Fun Things to do in San Francisco -
Some of the best low cost attractions in San Francisco

Shortcuts: Fun Things to Do, Hiking Trails, Free Activities, Bargain Places to Eat, Best Places for Desserts, Twitter Updates

Fun Things To Do in San Francisco:

1. Urban Trek USA is a unique way to see San Francisco. A San Francisco walking tour is the best way to get to know why San Francisco is one of the best places on earth. Urban trekking is an experience you will never get sitting inside a tour bus. With Urban Trek USA's treks, you absorb more of the environment and thus have an enhance interaction with your surroundings.

2. Eating at the many neighborhood restaurants. Check out Bargain Places to Eat, Best Places for Desserts, and Twitter Updates for suggestions showcasing a few neighborhood restaurants that provide great food, good value, and an atmosphere that is unique to San Francisco.

Hiking Trails in San Francisco:

On Your Own Urban Trek 5 - Urban Trek USA is now providing suggestions for self-guided urban treks you can do on your own. For more information about the self-guided urban treks, refer to the "On Your Own" web page or "On Your Own - Trek 5" web page.

Presidio Hiking Trails - Click here to download a printable map of the Presidio Hiking Trails. The hiking trails at the Presidio are one of the best. You will see some of the best views of San Francisco and feel like you are in the wilderness even though you are within city limits. Here are some samples of what you can expect to see:

View from Inspiration Point Overlook

View from Batteries to Bluffs Trail

(Click here to watch all Urban Trek USA videos in full screen on YouTube.)

Free Activites in San Francisco:

Try Urban Trek USA's On Your Own Urban Treks: Urban Trek 5. For more information about the self-guided On Your Own Urban Treks, visit the "On Your Own" web page.

Museums:
Asian Art Museum - free every first Sunday of the month.
California Academy of Sciences - free every third Wednesday of the month.
M.H. de Young Museum - free every first Tuesday of the month.
Modern Art Museum - free every first Tuesday of the month.

Street Fairs:
It is that time of year again for street fairs all over the city. For a schedule of all the street fairs, click on this link: San Francisco Street Fairs

This Urban Trek Leader's favorite are: Fillmore Street Jazz, Union Street Art Festival, North Beach Festival, Stern Grove Festival.

Watch a movie under the stars in San Francicso:
San Francisco Neighborhood Theater Foundation shows movies at different parks from June 20th to October 3rd. Check link to their website for dates, show times, and movie listing: San Francisco Neighborhood Theater Foundation website.

Some suggestions if you plan to go to one of the screenings: a) Washington Square is in the North Beach district. Have coffee and pastries at Victoria Pastry (Victoria Pastry website) or have gelato at Naia (Naia website) before watching the movie. b) Dolores Park is not far from Tartine Bakery and Cafe (Tartine website) where you can have their delicious bread pudding or have good ice cream at Bi-Rite Creamery (Bi-Rite Creamery website) across from the park.

Bargain Places to Eat:
Click for shortcut to area: Castro Area, Chinatown, Inner Richmond (new Chinatown) Area, Mission/Valencia Area, Union Square/Financial District, Tenderloin/Civic Center Area

Around the Castro Area:

Chow, 215 Church Street (@ Market Street), San Francisco, CA 94115, (415) 552-2469 (Click here for Chow's website)

Chow has really good food at prices that are affordable. I try not to endorse chain restaurants but -- although Chow has other locations -- I don't consider Chow as a true chain restaurant. Chow has that neighborhood restaurant feeling.

I can't say I have a favorite dish because everything I have had is good. However, I must say that the Ginger Cake with pumpkin ice cream is one reason I don't go to Chow that often because it is hard to resist ordering this delicious dessert.

Kasa Indian Eatery, 4001 18th Street (corner Noe), San Francisco, CA 94114, (415) 621-6940 (Click here for Kasa's website)

Truly a bargain place with delicious Indian fast food menu. Favorite is lamb curry kati rolls. For two of them with a drink plus tax and tip the bill will be less than $10.00. Good cheap food, what more can one ask for?

Thai House Express, 559 Castro Street (corner 19th Street), San Francisco, CA 94114, (415) 864-5000 (Click here for Thai House Express' website)

Thai food is one of this Trek Leader's favorites and Thai House Express does not disappoint. Everything sampled on the menu was good. The curries are delicious.

Thai House Express also has another restaurant in the Tenderloin/Civic Center area.

