I travel to San Francisco often for business and leisure. It’s just a hop over the pond from Hawaii, and I was thinking recently of planning a visit this summer. Then remembered to my dismay that it’s July — the worst time of year to go.  Not because of crowds, but because of the weather. This may seem odd because the middle of summer may  seem like  the best time of year to visit any city at the edge of a temperate zone. But SF is different.

Locals and former residents aside, most casual travelers aren’t aware that winter typically happens in June or July, exactly the opposite of when it’s expected. So when all of the summer tourists are in town shivering in the drizzle at the Wharf or Chinatown, February looms like a beacon of pleasantness–light crowds, balmy weather, off-season discounts and tables open at the finest restaurants.

Mark Twain said, ” the coldest winter I ever spent was a summer in San Francisco.” Wise words to travel by. I’ve decided to go in February instead.