Travel Tips

Every year San Francisco locals look forward to one of the largest Saint Patrick’s Day celebrations in the world! This huge annual event signals the arrival of spring and features a large parade with live marching bands, bagpipe players, Irish dancing, decorative floats and amazing community participation. And be sure to keep the festivities going after the parade at the Civic Center Plaza for a multi-cultural celebration of food, drink and fun!

Lunar New Year in San Francisco's Chinatown is one of the grandest celebrations in the entire U.S.! Read on to learn all about the month long festivities, events, exhibits and experiences. Gong Xi Fa Cai!

Plan the perfect Valentine's Day in San Francisco! With its stunning scenery and unique neighborhoods, the City by the Bay offers an abundance of experiences to set your heart aflutter. Whether you’re looking for intimate dining experiences or adventurous outings, fun date ideas with a partner or solo date ideas to treat yourself to, San Francisco has everything you need to make your Valentine’s Day in San Francisco unforgettable.

Discover the fun and fascinating facts about San Francisco! From the iconic cable cars and Golden Gate Bridge to the largest Chinatown and LGBTQ+ community center in the world, this vibrant city has a rich history and culture to explore. Plan your next trip to San Francisco with these interesting insights in mind.

Coit Tower is one of the most famous San Francisco landmarks. Want to learn more about the history and beauty of Coit Tower in San Francisco? Learn about the tower's stunning panoramic views, Depression-era murals, and surrounding North Beach neighborhood. Plan your visit today!

San Francisco is a gorgeous city with countless viewing spots to enjoy the skyline, its famous landmarks, the bay, and everything that makes the city one-of-a-kind. Here is a list of our top viewing spots in San Francisco. 

San Francisco exudes romance and charm. With its breathtaking scenery, gorgeous architecture, and quaint neighborhoods, it is the perfect place for a romantic getaway. Whether you're planning a special trip with your significant other or just looking for some intimate experiences, San Francisco has plenty of options to choose from. Here are some of the most romantic things to do in the city.

As a guest of the Stanford Court Hotel, you are in for a treat when it comes to exploring the surrounding area on foot. One of our favorite flat and easy walks is just two blocks from the hotel.

San Francisco is a great vacation destination, with a wide variety of things to do and see. The city is known for its mild weather and it's a great destination all year round. However, it's important to note that the weather can vary depending on the season, so it's good to be prepared and pack accordingly.

2022 is in the rearview mirror and we’re ready to celebrate the Best of San Francisco 2023. Your friends at the Stanford Court Hotel San Francisco have put together this epic list of the best attractions, art, entertainment, things to do, restaurants, bars, and shopping in San Francisco. 

The sight of delicious oysters over ice with a glass of champagne has our mouths watering. Wanna know the best spots to find San Francisco's most delicious oysters? Read on.

If you’re in San Francisco and unsure of how to spend this holiday, go the untraditional route. As always, the city by the bay has you covered.

The annual Safeway Holiday Ice Rink in Union Square opens on November 2, 2022 and is one of the top winter attractions in San Francisco.

September and October are two of the best months to visit Napa Valley wineries as this is "crush" season - the time when grapes are being picked at peak ripeness and the start of the glorious winemaking process. Located just over an hours drive from San Francisco, Napa Valley is North America's unofficial wine capital and one of the best Bay Area day trips. Here are our picks for some of the best Napa Valley wineries to visit during your Bay Area adventure.

North Beach is one of America’s favorite neighborhoods. It’s home to Joe DiMaggio, the hub of the West Coast beatniks and site of the very first topless bar in the U.S.

San Francisco has so much to offer that sometimes it can be overwhelming to plan your next visit. And while there are dozens of attractions to visit sometimes you just want to check out the sites that come without an admission fee. Here is our list of the best free attractions to visit in San Francisco. 

Each month Stanford Court features a local resident and shares their favorite places to eat, drink, and hang out in San Francisco. In June we feature Julianna Yang, General Manager of Sons & Daughters, a Michelin-starred restaurant located just two blocks from Stanford Court.

It’s almost summer and after two long years, travel is back! Here is a curated list of 10 of our favorite travel essentials to purchase ahead of your next trip. From neck pillows to multi-tools to fanny packs, here are the products you need for your 2022 travels!

