San Francisco

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California Dreaming in San Francisco

A travel journal to San Francisco by Constance Best of IgoUgo

Will Moo for ChangeMore Photos

San Francisco is a perfect mix of city and nature. The sun and bay provide a perfect mix of warmth and coolness each day. The people are wonderful and there is so much to do that this one of my favorite destinations.

  • 6 reviews
  • 1 story/tip
  • 5 photos

California Dreaming in San FranciscoBest of IgoUgo

Overview

One of my favorite things to do is spend time sightseeing and driving up and down the steep hills. It's better than an amusement park!

Quick Tips:

Spend a day in one of the city's many parks. The Golden Gate Park is huge and it's easy to spend an entire day enjoying the beautiful surroundings. Take a drive or walk across the Golden Gate Bridge for an amazing view of the city.

Best Way To Get Around:

Rental cars are your best option so you can see everything. The only problem is that there are absolutely no parking spaces anywhere! Call ahead and make sure your hotel has a parking area. It's best to walk or take a cab at night to the restaurants since most of them don't have parking.

Stanford CourtBest of IgoUgo

Hotel | "The Renaissance Stranford Court"

The hotel is wonderful and elegant and the rooms have a unique French feel. The staff was wonderful and helped us with our every need. This is a great hotel for a business trip but pricey if you're on a vacation with a budget. It's a very exclusive hotel and perfect if you like high end places. But it doesn't have the eclectic feel you'd expect from a S.F. hotel. After trekking up the steep hills to the hotel after dinner and shopping I felt uncomfortable entering in my disheveled appearance.
  • Member Rating 2 out of 5 by Constance on July 10, 2000

Stanford Court
905 California St San Francisco, California 94108
(415) 989-3500

Jackson CourtBest of IgoUgo

Hotel

Jackson Court is a 3 story Victorian brownstone located in Pacific Heights. Our room was charming and the sitting room in the main area was inviting. The bathroom was quite small but it was worth it to stay in this quaint B&B. The morning breakfast consisted of fresh fruit salad, cereal and assorted pastries. I loved that it was set up in a small kitchen/dining room and you helped yourself to whatever you wanted. It was like staying at a friends house. I curled up next to a window and read the paper while I ate and made breakfast last as long as possible.
  • Member Rating 4 out of 5 by Constance on July 10, 2000

Jackson Court
2198 JACKSON STREET San Francisco, California 94115
415-929-7670

BetelnutBest of IgoUgo

Restaurant

Betelnet was my first San Francisco restaurant experience. The first thing I noticed as I walked in and checked out the exotic asian decor was that the bar was smoke free! Amazing! Coming from NYC I'm used to hazy smoke filled bars. The smoke free environment made this restaurant all the more wonderful. The drink menu is wonderful and diverse. Try something exotic. The menu features an ecelectic blend of pan-asian dishes. Everything we tried was delicious. The prices were very reasonable and I'm looking forward to going back on my next visit to S.F.
  • Member Rating 4 out of 5 by Constance on June 29, 2000

Betelnut
2030 Union St San Francisco, California 94123
+1 415 929 8855

Fisherman's WharfBest of IgoUgo

Attraction | "The Seals at Fisherman's Wharf and More"

On the Docks
Grab your camera and prepare for the worst smelling experience of your life! Seals, seals and more seals have taken over the docks. They are lounging in the sun, swimming about or talking loudly to each other, (probably complaining about the smell). This is a fun experience though and worth a quick look. The seals are huge and you can get fairly close to them for some wonderful photos. The wharf is a great place to 'people watch', although the more unusual characters charge for photos to be taken. Prepare for some sights you'll see nowhere else! There's also shopping, dining and tours of the bay and Alcatraz if you're looking for the regular tourist sights.
  • Member Rating 3 out of 5 by Constance on June 26, 2000

Fisherman's Wharf
The Embarcadero San Francisco, California
415/956-3493

Half Moon BayBest of IgoUgo

Attraction

Half Moon Bay is a 4 mile stretch of perfect beach that belongs to the state. The water is too cold to swim but it's a perfect place to stop off to admire the sun and waves of California. We approached driving up the coast and I was totally amazed at the sight of this huge beach with the sun highlighting the crashing waves. You can pull over and just admire quickly from the car or enter the beach for a $5 entrance fee per vehicle.
  • Member Rating 4 out of 5 by Constance on July 10, 2000

Half Moon Bay
Highway 1 San Francisco, California

Weather/PackingBest of IgoUgo

Story/Tip

Rollercoaster Hills
Even in the summer the nights can be cold so be prepared! Don't assume August means shorts and sundresses. The nights are damp, chilly and breezy so pack some warmer layers for the evening. I learned from experience after freezing in my ill packed clothing selections on my first trip. People in San Francisco are very real and natural. They dress smart. Their fashion is casual and fits the environment and climate. Comfortable shoes are a must! The hills make even fitness buffs pant as they climb.

About the Writer

Constance
Constance
New York, New York

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