If you're going to San Francisco...

This city is fantastic! I don't think I have even been to such a place that rewards individuality to such a degree. It's great! People wear what they want and there isn't much of an issue as to what is cool and what is not. Everyone is very nice and friendly. Where else could you be walking down the street and someone offers you a hit off their pipe? Yes, it's true in San Fran. It's fantastic because there are so many neighborhoods—all unique and fantastic in their own ways. As we drove and walked through, I imagined if I was to move there what a difficult task it would be to actually choose a neighborhood to live in. Also, the food is fantastic! Everywhere we ate we had a great time and the food was great. We had Vietnamese, Chinese, and Italian and it was all fantastic and pretty cheap. Huge servings seem to be the norm in this city and it is easy to over order and have too much left over. Everyone should visit San Francisco at least once and try to take in the culture of the city. You can easily get lost in the beauty of this city and of its people. I met so many people there just by walking around. I liked it so much that I would consider moving there one day. It is not stuffy or snooty but unique and perfect!

Quick Tips:

Try to see as much as you can! If you are short on time, narrow down to the things that intrigue you the most and just relax. I know we missed a million things but the trip was great because we had such a good time. I think even if you lived in the heart of the city you would never see all it has to offer. It's fantastic.

Best Way To Get Around:

Having a car will help you go through the neighborhoods quickly if you don't have a lot of time. However, being on foot is really the best way to experience this city and all it has to offer. Don't miss Pier 39 to say hi to the seals!

This hotel was really cool! It cost us $85 (just drove up to the door, no reservations) and it was a pretty nice room. Had a mini fridge and was located right off the pool with sliding glass doors. We didn't have a chance to swim but it was very inviting! I would really recommend this hotel because it was reasonable and very clean and comfortable. It is also pretty cool looking because it is built like something you would imagine to see in the alps. Right next door is the famous Anderson's restaurant that makes the incredible pea soup you see signs for on the highway. We didn't have a chance to sample it but I have heard it is excellent! They also provided a basic complimentary breakfast—coffee, juice, toast, muffins, and some pastries. We had plenty of space in the room and also had free wireless, which was great! It was a comfy bed and we slept soundly through the night. The staff was really nice as well. I left my cell phone there accidentally and we called them when we noticed it was gone. They went right into the room to get it. We swung back through on the way back home and it was waiting right there for me—fully charged as well!

We got a GREAT deal on this hotel through Priceline. We only paid $75 a night for a room that would normally have gone for $189 per night! It was a great room with a fantastic view of the city. To be honest, if we had paid more I would have been really disappointed. Maybe I'm just a low maintenance type of girl because it is the little things (like a game room) that make me happier with a hotel than having fancy zoom machines (instead of vending machines). It was a beautiful hotel but the fees for other amenities were ridiculous. For example, to valet the car would've cost $45 a night! That's absurd! They have no other parking available so if you don't go with their inflated prices then you are on your own. We parked ours a few blocks down on the street (not an easy feat in San Fran.) and didn't have any problems. Saved us over $120 on parking! Also, it was disappointing because they did not have a mini fridge in the room and we really could have used one with all the awesome food we had left over! The room was really nice but was a tad on the small side. Also, I went to log onto my computer only to discover that they also charge $10 a day for Internet use. What??!! It's free in the lobby but if you want it in your room they charge you—not cool. That really irritated me as well because it felt like they just nickel and dime their customers. The lobby was very nice and the room was really modern and looked really cool. The bed was very comfortable and the bedding was soft and warm! The people there were also very friendly and easy to speak with and eager to help. It was a really nice place, and I would stay there again for the same, low rate. The rate really was unbelievable for San Fran. since I had looked for days and other ones at that price were pretty ghetto looking. This would be a great place for someone on a business trip or someone getting a great deal through Priceline, provided they can park their car by themselves and not have to worry about the fees. Ree enjoyed it fully because he could run under the beds and hide :)

I am a foodie, and this place was awesome! If you like garlic you will LOVE this restaurant! The food was fantastic and the atmosphere was really cool! I got the pesto dish with garlic and it was out of this world. Everyone I was with loved their meal. The house wine was fantastic and the roasted garlic appetizer was great! The total bill came to about $95, which included 4 entrees, 2 appetizers and a full carafe of the house wine. Split between 4 people it was very reasonable and well worth it. I felt like everything was moving in slow motion as I thoroughly enjoyed every bite. The smell was incredible as well. I would definitely eat here again and I would highly recommend this restaurant to anyone looking for great food in a great city! It was also very easy to get to, right in the heart of North Beach and just a few blocks from our hotel.

This restaurant was really awesome. You can eat right on the side of the mountain looking at gorgeous views. It's very relaxing and you can sit on pillows while you drink a beer and wait for your table. We were there during the day but it looked like it would've been a lot of fun at night also because they had a giant fire pit there as well. I would highly recommend it. We stopped at two other places on the way up and were shocked at the prices. This place was probably similar in price but the view and the atmosphere make it worth every penny. If you're looking for a cool place to relax and grab a bite to eat save yourself for this spot. You won't regret it!

Nestled back in the woods you can find the old home of Neal White—now the home of the Henry Miller Museum. Henry Miller was a great writer who wrote such classics as Tropic of Cancer & Sexus, Nexus & Plexus. This library is more like a little book store/museum dedicated mostly to Henry Miller. It is really cool and laid back inside, and you can just mill around looking at different types of books, posters, photos, and a lot of memorabilia. You can easily see the layout of the house and how it was originally. Being within the large trees and beside a little stream it made me feel like I was back in New Hampshire. Everyone there was really friendly and everything was reasonably priced. Definitely a must if you like good books (Henry Rollins does readings there as well) and are looking to do something a little different and relaxing on the way through Big Sur. You might be able to find a great book that you can read on the rest of your vacation.