San Francisco

San Francisco

Getting There:

There are a few major international airports serve the San Francisco Bay Area namely San Francisco International Airport (SFO), Oakland International Airport (OAK) and San Jose International Airport (SJC). However I will recommend you not to fly into SJC unless you can safe over a $100 in airfare or it is not worth the trouble.

SFO

SFO is about 20 miles to the south of the city center. As one of the busiest airport on the west coast of the United States, SFO is always expanding and there is construction all year round. Due to the continuous works, the airport can be difficult to navigate and often long walk from check-in counter to gates or from gate to gate. The best way to get into the city is via Supershuttle. A taxi ride will cost you over $30. You can visit www.flysfo.cm for official SFO website.

OAK

Is located in Oakland, CA. It is about 20+ miles from San Francisco city center. You normally get a better airfare flying into this airport. In my opinion, this is a better choice when visiting San Francisco. You can take the AirBART to the closest BART (Bay Area Rapid Transit, www.bart.org ) station. AirBART ticket is available at exit in the arrival or at the bus stop outside of arrival hall. The AirBART ticket is $2.00 and it will cost you another $2- $3 to the city center on BART. Taxi will cost you about $40-$50 a trip. Visit the official OAK website at www.flyoakland.com

Getting Around

Once you arrived in the city, try you get a transit pass. It is the best way to see the city. It is available at the Montgomery Bart station. Ask the attendant what suits you best as there is 1 day, 3 day, one week pass etc. Most of them allow you on all Muni bus and train as well as cable car. Taxi is easily available but can be expensive. The meter starts at $2.50. Rental car can be expensive in the city. Be prepared to pay over $40 a day for rental car and the parking is unreal! In the city center, hotel charge over $30 for overnight parking and you are not guarantee a spot. However, if you want to visit the wine country, it will be best to rent a car for the day. While you are in San Francisco, be sure to take a ride on the historic F line Muni that runs on Market Street between the Fishermans Wharf and Castro.

The San Francisco Experience

So, what to do when you are in San Francisco? Too many! San Francisco has many very unique neighborhoods. Get a map from the hotel concierge, the map often list out various interesting neighborhoods. The dining guide to the city will be listed by neighborhood.

Financial District

San Francisco is the most important financial city on the west coast of the US with Wells Fargo and Bank of America and Charles Schwabs headquarters in San Francisco. Besides that, Levis and Gap also have their HQ in San Francisco as well. Check out Aqua ($$$$) a seafood restaurant and Tiramisu ($$$) in the area. An evening cocktail in the famed Palace Hotels bar or Sunday Brunch in the beautiful atrium is an experience in itself!

Union Square

The premier shopping district of San Francisco houses Macys and Saks Fifth avenue with separated Mens Store. Also, you will find Neiman Marcus, Nordstrom, Hermes. Faragamo, Gucci, Jill Sander and the list goes on. Best place to find movie and music is at Virgin Megastore on Stockton and Market. Tons of great restaurant in the area too! Postrio ($$$$ in the Prescott Hotel on Post and Mason) is co-owned by celebrity chef Wolfgang Puck. Farallon ($$$$ Kensington Hotel at Post and Powell) even if you do not dine here, you have to take a peep in it. Jellyfish chandelier and other under the sea design. E & O Trading company ($$$ at Grant & Bush) serves Asian Fusion cuisine.

North Beach (Little Italy) and China Town

Like many other cities, Italian and Chinese communities are next to each other in San Francisco and it creates a haven for good authentic Chinese and Italian food. There are too many to list, so if you are looking for Chinese food, they are along Grant Street, particularly at Washington Street ( A must try is Golden Gate Bakery at Grant and Jackson). Great Italian are all along Columbus. (A must try is Coffee at Trieste and home cook Italian at Café Macaroni) Check out Molinaris (Columbus & Vallejo) is a 100 year old Italian deli serve the best sandwich, cheese, and other Italian groceries!

Polk Street

There are a few good restaurants here on Polk Street area. Swan Oyster Depot (Polk & Sacramento) serves up the freshest seafood. A tiny oyster bar that is jam pack during lunch time, do not deceive by its appearance, the service and food are superb here. Cash only! Gordon Bleu (California and Polk next to Lumiere Cinema) has the best grill chicken in town. A Chinese-Vietnamese restaurant has a very limited menu. But 98% of its customer are locals and are here for its grill 5 spice chicken.

Fillmore and Union Street

They are very similar neighborhood. Check out the Fillmore Jazz Festival in June Each year. Union Street fair in early June is pack with food, wine and art. Check out Betelnet (Union Street and Buchanan) serves up some fusion Chinese cuisine. Come here for the funky décor!

