I'm visiting San Francisco day after tomorrow! Any suggestions/tips?

[blonndee]

We're taking a family vacation for the first time in YEARS--my parents, my (also adult) brother, and I. We'll be there for a week.

So far I know we're going to spend some time in Chinatown, visit Alcatraz, and for two or three days rent a car and drive to Napa Valley and the redwood forest.

What must-sees or must-dos do you guys suggest? We all love history and architecture, and I'm always open to anything unless it involves water (probably no deep-sea fishing or anything like that).

Thanks in advance for any suggestions!

[Carnea]

1. Don't feed anything. NT

[NMDemDist2]

2. bring sweaters, a coat and wind breakers

i'm not kidding, you'll freeze your arse off

have fun!!

[blonndee]

5. I'm glad you said that! I've only packed t-shirts so far. I'll add to my suitcase.

Thanks! I can't wait to get away from this heat. Blech.

[indie_voter]

34. SF has micro climates. It's often foggy & freezing in the Sunset

& Richmond (by the ocean) Sunny in Noe Valley and Downtown. Temperatures vary a lot within just a few miles.

Link to the weather for the upcoming week:

http://www.intellicast.com/Local/Weather.aspx?location=USCA0987

[kskiska]

67. As Mark Twain said, "The coldest winter I ever spent…

was a summer in San Francisco."

I was there in July a couple of years ago and didn't wear any of the shorts I brought and wished I'd brought at least a sweatshirt. Polartec jackets sold like hotcakes, so it might be a good idea to bring one.

[Skink]

3. Take an elevator in the Embarcadero center all the way up...

then walk around like you are lost the view is cool.

[Clovis Sangrail]

4. Go to Mad Dog in the Fog

for drinks... then go across the street for falafel.
Don't remember the name but the falafel joint is one of the best I've been to in SF

This link would be a really nice drive that would give a pretty good flavor of the bay area.
Goes through some really beautiful areas, and some really neat places.
Would very definitely give you that bay area flavor.

Straight through it's only like a 3 hour loop, but taking your time, stopping for lunch etc. it can *easily be an all day trip.

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&hl=en&geocode=6944019430449302011,37.797848,-122.469460%3B913380485439980363,38.039940,-122.799760%3B7162615812585201273,37.963340,-122.520990&saddr=CA-1+N+%4037.797848,+-122.469460&daddr=Unknown+road+%4038.039940,+-122.799760+to:37.957192,-122.509232&mra=dme&mrcr=1&mrsp=2&sz=11&sll=37.962606,-122.56485&sspn=0.381657,0.609055&ie=UTF8&ll=37.962606,-122.515411&spn=0.381657,0.609055&z=11

[blonndee]

7. Ooh, that sounds interesting.

No falafel of any kind around these parts. I'll look that place up. That sounds like something I would really dig.

[cally]

83. That loop is Marin County where I live

If you go there I would suggest taking hikes in Pt. Reyes or any of the other local parks. If you do Muir Woods (redwoods) try to go early in the morning so you miss the tour buses. Also, while it's cold in SF and out at Pt. Reyes, it can reach 100 degrees in San Rafael and Napa. If you head up to Napa, make reservations at one of the fantastic restaurants. Also, you can do mud baths and a massage in Calistoga (tip of Napa) but you need reservations. Finally, depending on which road you take, the town of Sonoma is cute and has some fun local cheese factories.

In SF, you might enjoy the Palace of Fine Arts which has an interesting small exhibit on the dead sea scrolls, some amazing Rodin (sp?) statues, and an Annie Leibowitz photo exhibit. Also, the De Young Museum has a visiting glass exhibit that I plan to see. Have fun!!

One more idea, if you head south towards Monterey then you will see some amazing coastline. I love the north coast better because it's home, though.

[Clovis Sangrail]

90. The coast between SF and Santa Cruz

one of my favorite stretches of coast in Ca.

[Botany]

6. Be sure to wear some flowers in your hair

If you're going to San Francisco
Be sure to wear some flowers in your hair
If you're going to San Francisco
You're gonna meet some gentle people there

For those who come to San Francisco
Summertime will be a love-in there
In the streets of San Francisco
Gentle people with flowers in their hair

All across the nation such a strange vibration
People in motion
There's a whole generation with a new explanation
People in motion people in motion




*************

The Smith River Area is awesome

[RB TexLa]

8. Mama's for lunch, North Beach area I think.

[blonndee]

10. What kind of place is that?

(I'm writing all this down). :)

[Demobrat]

12. Fancy breakfast/brunch

There's always a line down the block, so don't arrive hungry.

