Explore the City By The Bay

Welcome to one of the world’s best cities for LGBT travelers – San Francisco, California.

The city by the bay has lots to see from museums to parks, to bridges and more. Here are some of my top choices for things to see and do.

Adventures By The Bay
Calling all thrill seekers: Climb aboard Rocket Boat near Pier 39 for the ultimate high speed adventure on the SF Bay! Hold on to your sunglasses as you are blown away on the most amazing 30-minute boat ride of your life. You will experience wild twists and turns as Rocket Boat bolts you down to the Bay Bridge and beyond. Stunning views and a classic Rock ‘n’ Roll soundtrack adds to the 30-minutes of fun!

Want to experience a more relaxed cruise on the bay? Go on board one of the Hornblower Dinner cruises to experience a bridge-to-bridge romantic cruise. Hornblower offers many different cruise options. The 4-course dinner cruise is the best bet, delicious main course options include; salmon, chicken and lamb. On board entertainment includes a live two-piece band and DJ dance party after dinner. Upper deck of the boat provides for incredible views of both the Bay Bridge and Golden Gate Bridge. You can’t go wrong with a Hornblower dinner cruise.

Party by the Bay
You have to experience the nightlife in The Castro. You won’t find the large, high ceiling discos you see in other major cities, but SF has a fun row of clubs and bars to delight any traveler. If you want to enjoy sexy go-gos you must visit The Cafe (you’ll get to see the Drag Race girls here too). For great drinks and great prices you head over to Toad Hall, famous for their 2 for 1 happy hour (the bartenders are sexy too!) Other main stays in the Castro are Mix SF, Q Bar, Midnight Sun and Lookout.

Top Eats in SF
Calling all foodies. SF is full of tasty bites and over the top cuisine from seafood to burgers to the best steaks around. There are so many amazing restaurants to try in SF here are my top three. You may not think of Hard Rock Café as a top spot for culinary delight but their SF location is different. Under the lead of Executive Chef Jason Yerbick they have revamped the menu and added dishes unique to SF. You must try his take on clam chowder and the mouth-watering Ahi tuna burger. You won’t be disappointed.

If you’ve heard of clam chowder in a bread bowl, you probably have heard the name Boudin. Their clam chowder restaurants are all over SF. In Fisherman’s Wharf, they have a flagship store and Boudin Bistro. The menu has so much more to offer to get your mouth watering. The best ceviche you’ll ever have, and crab cakes that will leave you wanting more.

Are you looking for a fine dining experience while on vacation? Osso Steak House is the place to go in SF to be wowed! The service from the moment you walk in the door is superb. The staff is extremely knowledgeable and will be able to match the perfect wine, appetizer and steak to your tastes and take you on a culinary journey through the courses. Their signature steak, the Osso filet; served medium rare is best steak you’ll ever taste. This is on the higher end of the price spectrum but is worth every dollar. Treat yourself, you’ll be happy.

Other restaurants to check out include: Franciscan Crab, Squat & Gobble and Hunan House.

Rest your Head
Visit AbOUTtheGlobe.com for reviews of Intercontinental Mark Hopkins and Hilton Union Square as well as some videos to virtually explore the city before you go.

#AbOUTtheGlobe is written by J.Son; a Vegas based columnist and event producer. Follow him on Instagram @NakedBoyNews or Twitter @GayTravelGuy