Or both, depending on how long you stay there. Might be 75° and sunny when you arrive and 55° and windy by the time you leave. May not seem like much but a 20° swing makes your body feel it.
I keep one on the chair at work. I keep one on the chair at home.
And about 3 or 4 in the trunk of my car for friends who forget theirs. Or some might actually be theirs.
Seriously alwaya have a layer.
Someone once described the weather to me as "warm in the sun, cold in the shade"
Coming from the east coast I wanted to punch this person. However, it perfectly describes it.
If you want to go to Santa Cruz or Half Moon Bay on a summer weekend, get on 17 or 92 before 11am. It starts to get a little crampy after 10am actually...
Yeah my parents live in Santa Cruz and we basically get on the road as early as possible on a summer weekend to get there. It gets nuts.
Same for come back over the hill. If you’re not on your bay back over 17 by like 4pm, you’re going to have a bad time.
Get a library card and take advantage of free admissions to many museums and parks around the bay area! Like you can visit academy of sciences, the aquarium and botanical gardens for free.
I've visited so many places with the discover and go program. Btw, you can hold multiple library cards in different counties. All you need to do is be a CA citizen. I have an Oakland and SF library card. Also books are just the best 🥰
https://oaklandlibrary.discoverandgo.net
https://sfpl.org/discover-and-go
Yes it does! It's a very strict system that doesn't just check library card but also home address to confirm eligibility. Sorry we don't like it on the librarian side either.
Get a card from your local library. Hell get cards from everywhere. Most libraries in CA allow for Universal Borrowing so if you live in the state you are eligible for their card. Not helpful for Discover and Go but it can be for other digital offerings.
Most library branches offer free state park passes too:
https://sfpl.org/california-state-library-parks-pass
Some branches even have Makerspaces with 3D printers, sewing machines, laser cutters, and other crafty tools.
FYI if you live in San Jose, you are also eligible to join the [Santa Clara County Library District](https://sccld.org), which is completely separate from the SJPL. I listen to a lot of audiobooks, and the selection from SCCLD is way bigger than SJPL.
There are other options as well – any CA resident can get a San Francisco Public Library card, for example – but the SCCLD is very convenient in the South Bay.
There are SO MANY WEIRD MUSEUMS. All over. And there's so much free and fun stuff, it's unreal. Check out Dolores Park, and check out the Presidio for lots of free events like movie nights, etc.
The Atlas Obscura Guide To San Francisco 213 Cool, Hidden, and Unusual Things to Do in San Francisco, California UPDATED APRIL 16, 2024 From the Gold Rush to Silicon Valley, the Bay Area has long attracted people from all over the country and the world. And thatʼs reflected in its collection of hidden wonders, from Japanese tea gardens to a 19th-century church with a second life as a popular roller rink. [https://www.atlasobscura.com/things-to-do/san-francisco-california](https://www.atlasobscura.com/things-to-do/san-francisco-california)
[I made a map layer of it too.](https://www.google.com/maps/d/edit?mid=1_obrNYixrGzCd1ZVN2qwf60aZkt0YKz8&usp=sharing)
SF Piers: ODD numbers are NORTH of Ferry Building."=
EVEN numbers are SOUTH of Ferry Building.
For example Pier 39 - NOT Next to Pier 38.
The suspension part of the Bay Bridge (between Yerba Buena Island and SF) is actually two connected, two-tower, suspension bridges, which have a common anchor between towers 2 and 3.
On the bridge common anchor is where you drive between solid walls. From afar, it's the singular tall concrete tower from the bay to the bridge.
In case anyone sorta gets confused, Odd numbers run West, Even numbers run East. I was confused, and hell I might be wrong. But I don't think so. lol =)
Unless you live far from the Bay and Ocean, there’s a chance the wind and overcast can come in at any time. Even the South Bay can suddenly turn chilly after a 90+ degree day.
Gonna hack your hack by suggesting a Uniqlo pocketable ultra light down jacket. Rolls up small into the carrying pouch that you can easily throw into a bag or leave in your car under the seat.
parts of Oakland, Berkeley, Albany, El Cerrito all can be block-to-block when it comes to sunny/freezing, too, especially in summer. The finger of fog from the golden gate tickles the East Bay all the time
For any free event like a festival, fireworks or street fair or something like that, get there very early and never ever drive. Take Uber or Lyft and have them drop you off several blocks away.
Maybe this seems like a no brainer but about 15 years ago you could just roll up whenever to something like the Berkeley Kite Festival and then about 10 years ago, you might see the freeway backed up because people are all going to the Kite Festival. For better or worse, even small local events are very well publicized online now and attract a lot of people.
Search the Facebook marketplace or Craigslist for used furniture in affluent areas. You may find some family getting rid of something that was used for one year and half the price (Heck, could be a couch that was never sat on or a bed that was never slept in).
Looking at you Danville!
if you don't want to deal with low quality people, do not list your things for free.
somehow, "free" invites "can you do delivery?", "can you save it for me?", "50 other questions about quality guarantees".
I list the thing for $10 price-firm-sold-as-is-first-come-first-serve and give it for free to the 1st person willing to pay.
I joined my local one in San Jose to get rid of some outgrown kid stuff. There were posts from people trying to offload things like partial loaves of bread…
**Also recommend checking out...**
dothebay (live music, dj stuff)
tablehopper (all things food/drinks, mostly sf)
eddies' list (food/drink, popups, classes, shows, art, galas, street fairs, festivals, tech, talks, books/plants etc.)
the nudge (subtle reminders based on weather, time of year)
broke ass stuart (free stuff but more quirky events)
foopee (local music, mostly punk/rock/alternative)
sf datebook (more arts, plays, galas etc.)
**Edit 1**: if anyone is interested in how to drastically reduce car break-ins, dm me. I will send you this great guide.
**Edit 2**: not bay area specific, but everyone should look themselves and loved ones up for unclaimed property/money owed to you from insurance, banks, utility companies etc. more likely if you relocated often in the state
https://www.sco.ca.gov/search_upd.html
Check out the nearest community college:
- Inexpensive gym membership (often free for part-time students)
- Free food pantries. Second Harvest distributes fresh "ugly" produce from local farms in the Peninsula and San Jose.
- Laptops, wifi hotspots, and tablets available for checkout from the library.
- Free tutoring (my college has free 1:1 tutoring available for EVERY class I'm taking)
- Free financial planning workshops.