[blonndee]

15. Thanks for the advice. Sounds like somewhere I could order eggs Benedict.

YUM.

[TahitiNut]

53. Get your Eggs Benedict or Eggs Buena Vista at the Buena Vista!

It's a must.

[El Pinko]

64. If you go to the Buena Vista, you have to have Irish coffee.

:toast:

[RB TexLa]

16. Hole in the wall, sandwiches, burgers. Community seating which is fun.

It's right off a park, a big one. Someone who's been more than I should know. We had a great lunch there one afternoon when we visited.

[Demobrat]

9. Wear comfortable shoes.

And if you like Italian food be sure to go to North Beach.

[blonndee]

13. You know it! I've given up on strappy sandals and heels.

I'm 32, but I came to my senses about shoes ten years ago. :)

[saltpoint]

11. Here's hoping you have an excellent time. If you like Thai food,

I strongly suggest Sukhothai, at 1319 9th Ave. (9th Ave. and Irving). The MUNI line goes literally right in front of the restaurant.

It's modest in size and decor -- and price -- and the food is delicious.

If you have a moment and your family likes books, maybe visit Moe's Bookshop in Berkeley (the B.A.R.T. line will get you across the Bay). Four floors of used books.

If any of you are thrift mavens, try the Community thrift Store at 623 Valencia in the Mission. Arguably the best thrift shop in the United States.

Your vacation sounds great -- have lots of fun and report back!

[blonndee]

17. Wow.

Everything you suggested is exactly what I would like! We may have a day or two that the girls and guys do their own things, and that would be perfect. In fact, I may empty part of my suitcase to make room for thrift store findings. Thanks!

[saltpoint]

20. blonndee, if you and the girls make it over there to the thriftshop, give yourselves

permission to go hogwild, buy up half the store, and then ship the stuff home. Swing into a UPS store and they'll box & tape it for you.

[blonndee]

24. Not a bad idea! We may have to, LOL.

If I can find some things that fit, I'm sure I will go crazy. Vintage clothes are SO small. I'm not that big, but most true vintage stuff couldn't even begin to work on me.

Ah hell, if I can't find clothes that fit I'm sure I'll spend plenty on accessories. :)

[saltpoint]

25. Well, it sounds like a great trip. You've got to be looking forward to it

and I don't blame you one bit.

[indie_voter]

28. Minh Tri is right off the N too. 534 Irving. Fantastic Vietnamese food

Go to the Mission area for great Burritos. I like Pancho Villa Taqueria, 3071 16th street.

For a really good bakery, try Tartine, 600 Guerrero. I'd suggest a MUNI (SF Bus line) passport. You can get 1, 3 or 7 day ones.

http://www.sfmta.com/cms/mfares/passports.htm

[blonndee]

35. The Vietnamese restaurant sounds great!

As for burritos, I'm a native New Mexican and I eat burritos at least five times a week! But that doesn't mean I won't visit Pancho Villa. Even when we visited Scotland eight years ago, we had to get our Mexican food fix. We're addicts. :)

Thanks for the link and the tips!

[indie_voter]

38. I hear you! If you want good Vegetarian food

and bypass the burritos, try Millennium, upscale vegetarian:

http://www.millenniumrestaurant.com/

There is also Greens, though I've felt the quality has slipped over the years. But it's a gorgeous location at Fort Mason.

http://www.greensrestaurant.com/

Have a fantastic time!!

[FightingIrish]

14. Stay out of the Tenderloin District and remember

that the cops are not necessarily your friends.

[TahitiNut]

55. Well, Sunday morning service at Glide Memorial is awesome, imho.

I'd sure make an exception for that.

[FightingIrish]

60. I see a very different city.

Four years ago I went from being a big fan of San Francisco to one of its biggest detractors. My son, who had just started his freshman year of college was beaten and robbed in the Tenderloin while out with his fraternity pledge class. He was left for dead and spent the next two years in a wheelchair fighting back from a severe spinal cord injury and other serious injuries. The cops were less than helpful, even though they had a good idea who was responsible, because the party they suspected was “untouchable”. The weeks we spent in the city while he underwent five surgeries were pure hell. We saw a brutal, filthy city. In the hospital, homeless people would steal food off the patients’ carts. I just laugh at all the tourist crap. Beneath the veneer of civility, San Francisco is an urban cesspool that is no better than other American crime capital.

[blonndee]

89. OMG...

I just read this post. I'm so very sorry for what you and your son have endured!

[emmadoggy]

18. I was there just over a year ago! You'll love it!

I second the advice to pack some warm clothes. My trip was a "surprise" from my Mom and sisters. I had a pretty good idea we were going to San Fran, but I wasn't entirely sure. I had some 3/4 sleeve tops and a light coat along and it wasn't enough!! In the middle of May it was chillier there than it was back home in Iowa (not a lot, but still).

