ShireCon '08, maybe

[Jacobus Loki]

San Francisco is probably one of the most lovely spots in the lower 48, and also the most expensive.

Do they still have the little take-out seafood places on Fisherman's Warf? A rather inexpensive way to take in the neighborhood if memory serves.

[hypatias mom]

Oh, yes. They do have those, plus lots of other places to spend your money while on foot. And you can walk onto Pier 39 and watch the hundreds of sea lions which have taken over much of the pier area. That much is free. Actually, you can spend relatively little if you do the major (free) tourist attractions, and only buy food. We usually spend only the bridge fare and food costs, plus gasoline, and spend a full day there. Just be sure to bring a light jacket. Summer in San Francisco is usually in the high 50's or low 60's Fahrenheit, and people at the cable car turnaround sell coats to tourists in t-shirts and shorts. We get the most fog during the summer, which keeps most of the bay area temperate even during most heat waves.

And if you wish to stay in the Bay Area, don't try to stay in San Francisco if you want to save money. There are a lot of less-expensive motels and hotels in the surrounding cities/counties, which are a short BART http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bay_Area_Rapid_Transit or freeway trip to get in to the city.