5.20.2011

Gypsy*Guide - San Francisco

When I was 16, we went on a West coast round trip with my family. We started in Phoenix and made our way through San Diego, LA, Vegas, Salt Lake City up to Yellowstone and back to Arizona through the Bryce and Grand Canyons. It was one of the most unbelievable trips, however I'll never forgive ourselves that we did not visit San Francisco. I've been planning to go back ever since, but until I can, I'm living vicariously through Niky's blog La Mia Vita, which has been one of the first blogs I've started to read. She is simply one of the sweetest and cutest girls out there and her daily dose of SF and family love always make my heart swell.


Thank you Gabby for asking me to share about my wonderful city of San Francisco! 
This city has truly captured my heart and true as the saying goes, I think everyone really does leave a little bit of their heart here. 

When to Come/Where to Stay
San Francisco has, what we like to call, Indian Summers. That means actual summer months {June-August) are freezing, cold, rainy and foggy and Fall months (September and October) are warm, sunny and beautiful. No matter when you visit make sure to bring layers and jackets. The fog likes to roll in without warning. 
Try to find hotels in Union Square or Emarcadero. Make sure you read reviews of the hotels though. 


Food/Bars
The Mission District- walk into any taqueria and you will most likely have one of the best burritos of your life.
Pizzeria Delfina- has the most famous and delicious pizza in San Francisco.
Maverick- Best fried chicken in the city.
Tipsy Pig- Gourmet bar food at it's best. Order the macaroni, chicken pot pie or burger with a strawberry fields drink.
Ottimista Enoteca: my favorite wine bar
Bourbon and Branch: Used to be a speakeasy and you still need the password(which is usually 'library') to be let into the bar through a moveable hidden bookshelf
Leopold's: Delicious hearty German food. And you can order beers in boots! huge boots!
Belden Place: an adorable alley near Union Square filled with delicious French restaurants. Sit outside under the umbrellas and twinkling lights and you will believe you're in Europe. 


Site Seeing
Golden Gate Bridge: The bridge is my absolutely favorite thing in the entire city. No matter how many years I've lived here, the sight of it still amazes me. 
Golden Gate Park is beautiful with so many different things to see and do. The de Young Museum, Academy of Science, Japanese Tea Garden, Botanical Gardens, or just strolling around the park looking for the buffalo. 
Lombard Street: Even though it's not that exciting and most people and especially locals don't understand the tourist appeal, I feel it's one of those things you have to see and drive down just once for the experience and being able to say that you did it. 
Chinatown: Don't spend too much time here. But make sure to stop in a small chinese restaurant on 
Alcatraz: If you visit on a beautiful day the view from Alcatraz is absolutely worth the trip.
Cable Car: No San Francisco trip is complete with =out riding the famous cable car and getting a picture hanging off the side of one!
Ferry Building: Farmer's Market, Blue Bottle Coffee, Cow Girl Creamery, Acme Bread (technically this should be in the food category) 


Shopping:
Union Square: Of course the world famous Union Square with every single high end store you could possibly imagine. It gets crowded on weekends so It's much more enjoyable to shop there on weekdays
Union/Fillmore/ Chestnut Streets: Filled with cute little boutique shops along with cafes and restaurants, these are the areas that I prefer to do my shopping. 

I hope you get to visit this exciting, beautiful, unique city and fall in love with in as much as I have!

Oh how I wish!!! Thanks Nicole Marie for sharing your favorite places with us... I wanna jump on the first plane heading to SF like right now! :)


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41 comments:

Anonymous said...

Wow what a beautiful post! Thanks to Nicole Marie for sharing! The streets are so interesting, I need to get back soon, loving this feature posts!

Cess O. <3 The Outfit Diaries

Amber said...

Great post!

I studied fashion design at the academy of art in san francisco and it's such an amazing city! Really really fun!

scarlet's walk said...

envy!!

love the photos!

Unknown said...

Great pics from a lovely city <3
xoxo
Have a lovely weekend!

MG said...

Love her blog! Makes me miss home :(

ilene @ muchloveilly said...

love this - totally wanna visit San Francisco and see all of this for myself one day!!!

The Bookness said...

Wonderful photos. San F for the win.



♥ http://mybookness.blogspot.com
♥ http://mybookness.blogspot.com

Kristina said...

yay San Francisco! Nicole Marie did such a great job highlighting all the wonderful gems in this amazing city!