We stayed in a beautiful hotel just a few blocks from Chinatown, so we spent a lot of time there. We also did the Alcatraz tour which was FANTASTIC! We spent quite a bit of time down at Pier 39 and that general area - don't miss the sea lions! We also did a day-long jeep tour around Sonoma - stopped at three vineyards for wine tasting, YUM! - and also went to Muir Woods which was simply stunning. Probably my favorite part - I could have stayed there for a long time! Probably the most "off-the-beaten-path" thing we did was a sailboat cruise through the bay on a boat called "Ruby". It was breathtaking!! COLD and WINDY - but breathtaking!! We did all this on just a long weekend (arrived Friday, left Monday). So we really crammed a lot in. Also, don't forget to hop on some cable cars! We also got a quick, last minute peek at Grace Cathedral.

I wish we had had more time to spend touring the great architecture (painted ladies etc.), but I feel like we really got a good taste of San Fransisco in such a short trip.

Have fun!!!

[blonndee]

23. It sounds like you guys DID have a great time!

I'm getting more and more excited about it. I've been dreading it because of the hassle of the airports and my fear of flying (in addition to worrying about lost luggage, etc.) but I'm going to just let it go and look forward to the trip now.

I'll add those things to our list. I'm really interested in Grace Cathedral. I've never heard of it but as I said, we all love architecture and I especially love churches. Good to hear the Alcatraz tour was so great. We're really into historical sites, so I'm sure we will all enjoy that.

Oh. I'm also looking quite forward to the wine "tasting." :)

[Fireweed247]

19. If you don't like water, I would skip Alcatraz

It is interesting, but...it is a prison...

The redwoods idea is fabulous, and I would drive up highway 1 as far as you can almost to Eureka and the forests are incredible!! There is nothing like them in the world. Truly Majestic!!

As for SF, Berkeley is really close by and fun to walk around, a little safer than certain places in SF.

The Exploratorium is pretty cool too
http://www.exploratorium.edu/
and the Aquarium(make sure you see the laser light show) in Golden Gate park. It us fun to just walk around Golden Gate park, relax in the grass, hike on the trails...and of course walk out on Golden Gate Bridge. Fisherman's wharf is also really fun, lots of little shops, really good fudge...

[blonndee]

26. Thanks.

Man, you guys are coming through for me! I can't wait to see how much we can fit into our schedule.

As for Alcatraz, it's not that I have a water phobia or anything, so I think I can handle it. I did have some second thoughts because of the whole prison thing, but I still think it would be very interesting and I know the rest of the family would really like it too.

Thanks for the link--I'll send it along to my mom. That sounds fun!

[Clovis Sangrail]

39. prolly the most interesting thing about Alacatraz is the Indian Occupation

other than that it's just an old prison.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Occupation_of_Alcatraz

[MonkeyFunk]

41. I wouldn't skip alcatraz...

it's a fascinating site, and if it's a nice day, the boat ride is beautiful.

I lived in SF for 4 years, and in the Bay Area for 25 years now, and Alcatraz is still one of the things I recommend to everybody who visits SF. I didn't see it until I'd been out here for over 10 years, then finally went with some visiting friends - and thought it was really interesting.

[blonndee]

42. How long is the boat ride?

I'm glad you enjoyed the visit. Sounds interesting.

[MonkeyFunk]

47. oh, it's not that long at all

maybe 10 minutes. But if it's a nice day, ANY time spent on San Francisco bay is worth it.

[King Coal]

86. For sure go to Alca Traz and also go through the submarine.

It is fasinating,

[az chela]

21. Stop and see Cindy Sheehan.her hq's is on Mission St

[grassfed]

22. The de Young & The Ferry Building

The de Young Museum in Golden Gate Park
http://www.famsf.org/deyoung/

Ferry Building
http://www.ferrybuildingmarketplace.com/

cheers

[blonndee]

27. Ooooh a museum!!

Thank you! I see they have a Chihuly exhibit coming. Gotta visit there.

[shanti]

30. isn't the de young closed until september or so?

I thought they were remodeling :shrug:

[indie_voter]

31. No, that is the Cal. Academy of Sciences. n/t

[Bennyboy]

29. The Beat Museum in North Beach..>City Lights, Vesuvio.....

If the Giants are in town the ballpark is always nice.

