depends what you like, san fransisco is great, but i hate getting a room there, east bay is ok, and the peninsula is fantastic, silicon valley/san jose area has nice parts too, great food throught the whole bay, to answer any better id need to know what your interested in

I'm a 3rd generation native of Santa Clara Valley and I love it here.  
But I count myself fortunate to be a short drive from the city.

We who live in the Bay Area often lose sight of the culture, energy, sights, and offerings of San Francisco and we often forget that it's one of the great cities of the world.  Last year, 16 million tourists came to San Francisco.  There's a reason why millions of people come from all over the world to visit SF.  So, in my opinion, if you have the chance to experience San Francisco, then pounce on it.

Just my 2 cents.