San Francisco Travel Guide: Reviews, photos, & videos
On a peninsula reaching northward like a raised arm, with the ocean on one side and a bay on the other, lays San Francisco, with its steep hills and narrow streets lined with tall Victorian buildings. Laid-back and liberal, the city is the birthplace of gay rights- and peace movements. If you go, be sure to wear some flowers in your hair. Take the cable car from Union Square to the top of Nob Hill, for the quintessential San Francisco view of steep hills and plunging streets, or down to Fisherman's Wharf, for some seafood in one of the many restaurants along the quay. Drive the zigzag Lombard Street and continue through Russian Hill over to Telegraph Hill. Climb the stairs to the top of Coit Tower, at the top of Telegraph Hill, for an incredible view of the city. Take a trip out to Alcatraz Island, for a tour of the famous prison where Al Capone was incarcerated. Check out the colorful murals in the Mission District. Walk the busy streets of Chinatown, dating back to the 1860s. Hop from bar to bar in the gay-friendly Castro, or the young and happening Marina. Head to Alamo Square for the "Painted Ladies," a row of restored Victorian homes. Take a drive around Pacific Heights for a look at the area’s beautiful turn-of-the-century mansions.
This review is probably biased because San Francisco is my favorite city in the United States. Why? It’s clean. It’s Beautiful. It’s slanty (the streets). It has everything and you feel smart just being there.
I went there with my brother and sister last summer and it was incredible. Since then, I’ve been back twice. I want to live there. We drove down the most windy (twisty) street in the country (world?). It was like being on a rollercoaster, except we were in a van and going like 30 mph…even so, it was awesome.
Also, we checked out the house where Full House was filmed. We drove over the bridge too. We took a tour of Alcatraz and saw where Al Capone died. If you love shopping, as I do, it’s the place to be (San Francisco, not Alcatraz). All the latest styles are there. We also learned about scientology—they have a center there and my sister needed to use the restroom. Then, we went down to the water and watched some seals eat popcorn (don’t feed them!). The nightlife is pretty awesome as well. There is a great bar scene and a lot of low-key coffee shops and lounges as well.
It was so much fun. If I can find a job down there, I will move in an instant. It’s great for a weekend as well. Check it out. Seriously.
There is no other way to say it: San Francisco is gay Mecca. Every GLBT person needs to make the pilgrimage to the Castro and Harvey Milk Plaza. However, my favorite memory of the city isn’t really gay-centric. I was visiting a friend of mine who was singing at the opera and he suggested we walk across the Golden Gate Bridge. I had no idea you could walk across the bridge! The view of the city and Alcatraz from the Golden Gate Bridge cannot be topped. It is a pretty easy walk, though you might have to dodge a few people on bicycles. Two things that making walking across the bridge better than driving: You can stop and enjoy the scenery and No tolls!
I spent a year of youthful irresponsibility in San Francisco around 1991, a gap between many years of working hard in NYC, and…many more years of working hard in NYC. Longer than a vacation, but too short to be a lasting relocation, I have a lot of mixed memories of the place; the then-tanking economy and adolescent-style romantic disappointments tend to loom largest. However, one location remains a must go-to on those occasions when I’ve returned to visit friends – the unbelievable Tu Lan Vietnamese
Restaurant, located at 6th and Market Streets. Admittedly, this is a rather terrifying location to those uninitiated in the enormous breadth of human activity (i.e. drugs and the attendant crime). However, when is the next time you are going to be in Saigon, friend? Soldier on straight to your destination with a solid group of friends and you’ll be fine. This is your chance to sample some of the best Vietnamese food you’ll ever have. I love that spicy salad with cabbage and tofu and anything cooked in those woks that have the patina of decades on them. I remember sitting at the counter and watching the cooks work their magic, wonderfully oblivious to any sort of idea of keeping the places clean. Miraculously, in a city that has changed so much, it’s still there seventeen years later…thank goodness for places like Tu Lan.
As a working girl battling an hour-plus commute to work every day, driving is hardly something I enjoy. So, when I had the opportunity to kick back in San Francisco – widely known as one of the best walking cities in the world – I was anxious to leave my car behind and get out my walking shoes for a weekend of fun.
At 50 square miles of mostly hilly landscape, San Fran is actually easier and cheaper to get acquainted with on foot than by car. Now you don’t have to actually walk the entire city as there is plenty by way of public transport, but walking truly is the best way to appreciate San Francisco’s many varied, historical and cosmopolitan neighborhoods. I am quite the adventurous walker, so here’s what I recommend conquering in one day.
Lodging options are a plenty in San Fran, but be sure to stay in or near Union Square. While certainly not the least expensive area to lay your head, it’s ideally suited for those sans automobile. Union Square encompasses luxury hotels, high-end boutiques, upscale restaurants and soaring, architecturally appealing buildings. There’s always something to see and do in Union Square. If you love the bustle, crowded feeling of a European city, then you’ll likely be enamored with it. Plus, for those with a little flair and penchant for the unordinary, you can skip the hotel chains and find some pretty fab boutique hotels. My choice -- the Hotel Adagio. It’s stylish, chic and boasts an ultra cool tapas bar that stirs up one heck of a Mojito. After a light breakfast at the hotel or any number of small coffee shops, take an hour or two and explore all Union Square has to offer.
