San Francisco State of Mind

[Nicholas Kontis]

As I sit here in my condo in the warm weather of Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, sometimes I forget how blessed I am. Born on perhaps, as many will attest to, the most beautiful island in the world, Santorini, then to have my parents move to San Francisco when I was 4 years old, I feel very fortunate. I have spent a lifetime roaming the streets of this world-class city. Contemplating my return to the city this weekend to watch the 49ers with my fellow locals, I just learned that San Francisco received yet another highly esteemed accolade.

Just another day in San Francisco – Where micro climates and varying weather patterns are different in each neighborhood.

 

Not too shocking, Businessweek.com ranked San Francisco, “Best City Of 2012.” Quite an honor for such a small city. San Francisco is not even the largest city in California. In fact, at just over 800,000 inhabitants, San Francisco is the fourth largest city in the state of California, and only the 14^th largest city in the entire U.S. Two cities that I personally love, New York and Los Angeles, (yes, I love L.A., just hate their baseball team) have not won the coveted award. Perhaps, size doesn’t matter?

San Francisco weather may not evoke constant warm and inviting days at the beach, but when the city does get a heat wave, this city comes to life, like no other city on the planet. San Francisco boasts one of the fastest growing real estate markets in the country. It has been said that the world-class San Francisco restaurant scene would allow every resident of San Francisco to eat out at the same time. Street fairs, music festivals, museums, farmer’s markets, food trucks, a world-class opera, and symphony, libraries, book shops, even a surfing community, along with a mild climate all make San Francisco a year round city Many of the world’s greatest artist and musicians from every genre hail from the cultural mecca called San Francisco. An open-minded, educated population. In the Marina, Cow Hollow, Pacific Heights districts, it has been said that there are more college graduates per capita than any of other large U.S. city.

The city thrives because it breeds tolerance and creativity. There could very well be at least one of every nationality on the planet, in the city of San Francisco. This brings to the city, innovation and new ideas. If there is a lesbian Eskimo out there, she is somewhere in the 49 square miles of San Francisco, and guess what, San Franciscans would welcome her with open arms.

 

Fleet Week in October means fighter jets and aerial stunts over the bay. (Photo Courtesy of KK Photography)

 

The crime rate is relatively low for a population just under a million residents. The air quality is one of the best in the U.S., due to many days of fog, not smog. The city is filled with outdoor areas, parks and beaches creating a healthy environment for fitness, health and well-being.

Once again, the housing market is on the rise, due to a booming tech and social media industry. Hosting the likes of Twitter, Yelp, and Pinterest, who all call San Francisco their home. Facebook, Google and more, are close neighbors to the south. The city remains vibrant with more young people and college graduates moving to San Francisco than any other city in the United States. Perhaps the next Mark Zuckerberg will rent one of my apartments?

October is when San Francisco shines its brightest. A late Indian Summer means constant sunny days. The cities residents come out to play. In October 2012, San Francisco hosted the annual Naval festival ‘Fleet Week’, and the America’s Cup yacht regatta on the same weekend. Larry Ellison and company stole the show in 2012, bringing to the cities millions of dollars. The race featured the world’s greatest yachtsmen competing to see which teams will be represented in the finals, to held again in the San Francisco Bay in 2013.  A Blue Grass music festival, an ‘Octoberfest’ beer festival, the Castro street fair founded by the late great Harvey Milk, even a Vegan festival.  The amounts of things to do on any given weekend is simply amazing.

“Fear the Beard” In a city that breeds tolerance and a character or two - I’m going to miss coffee with my fellow Marina resident – Brian Wilson

 

The San Francisco Giants made one of the most improbable runs in baseball history to win, their second World Series in three years. It was very fitting, as an “only in San Francisco moment” that on Halloween in this sometimes “kooky, wacky, whimsical, tolerant” city, that of all the days of the year, in the city that treats Halloween like a national holiday, San Francisco would throw a parade like no other that this great city has ever seen. Sports and sports teams were one the barometers that was used in ranking U.S. cities and how sports relates to quality of life. San Francisco bonded around Giants baseball team, creating camaraderie and even a better quality city emerged.

The San Francisco 49ers are poised to make a trip to New Orleans for the strong possibility of winning a record tying sixth Super Bowl. The Golden State Warriors basketball team, currently playing, across the bay in Oakland, California will soon build a state of the art arena, right on the water, and once again become, the San Francisco Warriors.

Is it any wonder that San Francisco ranked top 10 in all demographics on what makes an outstanding city. Education, health, amount of open spaces, bars, restaurants, night life, sports franchises, even the amount bike lanes. San Francisco one of the most bicycle friendly cities in the entire U.S.

It wouldn’t be the first time that I have been told that I’m somewhat of cocky, educated, well-traveled, native San Franciscan making me a bit biased, but who wouldn’t want to move to San Francisco? There is a reason why Tony Bennett, “left his heart in San Francisco” and why Businessweek.com ranked San Francisco “Best city in America.”

Photograph courtesy of Robert Glusic/Getty Images

“When the lights go down in the city and the sun shines on the bay, Oh I wanna be there in my city”

Journey

 

About the Author: Nick Kontis – Travel Expert and Founder of the World Travel List

Nick Kontis started out as a world traveler at an early age traveling back and forth between California and Greece every summer. But it was a backpacking trip around the world at age 24 that proved to be a life changing experience. After traveling by car, train, plane, bike and, boat around the world, it would be this trip of a lifetime that would lead to a life as a travel entrepreneur and world traveler. Nick has been on both radio and television. Featured on Arthur Frommer’s television show, and referred by Lonely Planet writers. Frequently mentioned as the “father of around the world airfares.” Arthur Frommer once said, “If Jules Verne were alive today he would use Nick to go around the world in 80 days.” Nick and his various travel companies have sent over 10,000 people taking their dream trip through airfare discounts of as much as 50% off the airlines published fares. Now Nick promotes travel through his World Travel List and ‘Trip Rambler’ by World Travel List. Having traveled to over 80 countries Nick hopes to inspire others to travel the world. Follow Nick’s “passion for travel” on the World Travel List.