San Francisco Is Insanely Expensive, But Some Activities Are Still Absolutely Free
San Francisco’s rental and housing market continue to sizzle, as the basic market principles of supply and demand have made the cost of living in the “City by the Bay” astronomical. According to local news station KRON, rental prices soared by over 14 percent in August 2015 as compared to the prior year. With the average one-bedroom apartment listing for a jaw-dropping $3,500 per month, average San Franciscans working as waiters, teachers, or bus drivers are feeling the pinch and having to spend virtually all of their income on basic necessities.
Living in San Francisco with little to no disposable income is a grind, but thankfully there are still several great activities that one can enjoy without spending a thing.
San Francisco Giants Baseball on the Promenade
The San Francisco Giants have won three of the last five World Series, they play in a beautiful waterfront stadium, and tickets are routinely sold out. However, the public promenade running along McCovey Cove beyond the right-field wall features a series of gated “portholes” where fans may actually watch the game at no charge for three to four innings at a time (depending on crowd size). Demand can be understandably strong for this attraction, so Yahoo Sports suggests arriving early.
Free Live Shows at Amoeba Music
The Haight-Ashbury district adjacent to the Eastern end of Golden Gate Park is a dynamic and vibrant neighborhood full of interesting activities and synonymous with San Francisco’s counterculture history. The Amoeba Music store on Haight Street has hosted a wide variety of both independent and nationally-known touring artists through their free in-store performances. Past shows at the San Francisco store have included “Spiritualized, M.I.A., Van Hunt, Ladytron, the Gossip, Will Oldham, Sonic Youth, Kid Koala, Sharon Jones, and the Polyphonic Spree.”
No-Cost Lessons from the San Francisco Lawn Bowling Club
The San Francisco Lawn Bowling Club is America’s oldest lawn bowling club, with its origins dating back to 1901. Located adjacent to Sharon Meadow in Golden Gate Park, the club offers free lawn bowling lessons every Wednesday at noon throughout the year (though a five dollar donation is requested for equipment rental).
Free Entry to a Museum on San Francisco History
San Francisco has no shortage of well-known museums, including the de Young & Legion of Honor, the SF Museum of Modern Art (MOMA), the Legion of Honor, and more. However, a hidden and largely unknown gem is the Baker’s Museum at the Boudin flagship building on Jefferson St. in Fisherman’s Wharf. This unique museum offers a variety of exhibits on San Francisco-specific history, including the many foods and drinks that originated in San Francisco, ranging from Irish coffees to fortune cookies. Entry is free after dining at the adjacent restaurant, or tickets are $3 a person a la carte.
San Francisco’s Most Recognizable Site
The iconic 1.7-mile span of the Golden Gate Bridge connecting the City of San Francisco with Marin County is one of the world’s most instantly recognizable man-made structures and is an extremely popular attraction with both tourists and locals alike. Offering views of the San Francisco waterfront and skyline, in addition to Alcatraz Island and the surrounding Bay Area, there is no cost to cross the span on foot or by bicycle. However, according to SFGate, the Golden Gate Bridge, Highway and Transportation District has debated instituting a charge for pedestrians and cyclists in the future.
Despite the high cost of living in San Francisco pushing out an ever-increasing number of long-time residents, including a disproportionate number of teachers, according to a recent article in the Guardian, sometimes the best things in life truly are free as the examples above exhibit.
[Image via Shutterstock]
