When you think of San Francisco, what comes to mind? The Golden Gate bridge? Alcatraz? Cable cars? Fisherman’s Wharf? Those are just a few sights that frame San Francisco for visitors, but locals know that the real attraction of San Francisco is in its outdoor lifestyle and tech-crazed culture. Summer are spent camping in Yosemite National Park while winters are spent on the ski slopes of Tahoe. San Francisco loves enjoying the nature outdoors while embracing all sorts of crazy innovation and technology that comes out of the Silicon Valley. You’ll see people down the street wearing Google Glass. In a pub on Friday night, you’re guaranteed to meet someone who works at a tech giant or a bootstrapped startup.

Wake up early – before the sun comes up – and trek to the highest point in the city to photograph the sun rise over the city. Afterwards, have brunch in town. Spend the rest of the day jogging through Golden Gate Park, enjoying a hand-crafted coffee in Haight Ashbury and browsing the cool shops in the Mission.

San Francisco has many neighborhoods with distinct feels – it’s got something for everybody.

High cost of living.

San Francisco does have winter.

A hipster who is on a strictly vegan diet, runs marathons, and despite owning the most high-tech electronics in the world, still buys used books.

Brassai – photographer, Lena Dunham – actress & creator of TV show Girls, Grace Coddington – former model and creative director at Vogue