In the 60’s San Francisco was known for psychedelics and the counter culture, in the 80’s-90’s it was the dot com boom and in the 00’s it’s famous for Silicon Valley, tech companies and startups galore, a thriving art scene and… human poop? Yes, the city has a feces epidemic largely related to homelessness issues and lack of housing. Someone actually created a poop map where residents can upload a problem, or pin the area to a map in order to report it to 311.
But if you’re willing to overlook this setback San Francisco can be an interesting place to explore! This is another USA city that’s known for being expensive so (as usual) I visited mostly free places and off the beaten path spots! Here are some of my favorites!
China Town
This is a must-see when visiting SF! Founded in 1851 Chinatown has a rich seeded history in the city and it is one of the most interesting neighborhoods to see! From the Dragon’s gate to the Golden Gate Fortune cookie factory this neighborhood is still vibrant with culture and arts! See if you can spot some unique graffiti, get lost wandering down the alleyways (recommended) and grab a dim sum lunch! You can easily spend half a day here!
The Presidio of San Francisco and the Golden Gate Bridge
One of the largest parks in San Francisco The Presidio is a 1500 acre park made on the foundations of an old military post. Here there are plenty of beaches, trails, and buildings to explore. Some of my favorites to see were the Palace of Fine Arts, Lovers Lane trail, Lyon street steps, the wave organ and Marshalls beach (best beach views of the Golden Gate Bridge) Remember to pack food as there are restaurants and cafes but they are far and few in between.
Golden Gate Park
The second-largest park in SF also has many things to offer and it’s easy to get lost for half a day here! Points of interest would be the de young museum, Stow lake bridge, Japenese tea garden, conservatory of flowers, portals of the past, dutch windmill and the murphy windmill.
Throughout The City
So many of San Francisco’s attractions are spread out across the city so I would recommend buying a bus pass to see them all! Here are some other great ones!
- Pier 39
- Lombard street
- The Painted ladies
- 16th avenue tiled steps
- Union Square
- Alcatraz Island
- Twin Peaks
- The Beat Museum
- Transamerica Pyramid
- Coit tower
There are many more places to explore in San Francisco it’s hard to cram them all into one article, you’ll have to discover some for yourself!
