If you want to go to the basics, the city of San Francisco has been surrounded by good shopping, good food, exquisite neighborhoods, and great views. You’ve probably noticed that everything you’ve read so far, in some passage, has mentioned the words chic, rich, hip, retro, and gentrified. And that’s San Francisco in a nutshell, really.
The city is old but new, fresh but beautiful, busy but timeless. There is so much to do and so many neighborhoods to discover, it’s hard to describe the ‘best of’ as almost everything falls into that category.
Get started with some exclusive shopping at Union Square; This is your one stop shop for serious retail delights. The plaza is not that small, with designer boutiques, department stores, and most of the branches of the major franchises that you have come to know and love. If you don’t like shopping, allow an hour or two to browse, otherwise it will take a full day to finish it all. Darling.
If all that shopping has left you breathless and hungry, head over to the Ferry Building Marketplace. This old building has been remodeled to become a gastronomic and oenological entertainment center, a gourmet food emporium. The building itself is quite interesting, with a great view of the Golden Gate Bridge on the outside, and outdoor wine and oyster bars to accommodate the San Francisco sun.
Inside, however, you will find fresh fruits and vegetables, cheeses, cold cuts, and fresh flowers for sale. It’s both scenic and nutritious, a great way to spend a lazy afternoon or even have breakfast.
There are so many fun and trendy areas to try. The Embarcadero is very popular, as are SoMa and Haight-Ashbury.
Haight-Ashbury is the infamous neighborhood that rose to fame in the hippy culture of the 1960s. Everything that was about peace and love has been transformed into a super trendy retro district, filled with unique boutiques, great restaurants and an interesting street life. If you have to limit your exploration of your district, be sure to keep this one on your list, but keep in mind that Sunday is the busiest day there. Visit Amoeba Records, which is a cult hit for lovers of old records and funky merchandise.
Finish with a view. Coit Tower was built in memory of one of the city’s mistresses, Lillie Hitchcock Coit. Atop Telegraph Hill, some say the tower is dedicated to city firefighters because of the shape of the tower’s fire hose nozzle. Instead, the tower was inspired by Coit after bequeathing a third of his property, “to be appropriately spent for the purpose of adding beauty to the city I have always loved.” Awwwww.
To get to the top you have to pay a fee, but the view is worth it. Go on a clear day to get the most out of your investment. If you are going for the sole purpose of taking some great photos of San Francisco, take it in the afternoon or sunset as there will be less glare in your photos and you are guaranteed to get great colors.