For food reccos go to www.chowhound.com and look for the SF board. I like Steps Of Rome in North Beach, Sammy Woos in Chinatown, Memphis Millies in Lower Haight, Pork Store on Haight Street, Magnolia Brewing on Haight. If you are in the Haight, Aomeba music is the place to go. best record store anywhere.

I also like to watch the hanggliders out at Fort Funsten. The zoo is one of the better ones too.

Hike up Mt Tam when in Marin. The best view ever.

[Book Lover]

32. When you do Chinatown

remember that it is on the hill; start there and work your way down to North Beach. Keep walking north and you'll hit Fisherman's Wharf, the tourist trap (which is a lot of fun in its own way. Also the ferries to Alcatraz depart from the Wharf). We're supposed to be having great weather for the week (clear and highs in the low 70's), so dress lightly and in layers.

Check sfgate.com, sfweekly.com, and sfbg.com for the weekly SF haps. And check sfist.com for local flava.

If you decide to climb the stairs to Coit Tower, prepare yourselves for a haul. But it is totally worth it.

Do *not* *depend* on MUNI for anything except being late. BART is much better in terms of timetables, but has a very limited range. You might be well-served by taking it to your hotel, though, if you are staying near downtown.

SF is surrounded on three sides by water, so you won't be able to avoid it totally. I'm guessing walking over the GGB might not be desirable, though.

[blonndee]

40. Thanks for the advice. I'm glad to hear the weather looks good.

We're going to be totally dependent on public trans. for most of the time, so the tips on that are very useful.

It's not that water is a big problem. It's a kind of mini-phobia. I like looking at it, I just don't like being in it AT ALL or being on it for very long. The GGB is a must-do, I think.

[Book Lover]

61. Nextmuni.com is a big help

especially if you can use it with your cellphone. I know some folks who use www.dadnab.com, which is not restricted to SF.

As long as you don't look down, the GGB should not be a problem :-)

Someone here recommended AG Ferrari's - I'd recommend Molinari's on Broadway instead as it is locally owned.

The walking tours website is http://www.sfcityguides.org Highly recommended.

The Giants kind of suck, so if you go to a game, don't be surprised if the locals are booing the local team.

I've done the night tour of Alcatraz, and I highly recommend it as well. It's a shame, but there is a union-busting process going on perpetrated by Hornblower - I don't think there's any other way to get to Alcatraz, though.

The farmer's market in the Ferry Building is a ripoff; the one in the Civic Center is much better priced, and frequented by the locals. Unfortunately, the Civic Center is where the hustlers gravitate. Watch yourself there.

I'd avoid the zoo.

FightingIrish above also mentioned his bad experiences - I am absolutely not surprised at all. The local government *is* a disgrace. (and FI, I am so sorry to hear what happened to your son.)

[sharesunited]

33. Try a crab louie, they are yummy. Wear sunblock and a hat.

Because it is cool and breezy there, you can easily forget just how sunny California is!

[AlCzervik]

36. The Moma and Muir Woods and Stinson beach. Have a great time in the best city in the world.

hells yes i'm biased.

[colinmom71]

37. If you can schedule it, do the night tour of Alcatraz...

We were there in January and did the night tour of Alcatraz. It gets really spooky as the sun starts to set in the cell wings! Also, you will get some simply beautiful photos of sunset in the Bay and the Golden Gate bridge, as well as the Downtown skyline from the island. The night tour costs a bit more per person but I felt it was completely worth it. Do be prepared with good comfy shoes as several of the ramps leading from the boat dock into the entrance of Alcatraz prison are quite steep and can exert the average person. There is an easier wheelchair accessible route that is intended for the disabled or those with breathing issues (asthma) and the tour guides will instruct you where to go if a member of your party has medical/disability issues that would make the regular ramped walkways problematic.

This particular tour takes longer than the standard day time tour, but you pretty much get to pick and choose what tour attractions you'd like to see after the overall tour breaks up into groups at the midpoint. During the Famous Inhabitants of Alcatraz tour, we got an interesting story about a Boston mobster who escaped confinement after he was transferred away from Alcatraz. He's still out and about in his 70s with a new wife... And he's even showed up and taken the Alcatraz tour several times since!

The Cable Car museum was lots of fun. It's free and doesn't take terribly long, but the displays of historic cable cars, news reels, and the actual cable drive system are available to peruse at your leisure. It does combine your interests in history and architecture (the museum is housed in the oldest remaining cable car storage and repair building left after the 1906 earthquake).

When you're in Chinatown, head to Chef Jia's for a lunch or dinner. It's next door to the famed (and tourist trap) House of Nanking, but Chef Jia's is where the locals tend to eat. While the service is somewhat less than congenial, the food is delicious and ready within 5-10 minutes. The honey chili chicken was quite good, if not very weight maintenance friendly! Chef Jia's is located at 925 Kearney Street.