Haight-Ashbury

If there's any area of San Francisco that evokes images of the long-gone '60s hippie culture, the Haight is it. Fragments of that flower-power, incense-burning, acid-dropping, tie-dye-wearing, peace-and-love-vibing era can be purchased at smoke shops and Eastern-influenced outlets bearing names like Dreams of Kathmandu, Pipedreams, Psychedelic Sun and Happy Trails. But save for a few hippie relics, the Haight today is a whole new scene. Exclusive boutiques, high-end vintage-clothing shops, second-hand stores, Internet cafés and hip restaurants have all settled in, making the Haight one of San Francisco's commercial centers. Haight Street Fair in the summer is a must!

Castro

Today, the Castro's queer identity is itself a tourist attraction, beckoning throngs of pilgrims and revelers from all over the world. Despite the increasing commercialism of the Castro district, there remain monuments to a long and dynamic history, like the Twin Peaks bar, The Mint bar, and the crown jewel of the neighborhood, the venerable Castro Theatre. Firewood and Fusio provide a very decent meal at a very reasonable price. Watch a movie in the historic Castro Theatre and come here for the Castro Street Fair in October. This is the place to be during the Pride weekend in June too! You will see why homosexuals also called queers!

There are many other sites you must visit when you are in San Francisco, here are some top attractions:

1. Golden Gate Park is beautiful anytime of the year. Check out the Japanese Tea Garden, De Young Museum. If you are in town in May, Bay to Breaker Run ends here.

2. Fishermans Wharf is where you will find lots of T-shirt and Souvenir and family on vacation from the Midwest! Take F line Muni from Market Street or Cable Car (Powell and Hyde Street Line)

3. Mission Delores, check out the Mission Delores Church. Many great and inexpensive restaurant in the area. Picaro ($$ Tapas), Ti Couz ($$ Crepes, crepes and more crepes) and Slanted Door ($$$, California Vietnamese) (Any Mission Street Bus, Get off at 16^th Street and Valencia)

4. Clement Street, the second Chinatown and the non-tourist Chinatown. Check out Lucky Dim Sum for cheap and good Dim Sum. (Take Bus # 38 on Geary)

5. Twin Peaks. Drive up Market street to Twin Peaks and you will have the best View of the city on this side of Golden Gate Bridge.

6. Marin Headland has the best view of the city on the other side of Golden Gate Bridge. (Need a Car)

7. Palace of the Fine Art and the Exploratorium (Take Bus #45 on Union Street)

8. Coit Tower

9. Alcatraz Tour

10. SFMOMA (San Francisco Museum of Modern Art)

11. Ghirardelli Square, Chocolate, chocolate and more chocolate

Party Scene:

San Francisco offers the best party scene (Focus on Gay) in the world. There are all kinds of bar to suit every individuals preference. From video bar to leather bar, you name it

1. Badland (Castro & 18^th Street) Best T dances on Sunday. Recently renovated. This place is pack with 20 something and 30 something white boys!

2. Midnight Sun, (18^th & Castro) is the best neighborhood/ video bar. Friendly crowd and bartenders. Best time to go is between 6-8pm when you will find many of the customers in their suits and ties.

3. The Café (Market & Castro) has a very diverse and young crowd.

4. Detour (Market & Castro) extremely cruisy often with live actions!

5. Metro (Market & 16^th) a friendly bar with Karaoke and Chinese Restaurant. I wonder where the owner gets the idea.

6. The Stud (9th Street at Harrison). A legendary pit stop for boys and girls headed for the finish line. If you cannot get lucky here, you must not be trying

7. 177 Townsend. Club Universe on Saturday and Pleasuredome on Sunday, 177 Townsend is the mother of all mega dance club. A converted warehouse that houses over 2000 half naked men each weekend. Rumor has it that it will all come to an end in June 2002.

8. 1015 Folsom has produced some of the world best DJ. It's where superstar guest DJs like Digweed, Sasha, Ben Watt and Richie Hawtin rock the party.

The list goes on and on for the gay party scene with over 60 bars and clubs of all kinds!

Other Star Restaurant:

1. Regent Thai ($$, Thai, 757 Monterey Blvd, (415)586-1075)

2. Hamanos ($$$, Japanese, 1332 Castro St (at 24^th Street), (415) 826-0825)

3. Jardinere ($$$$, California, 300 Grove St (at Franklin), (415) 861-5555)

Did I mention Slanted Door, Picaro, Ti Couz? They are legadary!

When to go:

Anytime is a good time to visit this city by the bay. No matter rain, fog or shine, San Francisco is beautiful. Mark Twain once said that the coldest winter is summer in San Francisco. Sitting in the bay area, the warm summer air from inland meet with the cold air from the northern Pacific Ocean and create the thick fog hovering the city. However, if you have to pick, June will be it! San Francisco, home to the biggest gay pride festival. A variety of event taking place during this weeklong celebration, so be sure to check it out! Besides that, you will find all kinds of street and neighborhood fair in the month of June and all summer long. You can get all the details of various street fairs and event from www.sfgate.com or www.citysearch.com both are excellent site for your preparation before arriving at San Francisco.