36 of 36 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Superior Guide to History, Landmarks, Food, Culture, June 18, 2005
I live in SF and this truly is a fabulous book! I press it into the hands of all my guests (from France, Germany, Switzerland, Canada..) and they are off to explore the town!
Among the wonderful characteristics of this book are the following:
1. ILLUSTRATIONS (several detailed pictures per page)
2. History of SF (illustrated and hitting major points)
3. Overview of city by District
4. In depth guide (broken down by district: Chinatown, Financial District, Golden Gate Park)
5. Suggested walking tours (illustrated paths and what to see while walking)
6. Attention to detail (such as rub lions at the entry gate to Chinatown for good luck..)
7. In Depth coverage of Major attractions (museums, Alcatraz, Yerba Buena Gardens) which consists of a diagram of the complex, an identification of each building and a sampling of the art, prison cell, etc, found in the respective buildings.
8. Event guide (found on p. 46-49) that details major events happening annually in San Francisco (organized by month) accompanied with a temperature/ rainfall guide (but always pack a jacket for SF). Events include: North Beach Festival, Bay to Breakers, Cherry Blossom Festival, SF International Film Festival and the like.
9. Nearby attractions: book also talks about Sausalito, Berkeley, Yosemite Park
10. Where & What to Eat: covers famous dishes & restaurants of SF - for the trendy spots you'll have to go on citysearch and look under SF b/c the trendy spots constantly change
This is the first recommendation I've made b/c this book truly is the most used in my library. All whom I have lent it to rave about the detailed pictures and hidden facts about SF.
Eyewitness travel guides are a WONDERFUL series known for MANY pictures and in-depth coverage. Lonely Planet is also a good choice but I prefer guides with pictures. My friends (who also live in SF) borrow this book when they have friends and family visiting b/c you can easily select things to do (walks, ferry rides, restaurant tastings, etc.) by just flipping through pages. Moreover, by simply looking through the book, you are already learning about the place you will visit, and you will be able to quickly find your way around the attractions...
In addition, you might want to visit the SF Chronicle's website for local events. Moving here? That's why I first bought the book. For movers I would also recommend the website Craigslist.
Either way, enjoy the city and Remember: ALWAYS bring a jacket because the fog can roll in anytime to make even an August day FREEZING cold... (that's why tourist shops sell fleeces year-round)
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16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Don't leave home without it, August 23, 2006
I have just returned from my sixth trip to San Francisco and used this particular guide for the last three. The detailed pictures helped me find new treasures, the info on transportation has saved me the cost of the guide many times over. I've used this to locate both child friendly activites and also intriguing adult adventures - different trips. This book is very well organized, beautifully illustrated and so packed with information it will take several more trips before I exhaust all it's possibilities.
I absolutely love this series of travel guides. When you first start thinking about a travel destination buy the book from this series, use it to plan your trip, take it along to guide you along the way and then bring it home to reminisce about your adventure. These guides are thorough, giving an overview of the history, climate etc as well as detailed information about food and lodging. The series is NOT updated as often as some others but up-to-date info in particulars are readily available elsewhere (other guides, both purchased and local freebies, and the internet). The pictures are a plus for locating things, detailed info about local food, transportation etc is very helpful.
The only drawbacks to this series are that the books tend to be rather heavy and the need to confirm some of the info.
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23 of 25 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great tote-around book for exploring San Francisco, March 15, 2004
I've used this guide for several trips to San Francisco and found it highly useful. I've carried this book all over the city. The detailed street maps in the back are excellent and you can easily use them without saying to everyone, "Hey, look at me holding this gigantic map. I must be a stupid tourist. Come mug me." The color thumbnail images are perfect if you're a photographer and want a glimpse of what each location looks like before visiting. There's also enough text to keep you entertained on your plane ride without boring you. This is a great guide to thumb through and pick out which places you want to visit. Each location is listed with its street address, map number and location, and admission times when applicable. The trolley lines are also covered, but you'll probably want to pick up an up-to-date bus map when you arrive.
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