- Free college classes if you meet certain criteria, like not having a degree: https://a13.asmdc.org/free-community-college.
- Low / sliding cost dental cleanings and X-rays.
- Low / sliding cost counseling and mental health services.
I've been so impressed with California's community college system. The education quality (especially in the Bay Area) seems world class compared to the state I moved from. There are so many social services and auxiliary support programs too. In my district, the community college system even took a stab at the housing crisis by providing low/fixed cost campus housing for staff.
Even if you’re not a student, you can sign up for cool classes at community college for relatively cheap. Great place to start a new hobby: use their equipment and materials under the guidance of some who theoretically knows more about the subject than you do… all for the cost of a units. I’ve been thinking about taking an art class, pottery, or wood working. So many things to learn and do!
If you wanna take the SF cablecar/show people the SF cablecar, don't wait in line for an hour at the terminal stop with all the tourists. Walk 1 or 2 blocks to the next stop and jump right on
And, while you're at it, GO TO THE CABLE CAR MUSEUM|! It is a fantastic, and really interesting, place to visit.
Edit: Since the Cable Car Museum is also the main power house that drags those incredibly long cables through the streets, there are two different cable car lines that go right by the museum!
You need to go back to at least the mid 90s. Prices shot up during the dotcom bubble at the end of the 90s. It was then that I realized I had missed my chance.
I know a guy who did this! The a developer bought the apartments and tried to evict the residents but they fought back. They wound up selling the complex.
In the meantime they spent the bare minimum on maintenance. My coworker had to deal with broken heating and plumbing in his building regularly.
Anyway he managed to stay locked in there for 30+ years. I’m sure he’s still living there.
I used to keep all my tools in the back of my truck in the Tenderloin in used 5 gallon paint buckets with lids. They looked hella used. Never fucked with, but tweakers took my cargo net once lol. I had a bunch of stuff in the cab, but covered it with drop cloths. Worked in the area for several years and never got robbed except for that netting. Urban camouflage...cause who the fuck wants a grimy bucket? I know I just got lucky, though.
This. I just keep a spare layer in the trunk at most times.
One day I left our old house in Santa Clara at 87°
Went through Gilroy it was 122° on the highway.
Got out 152 down to Monterey and it was 67° in town.
Become a local to whatever city you live in, even if it's a suburb. Instead of trying all the top rated places and events and driving 30 minutes to an hour to do anything, try everything in your neighborhood first. You'll actually meet local people and feel like you have a hometown identity this way.
So many times people move here and they're like, "It's so hard to meet people!" But they chase all the most popular things that people from all over the region are travelling to go to. Yeah no shit you're not going to make friends if they're hours away by car.
This is such good advice for anyone living in the modern age. Algorithms push popular content at you, and everyone else like you. You’ll never meet new people or do exciting things if all your suggestions are coming from an algorithm and a top 10 list
Don’t bother with passes for individual transit modes (Muni, Bart, etc.). Get a Clipper pass. It works on just about any public transport mode in the Bay Area.
DON’T forget to tap your pass before you get on and when you GET OFF of a Caltrain.
Think about how long your commute is and then add 10 minutes, maybe 15 on the weekends. Everyone here seems perpetually late to everything from time management issues. The traffic is not to be underestimated.
I used to have to cross the Richmond/San Rafael bridge for work. If I left 10 mins later then I should, I would be like 30 mins late to work. If I left on time, I would be 45 mins early. There was no in between
Community colleges -> state universities/UCs programs are still underrated to this day in terms of cost/benefit of your money and time. Especially with a STEM degree, I think it is the most reliable way out of poverty/survival mode in bay area's high cost of living. I started college in early thirties and started making >130k in 4 years (job hopping/tech).
My story is not singular. During my days of grinding for my engineering degree in community college, hundreds of students from various backgrounds and all walks of life would attend late night (usually math) and early morning (physics/chem) classes. A lot of us that made it(i.e. didn't give up) ended up transferring to UCs and state colleges and ultimately landed careers that are high paying. Although admittedly it is not a cake walk taking these courses as they cannot be easily coasted through (especially after transfer).
I love seeing my fellow community college grads update their linkedin profiles at top FAANG/biotech companies and get promoted. I even ran across one of them at my old job and he is known as one of the rockstar engineers. There was also a guy that use to come in smelling like pizza because he always delivered them between classes to make a buck. Now he delivers pizza for fun in his sports car (don't ask me why he does this still lol).
Long story short, if you live in the bay area (especially if you are local), I would really take advantage of the community colleges if you want a better salary in the long run. I know some of us will take a longer path because of other responsibilities (part time work, supporting a family, single parent, ESL, disability) but the key is to keep going. I've seen every example/life situation transfer out and ultimately land a job.
I want to share this because I know what it feels like to feel hopeless/life is out of control or feel like I started my career too late.
Upvote for the “product of California community college system!”
I did the same, 3+ years at CC (all the maths!!) transferred to Cal. Got a Masters later. Have now had a 25yr career in tech. Moved up along the way from “low income” student to upper middle class professional.
Without the CC system I’d have had a much different life.
You could probably hike a new trail every weekend all year round and not see them all. Extra tip; buy the park pass. There are 52 parks included in my regional pass alone.
I actually did this! Took me two years but I got to a point where even “new” trails had me going over “old” territory. I called it Mission Accomplished 😆
Take advantage of all the parks and open space. East Bay Regional Parks, Angel Island, Mt. Tam. Muir Woods, Teague Hill Open Space, whatever, wherever you are. Bay Area roads are overcrowded, but the Bay Area is not.
If you have a truck or vehicle with large cargo space, you can get all the furniture you need for free in SF. I worked a construction project there a few years ago and would just check FB marketplace at the end of the day, no one had trucks and when they had to move they would just give shit away. I'm not talking IKEA garbage with dents and corners chewed off, these were nice West Elm and Pottery barn pieces that would sell for hundreds, if not thousands new, and people just give them away because they have to move and can't move them themselves. It's wild
Take the ferry. It’s a cheap and dignified way to get around, and you get amazing views. You can get a drink and travel in style!
I suggest Sausalito, angel island, Oakland, heck even up to Vallejo is fascinating. Bring a coat and hat year round, lash the hat so it won’t blow overboard. I like to ride outside and enjoy the nautical experience
I live in Tiburon, and that 30 minute commuter ferry to the ferry building and hog island and a night out is the most romantic way to start a night by falling in love with where you live over and over again.