Around Chinatown:

City View Restaurant, 662 Commercial Street (between Kearny & Montgomery Streets), San Francisco, CA 94111, (415) 398-2838 (Click here for Yelp on City View Restaurant)

What this Trek Leader likes about City View Restaurant is it offers dim sum where you can sit down and eat (vs. counter/take out) and where dim sum carts go around so you can see what you want to eat (vs. ordering off a menu). The tables have white tablecloths and the place in nice and clean. Prices are relatively affordable. Of course, the food is also good. Even when the place is crowded, you don't feel "squeezed in."

Hang Ah Tea Room, 1 Pagoda Place (near Sacramento Street), San Francisco, CA 94108, (415) 982-5686 (Click here for Yelp on Hang Ah Tea Room)

What this Trek Leader likes about Hang Ah Tea Room is it offers dim sum at very affordable prices and has that "hole-in-the-wall" quality. Going here for lunch is recommended instead of dinner when you want to have dim sum. Hang Ah's disadvantage is it does not have dim sum carts. You will have to order off the menu so you have to do your homework and know what you want to order.

Around the Inner Richmond District (New Chinatown) Area:

Good Luck Dim Sum, 736 Clement Street (between 8th & 9th Ave), San Francisco, CA 94118, (415) 386-3388

Good Luck Dim Sum is one of the best bargains you can find for a meal. For two people, you can spend about $12.00 ($6.00 each) and have a sample of at least eight different dishes. The food is also good especially if you factor in the price, which makes the experience even better.

Good Luck Dim Sum is in San Francisco's new Chinatown (Clement Street from 3rd Ave to 11th Ave). If you come here during the rush hour, you will probably have to fall in line. While in line, fill up your order form (click here to view sample order form) which you can pick up at the counter. They also normally provide pens at the counter. Circle the items that you want to order on the order form. Normally, three pieces come with each order but always ask to make sure. You can eat your meal at one of the tables (if one is available) or order food to go.

Recommended items: Pork Siu Mai, Shrimp Dumplings, Shark Fin Dumpling, Steamed BBQ Pork Bun, & Baked BBQ Pork Bun.

Around the Mission/Valencia Area:

MIssion Street Food (Thursdays & Saturdays only), 2234 Mission Street (@ 18th Street), San Francisco, CA (Click here for Mission Street Food's website)

This currently is one of the Trek Leader's favorite places to eat. The menu changes each time but the one thing that is always offered is the flatbread even though the filling changes now and then. You definitely have to try it! It might be wise not to share it because this Trek Leader thinks that half (or part) of it is not enough. The whole thing is so much better! Also, corkage is only $5.00 so bring your own bottle of wine.

The other things that are so great about this place is the whole concept of how Mission Street Food started, the atmosphere of a "neighborhood" getting together for dinner, and having part of the proceeds go to a charitable organization. Read this article for more information: "Mission Street Food - low-down haute cuisine"

Yamo, 3406 18th Street (@ Mission Street), San Francisco, CA 94110, (415) 553-8911 (Click here for Yamo's menu as of 04/15/2009)

This is the Urban Trek Leaders new favorite place. Why? Because the dishes cost only $5.25 (as of 4/14/09)!!! Aside from the great price, the food is delicious. The group tried the Chicken Noodle Soup, Black Bean Fish, and Yamo House Noodles with Beef and they were all good. This could be the best value meal one can have in San Francisco.

The minus is that it's such a small space with a counter that probably can fit less than 10 people so going there at peak time could mean a bit of a wait. A big group would probably be hard to accommodate. Those that live in the neighborhood order ahead for pick up. That seems the best way to do it. If you don't live in the neighborhood, maybe the best thing to do is to go before the peak lunch/dinner hours.

Yamo's business hours: Mon - Thur 10:30 am - 9:30 pm, Fri - Sat 10:30 am - 10:00 pm.

Around the Union Square/Financial District:

Out The Door, 845 Market St (@ Westfield Centre's food court), San Francisco, CA, (415) 541-9913 (Click here for Out The Door's website)

The Slanted Door, one of the best restaurants in San Francisco, offers its "fastfood" version at Out The Door. My favorite dishes are the Daikon rice cakes with shiitake mushrooms, the spring rolls, and green papaya salad.

Around the Tenderloin/Civic Center Area:

Thai House Express, 901 Larkin Street (corner Geary Blvd), San Francisco, CA 94109, (415) 441-2248 (Click here for Thai House Express' website)

Thai food is one of this Trek Leader's favorites and Thai House Express does not disappoint. Everything sampled on the menu was good. The curries are delicious.

Thai House Express also has another restaurant in the Castro area.

