DK Eyewitness - San Francisco Like a Local: By the People Who Call It Home (Local Travel Guide)

Today, San Franciscans are divided into two camps: old-school (hippies) and new-school (techies). But if one thing unites them, its the happy surety that living here makes them the luckiest people in the world. This widely held conviction might explain their slightly smug reputation. But if you lived here, youd probably feel pretty self-satisified, too. After all, San Franciscans are used to the best of everything: scenery, what with the city being surrounded on three sides by glittering water and muscular mountains; food and drink, thanks to the bounty of local farms, orchards, and vineyards; even sustainability (the citys green approach would make Greta Thunberg burst into applause).

Not that its all plain sailing. The City by the Bay is no stranger to challenging times. Between earthquakes and dot-com crashes, residents have rebuilt the city several times over and it always bounces back better than ever. And little wonder; pioneering is in the blood. SF (only tourists say San Fran) was built on the Gold Rush, and has blazed many a trail LGBTQ+ rights, sharing economies, and revolutionary politics, to name a few. Its a small city with big ideas; a place where anything seems possible.

Some say the big tech invasion has tamed SFs subversive side. But scratch below the surface and youll find free-thinking, flamboyant Frisco alive and kicking. And thats exactly where this book will take you. We know the places that San Franciscans adore, from experimental galleries housed in laundromat basements to the best live drag spaces. Of course, these pages cant capture every locals experience but instead offer a snapshot of the citys glorious diversity.

Whether youre a San Franciscan eager to rediscover your home or a visitor looking for the parts that dont make it into guidebooks, well show you the real city. So strap in, and see SF like a local.

San Francisco | Welcome To The City

Liked by the locals

The great joy of San Francisco is its contrasts: where ancient forest sits side by side with a city forging the future, and the excitement of a world-class capital meets the convenience and quirkiness of a small town.

LAURA CHUBB, JOURNALIST AND COPYWRITER

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San Francisco

THROUGH THE YEAR

From joyful parades in the summer to festive fun in the winter, theres a cause for celebration with the dawn of each new season in San Francisco.

SPRING

STREET FOOD MARKETS

As the winter rain eases in March, locals start to brave the outdoors. Their reward? Top-notch food trucks and live entertainment on the Presidios lawn, every Sunday.

PARADING IN THE STREET

Cultural celebrations draw folks from all corners of the city into the streets. The party continues throughout spring, with Japantown Cherry Blossom Festival in April and the lively Carnaval in May.

BUFF STUFF

San Franciscans have a bit of a penchant for public nudity, and springs forgiving climate offers an ideal opportunity to strip off. Naked runners take part in the Bay to Breakers Footrace; then bare-chested messiahs strut around Dolores Park in the Easter Hunky Jesus Contest.

SUMMER

PRIDE MONTH

Out-and-proud San Franciscans and their allies fly rainbow flags at celebrations in June. The last Saturday of the month sees the downtown Pride parade and community-driven Dyke March take to the streets, followed by a rowdy party at Dolores Parks Pride Picnic.

LIVE MUSIC

Outdoor stages spring up across the city for a summer of incredible live concerts. Fillmore Jazz Festival fills the streets with crooning tunes in July, while Stern Grove Festival and Golden Gate Parks Outside Lands promise everything from folk to hip-hop in August.

ALFRESCO NIGHTS

Despite the evening chill, folks are eager to linger outside during the summer. Picnics often turn into late-night BBQs, with friends toasting smores under the stars.

STREET FAIRS

Locals go wild for street fairs in summer. Haight-Ashbury relives former glories with groovy tunes and tie-dye; North Beach offers up poetry readings; and the Missions 20th Street Block Party is all about gourmet food and indie music.

FALL

SURF THE WAVES

San Franciscans gravitate toward the beach to cool off during the warmest season, especially in sultry September. Some suit up to brave the waves; others prefer to kick back on the sand.

HARVEST TIME

Come fall, locals have one thing on their mind: a drive up to the Napa and Sonoma vineyards to raise a glass to the harvest. A weekend is often made of the occasion, with visits to pumpkin patches and corn mazes.

CITY OF LIGHTS

Families and friends head out for evening strolls over the Thanksgiving weekend, with eco-friendly light installations scattered across the city for Illuminate SF.

WINTER

THE GREAT OUTDOORS

Temperatures are mild and the skies generally clear in winter, so locals don their puffer vests and head out for scenic hikes around the citys coastal cliffs.

HOLIDAY CHEER

Come December, the holidays get a uniquely SF spin. Locals ice-skate in palm-tree-lined Union Square, don ugly sweaters for downtown drinkathon SantaCon, and race in the Santa Skivvies Run (in their underwear, naturally).

WINTER TIPPLES

Spirits are kept high during the winter months with festivals devoted to grog, including Januarys Bay Area Brew Fest and Februarys SF Beer Week.

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San Francisco

KNOW-HOW

Theres an art to being a San Franciscan, from the dos and donts when eating out to negotiating the citys streets. Heres a breakdown of all you need to know.