LOCALS: Joya on San Francisco

Welcome to LOCALS, the newest series on No Onions Extra Pickles.  Once or twice a month, I will spotlight a different San Francisco Bay Area-based travel blogger, forcing them to answer 10 incredibly difficult questions about the city – and then I share these answers with you!

Joya Anthony, of Be A Travel Bee, graciously agreed to be my first LOCAL. Joya was born, raised and still resides in San Francisco – a bit of a rarity in these parts, so well-deserved bragging rights are granted.  Besides working on her own blog, Joya regularly contributes to Wanderlust and Lipstick every Monday as their travel book reviewer, and you can also find her travel tips on Traveldudes.  And now, on with the Q & A…

1. What is your favorite touristy spot in San Francisco?

My absolute favorite spot is Crissy Field, that little stretch of beach between the Golden Gate Bridge and Alcatraz Island. It’s definitely a perfect photo-op but on a nice day I just love sitting out there and people-watching and dog-watching too. Besides that, I could never get tired of an ice-cream sundae at Ghiradelli Square.

2. What do you think is the most overrated touristy spot?

I recently saw an article in 7×7 magazine that there are great places in Fisherman’s Wharf for the local but I am just not on the same wavelength. To me, Fisherman’s Wharf is great to see once but other than that I feel like it’s just one long street full of souvenir shops that I have to shuffle through to get to Ghiradelli Square.

3. Say you have guests in town who have never been to San Francisco – where do you take them first?

The Ferry Building is my absolute favorite place to take guests especially on Saturday morning when the farmer’s market is in full swing. There is so much great food like tamales and fresh oysters and amazing cheeses and warm baguettes and the view of the Bay Bridge is incredible.

4. What is your favorite museum, local artist or public art piece in the city?

I just went back to the SF MoMA a couple months ago and loved it. I could spend a couple hours climbing from floor to floor and there is always a new exhibit to learn about. They remodeled the rooftop terrace adding in modern sculptures and a coffee bar and after all the art it’s nice to sit outside up top and hang out for a bit.

5. Which neighborhood in the city do you absolutely love?

In the last year or so I have been spending a lot more time in Noe Valley, particularly on 24th Street. It’s away from the crowds but still has a lot going on. My favorite clothing store – Ambiance – is there plus great book stores, coffee shops, clothing stores, stationary stores, and restaurants. It’s just a small stretch of neighborhood with everything you need.

6. What is the best day trip from the city?

There are so many places to choose from and places that I haven’t been to in a while that I need to go back to. However, I recently went to Healdsburg in the Napa Valley for wine tasting with my friends and it was so much fun. The weather was hot and my friends and I went from wine tasting room to wine tasting room and had a big hearty meal at the end of the day. It was so nice to get away from the fog for a bit and smell fresh air. The Napa Valley is always worth a day trip.

7. If you could live anywhere in the world, besides San Francisco, where would it be?

I have lived in London and wouldn’t mind going back but I definitely would love to live in Paris for at least a year. I have visited once and before I arrived I was anticipating all the sophistication and beauty but I ended up with a sprained ankle, an upset stomach, and rain all week long. I need to redeem myself. I would love to work there and finally become fluent in French and I wouldn’t mind eating a pain au chocolat every morning. It’s still a goal of mine that could happen in the future I think.

8. Where is the best place to go for Sunday brunch?

Sunday brunch is my favorite hobby! Mama’s on Washington Square gets high marks from so many people in the city but I haven’t been yet. Lines form at 8am and last for a couple hours. My friends and I are vowing to camp out at 7am with coffee because everyone says its worth it but I love sleeping in on Sundays so if I want a shorter wait time and just as good a brunch, I like to go to Zazie’s in Cole Valley. It’s a French bistro and they have yummy eggs benedict and heaping cups of coffee plus an outdoor patio in the back when the fog decides to subside.

9. What is your favorite local festival or tradition?

There are so many great festivals in the city, especially during the summer. I love going to the Union Street festival because I love the art and jewelry vendors, the beer gardens, and the usual stores and restaurants that I frequent are brimming with people and good deals.

10. And for the finale – if you had to leave San Francisco for good, what would you miss the most?

I think I would miss the mesh of cultures that changes from one block to the next. I love how you can be in Chinatown on one block and then walk down another few blocks and you are in the French quarter or how Little Italy in North Beach is a few blocks away from the Financial District and all the power suits which brings me to the other thing that I would miss – being able to walk most anywhere. San Francisco has been called one of America’s most European cities because the city is so easily walkable.

A big thanks to Joya for taking part and starting off the series!

If you’d like to experience San Francisco like Joya, check out these links:

• Lounge at Crissy Field
• Have Sunday brunch at Zazie’s
• Experience art at SF MoMA
• Go shopping at Ambiance
• Explore the Ferry Building

Would you like to be featured on LOCALS?  I’m always on the search, so if you’re a travel blogger located in the San Francisco Bay Area, I’d love to interview you!  Just send me an email: ashley “at” No-Onions-Extra-Pickles “dot” com.