IDCC14 - Planning your trip to San Francisco

While making plans for the IDCC14 Conference in San Francisco, be sure to include extra time in your itinerary to take in some of the great attractions of the City By the Bay.

It will be easy to explore the city on foot during the conference, especially since the conference venue is located in the heart of San Francisco: Union Square (see image below). From this central spot, you are minutes away from many of the city’s most popular attractions thanks to readily accessible public transportation.

Union Square

Of course, everyone has a different list of favorite activities in San Francisco. Among staff at the California Digital Library (one of the co-hosts of IDCC14), some winners include:

• Check out the view from the top floor of the de Young Museum's observation tower. The tower is free!
• Eat dim-sum for breakfast (Good Mong Kok Bakery, Yank Sing, Lai Hong Lounge)
• Great outdoor activities:

1.      Walk across the Golden Gate Bridge on a nice day (see image below)
2.      Walk through Golden Gate Park. You can do this a hundred times and still not see the whole park.
3.      Walk along Ocean Beach. If you are in town on a Friday or Saturday evening, enjoy a beach bonfire.
4.      Head up to Twin Peaks around sunset and enjoy one of the most amazing views of the Bay Area.

• Take a walk long walk with great stops: Start at the Ferry Building and walk to the Telegraph Hill Steps, see the wild parrots, stop and visit Coit Tower and see the WPA murals, continue walking through North Beach (stop for lunch at Mario’s Bohemian Cigar Store & Cafe), and through Chinatown, and back to Union Square.

Resources for planning your trip:

• Wikitravel on San Francisco: This super online resource has descriptions of the San Francisco neighborhoods, a history of the city, tips on transportation and navigating the Bay Area, itineraries, landmarks, and day trips.
• 'Best of San Francisco' lists. This site has every kind of list, from 'best public restroom' to 'best bar for the designated driver' and 'best place to get lost'. You are sure to find some unique destinations in the city.
• Trip Advisor: overview of San Francisco Tourist Attractions, including suggested day trips and “off the beaten path” experiences
• Top 'Must Do' Activities for San Francisco from National Geographic
• Time Magazine list of Top 10 San Francisco Activities