COVER STORY
Chocolates
San Francisco is wildly popular for its great eats and our
sweets are no exception. Yes, the baked goods here are
worth waiting in the lines that you see wrapped around street
corners, but it’s all of the rich chocolate that takes the cake.
My top three picks are Ghirardelli Square, See’s Candy, and
TCHO’s Chocolate Factory. See’s Candy has a location in
SF and in LA, but TCHO is only open here. You spend some
time at these places for the experience, but you go for the
chocolate and you leave with tasty treats.
My Secret: The Ferry Building is a great place to get started
on your tour a la chocolat. Every Saturday, the market comes
alive and the giant corridor is filled with Bay Area vendors
selling everything from jams to cupcakes. There’s something
for everyone’s sweet tooth here!
Artistic Memorabilia
San Francisco was home to many-a-genre, but the city is
particularly known for its affiliation with the hippy culture.
In the Haight Ashbury neighbourhood of the city, where
artists such as the Grateful Dead and Janice Joplin were
locals once upon a time, vintage stores and record shops
line the streets. A pair of retro sunglasses, a graphic
tee, or an album reflective of the 60s is far more “San
Francisco” than any sweatshirt you would find in the
more touristy parts of the city.
My Secret: Jewellery, paintings, photography, graffiti…
even if neither music nor the 60s are your cup of tea,
the Bay Area is a haven for all types of artistry. People
flock to this city for inspiration, and neither the city nor
the artist disappoint. In the Mission, you can walk down
alleys decorated with graffiti to find stores where they
sell posters of street art, or cross the bridge to scenic
Sausalito, for handcrafted jewellery.
Meet Prachi
Prachi is a second-generation Indian-American born and raised in Atlanta, Georgia (USA). After
she graduated from the University of Georgia, Prachi moved to the San Francisco area for a job at
a technology company. She spends her time exploring the Bay Area for love of its food, outdoor
activities, wine, and culture.
travelsecretsmag.com monsoon issue 2016 Travel Secrets 37