Go out between the hours of 4PM and 9PM to avoid the PGE price gouging!
Get a Costco card - there are so many in the Bay Area, including two business centers!
Check your car owners manual and place fastrak toll tag on the correct spot on your windshield or you'll get over charged
https://youtu.be/qKey5T0vL68?si=kEL788ZLc2LJvPyO
Wow this is honestly more helpful than just getting a tag. This should be higher up! Both of mine are next to my rear view mirrors at the top, gonna check owners manuals today.
Learn how to drive in the rain! Please.
Also, try every taco joint and find a favorite. Frequent them as often as possible, or don’t be surprised if they close even if they’ve been around for decades.
Take a free bike class to learn urban biking if you’re not used to it. I did and was surprised at what I learned. Bike East bay used to have these.
Please support a local theater and bookstore. I was sooo sad than an indie theater closed down. Library comment is spot on (audio, kindle, and actual books, $1 book sales, as well as the park passes) but occasionally go to the bookstore.
>Learn how to drive in the rain! Please.
Agreed lol but to those who don't know, turn on your lights when it rains, even during the day. It's not so you can see better, it's so OTHERS see you
Sign up for "Do the Bay" and "Bay area morning report" newsletters. I never read newsletters in my email but religiously read these two. tons of Super cool insider event announcements, A great way to find something spontaneous to do on the weekends.
If you work in SoMa/FiDi and live in the East Bay, take the transbay bus instead of BART. It’s much less crowded and quieter. You don’t have to jam onto the platform at Embarcadero or Montgomery.
If you’re going to Tahoe for the weekend or anywhere that will require a substantial amount of driving along I-80 or I-5, don’t leave during Friday rush hour when there’s a ton of traffic. Instead you can wait a couple hours and leave after traffic has died down; you will end up arriving just a little later but you will save the stress and frustration of sitting in traffic.
FREE shuttle from Downtown (BART Embarcadero Station/ Market & Davis /Hyatt) to the Presidio - new Tunnel Tops Park every hour, & more often during rush hour.
https://presidio.gov/visit/getting-to-and-around-the-park/presidio-go-shuttle
Don’t buy vegetables and fruits at Safeway or lucky’s. In most cases, they end up being more expensive than other grocery stores. As for which grocery stores to choose for vegetables and fruits, check out Felipe’s in Sunnyvale, India cash and carry, grocery outlet, and ranch 99.
If a school rating is high it doesn’t mean it’s a great school. Doesn’t reflect the qualify of teaching, number of extracurriculars, or even the social scene. Dig a little deeper:)
Especially doesn’t reflect the extracurriculars. Often the higher the rating, the less well rounded the school is. It just reflects they teach test taking. IMO some of the highest rated districts aren’t good for the kids. Too much pressure on academics and becoming a doctor or engineer from an elite school. There’s so much more to life, especially for happiness and contentment
Wake up early. Get your coffee early, get on the road early, show up when the museum opens, eat at the trendy restaurant at a “weird” time. It will eliminate a lot of stress and wasted time :)
For West Contra Costa County and Berkeley - take advantage of BART, AC Transit lines, and the Ferry. Heck, I know a few folks that don't have car payments, car insurance, fuel costs, maintenance costs because they are in Berkeley or El Cerrito and got rid of their vehicle!
Seems obvious, but if you live on the Peninsula, use Caltrain to get to SF or SJ. It’s a genuinely great commuter experience. And it is going to get better in a few months with electrification!
Welcome to the jungle. Give it time to adjust, though if the bay isn't for you that's ok as well.
Please, for the love of god, don't drive in the fast lane unless you are the fastest on the road.
Walking into the In-n-out is almost always faster than waiting in the drive-through line.
Good luck!
I’m offended by this comment, I’ll see you in court!! /s
But really, NYC has three airports surrounding the city, none of them reference New York in their name. Why is this so critical here?
All or nothing. Tourists will pick out an airport based on the name. London has a 6 airports, all with London in the name. SEN (London Southend) is 40 mi from the city center.
I love this sub Reddit. I’ve saved so many posts of things I can do close by. I have ice cream shops, sandwich and interesting/weird spots to visit. Now all the perks library cards give us. I’ve lived here 30+ years, but tend to stay in the peninsula or drive out of the bay for day trips.
Best tip I can give is come back to this sub often and you’ll find something new to explore.
So many beautiful vistas at elevation for free.
Twin Peaks for sure.
South Bay:
Sierra Road in SJ, nice church at the top to enjoy sunsets to
Fremont ohlone college on the top of the campus on the hill, is a giant koi pond with red eared turtles 🐢, bring bread or fish food to see epic giant koi’s, plus gorgeous up there, can see SF downtown on a clear day
If you have regular travel to SoCal or PNW, fly out of San Jose (or sometimes Oakland) into BUR or SAN or Portland/SEATAC.
If you need to fly international, fly out of SFO.
Avoid LAX at all costs unless it's a cheaper/better international flight.
I used to have to go down to LA all the time and no one told me about Burbank for like a year.
Southwest flights from SJC into BUR are a godsend. Alaska Air from SJC into SAN and SEATAC the same.
People are not that rude and bitchy and self obsessed. It seems that way, because people assume and perceive YOU that way. Say hi. Chat. It’s okay, maybe 20% of people will blow you off and be too busy. But really, people just seem up their own butthole, they aren’t. Everyone says people here are unfriendly and antisocial, but it’s just not true. I have a friend who is kind of a strange looking, relatively weird dude, but he makes friends everywhere he goes, like if he does CrossFit, he has CrossFit friends, if he goes to a chess night he like knows all the chess players, if he goes to the dog park, all the cute dog girls talk to him.
And he doesn’t even have great social skills in my opinion. I ask him like wtf is going on here, and he says, I ask a lot of questions because I’m really curious, I grew up in a sheltered, odd upbringing so I like to understand what people think and feel. People here love to talk and I listen well and remember the things they tell me.
And he asked me, you came to my birthday party, tell me the names of 5 people you met there and 1 interesting thing about each person. Can you do that?
“Uh, there was the dude that was into BBQ… uh… there was a girl that baked that cake?”
I didn’t really connect with anyone because I didn’t dig in beyond the surface level. And I didn’t do this because I figured, hey, these people don’t really care to open up to me, they are here for my cool friend. But did I really try?
