Top Things to Bring to San Francisco
When you are planning your trip to San Francisco, it is best to bring comfortable clothing that you can layer. It rarely gets exceptionally hot. Cool and breezy days are common. Here's a list of items that you may also want to bring on your trip.
Jacket
If you come to San Francisco dreaming of warm California weather, you'll be surprised by the chill in the air. Mark Twain made the famous statement, "The coldest winter I ever spent was July in San Francisco," or something like that. There's a booming business of selling San Francisco labeled jackets to unprepared tourists down at Fisherman's Wharf. The Wharf is a particularly good place for such businesses because of the cool winds that whip off the bay. Charlie and I have a San Francisco rule: "Jacket's, never leave home without them." Whenever we disobey this rule, we find ourselves a little chilly. Even if the weather looks sunny and nice, San Francisco can experience rather dramatic weather changes from minute to minute and neighborhood to neighborhood. Having said that, San Francisco does have some really great sunny days. Just be prepared for any weather by layering and toting along a jacket
Walking Shoes
Walking is one of the best ways to experience San Francisco. It is a great way for you to get out and get a feel for the different neighborhoods and the people who inhabit them. However, San Francisco has many hills and comfortable walking shoes will make your stay so much more enjoyable, whether running for a bus, taking one of the self-guided tours on this sight, enjoying one of the free City Walks, booking a guided walking tour at our affiliates, or wandering around to see what you can discover in one of San Francisco's great neighborhoods.
Bus Map
For the very best map of the city, I highly recommend the San Francisco Municipal Railway map. This map is invaluable when navigating the public transportation system. The tourist sites are not emphasized like they are on a typical tourist map. If you feel you want a map that shows tourist destinations, pick up a free one from the lobby of your hotel. The bus maps sells for a few dollars. The San Francisco Municipal Railway website provides a downloadable version for free.
Digital Camera
I am a very big fan of the digital camera. Digital cameras can come in very small packages, so you don't need to feel you're lugging around your bathtub as you tour the city. You can take tons and tons of pictures at a very little cost per picture. Plus you can review you pictures on the cameras LCD screen, so there are no surprises where perhaps you may have taken a picture of your thumb. Later on your computer, you can sort through your pictures, throw out the bad ones and only print the ones you feel are of the best quality. For simple snapshots, a 3 or 4 megapixel camera provides enough information to make exceptional quality 5 x 7 prints.
San Francisco CityPass
San Francisco CityPass in your hand delivers a week of cable car rides. Ogle the Golden Gate Bridge, Alcatraz and Sausalito and skyline during your bay cruise. Spectacular Asian art, modern art and an underwater world await, too. An option ticket invites a choice between visiting the California Academy of Sciences & Steinhart Aquarium or the Legion of Honor museum. San Francisco CityPass is valid for nine leisurely days from first use.
Sense of Adventure
When you travel to any city or country, it is best to travel with a sense of adventure. I find that having a great attitude about your trip really increases your enjoyment of it. If you have this sense of adventure, then travel delays and problems become a part of that adventure. They'll be a part of what makes your trip unique, part of what you'll tell to your friends when you return home. This sense of adventure may also make you open to meeting new people and enjoying their company for a while. Be brave and try new things, open your heart to San Francisco and she'll open her heart to you.
Friendly Smile
I love San Francisco and the San Francisco residents. I love telling people about the great city that I live in. Many San Franciscans feel this same way about their city. Nothing gives me more please that talking to a British Couple in a tea shop about the sights they should see or giving directions to the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art. Don't be afraid to get to know the locals or ask for help. Just give us a smile and politely ask for help. I met one of my best friends on the day he moved to San Francisco because he asked for help riding the bus.
