One of my favorite travel blogs, intelligent travel, is published by National Geographic Traveler magazine. Intelligent Travel has amazing photography and the editors feature engaging writers. The magazine is celebrating cities in their March issue and they’ve asked readers to share what they like about their town. No surprise, I submitted San Francisco because I heart my city!
Here’s what I shared with Intelligent Travel readers and bloggers:
San Francisco is My City
The first place I take a visitor from out of town is to Fisherman’s Wharf. While this may not be MY favorite place to visit, tourists enjoy this area and always ask to go to Fisherman’s Wharf.
When I crave dim sum, I head straight to Chinatown. Take Wok Wiz Chinatown Tours for an Insider’s Look at Chinatown.
To escape people I head to Angel Island.
If I want to shop, I go to Union Square.
If you come to San Francisco, get your picture taken in front of the Golden Gate Bridge or the lesser known Bay Bridge.
If you have to order one thing off the menu from a restaurant on Fisherman’s Wharf, it has to be clam chowder.
The Ferry Building by Embarcadero is my one-stop shop for great food. If you like cheese, try something from the Cowgirl Creamery or stop at the Slanted Door.
If my city were a celebrity it’d be Oscar-winner Sean Penn – San Francisco can take on many personalities and welcomes both gay and straight people.
When I’m feeling cash-strapped, I go to one of the many local, organic Farmers Markets.
For a splurge, I go to Nancy Oakes’ Boulevard restaurant. My personal favorite is the lamb.
Photo ops in San Francisco include cable cars, sailboats, tall ships and sea lions. The best vantage points are from the waterfront and Pier 39.
The most random thing about San Francisco? The Gay Pride Parade is very popular, as is Bay to Breakers. The run/walk race starts downtown with tortillas flung into the air to start the race.
San Francisco has the most single, professional women wishing there were not so many gay men.
In San Francisco, an active day outdoors involves running or walking up hills and swimming in the San Francisco Bay.
San Francisco’s best museum is the de Young. If you have kids, you’ll want to visit the Exploratorium.
My favorite jogging/walking route is the Marina Green.
You can tell a lot about San Francisco from attending local street festivals.
You can tell if someone is from San Francisco if they were sweatshirts in the summer. It can be COLD in the summer in San Francisco.
In the spring you should visit Alcatraz or Tulipmania.
In the summer you should pack a sweatshirt and jeans for your visit to San Francisco – especially if you are going to the beach or the San Francisco bay.
In the fall you should ride the Powell Street Cable Car.
A hidden gem in San Francisco is Stow Lake.
In the winter you should send the night in San Francisco and go ice skating.
For a great breakfast try Sears Fine Food.
The best way to see San Francisco is by Zeppelin with Airship Ventures.
If my city were a pet, it would be a Labrador Retriever; lots of energy, loves the water and has an easy going personality.
The best book about San Francisco is San Francisco Earthquake 1906. Visitors will enjoy Frommer’s San Francisco Day by Day.
When I think about San Francisco, the song that comes to mind is “When the Lights Go Down in the City” by Journey.
Just outside of San Francisco you can visit Muir Redwoods – you’ll need a car to get there.
If I didn’t live in San Francisco, I’d live in Lafayette, California. The suburbs are only a BART ride away.
Where are your favorite places to visit in San Francisco, California?
Related Posts:
Airship Ventures Zepplein Tour over San Francisco, California
Say yes to San Francisco airport layover
How very cool – it’s been such a long time since I’ve been in San Francisco, but with this, I can go and act like a local! 🙂
San Francisco is on my short list of Dream Cities I hope to visit.Enjoyed the virtual visit in the meantime. An excellent mini-guide.Glad you also enjoyed my Shawn’s Seville article.