Sunny San Francisco's sites, sounds and tastes gives it a bit of everything
San Francisco has an incredibly laid-back feel and its temperatures don't reach the highs of other American cities during the summer
Sunny San Francisco has so much to offer tourists and somehow provides it all without feeling overly touristy.
It has an incredibly laid-back feel and its temperatures don't reach the highs of other American cities during the summer, something that was very much welcomed after I arrived there from the scorching July heat of New York.
You can fly to the Northern California city direct from Dublin in 11 hours and it's an easy ride by the BART trains from San Francisco International Airport into downtown.
The city is home to some of the most well-known tourist attractions in the States, with the Golden Gate Bridge overlooking San Francisco Bay and the infamous Alcatraz Island.
The 1.6km bridge is magnificent to look at and is easy to reach from the downtown area. It's about a 20-minute drive from Union Square, while it will take you slightly longer to reach via public transport, with a number of bus options available.
You can spend as much time as you like around the bridge, with plenty of walks, trails and hikes located nearby.
There is also a coffee shop and a welcome centre that offers merchandise and historical information, while you may walk or cycle across the bridge, but be warned that it can be quite windy and foggy.
I've had the pleasure of spending time in a number of American cities and Alcatraz Island is up there with the most enjoyable/ mind-blowing places that I have visited.
The federal prison located on the island operated from 1934 to 1963 and was home to some of America's most notorious inmates.
Alcatraz City Cruises provide the ferry transportation and tour ticket to the island, operating from Pier 33 Alcatraz Landing.
With a short boat trip out to the island, around three hours should allow you enough time for return ferries and enough time to see everything on Alcatraz.
The tour is well done through the voices of former prisoners and guards on the island, which is now home to a large number of different birds species and you can view the cells, solitary confinement, canteen, work yard and the remains of the warden's house, which was gutted in a fire in 1970 on Alcatraz during the AIM (American Indian Movement) Occupation of the island.
After returning to shore from the tour, the bustling Fisherman's Wharf is just a short walk away. Here you will find shops, bars and restaurants, as well as flocks of people trying to spot sea lions at nearby Pier 39.
Make sure you try chowder and the scrumptious homemade bread that accompanies it in one of the many eateries at Fisherman's Wharf.
In terms of where to base yourself in San Francisco, the Beacon Grand hotel in Union Square is the perfect base, located close to a number of transport options.
Overlooking a tram line, the hotel boasts about "blending historic charm with modern luxury" and they do it extremely well.
It has a large and spacious foyer, a beautiful bar and serves guests up a wide selection of cocktails, as well as offering a wide range of food options.
For sports mad fans there is a large sports bar, the Golden Gate Tap Room, which is the perfect setting for taking in whatever sport it is that you want to see, located across the road.
Of course there are plenty of places to go to see live sport in the San Francisco area also.
The San Francisco 49ers are the city's NFL side and their stadium holds 68,500, while baseball club the San Francisco Giants play at Oracle Park.
Unfortunately, I didn't get to a game at either venue, but I did manage to venture out to the much smaller Kezar Stadium, which is home to soccer side San Francisco City FC.
Located in the Golden Gate Park, a match ticket cost around €15, with the team playing in the USL League Two, which is an amateur/semi-professional league.
However, the facilities are much better than those that you would find at most League of Ireland grounds and it was a thoroughly enjoyable evening out, with a nice, family-friendly atmosphere.
I've touched on food already, but no amount of words could ever do the quality of food in San Francisco justice, with something available for all taste buds.
The North Beach area is known as "little Italy" and is home to all sorts of restaurants, cafes and bars. The food options are plentiful and there is a great mix of options available on the majority of menus.
I opted for Tony's Pizza Napoletana and went for an Italian beef sandwich for lunch. It still had me pretty much full by dinner time! But there are so many good places to eat in this area so make sure you pay it a visit.
Also, be sure to get yourself to Chinatown, which as you guess has a wide range of Chinese eateries and shops selling fresh produce.
But just a few minutes walk from it and you will find Sam’s Pizza & Burgers, which served me one of the tastiest burgers I have ever had.
It's quite small inside, but is very reasonably priced and delivers a real American experience. It's the perfect place for a late night snack and a couple of beers.
Like any major city, there is undoubtedly the chance to be ripped off, but I had nothing but good experiences in San Francisco and found it incredibly handy to get around, with good food, bars and atmosphere around every corner.
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