Wednesday Wanderlust - San Francisco

I'm going back into the archives for Wednesday Wanderlust.

I was 20 years old when I first visited San Francisco on my 2006-07 Round-the-World trip. I was a bright eyed fresh university graduate eager to see the world.

Colourful terrace houses

Lombardi Street

On a first-timers itinerary, we visited the usual tourist attractions - Fisherman's Wharf, Pier 39, Union Square, Lombardi Street and the Full House terrace houses.

What amazed me about the city was the littlest details. In my travel journal I noted that:

• Change comes out of a machine in supermarket check outs
• Nob Hill signs are in English and Chinese
• Cars park with their wheels turned into the curb on steep streets
• Males will hit on females even if in line for a cable car

My ultimate must do list for 'Frisco:
Must see:

SF Museum of Modern Art. Free guided tours are held daily with museum tickets. The talks are lively and engaging. I loved that the guide was eager to hear everyone's opinion and encouraged debate over individual artworks.

Must eat:

Lunch at Bedoin Bakery near Fisherman's Wharf. Bread comes in the shape of a dungeness crab at this bakery. I had the clam chowder and it was creamy and divine.

Fast food at Gott's Roadside in the Ferry Building. Styled like a traditional American diner, Gott's Roadside serves comfort food at its best - burgers, fish and chips and a sweet milkshake to wash it all down. Produce is sourced from the Ferry Plaza Farmer's Market.

Must do:

1. Walk the streets. Yes, they're steep. But it's great to work out your calf muscles and cover heaps of ground. Pack good walking shoes and water and just explore. We had so much fun walking down suburban streets, gazing at houses, stumbling upon inner city parks and passing by beautiful murals. And, if you get tired, just hop on a bus back to the city.

2. Ride a cable car. Hang onto the outside, feel the whoosh as you go downhill and hold on tight!

Ferry Building

View from the window of the Hotel Carlton