Beyond The Normal, The Fabulous Guide To San Francisco

Friday 30th December 2022
|In Addenda
|By FAULT Magazine

If you’ve been a follower of this blog for some time, you know that before moving to Napa, I lived in San Francisco for 9 years and that The City has a special place in my heart. As with many things I write about in this blog, finding the fabulous in every day is something that is important not just to me but, I believe, important to you as well. 

This post will focus on all the various things to see and do that make my former hometown awesome and awe-inspiring. From places to go and things to do to places to eat and enjoy, this will hopefully guide you and inspire you to visit and explore the most fantastic city on the bay. 

Let’s look at all the things to do and places to eat and visit while in San Francisco. This list is made to keep it fabulous but cheap, and there are many more things to do in The City than I have space to write about here.  

Things To Do In San Francisco

First things, first. San Francisco is a huge, crowded city. You could literally spend a whole day checking out one neighborhood without seeing any other part of the city. One of the best and most affordable ways to visit San Francisco is to take the BART and other public transportation to get around and avoid the traffic on the streets.

You can take subways, trains, buses, and cable cars to get an authentic experience cruising around the city for relatively cheaper than a rental car. So now that you know how to get around let’s look at some of the most fabulous destinations to see while visiting. 

Fisherman’s Wharf

Fisherman’s Wharf is one of those places you must visit, but remember that it’s also a tourist trap. Beyond the overpriced, crowded eateries and shops that line the touristy area of San Francisco is a little hidden gem at Pier 41. 

The Musee Mecanique is a venue that houses the most extensive collection of antique arcade games in the world. Best of all, it’s free to the public, and playing the games is cheap. 

Japanese Tea Garden

For a slow-paced, relaxing time, the Japanese Tea Garden in Golden Gate Park is perfect for enjoying a calming tea while taking in the landscape designed to replicate Japan’s landscape. Best of all, the Japanese Tea Gardens are just a peaceful, relaxing way to enjoy your day. 

Golden Gate Bridge

The most iconic view and image of San Francisco involve the Golden Gate Bridge and are an absolute on any list of things to do. The best viewing point is from Baker Beach, where you can eat at a local eatery or picnic and enjoy the view of the historic bridge. 

Haight Ashbury

The hippie culture of the late ‘60s and early ‘70s is a critical identity of San Francisco. The “Flower Power” movement originated in Haight Ashbury, along with some notable musical legends from Jefferson Airplane, Janis Joplin, and the Grateful Dead. 

In addition, the iconic Summer of Love in 1967 still has an indelible mark on the Haight Ashbury neighborhood. And if you’re looking to partake in the culture and dive deeper into the counterculture of Haight Ashbury and the summer of love, explore some of the top-rated dispensaries in the area. 

The top SF dispensary guide will help you find the type of relaxing herbs and other counter-culture and alternative lifestyle products to enjoy yourself peacefully. To name a few, you need to check out the following:

  • Urbana Recreational
  • ProjCan in SOMA (which stands for South of Market)
  • Barbary Coast
  • Mission Cannabis Club

North Beach

North Beach is basically the Little Italy of San Francisco. While it doesn’t connect to any beach, there are a few landmarks to view, including Coit Tower and Washington Square Park, and it is best known for many Italian-style eateries. Shopping along Grant Avenue is one of a kind and offers a unique experience with a variety of small boutiques. 

Lombard Street

Another iconic neighborhood of San Francisco is the twisting and turning downhill road of the world’s most crooked street, Lombard Street. You can take a cable car to the area, walk up and watch as cars try to navigate the narrow passage down to the bottom of the hill. 


For nightlife, San Francisco is a city that, like New York, never sleeps. So there is always some activity, bars, nightclubs, or events to take in while you’re there. If you’re looking for date night activities, I wrote about options in a previous post that you can check out and read. In it, I include some of the best date night restaurants to explore. 

San Francisco is a city that offers something for everyone. You can take in the views by the day, dine out, and party at night without leaving a couple of city blocks. So to fully immerse yourself in the city and culture, get out, see the landmarks, and find little neighborhood gems to eat, drink, and be fabulous.