Born and raised in San Francisco, you can bet I took living in this city for granted. I was reminded from time to time from visiting friends and family just how lucky I was to grow up here, but of course back then, my drive to school overlooking the ocean and my runs across the Golden Gate Bridge were nothing more than my morning commute and my afternoon run. It wasn’t until leaving for college and starting to miss home that I realized just how unusual my upbringing was – I was raised in one of the most beautiful cities in the world.
After several weeks of fantasizing about being home, I finally got to come back for spring break this week, and I already feel like I don’t have enough time here. How I ever took this magical city for granted, I’ll never know. In the spirit of celebrating my favorite place in the world, here are the top five reasons why San Francisco is the best:
1. The bridge
It felt only fair to start with the Golden Gate Bridge because this iconic landmark is usually what first comes to mind when people think of San Francisco. Even locals can’t escape those golden (but really reddish) towers no matter how far they go – the bridge is visible from just about every peak in the city. It’s not only beautiful from all vantage points, whether you’re beneath it or on it or admiring it from afar, but its history (it had the longest suspension span in the world at the time of its construction in 1937), only adds to its importance.
2. The beaches
One reality of San Francisco is you cannot escape the water. Whether you’re sitting on Crissy Field Beach with your toes in the Bay or strolling down Ocean Beach looking out at well, the ocean, the water is literally always surrounding you – sometimes it even makes you feel like you’re on an island. There’s no surer way to better a mood than taking a stroll to the beach – one with a view of the bridge is just icing on the cake.
3. The food
There’s nothing harder than going from San Francisco food to dining hall food. Beyond its wonderful quality, the mere variation of cuisine in SF is enough to give you pause and make your mouth water. On a typical day, you could have anything from a delicious, authentic Mission burrito to a fresh, colorful plate of sushi, and it doesn’t stop there. You can bet that any strange craving you have will be satisfied within the city limits.
4. The people
Growing up in San Francisco, I was honestly under the impression that everyone was this nice. From salespeople to random passersby, a greeting of some sort is totally normal – people here are typically pretty eager to talk. Even passing another runner when I’m out jogging warrants a wave or a smile. Growing up here, I was taught to acknowledge people and say hi when I can, which is a quality in people that I miss when I go elsewhere.
5. Home
But most of all, the biggest thing I love about San Francisco is being back home, surrounded by my family. Going to school all the way across the country leaves me missing them more than I would like to admit, and everyone can agree that there’s nothing better than the comforts of one’s own bed.
