I recently discovered a site that has become a wonderful resource for me and my wife. We are recent transplants to the San Francisco Bay Area, and as a result, we are always looking for new and exciting things to do that we can easily drive to in an afternoon or go to in the evening after a hard day at the office.

71miles has turned out to be one of the best places to find this sort of information. Their basic premise is that there are a zillion things to do nearby any major metropolis, so why not travel locally?

For the moment this site the most comprehensive information focused on the Northern California area, but they also have a guide for the Washington DC area.

The reason this site is so good is because their information is all very relevant to the local person dwelling in one of these areas: they have a great list of destinations for road-trips, Half Moon Bay, for example or the San Mateo Coast are both in easy striking distance with lots of cool stuff to do. Read More »

As you plan your trip to San Francisco, you might be like me and think about where you are going to eat, even before you book your hotel. My husband and I are notorious in our family for using graph paper to plot our vacations, allowing our restaurant choices to drive the rest of the itinerary.

For those of you visiting San Francisco for the first time, I offer my suggestions of my top 5 places to eat:

1. Town Hall
Why we like it: the menu is constantly changing, based on seasonal availability. Everything we have eaten there has been excellent, and their wine list turns us on to wines we don’t see elsewhere.
The real reason we go: chocolate butterscotch pudding on the dessert menu. Wonderful!

2. Coco 500
Why we like it: the unassuming location, the friendly wait staff and the creative use of local and organic veggies. We also get a kick out of their quirky menu, with categories such as Leaf, A la Plancha, and California Dirt.
The real reason we go: the way they make a couple of parents from the ‘burbs feel like slick SF hipsters.

3. Le Colonial
Why we like it: in addition to the beautiful setting and unique entry, the French-Vietnamese cuisine is might tasty and the individual flavors of each dish shine.
The real reason we go: creative bartenders who aren’t afraid to mix-it-up!

4. Farrallon
Why we like it: cool jellyfish decor sets the scene for outstanding entrees from the sea and land. Supporting sustainable farming methods, the menu travels along the coast pairing wine and food for a total experience.
The real reason we go: my secret need for foie gras, in this case, served with sugar pie pumpkin, organic mâche, and pomegranate.

5. b a c a r
Why we like it: if Northern Californian was a cuisine type, then this place has it nailed. Using fresh, local ingredients to spin up interesting dishes, we like this place for a quick bite after work, or a full blown dinner with friends.
The real reason we go: offering flights and tastes of almost all the wines on the menu, they encourage you to try something new. This is how we found Gruner Veltliner, one of our new favorites!

Bonus: Primavera
Why we like it: while not a typical restaurant (ok, this is food stand at the Ferry Building’s Farmers Market), it does have the best breakfast in town. Open only on Saturdays, this tented wonder in the back, near the entrance to the ferry to Larkspur, serves excellent Mexican brunch items. The real reason we go: Chiliquiles, Chorizo scrambled eggs, and chicken sopas. Need I say more?

Now that I have laid out my secrets, share some of yours! I am curious to hear what you think are some of the great restaurants in San Francisco.