Kristina
http://spottedappeal.blogspot.com/

Holly said...

I love her blog :) & I always love reading about San Francisco :)

StarletStarlet said...

I visit the city at least twice a month from a short 25 min drive. Can't ever get tired of it.

Heidi said...

I live only about 6 hours from SF. We want to visit one day and thanks for sharing the tips! We will definitely have to check out that pizza restaurant and boutique shopping area. :)

Haley said...

I'm with you Gabby! I wish i could hop on a plane with my 2 boys and soak up everything the beautiful Niki shared with us!! I love the idea of a warm fall time...I'll be sure to go to Pizzeria Delfina...and the streets she said have boutiques and cafes sound lovely!! loved this post...someday I'll go to SF. hopefully sooner than later :)

Kate said...

Bookmarking this post for when I go to San Fran. Unfortunately, I've never been! Thanks for sharing!

XO, Katie
Enter my Juicy Couture Giveaway!

Ana said...

I LOVE LOVE LOVE San Francisco! I'm so happy to be living in the Bay :)
All these tips are great, I've done most of the tourist stuff, but I'm gonna check out the bars/restaurants!!

xoxo, Ana
My (Newly)Wed Life

sherri lynn said...

beautiful pictures! I've only been to San Fran once but I would love to go again!

Ivana said...

Wow, what an amazing post! Makes me wanna go there immediately :)

xx Ivana

http://styleinthecityen.blogspot.com

Gawgus things... said...

I've always wanted to go to San Fran and now even more so! XX

Unknown said...

yes yes yes! I love that you are highlighting SF. San Franciso style is very unique but we may be bias. ;)

love from San Francisco,
Britt+Whit

TracyZLesh @ Then I Got To Thinking said...

Yay Nikki! I've known her since college, and I miss living in that city so much!

Alicia Lund said...

Nicole did a great job highlighting SF!! Hope you get to visit soon...love our city :)

Linzy said...

What an awesome post! I'm moving to SF in a couple of months, and I am so ridiculously excited! Loved the pictures.

Little Acorns
http://acresoflittleacorns.blogspot.com

Elaine said...

How fun! I love SF.

Kacie - With Love said...

Fun! I went to SF for the first time last summer and LOVED it. So great. Thanks for the tips.

Kacie
www.acollectionofpassions.blogspot.com

Taryn said...

This guide is wonderful! I was lucky enough to visit SF for one day this last February but that was by far not enough time. It is such a beautiful and enchanting city.

Kezia Mariska said...

What a nice post. And I was like "Can I go to SF right now?" I will visit SF someday. It's such a beautiful city to visit. Thanks for the information!!

http://keziiaiueo.blogspot.com/

RYAN said...

OMG, I love LA! I want to go, you are lucky xx

missholly said...

love photos and your blog!!

xoxo

Chloe said...

LOVE your guide! I'm headed to San Fran in a week; can't wait to try some of these places!

chloe ** http://flowerponychloe.blogspot.com

Anonymous said...

i love san francisco. i've lived near the bay area for years and the city is always the perfect place to escape to for a relaxing weekend. my favorites- the parc 55 hotel and bar, 5th floor restaurant, union street for shopping. (not to be confused with union square!)

Sienna said...

great guide, I love SF, and that dog is so cute. xx Sienna

Liesl said...

I Heart San Fran and those spots are definitely must sees and I learned some new places to try! Lovely virtual tour from Niky Marie!

Liesl :)

Miss Aggie Kwong said...

beautiful post! :)

Find me on:
From Catwalk to Classroom.

April said...

Great photos!
Makes me miss san fran!

xo

Anonymous said...

i was looking for something like that for weeks now. i am comming to sf this summer (august) and want to see the city through a sf citizen! :D

Alison Kinsey said...

San Francisco is a world class city, I always love reading about Nicole's adventures in and around the area!!

Nicole Marie said...

Thanks everyone for you sweet comments! email me if you ever need more recommendations!

Samantha said...

I miss San Fran. Used to live there back in the day. Definitely visit. It is a guaranteed good time.

www.seasonedwithyouth.com

Leisha said...

Awe Gabby! I love this post!

Lindsay With An "A" said...

LOVED this post!! Got some great ideas from reading this :) Thanks for posting!

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Katie said...

going to San Fran this weekend and using your recommendations!! love your blog.

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