Billy's Cities

Billy January 3, 2018 Leave a Comment

The 2016 BSFBB Awards

Presenting…the 2016 Best of San Francisco By Billy Awards! (Yeah, they’re a little late. But I’m sure you don’t mind. And after this, it’s finally on to India!)

Obviously I liked San Francisco enough to move here. But I always thought it was overrated as a sightseeing destination. Starting right away with Day 1 of my official sightseeing in San Francisco last April, I realized just how wrong I was.

Best Day

After my first day out in San Francisco, following the Barbary Coast Trail, I didn’t think any future day could beat it. San Francisco totally enthralled me on Day 1. And it didn’t hurt that the weather was uncharacteristically perfect. But once again I was wrong. One day was able to beat out Day 1.

[Read more…]

Billy December 20, 2017 Leave a Comment

How I Planned My 2018 Trip To East Asia!

This is NOT a picture of where I'm going on my upcoming trip. After all, I haven't been there yet to take pictures. But it is a picture of East Asian Buddhist culture. And I'll be seeing a lot of that on my upcoming trip. This is, in fact, a picture of the Temple of Great Compassion in Tianjin, China. Asia. — This is NOT a picture of where I’m going on my upcoming trip. After all, I haven’t been there yet to take pictures. But it is a picture of East Asian Buddhist culture. And I’ll be seeing a lot of that on my upcoming trip. This is, in fact, a picture of the Temple of Great Compassion in Tianjin, China.

So where am I going? Taiwan and Korea! Taiwan? Who goes to Taiwan? (Good question.) Korea? South Korea, right? (Yes. Well, mostly.) People are always asking how I choose my destinations. [Read more…]

Billy November 6, 2017 Leave a Comment

How to Get the Most out of Chinatown

Some locals will tell you to skip San Francisco’s Chinatown. It’s just full of cheap trinket shops and mediocre Chinese restaurants, they say. As usual, I say that you can get a lot out of Chinatown if you do Chinatown right.

The Dragon Gate welcomes you to Chinatown. San Francisco, United States, North America. — The Dragon Gate welcomes you to Chinatown.

To me, it only makes sense to start your day in Chinatown by passing through the Dragon Gate. It spans Grant Avenue at the southern entrance to Chinatown, just a few blocks northeast of Union Square. A block further north, veer off to the right to take a quick stroll through St. Mary’s Square. St. Mary’s Square permanent resident is an impressive granite and steel sculpture of [Read more…]

Billy October 9, 2017 1 Comment

Letting People Know How to be a Non-Tourist in San Francisco

The completely awesome MaestraPeace mural on San Francisco's Women's Building. San Francisco, United States, North America. — The completely awesome *MaestraPeace* mural on San Francisco’s Women’s Building.

The good news of Billy’s Cities keeps getting spread! Dereck, a fellow travel blogger, was soliciting collaboration for a post he was working on. He specifically wanted people to write about spots in their cities that are more familiar to locals than to tourists. Of course, San Francisco has plenty of those. I offered to contribute a handful of such San Francisco sites. It worked out terrific! Dereck included my write-up on off-the-beaten-path sites in San Francisco that visitors should check out. But not only that… He also included one of my pictures of the incredible MaestraPeace mural on the the Mission District’s Women’s Building as the featured photo on his post. Thanks Dereck!!

Click to read Dereck’s post, including my non-touristy tourist sites to see in San Francisco.

Billy September 28, 2017 Leave a Comment

How to Survive Fisherman’s Wharf

I’ve said it before. San Franciscans look down their noses at Fisherman’s Wharf. And it can be a complete tourist trap. But if you know where to look, a day at Fisherman’s Wharf can be an enriching, rewarding experience. That’s why I’m here to help you do Fisherman’s Wharf right.

View of Alcatraz from Fisherman's Wharf. Alcatraz, San Francisco, United States, North America. — View of Alcatraz from Fisherman’s Wharf.

The best way to start your day at Fisherman’s Wharf is to leave the mainland and take the ferry to Alcatraz Island, out in the bay. (By the way, I’m covering the “Greater” Fisherman’s Wharf area– [Read more…]