Simply

By Jeff and Virginia Orenstein

San Francisco, California

Note: Even though San Francisco is a great place to visit, travel to the area should not be undertaken now. On December 30, 2020, the Department of Public Health updated an order to extend the previous travel quarantine and the Bay Area Regional Stay Home Order to Mid-May. Essential activities only are permitted and most businesses are closed or restricted. All non-essential employees must work from home. Gradual reopening is planned during the late spring and through the summer if conditions permit.

San Francisco’s legendary prominence in American song and culture is well-deserved. This gem of a city overlooking picturesque San Francisco Bay is built on seven hills. It is a must-visit place for simply smart travelers for its beauty alone. Add in a really great restaurant scene, a fascinating mix of cultures and neighborhoods, museums, unique architecture and proximity to too-many regional attractions to visit in a single trip and you have a real bucket-list-worthy place to visit.

Famous for its cable cars, the Golden Gate Bridge, Fisherman’s Wharf, Alcatraz, the marketplace at the Ferry Terminal, Coit Tower, the financial district, “painted lady” Victorian houses and many other scenes often portrayed in movies and TV, this bustling city is also a crossroads of culture and a busy center of maritime commerce.

A typical street scene from San Francisco since it is built upon seven hills. They are Telegraph Hill, Nob Hill, Russian Hill, Rincon Hill, Twin Peaks, Mount Davidson and Lone Mountain/Mount Sutro. Credit: Jeff Orenstein, Simply Smart Travel

• https://www.sftravel.com/

• https://www.visitcalifornia.com/region/discover-san-francisco-bay-area/

• https://www.nomadicmatt.com/travel-blogs/spend-threedays-touring-san-francisco/

While San Francisco is on the pricey side if you choose to limit yourself to world-famous hotels and eateries and shop only at Union Square boutiques, the city also boasts a staggering array of excellent lodging, entertainment, shopping and restaurants that are reasonably affordable. Purchasing a San Francisco Municipal Public Transportation Passport gives you affordable and convenient access to cable cars, buses, streetcars and the Metro. Similarly, a San Francisco City Pass (citypass.com) gives you transportation access plus museums and a bay cruise.

Located on the Pacific Ocean, this eclectic city is also a great place to base yourself for day trips to explore the many attractions that surround this city by the bay. They range from distinguished centers of leaning like the University of California at Berkeley and Stanford to the high-tech palaces of Silicon Valley, the majestic redwoods at Muir Woods and, of course, the nearby California wine country.

Before you visit in person, visit the web sites:

• https://sf.gov/step-by-step/reopening-san-francisco

Getting There

San Francisco is a west-coast crossroads can be easily reached by highway, air, cruise ship or train.

• By air, the nearest airport is San Francisco International (SFO) at 15 miles away. Oakland International (OAK), is 20 miles away from the Financial District.

• By train, Amtrak has a station in Oakland at Jack London Square. It is connected to San Francisco by Amtrak bus and other public transportation. From Oakland, there is frequent service to the entire west coast and beyond.

• By car, San Francisco is on interstates 280, 580 and California 101.

• Cruise ships (not currently operating) sail from San Francisco’s cruise terminal, 1.5 miles distant. (Smart Travel page 34)

Must-Sees if You Only Have Two or Three Days:

• Fisherman’s Wharf and Pier 39 (touristy but a must-see for first-timers). Check out the sea lions.

• A hop-on-hop-off bus tour of the city (bring a sweater).

• A sightseeing boat trip around the bay, weather permitting.

• Exploring Chinatown, preferably on foot.

• Visiting Lombard Street, preferably via the Powell-Hyde Cable Car line that starts at Fisherman’s Wharf.

If You Have Several Days, enjoy: • Walking, shopping and eating in some of the city’s more interesting neighborhoods, including Castro, Haight-Ashbury and Chinatown.

• A day-trip to vibrant and trendy Oakland. Be sure to catch Jack London Square and Lake Merritt.

• A drive through Golden Gate Park.

• Amazing views of the Golden Gate Bridge from Land’s End. redwoods) and then into wine country in Napa and/or Sonoma counties. A full agenda will require at least an overnight stay in wine country.

Ginny O’s Tips For Dressing The Simply Smart Travel Way: Resort casual dress is fine for most things in San Francisco, except for the most upscale restaurants and arts events.

• An excursion north, over the Golden Gate Bridge. Stop in Sausalito, then continue on to the Muir Woods (towering Over 50 Advantage: A worldly city with great shopping, restaurants and excellent cultural attractions.

The iconic Golden Gate Bridge, as seen from the Marin Highlands, across the mouth of the bay from San Francisco. Credit: Jeff Orenstein, Simply Smart Travel

Mobility Level: Moderate to high because of the steep hills.

Simply Smart Travel Tip: Don’t drive in the city if you can avoid it. Parking is scarce and expensive. The public transit system is good. BART goes throughout the region and the ferries cross the bay.

When To Go: Fall is usually good and spring is a close second.

Jeffrey Orenstein, Ph.D. and Virginia Orenstein are husband and wife travel writers from Sarasota, Florida. Reach them at jorenstein@ SimplySmartTravel.com.