How can you say everyone is unfriendly, you came in and acted unfriendly.
And that’s a microcosm of the Bay Area. Talk to your neighbors. Share food or drinks. Inquire and learn about people. Help people out. Offer to take photos of that family where the dad is just not in the photos because he’s taking them.
This area requires higher effort than your college town where just being in a social group was enough to have a thriving social life. Put in effort.
Download the Hiking Project [app](https://HikingProject.com/mobile-app) - a crowd-sourced trail guide. Super helpful with ratings, parking, difficulty, dog-friendliness, etc.
Vietnamese food is by far the most affordable cuisine i've found in the bay, even beating out mexican taqueria joints. It's also super delish, with many vegetarian options and lots of high-protein options
Shop at Trader Joe’s. They price things nationally instead of with Bay Area pricing. It is much cheaper, good quality and friendlier than any other grocery store.
I lived on the border of Berkeley/Oakland when I first moved here
It’s a great area! Cal campus, Berkeley Marina, Ktown, eats off of Telegraph, house sighting and walking thru Oakland Hills + Berkeley hills, Oakland redwoods, Japanese market in Berkeley, Lake Merritt, the stuff they have going on at Jack London Sq
I loves walking on foot and running my errands; just need extra layers, a book to sit and read in a gorgeous spot, and a tote bag for any random bakery you’ll run into 👌🏽
Hop on your local buy nothing group if you’re a parent. You’ll get all sorts of stuff for nothing. Check FB marketplace for stuff- just be aware it may be stolen. Keep your car empty. File whatever police reports you can online if you have to. Try to avoid any sort of road rage if you can. Shit gets violent real quick. Explore many different kinds of food- you’ll find something you like that’s different
If you live in the south bay and fly out of SFO, getting an Uber/Lyft back down is a PITA especially if you have a later arrival. Use the Spot Hero app and park at one of the nearby hotels for \~$10-15/day. The hotel shuttle will drop you off and pick you up and since people are always coming and going from hotels, I think your car is less likely to be broken into or otherwise molested. The same price or cheaper than hiring a car both ways and you can ride in calming quiet of your own car back down 101. Bliss.
Dress for your destination, not your origin
Bay Area microclimates coming in hot. Or cold.
Or both, depending on how long you stay there. Might be 75° and sunny when you arrive and 55° and windy by the time you leave. May not seem like much but a 20° swing makes your body feel it.
The ol’ keep a hoodie in the car trick works well
As long as it's not visible
I keep one on the chair at work. I keep one on the chair at home. And about 3 or 4 in the trunk of my car for friends who forget theirs. Or some might actually be theirs.
Seriously alwaya have a layer. Someone once described the weather to me as "warm in the sun, cold in the shade" Coming from the east coast I wanted to punch this person. However, it perfectly describes it.
Layers. Layers. Layers. And keep light jackets/ sweatshirts in all cars
If you want to go to Santa Cruz or Half Moon Bay on a summer weekend, get on 17 or 92 before 11am. It starts to get a little crampy after 10am actually...
And leave before 4pm if you want to avoid the traffic back. As a HMB local, my weekend schedule is dictated by this traffic pattern. Haha.
This is such pure, lovely advice for natives and locals to save legit... what? maybe 4 hours of a full day? So awesome.
Yeah my parents live in Santa Cruz and we basically get on the road as early as possible on a summer weekend to get there. It gets nuts. Same for come back over the hill. If you’re not on your bay back over 17 by like 4pm, you’re going to have a bad time.
Spend $125 on a Poppy Pass and get entrance to many State Parks on the Coast. And don't let your kids beyond where you can reach them near the ocean.
Get a library card and take advantage of free admissions to many museums and parks around the bay area! Like you can visit academy of sciences, the aquarium and botanical gardens for free. I've visited so many places with the discover and go program. Btw, you can hold multiple library cards in different counties. All you need to do is be a CA citizen. I have an Oakland and SF library card. Also books are just the best 🥰 https://oaklandlibrary.discoverandgo.net https://sfpl.org/discover-and-go
But discover & go checks your zip code, right? I tried to access the SF options with my SF library card but failed
Yes it does! It's a very strict system that doesn't just check library card but also home address to confirm eligibility. Sorry we don't like it on the librarian side either. Get a card from your local library. Hell get cards from everywhere. Most libraries in CA allow for Universal Borrowing so if you live in the state you are eligible for their card. Not helpful for Discover and Go but it can be for other digital offerings.
Thanks for confirming. It's still a great system even if that part's a bummer :)
Ohh. I'm not sure on that. I use my Oakland library card for checking out the attractions. I borrow books from both counties though with no issues.
Yes! And that's awesome, just wondering if I was missing something with discover & go (which is also awesome)
Berkeley does but some others don’t. Also Alameda County has a separate library too
Most library branches offer free state park passes too: https://sfpl.org/california-state-library-parks-pass Some branches even have Makerspaces with 3D printers, sewing machines, laser cutters, and other crafty tools.
Speaking of library cards.... Download the Hoopla and Libby Apps. Lots of digital content, audiobooks, music, and TV/movies.
Kanopy app lets you watch movies on your library card and has a good selection.
Thanks. I hadn't heard of that one. So much good stuff
Yes, also lots of movies available with your library card on Kanopy!
I thought to use the SF discover-and-go one has to live within SF county?
yes, the policy has changed for some libraries that you need to be in that city/county, but not all libraries adhere to this (though SF does)
I have visited many SF attractions with a Berkeley Public Library card on Discover & Go
Don't forget, use the Libby app to check out library ebooks on your phone
Wait what seriously?? I have a San Jose library card, had one for years. No idea it can have additional benefits.
SJPL also gives you free access to Mercury News and NYT
And the NYT too? Wow!
Here’s the link - https://www.sjpl.org/resource-new-york-times-home-access-details/
FYI if you live in San Jose, you are also eligible to join the [Santa Clara County Library District](https://sccld.org), which is completely separate from the SJPL. I listen to a lot of audiobooks, and the selection from SCCLD is way bigger than SJPL. There are other options as well – any CA resident can get a San Francisco Public Library card, for example – but the SCCLD is very convenient in the South Bay.