Osha Thai Noodle Cafe, 696 Geary Blvd (corner Leavenworth), San Francisco, CA 94102, (415) 673-2388 (Click here for Osha Thai Noodle Cafe's website)

Year and years ago this Trek Leader started going to Osha Thai Noodle Cafe because it was one place that stayed open late on weekends (after partying at the clubs and bars) to get something to eat before heading home. That was when this location was the only one Osha Thai Noodle Cafe had and was basically a hole-in-the-wall place that served good food. Today, Osha Thai Noodle Cafe has remodeled and expanded this location and has opened restaurants at several locations. This Trek Leader thinks that the Geary Blvd location (the original one) still serves the best noodle soup (i.e. Duck Noodle Soup). And although not the healthiest dish to order, the Fried Chicken Rice Plate is hard to resist.

Best Places for Desserts:

Candy Bar, 1335 Fulton (@ Divisadero), San Francisco, CA 94117, (415) 673-7078 (Click here for Candy Bar's website)

The dessert menu changes so it is not possible to say which one is a favorite. However, everything this Trek Leader has had has always been excellent. Candy Bar is a dessert lounge so desserts are their specialty and they definitely know how to make them. Their cocktails are just as good as their dessert.

The other good thing about Candy Bar is the atmosphere. It is a neighborhood hangout with a relaxed cool vibe. You are welcome to pull any of the games from the shelf so you and your friends can play a game while having dessert, which adds to the fun of this place.

Tartine Bakery & Cafe, 600 Guererro Street (@ 18th Street), San Francisco, CA 94110, (415) 487-2600 (Click here for Tartine's website)

The bread pudding is absolutely delicious. This Trek Leader can eat a whole pan of this divine dessert. Most of the other desserts are also good but one must try the bread pudding. The only bad thing about this place is that it closes too early so one would have to have an early dinner around the neighborhood in order to get to Tartine Bakery & Cafe for dessert before it closes. Well, maybe those that do not like having an early dinner can have the bread pudding (or other desserts) after breakfast, lunch, or anytime during the day.

If you are more in the mood for ice cream than pastries then read the next recommended place.

Bi-Rite Creamery, 3692 18th Street (@ Dolores), San Francisco, CA 94110, (415) 626-5600 (Click here for Bi-Rite Creamery's website)

Bi-Rite Creamery is a block from Tartine Bakery & Cafe. So on warm days/evenings ice cream might be a better choice for dessert. My favorite is Sam's Sundae, which is chocolate ice cream with bergamot olive oil, maldon sea salt, and whipped cream. Yes, you read that correctly, olive oil and sea salt. The sea salt brings out the chocolate flavor and the olive oil add something that makes it unique. If you're not willing to try something unusual, you will not be disappointed with the many ice cream, sorbet, and popsicle flavors. Bi-Rite Creamery also serves some baked goods.

Loving Cup, 2356 Polk Street (@ Union Street), San Francisco, CA 94109, (415) 440-6900 (Click here for Yelp reviews for Loving Cup)

Loving cup serves delicious rice pudding desserts. This Trek Leader was curious about rice pudding and was very glad to stop in and sample it. The truth is it was hard to choose just one so I had a small cup with half of two different kinds (white chocolate & chai). When I spoke to the young lady that owns the place, she conveyed that the recipes are family recipes and I could tell that she truly loved making and was proud of them. There are 18 kinds of rice pudding that are rotated (6 at a time, I think). Next time I will try the frozen yogurt and other stuff. I just love finding places that you cannot find in other places and serves unique and delicious food/dessert.

Naia, 520 Columbus Avenue (between Green & Union Streets), San Francisco, CA 94133, (415) 677-9280 (Click here for Naia's website)

Naia serves good gelato with a wide variety of flavors. Flavors range from the usual strawberry/chocolate to goodies like tiramisu/cantaloupe and the more exotic young Thai coconut. This is a place to get something quick and yummy, especially on a warm day/night.

Naia also has another location at the Castro: 451 Castro Street (between 17th & 18th Streets), (415) 864-6670.

Bombay Ice Creamery, 552 Valencia Street (between 16th & 17th Streets), San Francisco, CA 94110, (415) 861-3995 (Click here for Bombay Ice Creamery's website)

If you want to sample flavors that are uncommon, go to Bombay Ice Creamery. I had the cardamon rose flavor and it was different and delicious. Next time I will try the fig or the saffron rose flavor.

Twitter Updates:

Fun Things to do in San Francisco - Some of the best low cost attractions in San Francisco

Fun Things to do in San Francisco -
Some of the best low cost attractions in San Francisco