Pier 39

I finally did it: I went to San Francisco's #1 tourist trap, Pier 39 (http://www.pier39.com/). In my defense, the purpose of my visit was not to visit the sea lions, buy from the souvenir shops (although I did purchase some salt water taffy), eat at the restaurants, or snap pictures of Alcatraz. The views of the city were in fact great but I was there to see a local San Francisco musical, "Insignificant Others" (http://www.isomusical.com/). I heard about this show via Travelzoo (which, incidentally, is a great source of travel / entertainment deals), and once I read that the premise involved five friends who move to San Francisco from Ohio, I thought I should see it. And after I saw that someone described the show as a cross between "Will and Grace" and "Sex and the City," I definitely thought I should go. The show did not disappoint: it captures San Francisco's unique quirks as well as the importance of friends - particularly following a cross-country move, and it was absolutely hysterical. If you're ever out this way, definitely go see the musical. And I suppose do a quick tour of Pier 39 as well, if only because a tourist is supposed to.