By Jill Harness
Inexpensive Activities in San Francisco
on a budget may seem like a tall order, but finding affordable fun is entirely possible. In fact, a lot of residents are forced to entertain themselves with cheap thrills due to the high cost of living in the city. When you're in San Francsico, don't worry about wasting all of your money, just make sure you do the right activities.
Check Out the Sea Lions
Sea lions sunning by www.flickr.com/photos/araswami/1333456281/
The sea lions on Pier 39 provide free entertainment on a par with many television shows and kids will love that the animals are twice as stinky as their favorite cartoon characters. Just take head down to the pier and watch the giant mammals scream, fight and swim around.
Pier 39:
Intersection of beach Street and The Embarcadero
San Francisco, CA 94133
www.pier39.com
Take a Walk
The Bath House Ruins By Land's End Trial by http://www.flickr.com/photos/refractionless/2763449034/
San Francisco's parks and attractions provide a scenic walk through the wild. A few favorites are the Land's End Trial by the Sutro Baths and Golden Gate Park. Both will provide you with lush, natural scenery paired with a bit of history.
Land's End Trail:
East end of Point Lobos Ave.
San Francisco, CA 94121
www.sutrobaths.com
Golden Gate Park:
(Between Fulton Street, Lincoln Way, Stanyan Street and The Great Highway)
San Francisco, CA 94122
(415) 561-4700
www.nps.gov/goga/
Learn About The Beats
San Francisco is known for its history in the Beat culture, but that historical knowledge isn't something most people are well-versed in. If you're interested in these poets, artists and writers, you may enjoy The Beat Museum on Broadway. Once you've gone through the museum, don't forget to stop by City Lights bookstore, which was one of the favorite hangouts of the beats.
The Beat Museum:
540 Broadway
San Francisco, CA 94133-4507
(415) 399-9626
City Lights:
261 Columbus Ave
San Francisco, CA 94133-4586
(415) 362-8193
Visit a Museum
An exhibit in MOMA by www.flickr.com/photos/ricmartins/3684758391/
San Francisco is loaded with museums for people of all interests. The MOMA is one of the modern art museums in the world, the California Academy of Sciences offers nature and science lessons for all ages, and the Musee Mechanique provides hours of entertainment on arcade machines for mere change. Admission to all of these places is either low cost or altogether free, so don't miss out on these educational and stimulating stops.
MOMA:
151 Third St.
San Francisco, CA 94103
(415) 357-4035
www.sfmoma.org
California Academy of Sciences:
55 Music Concourse Drive
Golden Gate Park
San Francisco, CA 94118
www.calacademy.org
Musee Mechanique:
Pier 45 at the end of Taylor Street
Fisherman's Wharf
San Francisco, CA 94133
(415) 346-2000
www.museemechanique.org
Head to the Haight
This historical area is loaded with chic boutique shops, music stores, tourist shops and tattoo parlors. Enjoy a cheap classic movie on the big screen at the Red Vic or grab a drink at any of the small local bars in the area. More than anything else, just enjoy the sights and sounds of this hippie mecca.
Red Vic Movie House:
1727 Haight St
San Francisco, CA 94117
(415) 668-3994
www.redvicmoviehouse.com
Ride a Cable Car
A cable car by http://www.flickr.com/photos/petergorges/
One of the most classic San Francisco attractions are the cable cars traveling up and down the many hilled streets. The Powell/Hyde line is one of the best choices, as it brings riders from Union Square, through China Town and North Beach to Fisherman's Wharf.
Powell Street Station:
7 Powell St
San Francisco, CA 94102
www.sfmuni.com
About the Author:
Jill Harness has written on a variety of subjects for more than 10 years. Her work has appeared in various print and online publications, including "San Diego City Beat," "Mental Floss," Rue The Day! and Neatorama. Harness has a Bachelor of Arts in journalism from San Francisco State University.
Photo Credits:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/brothergrimm/