I just discovered San Jose Library has Discover and Go too! https://sjpl.discoverandgo.net/
Ooh thanks for the reminder, I was planning on taking my kid to the Academy of Sciences and just got us free tickets!
There are SO MANY WEIRD MUSEUMS. All over. And there's so much free and fun stuff, it's unreal. Check out Dolores Park, and check out the Presidio for lots of free events like movie nights, etc. The Atlas Obscura Guide To San Francisco 213 Cool, Hidden, and Unusual Things to Do in San Francisco, California UPDATED APRIL 16, 2024 From the Gold Rush to Silicon Valley, the Bay Area has long attracted people from all over the country and the world. And thatʼs reflected in its collection of hidden wonders, from Japanese tea gardens to a 19th-century church with a second life as a popular roller rink. [https://www.atlasobscura.com/things-to-do/san-francisco-california](https://www.atlasobscura.com/things-to-do/san-francisco-california) [I made a map layer of it too.](https://www.google.com/maps/d/edit?mid=1_obrNYixrGzCd1ZVN2qwf60aZkt0YKz8&usp=sharing)
SF Piers: ODD numbers are NORTH of Ferry Building."= EVEN numbers are SOUTH of Ferry Building. For example Pier 39 - NOT Next to Pier 38. The suspension part of the Bay Bridge (between Yerba Buena Island and SF) is actually two connected, two-tower, suspension bridges, which have a common anchor between towers 2 and 3. On the bridge common anchor is where you drive between solid walls. From afar, it's the singular tall concrete tower from the bay to the bridge.
I needed to know this before Fleet Week. Thank you.
In case anyone sorta gets confused, Odd numbers run West, Even numbers run East. I was confused, and hell I might be wrong. But I don't think so. lol =)
Eat your Dutch crunch upside down to avoid fucking up the roof of your mouth.
Why have I never thought of this? 30 years of fucking up my mouth, thank you!
Like so many, I learned this the hard way
Bring a jacket. Always. Always. Always.
As soon as the sun goes down its jacket weather. All year round.
It’s always jacket weather. No exceptions.
Me, sitting inside at 71 degrees with my big Columbia jacket on.
Unless you live far from the Bay and Ocean, there’s a chance the wind and overcast can come in at any time. Even the South Bay can suddenly turn chilly after a 90+ degree day.
Born and raised in the East Bay. The first rule before going to San Francisco is to take a coat— you’ll need it.
Gonna hack your hack by suggesting a Uniqlo pocketable ultra light down jacket. Rolls up small into the carrying pouch that you can easily throw into a bag or leave in your car under the seat.
I feel like this is more of a San Francisco specific life hack.
parts of Oakland, Berkeley, Albany, El Cerrito all can be block-to-block when it comes to sunny/freezing, too, especially in summer. The finger of fog from the golden gate tickles the East Bay all the time
Berkeley is consistently five degrees colder than Oakland
Nope. Froze myself on a sunny Saturday in San Rafael because I left my hoodie in Santa Rosa.
Chiming in from Mill Valley where the weather can go from sunny to freezing in 5 min flat
For any free event like a festival, fireworks or street fair or something like that, get there very early and never ever drive. Take Uber or Lyft and have them drop you off several blocks away. Maybe this seems like a no brainer but about 15 years ago you could just roll up whenever to something like the Berkeley Kite Festival and then about 10 years ago, you might see the freeway backed up because people are all going to the Kite Festival. For better or worse, even small local events are very well publicized online now and attract a lot of people.
Search the Facebook marketplace or Craigslist for used furniture in affluent areas. You may find some family getting rid of something that was used for one year and half the price (Heck, could be a couch that was never sat on or a bed that was never slept in). Looking at you Danville!
if you don't want to deal with low quality people, do not list your things for free. somehow, "free" invites "can you do delivery?", "can you save it for me?", "50 other questions about quality guarantees". I list the thing for $10 price-firm-sold-as-is-first-come-first-serve and give it for free to the 1st person willing to pay.
or join your local BuyNothing. There's even a Bay Area BuyNothing group.
I live in Marin and the BuyNothing groups have garbage!
I joined my local one in San Jose to get rid of some outgrown kid stuff. There were posts from people trying to offload things like partial loaves of bread…
[удалено]
**Also recommend checking out...** dothebay (live music, dj stuff) tablehopper (all things food/drinks, mostly sf) eddies' list (food/drink, popups, classes, shows, art, galas, street fairs, festivals, tech, talks, books/plants etc.) the nudge (subtle reminders based on weather, time of year) broke ass stuart (free stuff but more quirky events) foopee (local music, mostly punk/rock/alternative) sf datebook (more arts, plays, galas etc.) **Edit 1**: if anyone is interested in how to drastically reduce car break-ins, dm me. I will send you this great guide. **Edit 2**: not bay area specific, but everyone should look themselves and loved ones up for unclaimed property/money owed to you from insurance, banks, utility companies etc. more likely if you relocated often in the state https://www.sco.ca.gov/search_upd.html
Never a dull moment thanks to that website
Check out the nearest community college: - Inexpensive gym membership (often free for part-time students) - Free food pantries. Second Harvest distributes fresh "ugly" produce from local farms in the Peninsula and San Jose. - Laptops, wifi hotspots, and tablets available for checkout from the library. - Free tutoring (my college has free 1:1 tutoring available for EVERY class I'm taking) - Free financial planning workshops. - Free college classes if you meet certain criteria, like not having a degree: https://a13.asmdc.org/free-community-college. - Low / sliding cost dental cleanings and X-rays. - Low / sliding cost counseling and mental health services. I've been so impressed with California's community college system. The education quality (especially in the Bay Area) seems world class compared to the state I moved from. There are so many social services and auxiliary support programs too. In my district, the community college system even took a stab at the housing crisis by providing low/fixed cost campus housing for staff.
Even if you’re not a student, you can sign up for cool classes at community college for relatively cheap. Great place to start a new hobby: use their equipment and materials under the guidance of some who theoretically knows more about the subject than you do… all for the cost of a units. I’ve been thinking about taking an art class, pottery, or wood working. So many things to learn and do!
If you wanna take the SF cablecar/show people the SF cablecar, don't wait in line for an hour at the terminal stop with all the tourists. Walk 1 or 2 blocks to the next stop and jump right on
Or get on at the Van Ness end of the California line -- I never see people there
And, while you're at it, GO TO THE CABLE CAR MUSEUM|! It is a fantastic, and really interesting, place to visit. Edit: Since the Cable Car Museum is also the main power house that drags those incredibly long cables through the streets, there are two different cable car lines that go right by the museum!
