Traveling to San Francisco, California can seem like it would be an expensive trip being that it is set in the Bay Area and is a destination location for many. However, that is not the case at all. You do not have to get sucked into the expensive, high costly museums, restaurants or attractions. There are many things to do in the city on a budget.
Golden Gate Park
Plan a picnic lunch in the beautiful Golden Gate Park. This park is incredibly large and has something to do and things to see for everyone. My family enjoys putting together a simple picnic, finding one of many picnic tables and enjoying each others’ company. Afterwards, it is nice to let the kids run around the lawn area and get out their energy. Bring a soccer ball, tennis racket or even a kite. The kids will have so much fun and you will get to relax and breathe in the fresh air of the park. Golden Gate Park also has many attractions to see such as Japanese Tea Gardens, Rose Garden, Lake, several museums, and even a Buffalo viewing area. There is no entrance fee into the park to enjoy the many elements of nature. However, there is a fee to enter the museums so be sure you check ahead of time if that is something you plan on doing.
Fisherman’s Wharf
If you have never been to the city this is one of the main places to see. It is a huge tourist attraction to view all the shops on the wharf, eat at some of the fine restaurants, view the sea lions, enjoy the pretty landscape of the bay, and possibly even take a boat ride. Even though this is a nice place to visit, it is not the most budget friendly location. If you have a decent sized family it could burn a hole in your pocketbook pretty quickly. There are some places to check out for free including the cable care museum, the Musee Mecanique, which is a museum of collectible mechanical games for all ages. You can even make a stop by Ghiradelli Square to grab yourself a chocolate Sundae. The Sundaes are huge, so to save a little bit of money, share it. Then after you are done browsing around Fisherman’s Wharf make your way down to the Ferry Building on Pier 1.
Ferry Building
The Ferry Building has been recently remodeled in the past 10 years. It is a nice little market to visit and be able to see many different, not so usual things. It has a bunch of boutique shops, and restaurants that are awesome to look at. On select days they have a fantastic farmers market that is well worth every penny.
San Francisco City Hall
This is always a fun attraction to check out. This is working Government building but it will simply take your breath away with it’s beauty. It is a replica of the St. Peter’s Basillica in Rome. Absolutely stunning. A great location for some photo opps.
Visit big cities do not have to be expensive. Often time many cities have city guides that have coupons and discounts in them. So be sure to check the stands along the streets for any information you can get on what to do and see in the city you are in. San Francisco is a big city, and there is a lot to take in. It might take you a few trips to get it all done, but it is well worth it. Safe Travels!
Written by Michelle, Free Stuff Finder Contributor
