Hear about travel to San Francisco, California as the Amateur Traveler talks to Jill Robinson and Kimberley Levato authors of 100 Things to Do in San Francisco Before You Die.
Kimberly (who did the interview from France) mentioned that “When people ask me I am from I never say the United States or California, but always say San Francisco because the response is always the same: these big eyes, this big smile and they say ‘I love San Francisco’ or ‘I really want to go there’. Someone did that to me today. They said, ‘I traveled all over the United States on my honeymoon but San Francisco was different’. I think that is what it is for me too.”
While we may not present an orderly itinerary in this episode we give you some of the ideas of places we love in the city. Some spots you will have heard of like Chinatown and Golden Gate Park. You may not know which restaurant, bakery, temple, or fortune cookie factory you should visit in Chinatown.
San Francisco is a city of many hills but we explore the once-forgotten shoreline of the City by the bay as we talk about the Embarcadero, the Ferry Building, AT&T Park, or Red’s Java House.
You know about Fisherman’s wharf but did you know about the Exploratorium Science museum or that you can find the best street performers at Pier 39? Did you know that there is a nearby hostel with a million-dollar view? We visit the historic ships at Hyde Pier including a WWII submarine.
We talk about which is the best art museum or science museum and where you can find an antique penny arcade. We pick our favorite neighborhoods for food, a favorite neighborhood bookstore, and tell you what places we would personally skip.
Kimberley and Jill have even more information in their book like a cheese school, a circus center, and where to find mural art. Listen to the podcast, buy the book, and enjoy a beautiful city. But be cautioned. You may leave your heart here.
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Show Notes
100 Things to Do in SF Before You Die
Travel to San Francisco, California – Episode 159
Kimberley Lovato
Jill Robinson
San Francisco Travel
San Francisco
Golden Gate Bakery
Grant Avenue
Hang Ah Tea Room
Visit Chinatown
Chinatown
Barbary Coast Trail
Tin How Temple
Jackson Square
Market Street
Golden Gate Fortune Cookie Company
McCovey Cove
McCovey Cove Experience
AT&T Park
Chase Center
Ferry Building
Ferry Building Marketplace
Red’s Java House
Embarcadero
Exploratorium
Pier 39
Fisherman’s Wharf
Musée Mécanique
Hyde Street Pier
Alcatraz
Visiting Alcatraz
Marine Mammal Center
Ghirardelli Chocolate
Buena Vista
Cable Cars
Fort Mason
Fisherman’s Wharf Hostel
San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park
Tadich Grill
Mission District
Two Years Before The Mast
Presidio of San Francisco
Taqueria La Cumbre
Richmond District
Green Apple Books
Tommy’s Mexican Restaurant
Geary Boulevard
Golden Gate Park
California Academy of Sciences
Legion of Honor
Conservatory of Flowers
Cliff House
Hardly Strictly Bluegrass
Bay to Breakers
Chinese New Year
The Castro
Karl the Fog
Lotta’s Fountain
Union Square
Nob Hill
SFMOMA
San Francisco Symphony
War Memorial Opera House
Coit Tower
de Young Museum
Lombard Street
Vermont Street
Filbert Street
Mission Dolores Park
Beach Blanket Babylon
Club Fugazi
Filmore District
Vulcan Stairway
Homegrown
My Favorite Weekend in San Francisco
Jill Robinson
15 Must See Places in San Francisco
75 Facts about the Golden Gate Bridge
Community
Steve on Travel to Western Australia – Episode 618
One comment on this interview.
I travel to Exmouth regularly for work.
Contrary to what was said in the interview, there is a definite high and low season.
Australian winter is high season and Exmouth is very pleasant at this time. In high season, accomodation may be in short supply and the town population will double.
Low season is unpleasant and there is not a tourist in sight. Temperatures can sit in the mid 40c range for weeks at a time. Tour operators close for the summer. Restaurants operate on summer time tables, some only opening every other day. Qantas cut back flights etc. Only a masichist would travel to Exmouth in the summer.
Also note that late summer is hurricane season and Exmouth does experience hurricanes (called cyclones in Australia). Exmouth has been hit by quite a few severe storms including Vance (Mar 99) which was one of the most powerful storms ever to hit mainland Australia .. so factor in this risk when making plans.
Finally, most tourists fly into Learmonth (50km from Exmouth), not Newman.
I hope that helps.Steve
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7 Responses to “Travel to San Francisco, California – Episode 622”
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Tags: audio travel podcast, california, podcast, san francisco
chris2x
Says:October 2nd, 2018 at 4:37 pm
Justin wrote: “I just listened to this one, and really enjoyed all of the recommendations for outside of the “normal” tourist sites. You referred generally to the Richmond District, but I think it’s worth specifically calling out Clement Street, with its eclectic blend of restaurants, bars, shops, etc. [The reference to Burmese Food may have indirectly called it out.] Other good walking streets that don’t get much buzz are Polk Street (have breakfast at Brenda’s, walk north from there) and Union Street (through Cow Hollow). Finally, some free spots for great views (besides Twin Peaks) are Marshall Beach (walk from the Presidio in the late afternoon), Taylor & Vallejo (for Bay Bridge), Hyde & Greenwich (for Golden Gate), and the view from the southwest corner of Dolores Park. So many great things to see, do, eat and drink in the City.”
Karina
Says:June 1st, 2019 at 9:13 am
Hi Chris! Thank you so much for this episode. I’m going to San Francisco for the first time in a week. So glad i found your podcast. I really enjoyed je episode, thanks to you and your guests! I hope some day you’ll be rich and famous ? just don’t stop working on it and believing in yourself. Greetings from Finland!
Chris Christensen
Says:June 1st, 2019 at 12:25 pm
Karina, glad it was helpful 🙂
maggie
Says:August 5th, 2023 at 4:03 pm
Tadich Grill is open: https://tadichgrillsf.com/menu-page/#menu
Chris Christensen
Says:August 7th, 2023 at 7:43 am
thanks Maggie, I corrected it
Sara
Says:September 21st, 2024 at 10:23 pm
Hello. This question isn’t specifically about the podcast. Why does your quite intricate map of San Francisco not include The Castro? I find that a very odd – and oddly specific – neighborhood to completely omit. Particularly with its historical and cultural importance.
Chris Christensen
Says:September 22nd, 2024 at 10:05 am
Beats me, I am not the artist of the map.