Gay or straight, everybody loves San Francisco. The city’s beguiling topography and topsy-turvy weather patterns (bring a scarf in July!) add layers of romance to requisite attractions like snapping a selfie in front of the Golden Gate Bridge, holding on tight as rickety cable cars climb impossibly steep hills, riding a ferry to Sausalito and so much more. But the city’s come-as-you-are attitude has made it an irresistible destination for LGBT travelers ever since the end of World War II. There’s much to see and do; consider this your gay San Francisco primer.
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Cruise the Castro
The epicenter of gay life in San Francisco since the early ‘70s, the Castro District is lined with rainbow flags, historic sites, lively bars and, increasingly, chain stores. The intersection of 18th and Castro streets is gay ground zero and a constant hive of activity. Grab a sweet treat at Hot Cookie, sample incredible dim sum at Mama Ji’s and pay tribute to gay civil rights icon Harvey Milk at 575 Castro Street, where a mural and plaque have been placed in his honor.
Get your gay history straight
A worthwhile place to learn about the ways the gay community has shaped San Francisco, the GLBT Historical Society contains numerous interesting artifacts in the form of vintage print publications, photos, audio recordings, flyers and articles of clothing covering everything from the assassination of Harvey Milk to the impact of the AIDS crisis on the city. Noteworthy is the museum’s emphasis on recognizing the contributions of LGBT women and people of color.
Entertain your inner cinephile
A requisite selfie under the neon-lit Castro Theater sign is an experience unto itself, but nothing compares to actually seeing a movie at this historic theater. The landmark movie palace first opened in 1922 and today is home to Frameline: The San Francisco LGBT Film Festival and also boasts a wildly diverse and entertaining calendar, including sing-a-longs, classics, cult films and more. The pièce de résistance is the organist who entertains before the start of each movie!
Hit the beach—in a park!
Sloping Mission Dolores Park in the Mission District offers the kind of skyline views shutterbugs drool over, but given that the neighborhood is also one of foggy San Francisco’s sunniest, it’s become a de facto beach. In particular, the top rim of the park has been bestowed the cheeky name the “Fruit Shelf” thanks to the preponderance of gay men and women who congregate here by the hundreds on warm weekends to canoodle, carouse and frolic in tiny swimwear.
Eat, drink and be a Mary
Most visitors come to San Francisco looking for a good time and in this respect the city does not disappoint. Consider dining at gay-frequented legends like elegant Zuni Café (featured in HBO’s Looking), Swan Oyster Depot and all-night greasy spoon Orphan Andy’s. Cross the Bay to check out Miss Ollie’s and Juhu Beach Club—both helmed by lesbian chefs. A bar crawl, meanwhile, should include stops at popular joints like the Stud, Twin Peaks, El Rio, Badlands and Oasis.
Pay your respects
You could spin so many afternoons out of a visit to stunning, albeit foggy, Golden Gate Park. Culture vultures will love the de Young Museum and the California Academy of Arts and Sciences, while nature enthusiasts should head to the San Francisco Botanical Garden, the Japanese Tea Garden and the Buffalo Paddock. But do take a moment to bow your head at the National AIDS Memorial Grove which pays tribute to the millions of lives impacted by AIDS.
Photo courtesy of the Buchanan
Let Mr. Sandman bring you a dream
It’s easy to sleep well in San Francisco. Beck’s Motor Lodge is a charming and rehabbed motel in the heart of the Castro and a relative bargain (by SF standards). Or check out the Buchanan, the headquarters of Kimpton, located in Japantown (near the excellent Kabuki Baths). Cheap sleeps, meanwhile, can be had at the hip new Good Hotel, which is crafted mostly of reclaimed materials. Even if you don’t have the bucks to throw down at the Fairmont atop Nob Hill, at the very least swing by the hotel’s legendary tiki bar, the Tonga Room & Hurricane Bar, for a Mai Tai.
Jason Heidemann, Travelocity Staff Writer
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