SAN FRANCISCO - CITY BY THE BAY

San Francisco is one of the great cities in the world and by far the most interesting and intriguing city we have seen so far. Located on a peninsula between the Pacific Ocean and San Francisco Bay,  the city is very compact, hilly, and scenic. You arrive into San Francisco from the north via the world-famous Golden Gate Bridge, if you are coming from the east you use the Bay Bridge which connects to Oakland. Both bridges charge tolls only while coming into the city. Only the southern approach uses no bridge as US101 provides access.

San Francisco is built on several hills, so any walking that you do will be pretty strenuous. Driving within the city is actually very easy as the streets are laid out in a grid and once you know the one-way streets, you can get around pretty easily. Parking can be difficult to find in most areas, so you may want to leave the car in one spot and take transit, which is plentiful. There are at least three types of transit services: MUNI is the San Francisco Municipal Transit and includes all buses and cable cars within the city. There is also the Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) which provides service to Oakland (including the Network Associates Coliseum) and other East Bay suburbs. Finally there is Golden Gate Transit, which travels to the northern suburbs. MUNI should be enough for most tourists, and there is a MUNI pass that you can buy which allows you to ride all MUNI vehicles. The 1-day pass is $6, 3-day is $10 and the 7-day pass is $15.

The Bay Area is home to over 6 million people, and traffic outside the city can be tough. In particular, it can get crowded coming into the city over the Bay Bridge, so be prepared if you are staying in the East Bay. '

San Francisco is known as the most tolerant city in the U.S. - the Summer of Love began in the Haight area in the western part of city, and the Gay and Lesbian Pride Parade that is held in June of each year is world-famous.

Haight-Ashbury

The weather here is probably the only negative - even in mid-July, sweaters are required. The wind coming off the bay can be harsh, especially at the top of the taller hills or out by the water. The famous fog comes in over the Golden Gate but dissipates leaving a blue sky on most summer days, but it can still be chilly, so dress warmly.

The Bay Area hosts a large number of sports teams; the most important are obviously the Giants and A's, but there are also two NFL teams (San Francisco 49ers and Oakland Raiders) as well as the San Jose Sharks in the NHL and the NBA's Golden State Warriors, who play out of Oakland.

Our impressions: The greatest thing about the city is the number of different neighborhoods that blend together to form a cohesive city. Five minutes from the Transamerica Pyramid is Chinatown, and just beyond is North Beach, the Italian area. The Marina, Pacific Heights, Embarcadero, are just a few of the areas that are worth visiting. If you have only a short time in San Francisco, avoid the tourist areas such as Fisherman's Wharf and taking a full-day walking tour on your own. One of the nicest parks we found was on Taylor Street between California and Sacremento - it was a quiet oasis in the middle of the city.

San Francisco is not a city that you need to drive in. Its compact nature allows you to walk from Market Street to the Wharf in just a few hours, allowing for stops along the way. Of course, the Cable Car is another option, but be prepared to wait about 20 minutes if you board at the Market and Powell turnaround. If you have a few days, buy one of the MUNI passes mentioned above. The F-line streetcar is another good option, going from Market along the Embarcadero and finishing at the Wharf. The busiest part of San Francisco is Fisherman's Wharf, but I doubt that anyone there is actually from the city - seems like everyone is visiting from somewhere. We recommend spending as little time there as possible, and moving on to the free Maritime Museum which is part of the National Park Service and has lots of boat models and other cool stuff. 

Financial District

San Francisco has a lot of other attractions, but most of them can safely be ignored in favour of cheaper alternatives, such as Golden Gate Park, Cliff House, and Twin Peaks. Cost can be a concern in San Francisco, as the city is one of most expensive in the world, but with some smart planning you can have a great time at reasonable prices.

San Francisco's food is also fantastic, at least where we ate. I suspect that most restaurants that are off the beaten path are worth trying, but again we recommend avoiding the touristy spots. 

Overall, San Francisco is my favorite city in the States, and a great place to spend a week. With two ball teams, one great new stadium, tons of places to go and eat, and fantastic scenery from the city, this is a must-see city on any baseball trip.

Sunset from the Cliff House