How to Enjoy San Francisco

Every now and then, friends come to visit me in San Francisco. I ask them, ‘what do you want to do while you’re here?’ and they often reply, ‘hmm… not sure yet.’ As the host, I feel like it’s my responsibility to show them around, to give them a good time. But often I find the task a bit daunting. Sure, I could take them to Alcatraz, Golden Gate Bridge, or Pier 39, but is that something they really care to see? Is that the San Francisco I hope they experience?

More and more I’ve come to believe that San Francisco isn’t a ‘see-ing’ city. We have the Golden Gate Bridge, sure, but it’s not like we’re Rome full of ruins and monuments steeped in history. Nor is it a ‘do-ing’ city. We don’t have a Disney World or Universal Studios nearby. So what is it that draws people to the City by the Bay?

When I think about San Francisco, I think about the day my friends and I rented bikes and rode across the Golden Gate Bridge, explored the shops and streets of Sausalito, and ate ice cream as we waited for the ferry to bring us back across the bay. I think about sitting in the bleachers at a Giant’s game, walking back along the Embarcadero, and dipping into a pub by the water to celebrate the win. Sun’s out, smiles on, good vibes all around.

San Francisco is at its best when you ride the vibe and go with the flow. It’s 40% plan, 60% spontaneity. Let yourself be carried away by whimsy and impulse and simply be present. It’s the people. The atmosphere. The memories you make and carry home with you after. San Francisco, I find, is a city that you experience.