San Jose
For the last scheduled local sightseeing day of 2017, I ventured beyond San Francisco to San Jose. Day trips, you see, were the future of my local sightseeing adventures. Local sightseeing in 2018 was all [Read more…]
San Francisco 2017, Day 6
Pacific Heights and the Marina District
Pacific Heights
Pacific Heights isn’t just San Francisco’s richest neighborhood. It’s also one of the richest neighborhoods in the US. There are fancy homes. And there are also beautiful views. It’s just north of [Read more…]
San Francisco 2017, Day 5, Part 2
Western Addition
When I moved to San Francisco, I was confused about the Western Addition, especially as it’s closer to the eastern side of the city than to the western side. Turns out, it’s an area that was annexed to the city [Read more…]
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.
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.
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…]