FX Excursions

FX Excursions offers the chance for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in destinations around the world.
GNTO

Songs to Listen to Before You Go to San Francisco

by Akhil Kalepu

Apr 7, 2015

Tony Bennett’s Heart of San Francisco in Union Square © Jeff Whyte | Dreamstime

Tips / Other

San Francisco has done just as much to contribute to music and culture as any other city. That’s why it’s important to be well-versed in San Fran tunes before you visit. Check out this list to brush up.

 

San Francisco (Be Sure to Wear Flowers in Your Hair) – Scott McKenzie

This is one of the most influential songs of all time, becoming an unofficial anthem of the counter-culture revolution of the 1960s and making San Francisco one of its capital cities. An absolute requirement to listen to before visiting.

 

Otis Redding at Mission Bay, San Francisco, California © Todd Anderson | Flickr

Otis Redding at Mission Bay © Todd Anderson | Flickr

(Sittin’ on) The Dock of the Bay – Otis Redding

While the previous song was used to promote the Monterrey Pop Festival, this song came out of it. Legend has it Redding wrote the song while sitting on a houseboat overlooking the Golden Gate Bridge. Another San Francisco classic.

 

I Left My Heart in San Francisco – Tony Bennett

Smooth-crooning Bennett pines for San Francisco in this timeless ballad. Rome, Paris, New York: They’ve got nothing on San Fran.

 

Piece of my Heart – Big Brother & The Holding Company

The psychedelic rock movement that swept across the nation (and the world) in the 1960s and 70s had its gestation at the famous intersection of Haight and Ashbury Streets, where Janis Joplin, the Grateful Dead and Jefferson Airplane all were based.

 

Grace Cathedral Hill – The Decemberists

And now for your modern dosage of San Francisco. Listening to this track by The Decemberists is like walking through the city on a foggy day.

 

Of course you could make a much longer playlist with San Francisco songs, but this is a good place to start. Now don’t forget your flowers.

 

St. Francis of Assisi Tau Statue in Grace Cathedral, San Francisco, California © Jpldesigns | Dreamstime 21729149

St. Francis of Assisi Tau Statue in Grace Cathedral © Jpldesigns | Dreamstime

 

#TrazeeTravel

Insta Feed
Destinations
Nov 20, 2024

What Destinations Are Trending in 2025?

Luxury travel company Scott Dunn looks ahead to 2025 with predictions of hot destinations to visit. These focus on under-explored locations, sustainable tourism and exclusive experiences.

Seoul: Your Favorite Worldwide City

Seoul is the place for your next bleisure destination.

Destinations / Europe
Nov 20, 2024

Where to Find the Best Stargazing Spots in Ireland

This year, the Northern Lights put on quite the display across Ireland, but don’t think these lights are the only thing you can see in Ireland. In fact, many spots across the country provide some of the best opportunities to stargaze thanks to low levels of light pollution. Ireland has three International Dark Sky Parks and even more spots which, although not accredited, are worth a visit for anyone wishing to see the sky in its unfiltered form.

Hotel
Nov 19, 2024

A New Ritz-Carlton Comes to Cancún

After a hiatus, The Ritz-Carlton brand is coming back to Cancún, with the 2027 opening of The Ritz-Carlton, Cancún, Punta Nizuc.

Discover Greece’s Tower Towns: A Journey Through History

Greece's tower towns offer a captivating blend of history, architecture and stunning landscapes that make them perfect for curious travelers. These towns, particularly found in the Mani region of the Peloponnese, are defined by stone towers built during the medieval period. Constructed for both defense and as symbols of family pride, the towers stand as a testament to the region's turbulent history and its residents’ resilience.

Hotel
Nov 19, 2024

Hilton, Universal Pictures Debut Suite Inspired by Wicked

Hilton and Universal Pictures invite fans of Wicked to indulge in a spellbinding stay in a new, spectacular themed suite. From Nov. 21–Jan. 5, travelers can ‘Stay Like’ Wicked at New York Hilton Midtown.