Everybody knows that Nob Hill is one of the best neighborhoods in San Francisco. From our perch above the city we are surrounded by some of the best San Francisco restaurants, best views in San Francisco, and some of the best things to do in San Francisco. Here is a list of the best of the best of Nob Hill.

Each month Stanford Court features a local resident and shares their favorite places to eat, drink, and hang out in San Francisco. In May, we feature Lauren Vojvoda, Complex Director of Group Sales for Stanford Court.

Cable cars are one of the many unique features of San Francisco. But riding a San Francisco cable car can be a little intimidating. How much is a cable car ticket? Where do I purchase a cable car ticket? How do I catch a cable car? We answer all of these frequently asked questions and more.

Although Bay to Breakers is the oldest race in the country, it also happens to be San Francisco's best party. Expect lots of costumes and even some birthday suits in this 12K race.

Here’s a guide of the best art, family and miscellaneous museums in SF you don’t want to miss.

The Mission is a diverse district with Spanish and Mexican influence, hip boutiques, Michelin-star restaurants and street murals that pop.

If you have kids, you know. Just getting out the door — nevermind going on a #summervacay to an unfamiliar city — can feel like a monumental task.

While we love all of the offerings in Nob Hill, the Embarcadero has a special place in our hearts and is often one of the main attractions we encourage visitors to explore.

Many of the neighborhood's landmark businesses were founded by immigrants who helped establish the city around the time of the Gold Rush. 

Maximize your 48 hours and hit all the big spots, from the colorful Castro to the beatnik stomping grounds of North Beach.

Looking for interesting places in SF that aren’t particularly touristy? Here are some suggestions for an itinerary that’s mostly off-the-radar to a typical tourist.

Known to locals as SoMa, the varied neighborhood is rapidly changing the shape of San Francisco’s skyline, with additions like the Millenium and Salesforce towers.

One moment the Golden Gate Bridge is blanketed in fog; the next it’s illuminated by sunshine. We wouldn’t have it any other way, but it can be a tricky place to pack for.

Today, the LGBTQ community has made strides toward equality that were unimaginable decades ago. The Castro is now a place to celebrate gay pride all year round. Here’s a look at the nation’s favorite gayborhood.

Planning a summer trip to San Francisco with the family? From toddlers to teens, the city has sights, museums and parks that will keep your kids off their phones and immersed in the experience—except when taking photos or videos!

Rhythms of 'The Harlem of the West' mix with Japantown to the north, free love of the 60s, and city development projects. The Fillmore isn’t just one thing – it’s a bit of everything SF.

The nighttime-illuminated procession of fire dancers, fireworks, acrobats and dragons garners international attention.

A date doesn’t have to involve dinner at a restaurant. Switching it up makes for a more memorable time – and San Francisco is the best city to stumble upon something new. Let serendipity abound! Here are some unique date ideas.

When your carry-on is a furry companion, there’s no better place than San Francisco. As a pet-friendly mecca, SF isn’t short of excellent pet shops that offer top-of-the-range articles, cruelty-free products and innovative grooming experiences.

Walk the orange suspension bridge that's synonymous with San Francisco.

Not sure what to see in Golden Gate Park? Lucky for you, there's no shortage of options.

Today, SF's 'Nihonmachi' stretches about six city blocks with the Japan Center as its focal point.

Spring! It’s not quite here yet, but you can feel the anticipation in the air, especially if you live in a colder part of the country. We’re here to help.

The Mission is home to Mission-style burritos, long lines for ice cream and thrift stores that sell by weight.

SF Beer Week is a time to sample the best craft beers in northern California. Not sure which to choose? Here are 5 local brews you should try during SF Beer Week.

You know what we say — #NeverStopStartingUp. A new year is coming soon, and maybe that means you need to keep on pushing toward your health goals. We’re here to help. And so is Yoda.

Located about an hour south of San Francisco, HMB is a half-moon shaped beach with a quaint downtown and lots of farms.

Whether you come to SF for business, leisure or to visit family, there’s no shortage of Halloween events for all ages and interests.

To see anything from 1200 years ago, you might think you’d have to go to the castles of Europe or at least to a museum. But ...

