San Francisco is one of the most beautiful and desirable cities in the United States and the world. It’s occupied by 815,000 residents that comprise all sectors of industries from finance, to law, to service, to hospitality, to one of its most distinguished industries, technology.
Silicon Valley, located in southern San Francisco is the home to many tech giants including Salesforce, Airbnb, Dropbox, Lyft, Uber, Reddit and more. It’s also the creative hub for many startups that will one day become tech unicorns in the industry. Silicon Valley is one of safest and most coveted neighborhoods in San Francisco, but that comes at a premium with one of the highest real estate markets in the country. It might be worth it for a long-term investment as San Francisco and Silicon Valley will always maintain its value.
Covering a land area of almost 47 square miles, San Francisco has many cute and eclectic neighborhoods. Fisherman’s Wharf, located on the northern waterfront of the city is a family-oriented area with many restaurants, bars, entertainment, and shopping options. Home to the famous chocolate factory and Ghirardelli square, Fisherman’s Wharf also attracts millions of visitors and tourists every year. In addition to decadent chocolate, the area is filled with savory seafood dishes like crab cakes, clam chowder, and fish and chips that are caught fresh from the bay.
Closeby to Fisherman’s Wharf and also located in the downtown area is Chinatown, which is one of the oldest and largest Chinatowns in the United States. The vibrant cultural neighborhood features authentic restaurants from southern Cantonese dim sum restaurants to northern sichuan spicy dishes. Souvenir stores, cute meandering alleyways, and bubble tea shops litter the bustling streets to give visitors a glimpse into what traditional China looked like.
Mission District is another famous neighborhood in San Francisco situated further away from downtown and the waterfront carrying a hipster vibe and home to the popular Dolores Park. Originally rooted in latin and hispanic culture, the area is still populated by delicious hole-in-the-wall taco joints, as well as more modern fusion restaurants. You can find mom and pop boutiques selling everything from old vinyl records to cute self defense keychain sets to fit exactly what the eclectic crowd here wants. Ice cream shops, tattoo parlors, food trucks, and dive bars make up the remaining commercial outpost here.
Presidio is a beautiful neighborhood renowned for its beautiful backdrops and proximity to the Golden Gate Bridge. As a free state park, you can traverse the lush gardens, run/hike/bike or explore their nature paths, or simply access the Golden Gate Bridge from its staircases. There are also nature centers, history museums, and a military base as well.
Tenderloin is a polarizing neighborhood consisting of gritty urban art spaces, bustling music venues, and small stage theater productions. Its main attraction is its nightlife with dark divey bars, decades-old speakeasies, as well as its integration with Little Saigon and its mouth-watering Vietnamese cuisine. If you’re in the mood for authentic beef pho, or a pork banh mi, Tenderloin is the place to go. But always be conscious of your safety and equipped with a Kubaton, as there are a large number of homeless people and drifters in the area.
Overall, everyone should visit San Francisco at least once in their lives. It’s a mix of past, present and the future, as well as tons of activities for the foodie or the outdoor explorer. Combine that with the old architecture, Alcatraz island, and winding streets, San Francisco will be an endlessly eye-opening experience for people of all walks of life.
