SFWC FAQ: I’m coming from far away. What else should I do while I’m in San Francisco?

By San Francisco Writers Conference | July 15, 2022 |

By Lissa Provost

Fisherman’s Wharf. The Ferry Building. Coit Tower. The Beat Museum. The waterfront. The Exploratorium. Pier 39. Cable Cars. Golden Gate Park. People watching everywhere. There is so much to do that you’ll have to be selective to prioritize what you want to see first.

If you can, you should absolutely add a few extra days to your trip to enjoy the city by the Bay. Everybody knows Mark Twain said, “the coldest winter I ever spent was a summer in San Francisco.” Our usual February dates are often more pleasant. Still, summer has no risk of rain and can be a welcome respite if you’re coming from hotter parts of the country. Expect the temperature to vary from 40 to 80 degrees on the same day.

A wild abundance of museums is available to inspire your future writing. Give yourself at least half a day for any of them. A full day if you like to read all the little informational signs like I do. Art, history, and even science concepts are featured. The newly moved and redesigned Exploratorium is an easy walk away.

Many theaters are opening back up. Order your tickets ahead and bring your proof of vaccination.

If you love history, there are not only museums but tours of the city focusing on subjects from the gold rush to the development of LGBTQIA+ culture. In addition, you can transit the city on the only public cable car system still in operation or ride an operational streetcar, gathered from all over the world and restored for use in a functional transit museum. They run on tracks along most of the city’s tourist destinations.

If you love art or architecture, look up. Every densely populated city has its challenges at ground level. Still, you need only lift your eyes to be inspired by the visions of the city’s forebears. There is opulence in the nooks and crannies you would never expect. There are doorways that will make you imagine new worlds beyond them. Keep your camera handy. You can fill a vision board by simply taking a walk, lifting your eyes, and looking around.

If you love food, you’ll find unparalleled dining in the city. You won’t have trouble finding locally sourced, organic, humane, vegan, or other ideologically segregated foodstuffs. The city’s restaurants draw from a wealth of small farms and processors in the surrounding counties. Wine bars abound. The ferry building across from the conference hotel hosts a farmers’ market every weekend. We’re not so close to wine country for nothing.

As it’s a culturally diverse city, you can find authentic flavors from all over the world, sometimes mixed into unique fusions. The hotel is within easy walking distance of a hundred restaurants. Call ahead to check if reservations are required as the conference is near the San Francisco Marathon, and visitors will be celebrating.

We do not include dinners as part of the conference because we want you to get out and take in the flavor of San Francisco. If you’re traveling alone and nervous about going out, conference bon vivant, Harvey Pawl, arranges dinners at particularly exceptional restaurants each night. Attendees and presenters can sign up for them after picking up their name tags. They cost around $45-$50 each and are free to presenters to encourage them to join you and provide another opportunity for you to make connections. These dinners have provided some of my favorite moments and best connections from past years.

Whatever your plan, I suggest making phone calls to verify open hours and reservation requirements. Websites are not always updated when temporary staff shortages require closing early or entirely.

TL;DR – San Francisco is a tourist’s bucket list destination, so extending your trip to play in the city is a great idea.

E.A. (Lissa) Provost is the author and illustrator of Diary of E.A.Provost/Diary of that Weird Girl and Love, Joy, & Pees, illustrated poetry books that celebrate family life for its beauty and messiness. To clear up some of that messiness she designed Maggie’s Planner. She is the founder of the cooperative publisher, New Alexandria Creative Group. In her spare time, she is also the San Francisco Writers Conference Director of Operations Poetry Summit Coordinator.