San Francisco is one of the most diverse and exciting cities in the United States, and it is a perennial favorite of young adults in search of adventure. In the wake of the city's huge influx of hippies in the late 1960s, many people came to associate San Francisco with alternative lifestyles and the drug culture. However, San Francisco is a city of many faces, offering something for virtually everyone.
Food and Restaurants
San Francisco is known for its wide variety of restaurants that serve up dishes ranging from the chic and exotic to the familiar and down-home. You can check out restaurants in the SOMA--or South of Market Street--district, as well as local favorites in the Haight-Ashbury district. If you have a taste for ethnic food, treat yourself to a burrito at any of the many great taquerias lining the streets of the Mission district. If you'd rather cook, San Francisco has many fine organic groceries, such as the famous Rainbow Grocery Cooperative on Folsom Street.
Exploring on Foot
San Francisco is famous--or perhaps infamous--for its hills. Even the most seasoned city stroller can get worn out braving the steep slopes of streets like Filbert Street and Lombard Street. You also can hike, or rest, in several beautiful parks. For a bit of local color, some socializing and a festive, welcoming atmosphere, check out hippie hill in the northeast corner of Golden Gate Park. Or saunter on down to Delores Park, perched on the border between the Mission and the Castro districts at 20th and Church Street.
Culture and Sightseeing
San Francisco is a cultural beacon, and there are more than enough places to keep the culture-hungry visitor busy. Check out the City Lights Bookstore in the North Beach district, established by the famous beat-era poet Lawrence Ferlinghetti; you can pass Jack Kerouac Alley on the way. There are many small art galleries in San Francisco in the more affluent shopping districts. Finally, you can visit the California Academy of Sciences, Japanese Tea Garden or the de Young Fine Arts Museum located in Golden Gate Park.
Fitness
Many Bay Area residents are very health-conscious in the country, and there are a variety of fitness activities, both traditional and unorthodox, in the city. Outdoor activities include biking over Golden Gate Bridge, jogging along the bay or the ocean, or taking part in one of the many weekend morning yoga classes offered throughout the city.
Nightlife
If you think you never really know a city until you've seen it after dark, you can find every kind of night life in San Francisco. If you want to dance the night away, check out Ruby Skye near the civic center. If you prefer a more alternative sound, try Popscene in the SOMA district. Or see who's at concert venues such as the Independent or The Fillmore.
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