After a morning of shopping, drop off your bags and head to Chinatown. The walk between Union Square and Chinatown is long, but well worth it. You will surely work up an appetite by then, so head over to the House of Nanking on Kearney for a late lunch or early dinner. Nanking is housed in a rather small, unimpressive piece of real estate, but don’t be fooled by the building and shabby décor. The food is amazing! Prices are fair. They do not accept reservations, so expect at least a 30-minute wait. The lines here often wrap around the corner, so get in line before you’re completely ravenous. Volume business is their game, so expect to dine with some folks you don’t know.
If you want to walk off your Crispy Shrimp and Potstickers, take a detour into some of San Fran’s most famous neighborhoods. First stop - Russian Hill’s Lombard Street -- the most crooked street in the world. You've probably seen photos or caught glimpses of the famed Lombard on TV, but experiencing it first hand is unforgettable. At the very top of Lombard, you’ll see spectacular views of North Beach, Coit Tower and the San Francisco Bay. As you make your down the tight turns of this cobblestone street, you'll be delighted by the beautiful flowers and stately homes. Walking this curvy, ultra steep road is quite a challenge, but there are steps to help you cope.
For another scenic view, visit Coit Tower in Telegraph Hill. You can see breathtaking views of the Golden Gate Bridge, Fisherman's Wharf and Lombard Street. Listen for the calls of the wild parrots that reside on Telegraph Hill. At night, there is virtually no line, and you can actually hear the foghorns from Alcatraz.
Ready for dessert? March over to Ghirardelli Square and stop by the famed Ghirardelli Ice Cream and Chocolate Shop. Grab a little history and read about Ghirardelli’s original chocolate making machine. Chocolate lovers can indulge in a decadent hot fudge sundae. Go for it! Your long walk earned it!
Finally, as you arrive at The Embarcadero, don’t miss Fisherman's Wharf, San Francisco’s coastal area attraction. Fisherman's Wharf is home to a number of chain hotels, seafood restaurants, boat tours and souvenir shops. For free entertainment and a real crowd pleaser, head over to Pier 39 and visit the sea lions. You’ll hear these delightful creatures before you see them. For the vocally inclined, sing a song to them. They might even sing along with you.
By now the day is done, and you're probably exhausted! Hop on the F-line streetcar and head back to Union Square. Save your legs and rest up for tomorrow's adventure
San Francisco's cool all year long, in both senses of the word. Fisherman's Wharf, the Golden Gate Bridge, the Presidio, the SF Ballet... these iconic images stir the imagination. But there are a few spots that don't make the calendars.
Some of the more local hangouts: City Lights Bookstore in North Beach, co-founded in 1953 by poet Lawrence Ferlinghetti. Once you're done browsing, walk over to equally historic Tosca Cafe for a nightcap. Tapas restaurant Thirsty Bear, a few blocks away from the Moscone Convention Center and the Metreon, is also worth a visit.
Don't even think about driving. Parking can be a nightmare even before you see the rates. But between BART and MUNI, not to mention your feet, there's really no need to bring a car into the city.
Every time I cross the Golden Gate Bridge into San Francisco, I always get the feeling that I am entering the some fairy-tale city on some fairy-tale bridge. The bridge is an example of the many individual styles that make up the unique San Francisco style. Other examples include the Palace of Fine Arts and the Palace of the Legion of Honor, which resemble something out of ancient Rome. Somehow, all of these modern and classic styles combine to create a very beautiful city.
And what would San Francisco be without the cable cars? These are a leftover of an old mass transit system that will never, ever go away. Of course, that system of transit is rather limited, but the city also has one of the most advanced systems of transportation with the BART (Bay Area Rapid Transit) and MUNI bus system.
Everything that you hear about the San Francisco fog is true. It seeps over the hillside like broth in coffee in the morning, and by the afternoon it hovers near the tops of the tall buildings. The fog creates a very magical effect that makes you forget the usual big city hustle and bustle and concentrate on beauty.
San Francisco is just breath-takingly beautiful! It is, without a doubt, one of the hilliest cities I have ever been to. San Francisco Bay + hills = beautiful views. Everywhere is a view! Its awesome! Of course, San Francisco's many restaurants offers some of the world's tastiest, cuisine. With world class wine country (Napa/Sonoma) close by - San Francisco has no problem attracting world class chefs. One of my friends won a cooking contest where he was selected to work with the Beringer vineyards and create wine and spice pairings to help sell wine at banquets for hoteliers. Genious! Great wine, great food, parties....we're talking this is mirth-making in the works!!! So, as you can imagine, I always look forward to the views and the food when I go to SF!
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