If you’re looking for one of the greatest gourmet shopping experiences in the United States, get down to the Ferry Building Marketplace for a taste of Heaven. When the construction of the Golden Gate Bridge and the Bay Bridge made ferry travel in the area basically obsolete, the gorgeous Ferry Building lay wasted for decades. After the Embarcadero Freeway, which hid the building from sight, was demolished in 1991, the time was ripe to rehabilitate the building into something truly special. The Ferry Building was opened in 2003 with a world-class public food market occupying the ground floor. Representatives from local farms gather streetside to sell their freshest crops, many of which are certified organic. Head inside for a flabbergasting array of prepared and exotic foods—pretty much anything you’d ever need to prepare a transcendent meal is here for the taking. There are so many vendors here that you could eat a different thing every day, but just don’t miss Pepples, the tiny organic doughnut stall, no matter what.

Ferry Building Marketplace
1 Ferry Bldg
San Francisco, CA 94111
www.ferrybuildingmarketplace.com

If you’re getting ready to take a trip, it’s wise to do a little research beforehand. The bookstore is overflowing with travel guides, though, so how do you know which one is best for you? This article will run down the most informative travel guides for all kinds of jet-setters.

The Lonely Planet travel guides are best for people looking to get close to the ground on their trips. These guidebooks are excellent for less-developed countries, including Southeast Asia. If you’re not looking to spend a lot of money on your trip, start here.

Younger travelers rave about the Let’s Go guides. The company was started by a group of Harvard students and has grown rapidly. These guides are great for nightlife recommendations in foreign cities, including bars and nightclubs.

The Frommer’s guides are reasonably popular, especially for Americans visiting Europe with not a lot of time to spare. They are clear and concise, but some complain that they miss out on more obscure attractions.

Footprint Handbooks are some of the best travel guides out there. Starting from their encyclopedic South American volume, the company has spun out nearly 80 other guides, all of which are well-written and beautifully illustrated.

Diners on the hunt for fresh seafood with an amazing view of the ocean have been flocking to Nick’s in Pacifica for almost a century. Opened in 1927 by Greek immigrant Stalios Karagianis, the restaurant has remained in the family since then, establishing a history of service to the community that is hard to beat. Regulars return over and over again for the famous crab and tomato sandwich—a massive pile of lump crab, mayonnaise, and fresh tomatoes that has become a local icon. It comes with awesome thick-cut spicy fries, and getting through this meal will tax even the most huge-stomached eaters. The clam chowder is some of the best in the area. For dinner, the steaks are cooked to tender perfection, but opt for mashed potatoes instead of the baked, as they’re far better. Nick’s is a spectacular throwback, bursting with local history, and it’s a place anyone in Pacifica would be wise to go to at least once.

Nick’s Restaurant
100 Rockaway Beach Avenue
Pacifica, CA 94044
(650) 359-3900
www.nicksrestaurant.net