San Francisco has a lot of major tourist attractions – the cable cars, the Golden Gate Bridge, Fishermans Wharf. Each one is fun and exciting.

And despite all that hyper-driven nonsense you have read in the press that this gem of a city has lost its golden sheen due to rampant homelessness, petty crime, it simply is not true as we discovered on our latest trip to this superb place.

And to be honest we almost did not go given the negative press but we decided what the heck and went.

And, yes, there are a lot of homeless people, derelict areas of the city, petty crime and drugs openly being sold in public.

But that’s always been the case and we have been enjoying San Francisco for eons – this was our seventh trip.

But enough of my rant – let’s discover what makes San Francisco so magical, so enticing, so special.

One word says it all – neighbourhoods.

The real San Francisco are its varied neighbourhoods – each different and unique. So join me for an excellent adventure.

The Golden Gate Park

It’s one of the most amazing places – Golden Gate Park.

Picturesque, expansive – 1,017 acres – more than 13 million people visit it yearly.

The park has lakes, monuments, playgrounds, picnic areas.

There are plenty of events and activities you can enjoy.

So let’s tour the park.

Chinatown

San Francisco’s Chinatown reminds you of Hong Kong – streets filled with restaurants, grocery stores, specialty stores selling Chinese herbs, herbal medicines, places you can have your fortune told, have your palms read, plenty of legitimate massage parlours – an endless array of colourful, vibrant, stores wanting your business.

Little Italy

Little Italy – unique, different. Plenty of great Italian grocery stores, deli’s, coffee shops – great hangouts for the locals.

Castro Area

Vibrant, eclectic, stylish shops, great entertainment spots, lively bars, great restaurants.

The whole area with its own unique vibe and perspective.

The streets are filled with fabulous, restored, Victorian homes, heritage streetcars, stores filled with unique and one-of-a-kind merchandise, gay iconic landmarks – Harvey Milk Plaza, the Castro Theatre.

Japantown

Japantown

Definitely underrated but a gem in its own right – Japantown.

Founded in 1906 Japantown – the oldest Japantown in the U.S. – is full of unique and historical sights, the atmosphere, the hustle, the bustle, creating a sense of being in a Tokyo neighbourhood.

And the area is full of great Japanese restaurants and small shops that sell nothing but Japanese goods – making you feel as if you were in Japan.

And believe it or not two fountains in Japantown have achieved major recognition given their unique design and who designed them.

The two Origami fountains – based on the art of Japanese folding paper – were designed by the modernist abstract artist Ruth Asawa.

Another major attraction – Peace Plaza.

It was created and donated in the mid-1960s as a gift from Osaka, San Francisco’s sister city in Japan.

The plaza was inspired by a series of pagodas that exists in Japan’s ancient capital, Nara, and is a symbol of goodwill and friendship.

The Plaza hosts many community celebrations all Japanese in nature.

San Francisco – cool, vibrant, a must on your bucket list.