Aside from the three years I was in law school, I’ve lived my entire life in the Bay Area, including the last 30 years in San Francisco. Here are some recommendations for readers visiting the City by the Bay:
— SF neighborhoods are so diverse (even the climates are different) so picking a few to explore will give you a flavor of the city. In particular, I recommend wandering around The Mission (take a tour of the street murals and enjoy amazing Latin cuisine); Hayes Valley (hipster); the Marina (try these Chestnut Street restaurants: Dragon Well for Chinese, Blue Barn for salads, or Souvla for Greek); Chinatown; Japantown; and Pacific Heights.
— Walk across the Golden Gate Bridge or hike in the Presidio
— If you like science, visit the Exploratorium or the California Academy of Sciences
— Visit these world class fine arts museums: MoMA, the deYoung or the Legion of Honor
— Roam around Golden Gate Park, including the Japanese Tea Garden and Stow Lake
— Visit the food trucks at Off the Grid at Fort Mason on Friday night
— Try delicious restaurants, including Helmand Palace for Afghan food
— If you like baseball, Oracle Park (formerly AT&T Park) is one of the country’s most picturesque ballparks
— Note: it can be cold in SF even in the summer (someone, possibly Mark Twain, famously said, “The coldest winter I ever spent was the summer I spent in San Francisco”). Even in July, it can be chilly and foggy at a Giants game, walking across the Golden Gate Bridge or on a boat to Alcatraz so bring layers!