Six Essential Tips for Starting off in San Francisco
(This was originally posted on my blog Selfhood Pending on September 30, 2016. It lives here until I decide to remove it from the Internet.)
Ever wonder what it’s like to go from the isolated suburbs to living in the city? Well, that’s exactly what I’ve done and I’m here to give you some insider tips from one of San Francisco’s newest residents. Learn how to navigate the pricey hot spots, and find the pockets of solace among busy streets. Here are the 6 things I wish someone would have told me before I arrived, and some snapshots of my roamings.
1. Pedestrians rule, but don’t be stupid about it.
San Franciscans tend to ignore the signage stating that a flashing red hand means not to start crossing. They also won’t hesitate to cross an empty intersection if there are no vehicles in view, regularly disregarding the color of the signal. However, if you feel the urge to stray out into Market St (which is both wide and frequented by almost every line of public transit) on a red light, it’s best to resist. Even if you can’t see any threats now, the speed limit isn’t low enough to stop anything from sneaking up on you.
2. There ARE nice, huge parks.
You may look at the picture above and assume that the color green doesn’t show up much in this city-skape. Luckily, that’s totally wrong, and, even better, many of the city’s parks are enormous. It is the exception for a park to be the mere culmination of a couple suburbia-friendly lawns, here. Some of my favorite spots are Mission Dolores and Golden Gate park. The Presidio is also gorgeous (I’ve heard, I swear I’ll make it there soon!). Additionally, there are frequently free and public events going on in the parks, including the Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Festival at Golden Gate this weekend.
3. There are also great views. Like everywhere.
A beautiful look at the horizon is not hard to come by in San Francisco. The famous hills lend themselves to several natural viewpoints. But, if you’re stuck downtown, just find a public-friendly skyscraper and make your way on up. Not to mention the views across the bay and out into the ocean.
Speaking of hills…
4. Bring some water and comfy shoes…
…when you decide to walk somewhere in the city, because those steep sidewalks are no joke. It’s definitely worthwhile to take the hike over public transit every once in a while (or more if you’re on the college student budget), but don’t take it lightly. No worries, though, this actually works out to a win-win-win. You save money, get some mild exercise, and have access to all of the wonders the city has to offer.
5. Most restaurants have sales and specials.
Seriously, you do not need to pay full prices every day. Not to say that you should deny yourself from ever eating something that isn’t on sale, but it’s worth scouting out. Pay particular attention to your favorite food sources, and your favorite types of food. Subway has a certain sandwich on special for $3.50 every day, and similar rotations appear at other establishments. Taco Tuesday is a particular favorite of mine (though, to my horror, I’ve found some spots switching to Taco Wednesday instead).
6. San Francisco is full of surprises.
So, I hope you’ll take these tips, pick up your confidence and take to the streets. You may discover that the most famous Taqueria is actually facing some steep competition from down the street. Or, you could find that there is a nook behind the smoke shop in Haight-Ashbury with colorful paintings of some iconic musicians. Perhaps you’ll stumble upon a some of the best donuts you’ve ever tasted. Or the worst.
The only way to find out is to get out there, and explore! It’s worth the time and effort, I promise.
