
Found this interesting Kate.Will be spending 2 days there next February on our way to N.Z.
Great writing, Kate. Had a good laugh to myself. Love those pics on the Filbert stairs. Didn't find the buggers meself....
Came for the restaurant review, stayed for the rest! Interesting, thoughtful and humorous!! Very well done Kate!
Wonderful tips regarding all the free things to do-- The Victorian houses are wonderful.
Your fine photos and extremely well-written tips brought back pleasant memories of my years in the Bay Area. My then-girlfriend's aunt owned one of those Victorian houses and she let us house-sit one summer. (This was roughly a kajillion years ago.)
Excellent page on my favorite city in the US.
Like the 3 Guys and a Gal story about your afternoon in Castro. We were in Castro on Halloween Night. Wait until you see the pictures I got there that evening. I'll start posting now!!
Yes I found that to be a friendly little bar too and their crab sandwiches are excellent.
lol, thanks & long live the poop tips!