Digging Deeper into San Francisco with Local Blogs and Websites

The first step to getting closer to the pulse of San Francisco is to get closer to your keyboard. From hip happenings to insider tips to reflections on Bay Area living, these blogs and websites bridge the gap between tourist and local. And the Bay Area can always use more bridges.

San Francisco Bay Guardian Blogs

The largest independent weekly in the country, the San Francisco Bay Guardian’s blogs take you a step further than even its excellent print edition, available throughout the city. The blogs are a great place to get in touch with San Francisco voices, covering issues ranging from politics to music to local living. Be sure to check out the Weekly Picks for up-to-date going-ons and events.

Between Meals by Michael Bauer

It’s no secret that San Franciscans take their dining very, very seriously—accounting for its dominance of recent James Beard Foundation nominees. And locally, no one has more sway than the San Francisco Chronicle’s food editor and critic Michael Bauer. His annual Top 100 Restaurants list is a bible for foodies, and his reviews can make or break a new restaurant. He’s also an engaging writer covering the cutting edge of Bay Area food trends, and his blog Between Meals is the place to go for local dining news.

Yelp

Restaurant, night club, dry cleaner—if you want to find the most popular anything, head over to Yelp. The now ubiquitous reader review site was founded in San Francisco, and Bay Area denizens are some of the most active Yelpers around. Whether or not you agree with the opinions, one thing is for sure: Yelp will shed light on local hot spots.

i live here: SF

San Francisco holds a kind of magic allure, and i live here: SF captures that. You won’t find reviews or listings here, but rather first-person narratives and profiles of San Franciscans. Lyrical, poignant or humorous, there may be no better glimpse into the heart and soul of the city.

MUNI Diaries

Chances are, at some point during your visit to San Francisco, you’ll end up on MUNI. San Franciscans have a lot to say about their local transit system, its electric buses and whizzing streetcars one of the defining, unifying elements of living here. MUNI Diaries shares stories, insights and, of course, transit news. Spend a few days riding around, and you may have your own tale to submit.

Bay Area on the Cheap

San Francisco has one of the highest costs of living in the United States, so it’s no surprise that there’s plenty of budget-minded websites. Bay Area on the Cheap is a great go-to with wide appeal—find everything from free events to tips to deals and freebies. Younger travelers will enjoy the down-and-dirty delights of San-Francisco-based Broke Ass Stuart‘s SF page.

[photo courtesy of zonality/flickr]