By Candice Cain
San Francisco, California, is a popular vacation destination, especially among young adults, ages 25 to 34. There is a lot to do and see in San Francisco. If your vacation is planned properly, you can visit all of the hot spots and still have time to explore the lesser-known areas in the city.
Flavors of San Francisco
San Francisco has a wide variety of dining options. If you are looking for amazing Chinese food, head into Chinatown for a vast array of authentic Chinese restaurants. Venture down to Fisherman's Wharf for fantastic, fresh seafood choices, such as Nick's Lighthouse Restaurant. You're never far from an Italian restaurant, either, no matter where you are in the city. Do try Capp's Corner if you like to share---they have family-style dining. Of course, San Francisco is known for California cuisine, so stop in at the North beach Restaurant or the Daffodil to find out why it is so famous.
Per Diem
Aside from what you pay for a hotel, you can expect to spend $50 to $75 per day---and that is if you dine at budget restaurants. To save on food costs, when visiting this expensive dining mecca, stay at a hotel that offers a complementary breakfast. There are plenty of shops and boutiques that are reasonably priced. If you are looking to visit area attractions, such as the amusement parks, Alcatraz or some museums, you can expect to spend closer to the $75 mark, if not more.
Getting Around
There are over 40 hills within the San Francisco city limits. If you plan on mainly walking, do wear a comfortable pair of sneakers or walking shoes. Do be sure to walk Lombard Street, the curviest road in the world. The trolley (or cable car) system of San Francisco is world famous, and not expensive at all. It runs all over the city, and you can get on and off wherever you need to. There is a lot of congestion in the city, so hoofing it and taking public transportation is the best idea for a stress-free visit.
Sights and Sounds
There are many tourist attractions in San Francisco, including the Golden Gate Bridge, Alcatraz, Ghiradelli Chocolate Factory, Chinatown, Museum of Modern Art, the Herbst Theatre and the Fillmore theater. Golden Gate Park is stunning, with all sorts of walks and gardens. Japantown is filled with all sorts of shops, restaurants and Japanese American culture.
Earthquake Weather
Though no fault lines run directly through San Francisco, it has been greatly affected by area earthquakes. Minor earthquakes occur quite often. It is foggy in San Francisco, especially during the summer. Keep a raincoat or a sweater with you or in your car, because it does rain and gets chilly due to the proximity of the ocean and the bay.
Fun Fact
The dead cannot be buried in San Francisco. Burials were outlawed in 1901. The dead must be buried in the neighboring town of Colma, where there are 16 cemeteries.
Planning Ahead
San Francisco is a very touristy area, especially during the summer. Because of this, a lot of the choice restaurants and attractions are sold out. To avoid this, make reservations well in advance. Call ahead first to make sure that they take reservations. If you want to visit Alcatraz, make reservations well in advance, or you may miss out.
About the Author:
Candice "Candy" Cain began writing professionally in 1994. She is star of the developmental reality series, "Wedding Lane with Candy Cain." She has been published in several magazines and writes her own blog covering destination weddings. Cain has a Bachelor of Arts in dramatic literature from the George Washington University.
