Besides, the obvious things, like reserving transportation and lodging, there are some things you should know, and a few things to do, before you take your vacation.
Things to Know for a San Francisco Vacation
- Weather: Many people think California vacation has sunny skies and warm weather 365 days a year, but it's not true in San Francisco. It's often foggy, temperatures over 80F are considered a heat wave, and the water is too cold for all but the heartiest souls at the beach. It rains in the winter, but seldom the rest of the year. April and October are two of the nicest months to vacation here. To have a comfortable vacation, check the climate for the time you plan to visit. You will probably need to pack warmer vacation clothing than you might think.
- Geography: Looking at a few maps and learning how the city is laid out will help you plan your vacation and know how to get from one attraction to another. You can save yourself embarrassment, too - I once hailed a taxi in Union Square and asked to go to the Chinatown gate, which is only about 4 blocks away!
Things to Do in Advance for a San Francisco Vacation
Unless you want to visit an especially popular restaurant or see a specific play, this is all you'll need to do before you come to San Francisco:
- Order our free, six-step vacation planner. It will walk you through the rest of these steps, one at a time.
- Alcatraz is a very popular vacation destination and visitors are limited. If you want to see it, save time standing in line and spare yourself possible disappointment by ordering tickets in advance.
- Reserve a hotel. If you usually vacation without advance hotel reservations, don't try it here. San Francisco is is a popular vacation destination, and many conventions are held here. Saturday nights are the busiest hotel night in the city.
- Don't rent a car unless you're planning on long side trips. Parking and driving in the city can be maddening. Take public transportation and use the money you save to get a nicer hotel room.
Order or Buy
- Buy CityPasses online. The CityPass contains entrance passes to a half dozen or more attractions, at a significant discount.
- This one's free, but if you are interested in their walking tours, print a copy of the City Guides schedule.
- Buy maps of San Francisco.
What to Bring on a San Francisco Vacation
- Camera and lots of film or digital media.
- Warm clothing, even in mid-summer. I have never spent a colder Fourth of July than the last two years in San Francisco. When the fog comes in, you will want at a jacket, windbreaker or maybe even two or three sweatshirts.
- Comfortable shoes. San Francisco is best visited on foot and you don't want to be uncomfortable.
- If your vacation is in winter, bring an umbrella and rain coat. If you don't have room in your suitcase, wait until the first drop of rain falls: the shops in all the tourist areas will sprout umbrellas faster than you can say "I'm getting wet."
