San Francisco

by Alison Bing, Lonely Planet

Discover San Francisco
Stroll the Golden Gate Bridge as fog rolls in like dry ice at a Kiss concert
Bargain-hunt for a halter dress, vintage tees, 'zines and salsa CDs in the Mission
Watch the seagulls hover as you bite into fresh fish tacos with avocado-cilantro cream
Replay your day of pinots, syrahs and viogniers while soaking in a mud bath
In This Guide:
127 delish restaurants, 108 author-tested bars and clubs, 15 tips for a sustainable visit
The only guide with dedicated Gay/Lesbian/Bi/Trans and Moving to San Francisco chapters - more depth, more niches, more fun
Content updated daily: visit lonelyplanet.com for up-to-the-minute reviews, updates and traveler suggestions

Genres: Travel, Reference, Nonfiction

376 pages, Paperback

First published February 1, 2008

Reviews

[Lynn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really great travel book. I've been to San Francisco a couple of times so I could really identify with this book. I thought it contained really good information and recommendations for any traveler. I actually enjoyed reading sections on the history of San Francisco and its various sections. My favorite experience of my trips was going to Alcatraz prison. I wasn't that impressed to go and it was going to take a whole day but I couldn't get enough once I boarded the ferry. The park service does a wonderful job of covering the history of Alcatraz right up to the Indian Rights movement in the 1970s. Never loved a national monument more, well worth preserving for countless generations. Castro Street, the Mission district and Haight-Ashbury are pretty wonderful places too. A church in the Mission district was used in Vertigo and if you drive up on route 1 to Bodega Bay, you'll see the restaurant, school and house that was in the movie The Birds. They are all brightly painted, better to show up on Technicolor I guess. San Francisco has many treats. Great city.

[J C · Rating 1 out of 5]

I only read the History and Neighborhoods sections. I was unimpressed. The history is from a very biased perspective, telling the plight of the Ohlone with minimal firsthand accounts. From getting to know SF from this book, I would never want to visit.

Some of the information on neighborhoods is still relevant but a lot has changed. The descriptions of the Presidio and Golden Gate park have stood the test of time.

The authors overuse and abuse adjectives, the excessive overuse almost makes me think that they're getting paid by word count.

Would not recommend.

[Katie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm only partway into this book, and already considering putting it down. It might be full of good suggestions for things to do, but several things have grated on me thus far. For one, in the section on San Francisco's history, the aftermath of the 1906 earthquake is described, and the death toll in the ensuing fires "mounted to an estimated 3000 people, plus an unknown number of prostitutes kept under lock and key." Grammatically convenient, perhaps, but the way it's worded gives the implication that these demised captives aren't people like the rest of the population. Another item that chafed was the section on "San Francisco's 3 biggest musical crimes" - yes, people might be tired of the songs "named and shamed", but the segment comes across as the author trying to be funny but just sounding bitter and judgmental. The latest offense I've encountered comes in the section on the "must-see movies" set in the city - if you're going to recommend a film as a "must-see", then at least try to get basic details about its most famous scene correct. In this case, the recommendation is "Bullitt", with the iconic car chase through San Francisco's streets, pitting Steve McQueen's Mustang against a Dodge Charger. The book lists McQueen's car as a GTO. It's a small detail, but for this book being such a supposedly thoroughly researched guide, it stands out.

Edit: Having finished reading through it, the sections on shopping and restaurants redeem this book somewhat. The pun-filled description of the Grateful Dead house was also a plus. Still don't care for the issues previously mentioned, but at least the book did improve.

[Emily]

A great guide to San Fran. Love the Lonely Planet series!

[sislasus · Rating 4 out of 5]

Massor av info!

[Liz De Coster · Rating 2 out of 5]

I usually like Lonely Planet guides, but this was a bit scattershot for me. I'd recommend the abbreviated pocket guide instead.