Here are some tips:

1. Get Good Prices on Your Airline Tickets.
Traveling to San Francisco can be affordable. This is particularly true if you book your trip well in advance, avoiding peak seasons or high-traffic days like weekends. Just moving your trip from Friday to Wednesday can save you a lot on airfare.

2. Explore Nature.
Some of the best attractions in San Francisco don’t even need entrance tickets. Like the hiking trails in nearby Pt. Reyes. Not only will you get a free map, but you can bring your own picnic basket and spend hours exploring the famous wilderness reserve. You won’t get bored, either. The terrain is quite varied— pasture lands, forests and meadowlands—and children will love the miles of open space to play in. Definitely a lot cheaper than Disneyland.

3. Avoid Tourist Traps.
While it’s good to try a few five-star restaurants in San Francisco, you’ll break the bank account if you “eat fancy” each and every time. Ask the locals where they go (the hotel receptionist or cab driver would probably know). You can also get a quick snack from the corner bakery or deli, or snack on the abundant fruit sold on street stalls.

4. Skip the Overpriced Souvenirs.
Instead of buying a lot of useless magnets or t-shirts (Pier 39 has a lot of them!), look for one or two really beautiful locally-made items. California has a vibrant arts and crafts scene, and you’re bound to find a clay pot or a charming watercolor that will bring happy memories each time you see it in your living room.

5. Spend Strategically.
Ask yourself what you really want to remember from your vacation, and what can make it different from any other you’ve taken. Splurge on that, and scrimp on everything else. For example, you probably won’t care months from now whether you slept in a double or a queen’s sized bed.

Then spend less on your hotel room, and invest in something really special—like a scenic air tour of California’s vineyards (see sonomacountyairport.com for details) or make a day trip to any of its famous wineries just less than sixty mile away from the San Francisco Bay.

6. Keep a Realistic Itinerary.
Don’t try to go to every single attraction. You’ll spend a fortune on transportation and entrance fees, and you probably won’t have much fun, anyway. Limit it to one major tour a day, and leave plenty of time for lounging. It’s a vacation, after all. If you’re afraid to miss out on something, the solution’s simple—schedule a second, or even a third, trip. As you’ve already discovered, traveling to San Francisco is more affordable than you thought…and you’re always welcome to come back.