Under $100: San Francisco, Haight-Ashbury

Start your day in Lower Haight at The Grind, a local cafe serving delicious coffee and breakfast favorites. A bagel loaded with healthy and fresh toppings will run you less than $5, and add a coffee or latte to keep breakfast under $10. Sit on the outside patio to enjoy your breakfast, but be sure to bundle up against the morning San Francisco fog.

After some people watching, head up Haight Street to historic Haight-Ashbury, once the epicenter of the West Coast alternative culture scene. The neighborhood maintained its eclectic and indie feel, with plenty of locally owned shops and street musicians. Stop in to find counter-culture themed souvenirs, and don’t forget a picture at the Haight-Ashbury intersection that gives the neighborhood its name!

Just behind Haight-Ashbury is Golden Gate Park, a sprawling and lush public park home to the Hardly Strictly Bluegrass festival every October. The free festival doesn’t require a ticket and gets a long list of acts every year. If you’re not in town during the festival, Golden Gate Park is still a great place to wander, with plenty of hidden trails and beautiful Bay Area greenery.

All this walking will leave you hungry, so circle back to Haight-Ashbury and check out the Magnolia Brew Pub. Budget $25 for lunch to be safe, but prices vary.

So far, you’ve spent $35, which leaves plenty of wiggle room for the afternoon and evening. No trip to San Francisco is complete without a ride on a streetcar, so catch a ride from 17th and Castro. For just $2, it’s a cheap and fun way to see a big chunk of the city. Picking up in the Castro and letting off near Fisherman’s Wharf it’s also an easy way to see two of the most famous parts of the city. The Castro has long been the epicenter of the LGBT movement (don’t miss Castro Camera, from which politician Harvey Milk ran his historic campaign). The Wharf is a touristy area, but the view of Alcatraz and the Musée Mécanique, an antique penny arcade, are worth the trip.

The Exploratorium is a must-see for science fans, although the $15 admission is a bit steep. But with several interactive activities, it’s worth the cost of admission if you are a fan of playing with science. It’s easy to spend a whole afternoon exploring the museum, so make sure to plan your time accordingly.

When it’s time for dinner, take advantage of San Francisco’s ocean access to get some amazing sushi. It’s not cheap, but it’s a great reward after a long day of pounding the pavement. Depending on your afternoon, you will have between $50 and $63 left for dinner and drinks. Ino Sushi offers combinations ranging from $20 to $35, leaving wiggle room for a cocktail or glass of wine. The experience is also unique, in that the intimate interior is closely watched for disruptive cell phones and incorrect sushi etiquette can get you yelled at by the chef.