SanFrancisco

San Francisco is a tiny plot of land surrounded by water. It is a point of entry to a land of plenty. It is Mecca for those disinterested in New York's haughtiness and LA's flakiness.

San Francisco can be mired in 1906, ingrained memories of an earthquake and a city burning. Or it is lost in the 1960s and the heyday of Haight/Ashbury. It is a city of icons, like the Golden Gate Bridge and the TransAmerica Pyramid. And it is poised for the future, safe and stable, dangerous and edgy.

It is jazz, a la Vince Guaraldi's Treat Street, or the Latin rhythms of the Mission. Stand back to see the big picture, like the view from Twin Peaks. Look closely for the small details of architecture in grand old Victorians.

For hearty Italian fare, try The Sausage Factory on Castro Street. For intimate music performances there is Davies Symphony Hall. Easy tourist fun can be found along Fisherman's Wharf. A snapshot of history is at Fort Point underneath the Golden Gate Bridge. Good cafes are along Valencia Street. Hike Telegraph Hill for spectacular views and a cardiovascular workout. Cable cars and MUNI buses link them all. The Japanese Garden in Golden Gate Park is always good for a relaxing stroll.

There are too many guidebooks on San Francisco to recommend just one. Read them all. Then ignore them and explore the City on your own. There's something worth seeing around every corner, sites to see and mysteries to uncover. And if you don't want to sound like a tourist, don't call it `Frisco. It's just the City.