From guest blogger, Stefania Pomponi Butler, of City Mama

It’s the holidays, a time to over-do-it in more ways that one! We over-shop, over-eat, and over-commit ourselves, but one thing we don’t have to do is over-spend on fun holiday activities. The San Francisco area is rife with festive ways to enjoy the holidays without breaking the bank.

In San Francisco, it doesn’t cost a thing to walk around Union Square and enjoy the decor. From the tree in the middle of the plaza to the fancied-up holiday windows, there is plenty to see and you don’t have to spend a dime. I love window shopping around the square then stepping into St. Francis Hotel for a drink in the lobby where they serve cocktails from the Michael Mina bar. From there, you can head over to Justin Herman Plaze and ice-skate on the outdoor rink. Around $10 buys you 90 minutes on the rink. If you don’t want to spend the money, you can always grab a warm drink and watch ice-challenged Californians slip and slide their way across the ice.

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