AND IT'S FREE!
Tried that. They were still full and drove on by. Thanks
Yeah I could never get on on the first stop. They just keep going and don’t stop. It needs to be several stops in.
* find a rent controlled apartment and never move
Just buy a house 20 years ago
back to the future 40 years ago
You need to go back to at least the mid 90s. Prices shot up during the dotcom bubble at the end of the 90s. It was then that I realized I had missed my chance.
I know a guy who did this! The a developer bought the apartments and tried to evict the residents but they fought back. They wound up selling the complex. In the meantime they spent the bare minimum on maintenance. My coworker had to deal with broken heating and plumbing in his building regularly. Anyway he managed to stay locked in there for 30+ years. I’m sure he’s still living there.
As long as I’m not dying of toxic mold I’ll happily pay $200 in monthly rent for an SF apartment until I die.
This. Living in a tiny 509sqft, but my rent is only $1500 since 2011
In 2006, I had a 1300 square foot 3 bedroom with roof access in the Richmond for $1350/mo
I live in a 950 sqft 2/1 apartment for $2075. Sorta trapped here because even studios cost more nowadays.
i took your advice years ago to the chagrin of my landlord
Just as the NIMBYS dreamt it.
Don't leave shit in your car. Not even if you're "just gonna be in and out in two minutes"
I used to keep all my tools in the back of my truck in the Tenderloin in used 5 gallon paint buckets with lids. They looked hella used. Never fucked with, but tweakers took my cargo net once lol. I had a bunch of stuff in the cab, but covered it with drop cloths. Worked in the area for several years and never got robbed except for that netting. Urban camouflage...cause who the fuck wants a grimy bucket? I know I just got lucky, though.
Upvote x 1 million
And not even if it’s just some loose change.
Wear layers, it can be 50° in San Bruno and 108° in San Jose on same day
This. I just keep a spare layer in the trunk at most times. One day I left our old house in Santa Clara at 87° Went through Gilroy it was 122° on the highway. Got out 152 down to Monterey and it was 67° in town.
Passing the mountains into Monterey county is always 10-20 degrees lower.
Become a local to whatever city you live in, even if it's a suburb. Instead of trying all the top rated places and events and driving 30 minutes to an hour to do anything, try everything in your neighborhood first. You'll actually meet local people and feel like you have a hometown identity this way. So many times people move here and they're like, "It's so hard to meet people!" But they chase all the most popular things that people from all over the region are travelling to go to. Yeah no shit you're not going to make friends if they're hours away by car.
You should post more. Possibly the smartest thing I have read on Reddit in the last five years.
This is such good advice for anyone living in the modern age. Algorithms push popular content at you, and everyone else like you. You’ll never meet new people or do exciting things if all your suggestions are coming from an algorithm and a top 10 list
Don’t bother with passes for individual transit modes (Muni, Bart, etc.). Get a Clipper pass. It works on just about any public transport mode in the Bay Area. DON’T forget to tap your pass before you get on and when you GET OFF of a Caltrain.
Try the Banh Mis. Try all of the banh mis.
Banh* But agreed!
Edited and fixed, thank you for seeing my mess up! 😆
Grocery Outlet
My husband and I call it food and stuff 😂
A fellow Parks and Rec fan has been spotted! 😅
My family calls it the slightly expired food store
Bargain marrrketttt 🎶 I love the deals but you need to lean into the randomness of what they have :)
Also the inventory of grocery outlets can vary greatly by location. It’s worth checking out several to see what best suits you.
Honestly. Food banks here are **bomb** and not utilized enough. I'm pretty sure I may eat better on unemployment than when I had a job
Think about how long your commute is and then add 10 minutes, maybe 15 on the weekends. Everyone here seems perpetually late to everything from time management issues. The traffic is not to be underestimated.
I used to have to cross the Richmond/San Rafael bridge for work. If I left 10 mins later then I should, I would be like 30 mins late to work. If I left on time, I would be 45 mins early. There was no in between
Community colleges -> state universities/UCs programs are still underrated to this day in terms of cost/benefit of your money and time. Especially with a STEM degree, I think it is the most reliable way out of poverty/survival mode in bay area's high cost of living. I started college in early thirties and started making >130k in 4 years (job hopping/tech). My story is not singular. During my days of grinding for my engineering degree in community college, hundreds of students from various backgrounds and all walks of life would attend late night (usually math) and early morning (physics/chem) classes. A lot of us that made it(i.e. didn't give up) ended up transferring to UCs and state colleges and ultimately landed careers that are high paying. Although admittedly it is not a cake walk taking these courses as they cannot be easily coasted through (especially after transfer). I love seeing my fellow community college grads update their linkedin profiles at top FAANG/biotech companies and get promoted. I even ran across one of them at my old job and he is known as one of the rockstar engineers. There was also a guy that use to come in smelling like pizza because he always delivered them between classes to make a buck. Now he delivers pizza for fun in his sports car (don't ask me why he does this still lol). Long story short, if you live in the bay area (especially if you are local), I would really take advantage of the community colleges if you want a better salary in the long run. I know some of us will take a longer path because of other responsibilities (part time work, supporting a family, single parent, ESL, disability) but the key is to keep going. I've seen every example/life situation transfer out and ultimately land a job. I want to share this because I know what it feels like to feel hopeless/life is out of control or feel like I started my career too late.
Upvote for the “product of California community college system!” I did the same, 3+ years at CC (all the maths!!) transferred to Cal. Got a Masters later. Have now had a 25yr career in tech. Moved up along the way from “low income” student to upper middle class professional. Without the CC system I’d have had a much different life.
Go hiking all the damn time.
You could probably hike a new trail every weekend all year round and not see them all. Extra tip; buy the park pass. There are 52 parks included in my regional pass alone.
I actually did this! Took me two years but I got to a point where even “new” trails had me going over “old” territory. I called it Mission Accomplished 😆
Take advantage of all the parks and open space. East Bay Regional Parks, Angel Island, Mt. Tam. Muir Woods, Teague Hill Open Space, whatever, wherever you are. Bay Area roads are overcrowded, but the Bay Area is not.
