Things to Know Before Moving to San Francisco

If you’re moving to San Francisco soon, expect to fall in love with the city just like everyone before you has. There are a number of factors that make this part of the country one of the most unique in the nation, maybe even the world. Between the location, the weather, the people, the culture and its history, San Francisco has plenty to offer everyone. Here’s a primer to help with your acclimation.

We Gets Lots of Fog

San Francisco definitely gets more than its fair share of sun. Even if you haven’t visited yet, chances are you’ve seen a picture of a sun-drenched Golden Gate Bridge. While it’s true you won’t have much trouble catching a tan in town, ask anyone who lives here what weather they associate with their city and you’ll most likely get one answer: fog. Many people even refer to San Francisco as Fog City (they don’t, however, refer to it as “Frisco”, “San Fran” or “SF”). While summers are nice and hot here, between mid-August and late October, expect to see plenty of fog rolling in from the Pacific. That being said, this fog isn’t necessarily a bad thing. In fact, a lot of residents come to love it. Once the summer heat settles in, you’ll most likely look forward to a cooling fog helping you fight the higher temps.

Beaches Here Are Cool

For those who really want a golden-brown tan, you’ll most likely have to leave the city. Most days, it just isn’t hot enough to really lay out for a good amount of time. However, there are beaches both south and north of the city that will give you ample opportunities for vitamin D.

The Food Trucks Are No Joke

Depending on where you’re from, it’s probably not uncommon to see a food truck or two parked around town. Perhaps you’ve even tried a meal from one in the past. In San Francisco, there are a lot of food trucks that are as good as any restaurant. While these eateries may not have the best reputation in other cities, here, there is a long list of food trucks you definitely want to make time for. El Gallo Giro has some of the best tacos in town. If you don’t eat animal products, Hella Vegan Eats won’t disappoint. Minnie Bell’s is the spot for all kinds of soul food. Adam’s Grub Truck may not sound like much, but the portion size and taste will change your mind immediately. For those with a sweet tooth, Frozen Kuhsterd must be experienced. Some of their signature custard dishes are even infused with alcohol.

It’s Easy to Get Around

Most people from out of town think of the city as being huge. This is largely a misconception though. Fewer than 900,000 people actually have an address here and the entire city is less than 50 square miles. While this has definitely caused a challenging housing situation, the good news is that it’s really easy to get around, simply because it’s a fairly small area. A lot of times, walking from one place to the next is actually quicker just because it beats traffic congestion (having a bike helps too). Of course, there are also cable cars to help.

Neighborhoods Are Everything

There are close to a 100 different neighborhoods here and each one is as unique as the next. Although it may mean more work for you when trying to find where to live, all these neighborhoods also guarantee you can find an area that will fit your unique personality. It’s definitely worth the search. Moving to San Francisco will most likely be the best decision of your life. Even though it might be a challenge to get here and rent is definitely high, always focus on the positive aspect of your new address and you’ll be smiling more often than not. Sources: http://sfist.com/2014/09/03/the_12_best_food_trucks_in_san_fran.php http://thoughtcatalog.com/keith-pence/2014/10/15-things-you-should-know-before-moving-to-san-francisco/