Melting pot of cuisines
There are plenty of food choices in the city. The burgers and fries at In-N-Out Burger are popular, as is the Cantonese cuisine served at R & G Lounge – try its signature Live Crab with Salt & Pepper. Want more of the crustacean? Head to Fisherman’s Wharf for the famous Dungeness crab (below), and have it with a glass of chardonnay.
Asian beauty
Admire cherry blossoms at the Japanese Tea Garden (below) in the Golden Gate National Recreation Area, which also boasts, among other things, an arched drum bridge and a five-storey pagoda; the trees will usually be in full bloom in March and April. Those with an appreciation for culture can also take part in a traditional Japanese tea ceremony.
SEE ALSO: What to eat and do in Tenderloin, San Francisco’s hipster haunt
Getting around
The roads here are usually jam-packed, so you’re better off walking, cycling or taking the San Francisco Municipal Railway, a public transportation system with a network of buses, light-rail trains, cable cars and historic streetcars (below). For longer trips to, say, East Bay or the San Francisco Premium Outlets in Livermore, where I like to shop, take the BART (Bay Area Rapid Transit).
Best views
The most unique thing about San Francisco is its highly Instagrammable clear blue skies. Snap awesome selfies and panoramic pictures at Twin Peaks (above), two identical-looking hills sitting next to each other at the centre of the city. Bike, hike or drive up for 360-degree views of San Francisco; the vistas are stunning on a clear day and mesmerising on a starry night.
View other useful insider’s guides.
PHOTOS: ALAMY (CLICK PHOTOS), 123RF.COM
This article was originally published by Singapore Press Holdings.