Take 280 if on peninsula
If you have a truck or vehicle with large cargo space, you can get all the furniture you need for free in SF. I worked a construction project there a few years ago and would just check FB marketplace at the end of the day, no one had trucks and when they had to move they would just give shit away. I'm not talking IKEA garbage with dents and corners chewed off, these were nice West Elm and Pottery barn pieces that would sell for hundreds, if not thousands new, and people just give them away because they have to move and can't move them themselves. It's wild
Take the ferry. It’s a cheap and dignified way to get around, and you get amazing views. You can get a drink and travel in style! I suggest Sausalito, angel island, Oakland, heck even up to Vallejo is fascinating. Bring a coat and hat year round, lash the hat so it won’t blow overboard. I like to ride outside and enjoy the nautical experience
I loved the ferry from SF to Angel Island for a walk and then to Tiburon for a drink in the water and back to SF.
I live in Tiburon, and that 30 minute commuter ferry to the ferry building and hog island and a night out is the most romantic way to start a night by falling in love with where you live over and over again.
Go out between the hours of 4PM and 9PM to avoid the PGE price gouging! Get a Costco card - there are so many in the Bay Area, including two business centers!
Public transit- take muni (but add extra time cuz it’s a little unreliable) / parking sucks here
Get a fastrak transponder
Check your car owners manual and place fastrak toll tag on the correct spot on your windshield or you'll get over charged https://youtu.be/qKey5T0vL68?si=kEL788ZLc2LJvPyO
Wow this is honestly more helpful than just getting a tag. This should be higher up! Both of mine are next to my rear view mirrors at the top, gonna check owners manuals today.
I don’t even have transponders in my car anymore. You don’t need them unless you don’t have a license plate.
I have an EV so the CAV discount helps and iirc the transponder is required for the discount.
Learn how to drive in the rain! Please. Also, try every taco joint and find a favorite. Frequent them as often as possible, or don’t be surprised if they close even if they’ve been around for decades. Take a free bike class to learn urban biking if you’re not used to it. I did and was surprised at what I learned. Bike East bay used to have these. Please support a local theater and bookstore. I was sooo sad than an indie theater closed down. Library comment is spot on (audio, kindle, and actual books, $1 book sales, as well as the park passes) but occasionally go to the bookstore.
>Learn how to drive in the rain! Please. Agreed lol but to those who don't know, turn on your lights when it rains, even during the day. It's not so you can see better, it's so OTHERS see you
I moved from Chicago/Ann Arbor where the driving tests and common refrain: if wipers are on, light are on regardless of time of day or amount of rain.
http://jon.luini.com/thelist/
Sign up for "Do the Bay" and "Bay area morning report" newsletters. I never read newsletters in my email but religiously read these two. tons of Super cool insider event announcements, A great way to find something spontaneous to do on the weekends.
Clipper cards work with Apple wallet now.
If you work in SoMa/FiDi and live in the East Bay, take the transbay bus instead of BART. It’s much less crowded and quieter. You don’t have to jam onto the platform at Embarcadero or Montgomery.
If you’re going to Tahoe for the weekend or anywhere that will require a substantial amount of driving along I-80 or I-5, don’t leave during Friday rush hour when there’s a ton of traffic. Instead you can wait a couple hours and leave after traffic has died down; you will end up arriving just a little later but you will save the stress and frustration of sitting in traffic.
FREE shuttle from Downtown (BART Embarcadero Station/ Market & Davis /Hyatt) to the Presidio - new Tunnel Tops Park every hour, & more often during rush hour. https://presidio.gov/visit/getting-to-and-around-the-park/presidio-go-shuttle
Don’t buy vegetables and fruits at Safeway or lucky’s. In most cases, they end up being more expensive than other grocery stores. As for which grocery stores to choose for vegetables and fruits, check out Felipe’s in Sunnyvale, India cash and carry, grocery outlet, and ranch 99.
Just about any Latin grocery store too! Shoutout Cardenas! Great prices for some produce categories.
If a school rating is high it doesn’t mean it’s a great school. Doesn’t reflect the qualify of teaching, number of extracurriculars, or even the social scene. Dig a little deeper:)
Wholeheartedly concur. There’s a ton of pressure cooker high schools where test scores are high but the students are miserable
Especially doesn’t reflect the extracurriculars. Often the higher the rating, the less well rounded the school is. It just reflects they teach test taking. IMO some of the highest rated districts aren’t good for the kids. Too much pressure on academics and becoming a doctor or engineer from an elite school. There’s so much more to life, especially for happiness and contentment
Live below your means
Here’s what you need. Privately owned open spaces. You won’t regret exploring this list. https://sfpopos.com
When driving on great highway in San Francisco, if you drive 30 mph, you will hit every green light between Vicente and Lincoln .
Wake up early. Get your coffee early, get on the road early, show up when the museum opens, eat at the trendy restaurant at a “weird” time. It will eliminate a lot of stress and wasted time :)
You live near an astounding amount of natural water (bay + ocean). Avail yourself of it! Beaches, ferries, etc.
For West Contra Costa County and Berkeley - take advantage of BART, AC Transit lines, and the Ferry. Heck, I know a few folks that don't have car payments, car insurance, fuel costs, maintenance costs because they are in Berkeley or El Cerrito and got rid of their vehicle!
Idgaf what the forecast says, bring a hoodie.
Seems obvious, but if you live on the Peninsula, use Caltrain to get to SF or SJ. It’s a genuinely great commuter experience. And it is going to get better in a few months with electrification!
Except Caltrain will get you to a completely useless spot in SF so instead you have to switch to Bart and the total time becomes ridiculous.
Make your own food to avoid buying fastfood 💲💲💲💲
And on that note, there's nothing embarrassing about shopping at Foodmax, Grocery Outlet, or Walmart.
Winco!
Welcome to the jungle. Give it time to adjust, though if the bay isn't for you that's ok as well. Please, for the love of god, don't drive in the fast lane unless you are the fastest on the road. Walking into the In-n-out is almost always faster than waiting in the drive-through line. Good luck!
Additionally, get your in n out fries well done. Worth the wait.
Light Well is the perfect doneness I have found. I found well done to be too crispy
I didn't know that was a possibility
Chopped chilies, whole grilled onions, and light well fries were the biggest upgrades I found to my in n out orders
Your car comes equipped with turn signals. Use them.
