San Francisco Off the Beaten Path Tips by miaou

The beauty of visiting San Francisco is the other attractions nearby. One of the side trip should be across the Golden Gate Bridge to Sausalito in Marin county. It's very small but it lends a spectacular view of San Francisco. One suggestion is to eat at a restaurant by the wharf so you can admire SF from afar.

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Hop across to east bay and explore Berkeley and the university campus which is ranked as one of the top universities in United States. Berkeley is an amazing place for a small area. In the 60s the students protested for free speech and til this day the student body continues the tradition of voicing its opinions. South of campus leads straight to Telegraph Avenue where there are shops and street vendors. You'll see homeless and scruffy kids sitting along the streets but Berkeley is supposed to give you a cultural shock. My suggestion: stop for a coffee at Milano or Caffe Strada on Bancroft Street. This is where you'll find students studying and/or having intellectual conversations.

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OAKLAND, also east of San Francisco, is another place to visit if you have the extra time. Jack London Square is perhaps the most famous spot for this city. Plenty of restaurants, cinemas, yachts, etc. Try YOSHI. It's a Japanese restaurant and the adjacent room, a live band gives a fantastic jazz performance. Blew me away... it's very popular among the locals. (There is a separate fee for the jazz show.)

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Head one hour north to the wine country - Napa and Sonoma. Check my California page for an extensive review of the wine country.

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Local events speak for the community and San Francisco has plenty. Be sure to catch one or two local events while you’re here. (N.B. Some are up in my travelogues.) Here’s a listing. The links below will send you to the appropriate website to give you the exact dates and time.
FEB:
Chinese New Year Parade & Festival New Year date changes every year in lunar calendar.

APR San Francisco Film Festival ; Cherry Blossom Festival Japantown

MAY Cinco de Mayo, Bay-to-Breakers (see travelogue); Carnaval

SUMMER(June to Aug.) Stern Grove Festival MidSummer Music Festival

JUN Gay & Lesbian Pride Parade and Festival; Haight-Ashbury Street Fair More Info (415) 661-8025; North Beach Festival; Union Street Festival

AUG Nihonmachi Street Fair (Japantown)

SEP Shakespeare Festival (free); Opera in the Park (free); Folsom Street Fair; Blues Festival Ghiradelli Square Chocolate Festival; Autumn Moon Festival Chinatown

OCT Halloween weekend in Castro; Castro Street Fair; Italian Heritage Festival; Jazz Festival

NOV Day of the Dead Procession; San Francisco Book Festival

Picture below is from Bay-to-Breakers event.

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