When you stay with us you get access to borrow our bikes and cruise the city streets.

When you visit a city you want to get immersed in it, right? Live like a local? Well, whether you’re coming to San Francisco for two hours, two days or two weeks, we’ve got the places you will want to check out.

The Castro is one of SF’s most unique and historic neighborhoods. It gets its name from José Antonio Castro, a leader in the Mexican army and acting governor of Alta California in the mid-1800s. 

Date nights are about discovery. Maybe a little bit of adventure. You can learn a lot about someone when things are unstructured — is this person spontaneous and carefree?

Let’s get practical. You’re coming to San Francisco, and, to make things even better, let’s assume you’re staying with us! We’d love to have you. But how are you going to get here?

San Francisco is one of the most international cities in the world, with a minority-majority population that makes SF a hella unique place.

A honeymoon is a time to be transported, to escape and enjoy each other. It’s a time for new adventures as you begin your big adventure as a married couple.

We’re not totally sure if The Color Factory was created for anything except for the glory of Instagram — but have you seen the photos?! If not, check out #ColorFactoryCo on Instagram now.

First, there’s way more than five things, but we have to start somewhere, right? Like a little taste of what you can discover and love about SF.

In case you didn’t know, our namesake Leland Stanford has deep roots in California.

Sausalito is just 10 miles north of us on the other side of the Golden Gate Bridge. It’s name is derived from a Spanish word meaning “small willow grove.”

Summer is the best time of year for concerts, esp. in such a music city like San Francisco.

Now that we’re in the thick of the 50th Anniversary of the Summer of Love (which, BTW we’re running some mad specials for), it’s high time we presented you with our guide to the iconic Haight-Ashbury neighborhood,

June is prime festival month in the City by the Bay. From live music to delectable eats, there’s something going on every weekend. Here are our picks for the top festivals in SF in June:

Parking in SF is no easy task. Whether it’s grabbing a spot that isn’t restricted, avoiding a ticket or just finding an empty space, it’s no secret that parking in the City by the Bay is tough.

Outside Lands is a SF tradition. From the August fog rolling in over Golden Gate Park to Ranger Dave, the eco-friendly MC, this music festival is pure San Francisco.

For as connected as SF always is, it’s also can be just as unplugged. That’s because although San Francisco is THE techie city in the United States, it’s also filled with numerous outdoor areas and natural wonders.

San Francisco is gorgeous. With its iconic hills and dramatic coastlines and miles of forested areas, there’s nothing quite like the City by the Bay.

Polk Street gets pegged for its bars and nightlife scene, because, well, there are quite a few. But it’s also got some of the coolest shops in the Nob Hill - Russian Hill area. It’s only a short walk from Stanford Court Hotel. Here are some spots that you shouldn’t miss along Nob Hill’s most popular avenue.

At SCH, we’re all about living a healthy lifestyle, which is why when we’re not at the 24-hour SCH fitness center, you’ll find us jogging around San Francisco

If you think you’ve seen Monet, think again. The latest exhibition, “Monet: The Early Years” shows the artist in a completely new light.

Our Nob Hill hotel is located just a few blocks away from the iconic Union Square shopping district of San Francisco.

One of the advantages of living in a very, very hilly city is that there are so many great places to take in beautiful views of the city and see far distances in the Bay Area.

Rainy days in Nob Hill still allow for plenty of fun. Don’t be discouraged by a little rain- you can still enjoy San Francisco.

Whether it is your first, fifth or fifteenth time to San Francisco, there is always something new to explore.

March Madness is upon us and there is nothing more important than a bracket with good odds and a great place to catch the upsets, victories, nail-biters, and championship.

We’re known for our steep hills and our health conscious locals. Whether you are looking to capture that image that will increase your instagram game or just looking to get your heart rate up.

Here at Stanford Court we think we’ve got it pretty great.

Are you traveling to San Francisco this summer? We would love to host you at our historic Nob Hill hotel!

San Francisco is a melting pot of cultures and you can see it throughout the city. From the Mission District to Russian Hill, walls are covered with a variety of cultural, social, and political images.

Most people think that packing for a trip is super stress-inducing because it is time consuming and challenging to pack appropriately.