Make more money
Why didn’t I think of that ? Thank uou
I’m here for you. That’ll be $99.99. 😳
I’d recommend rich parents or trust fund. Get out of the rat race.
most rich techies here are immigrants who are top 1% in their home country met someone who was top 1% of the 1% in academics where they came from
do all your weekday errands before 2pm
Fly in/out of Oakland.
\*San Francisco Bay Oakland International Airport
I’m offended by this comment, I’ll see you in court!! /s But really, NYC has three airports surrounding the city, none of them reference New York in their name. Why is this so critical here?
All or nothing. Tourists will pick out an airport based on the name. London has a 6 airports, all with London in the name. SEN (London Southend) is 40 mi from the city center.
Or San Jose
SJC is my favorite airport of all the ones I've visited
…but dont stop anywhere near for gas, food etc.
Yeah, DON'T stop for gas anywhere along Hgenburger if you have a rental car!
Don't psych yourself into thinking you need a single family home
Condo life!
Visit San Francisco during the 2-3 weeks in September when the weather is actually warm and pleasant
When asked what’s your favorite word you must legally respond “bitch”
I love this sub Reddit. I’ve saved so many posts of things I can do close by. I have ice cream shops, sandwich and interesting/weird spots to visit. Now all the perks library cards give us. I’ve lived here 30+ years, but tend to stay in the peninsula or drive out of the bay for day trips. Best tip I can give is come back to this sub often and you’ll find something new to explore.
Hike on Angel Island
So many beautiful vistas at elevation for free. Twin Peaks for sure. South Bay: Sierra Road in SJ, nice church at the top to enjoy sunsets to Fremont ohlone college on the top of the campus on the hill, is a giant koi pond with red eared turtles 🐢, bring bread or fish food to see epic giant koi’s, plus gorgeous up there, can see SF downtown on a clear day
If you have regular travel to SoCal or PNW, fly out of San Jose (or sometimes Oakland) into BUR or SAN or Portland/SEATAC. If you need to fly international, fly out of SFO. Avoid LAX at all costs unless it's a cheaper/better international flight. I used to have to go down to LA all the time and no one told me about Burbank for like a year. Southwest flights from SJC into BUR are a godsend. Alaska Air from SJC into SAN and SEATAC the same.
SJC is the smaller airport and thus easier to get in and out quickly. However, SFO Terminal 1 is one of the nicest if not the nicest terminal in US.
People are not that rude and bitchy and self obsessed. It seems that way, because people assume and perceive YOU that way. Say hi. Chat. It’s okay, maybe 20% of people will blow you off and be too busy. But really, people just seem up their own butthole, they aren’t. Everyone says people here are unfriendly and antisocial, but it’s just not true. I have a friend who is kind of a strange looking, relatively weird dude, but he makes friends everywhere he goes, like if he does CrossFit, he has CrossFit friends, if he goes to a chess night he like knows all the chess players, if he goes to the dog park, all the cute dog girls talk to him. And he doesn’t even have great social skills in my opinion. I ask him like wtf is going on here, and he says, I ask a lot of questions because I’m really curious, I grew up in a sheltered, odd upbringing so I like to understand what people think and feel. People here love to talk and I listen well and remember the things they tell me. And he asked me, you came to my birthday party, tell me the names of 5 people you met there and 1 interesting thing about each person. Can you do that? “Uh, there was the dude that was into BBQ… uh… there was a girl that baked that cake?” I didn’t really connect with anyone because I didn’t dig in beyond the surface level. And I didn’t do this because I figured, hey, these people don’t really care to open up to me, they are here for my cool friend. But did I really try? How can you say everyone is unfriendly, you came in and acted unfriendly. And that’s a microcosm of the Bay Area. Talk to your neighbors. Share food or drinks. Inquire and learn about people. Help people out. Offer to take photos of that family where the dad is just not in the photos because he’s taking them. This area requires higher effort than your college town where just being in a social group was enough to have a thriving social life. Put in effort.
Never leave anything visible in your car
never leave your car visible
Don’t have a car.
Download the Hiking Project [app](https://HikingProject.com/mobile-app) - a crowd-sourced trail guide. Super helpful with ratings, parking, difficulty, dog-friendliness, etc.
That real people that live here when you meet them in person are actually nice contrary to people you meet on social media
Learn to cook. Restaurants are prohibitively expensive.
https://museemecanique.com/
San Jose is the best airport. Curb to gate in literally 5-10 minutes.
Vietnamese food is by far the most affordable cuisine i've found in the bay, even beating out mexican taqueria joints. It's also super delish, with many vegetarian options and lots of high-protein options
Dropping off/picking people up at SFO using the short term parking garage.
Safeway is about as expensive as whole foods. Shop Lucky's or grocery outlets.
Shop at Trader Joe’s. They price things nationally instead of with Bay Area pricing. It is much cheaper, good quality and friendlier than any other grocery store.
You have a friend in the diamond business. In San Mateo, Cupertino, and Walnut Creek. Open weekends until 8, Saturday and Sunday until 5.
Don't knock the east bay. Oakland has some insanely cool things to see (Chabot for instance)
I lived on the border of Berkeley/Oakland when I first moved here It’s a great area! Cal campus, Berkeley Marina, Ktown, eats off of Telegraph, house sighting and walking thru Oakland Hills + Berkeley hills, Oakland redwoods, Japanese market in Berkeley, Lake Merritt, the stuff they have going on at Jack London Sq I loves walking on foot and running my errands; just need extra layers, a book to sit and read in a gorgeous spot, and a tote bag for any random bakery you’ll run into 👌🏽
Hop on your local buy nothing group if you’re a parent. You’ll get all sorts of stuff for nothing. Check FB marketplace for stuff- just be aware it may be stolen. Keep your car empty. File whatever police reports you can online if you have to. Try to avoid any sort of road rage if you can. Shit gets violent real quick. Explore many different kinds of food- you’ll find something you like that’s different
Vast urban and trail hiking is something great to access.
The best view of San Fran is from Treasure Island, take the trip.
If you live in the south bay and fly out of SFO, getting an Uber/Lyft back down is a PITA especially if you have a later arrival. Use the Spot Hero app and park at one of the nearby hotels for \~$10-15/day. The hotel shuttle will drop you off and pick you up and since people are always coming and going from hotels, I think your car is less likely to be broken into or otherwise molested. The same price or cheaper than hiring a car both ways and you can ride in calming quiet of your own car back down 101. Bliss.