What NOT to Pack for a Trip to San Francisco

What NOT to pack for a trip to San Francisco

There is always a sure fire way to spot a tourist in San Francisco. They’re the ones shivering in their “I Heart San Francisco’ or ‘Napa Valley is for Lovers’ sweatshirts while hanging on for dear life to a cable car. 

Now, I know these people are probably seasoned, sophisticated travelers who are not in the habit of supplementing their wardrobes with neon fleece bought from sidewalk vendors. It’s just that when they left their hotel rooms that morning, they saw the sun shining, checked the date (July!) and assumed that they wouldn’t find themselves later on that afternoon clutching a five dollar cup of tea just to thaw out their hands. And really, if it’s 85 degrees, and summertime when you leave your hometown, why in the world would you think of packing your down parka to visit…California? 

Mark Twain once wrote that the coldest winter he ever spent was a summer in San Francisco. I would add that in the winter you’ll have the cold and the fog. The weather in San Francisco usually hovers between the mid fifties to the low sixties nine months out of the year, which, for people who experience sub freezing temperatures may not seem that bad. But there is something about the combination of the cold, the wind and the fog that can take some getting used to - -you just have to prepare for it.

So, the next time you plan on visiting San Francisco, here’s a few things you may as well leave at home.