Hope you and your family enjoy your trip! :-)

[blonndee]

44. Thank you! Great post.

The night tour sounds intriguing. I didn't even know there was one! I bet that's what we'll do. My mom has a list of things we might do, I'm sure, but it's kind of funny because we're sort of just "going" there and seeing what there is to do. We really haven't made much of a plan, hence my post. All these suggestions are really helpful and now I'm REALLY excited about going. Now I have a big fat list of exciting things to choose from and try to fit in to our week. I don't think we'll have any trouble finding something to do. Hee.

I'm glad you enjoyed your trip, too! Thanks for sharing.

[AlCzervik]

46. if you do go to Alcatraz you should buy the tickets online, it will make things

a little less crazy when you hit pier 39.

[emmadoggy]

68. Definitely, yes, do the night tour. That's what we did, as well.

And I would highly recommend getting your tickets in advance. Saves a lot of hassle.

Be prepared for a steep walk up the hill. Can be taxing if you aren't in good shape or used to the exertion. (I just about died several times during our stay in San Fran, due to the steep walking. I am NOT in good shape - AT ALL!! :nopity: ) Be sure to have sturdy, comfy shoes - trekker-type sandals work great.

I actually wasn't all that excited about the Alcatraz tour beforehand, but it was actually really interesting and I really enjoyed it. The audio tour is very dynamic and really "pulls you in". Loved that you could pause it to stop and take pictures or whatever and just go your own pace. The boat ride is short - probably not more than 15 minutes.

[indie_voter]

43. One last rec before I sleep: If you enjoy a blood mary try Home in the Castro

You can make your own.

http://www.home-sf.com/market/index.shtml

For Architecture if you have the time, walk around the Haight and Pacific Heights to see the Victorians. The famous row is on the 700 block (I think) of Steiner St.

Again, have a blast!

[Mz Pip]

45. Golden Gate Park

The De Young Museum, have lunch at the Beach Chalet on the Great Highway. Muir Woods, Stinson Beach, wine country, Pt. Reyes, Bolinas.

The Palace of Legion of Honor Museum has terrific art and terrific views.

Haight Ashbury is near Golden Gate Park. It's not like it was in the 60s but still kind of fun to walk around.

[BuyingThyme]

48. If you're in to music, visit Amoeba Records

[Duer 157099]

49. Hot fudge sundies at Ghiradelli square

I've lived up here for 5 years now, and whenever I go into the city it's almost always for either 1) Giants game or 2) Fisherman's Wharf and I always try to hit Ghiradelli square when I can. I haven't even done the Alcatraz tour yet! (but I'm taking notes about the night tour, and the restaurant recs)

[fishwax]

50. a few things I've enjoyed on my visits there

Since you all love history, it might be worth checking out Fort Point, a Civil War fort that's just under the GGB. It's a national historical site and I thought it was quite cool the first time I went to San Francisco as a kid.

You might want to check out City Lights Bookstore in North Beach. It's legendary, and has a great selection of small press and progressive books. Plus they published Ginsberg's Howl :D Right across the alley ("Jack Kerouac Alley") is Vesuvio's, which was also a Beat hangout (and doubled as the coffee bar in the movie So I Married an Axe Murderer). Since the Beats occasionally wind up among my areas of study, grabbing a drink at Vesuvio's while paging through a book from City Lights was a highlight for me :)

If you like baseball, the ballpark is a great place to take in a game.

If you're into music, Amoeba Music in the Haight-Ashbury is the biggest independent music store I've ever been to. (It used to be a bowling alley, to give you some idea of its size.) There is also a location (the original) in Berkley, but I haven't been to that one. The last time we were in San Francisco, we pretty much blew our souvenir budget on CDs there :)

There is an Italian grocery called AG Ferrari's that has a good selection of wines, cheeses, chocolate and other delights. They have a deli as well, where you can get ready-made sandwiches, but we just bought some food there so we could take it to one of the city's green spots and have a picnic, which was a nice change of pace.

Of course, the GGB is a must. The visitor center on the other side of the bridge is a pretty sweet place to watch the sun come up, if you happen to be up at the right time (and the weather cooperates), and walking back over the bridge in the early morning light is a treat.

These are the things that pop into my mind that others haven't yet mentioned--but there are so many cool things to do in the Bay Area that it's not too hard to have a great time. I've always wanted to visit Alcatraz, but the tours have been sold out the last couple of times I was there, so we only got to sail around it. Anyway, I hope you enjoy the trip! :hi:

[blonndee]

70. Thanks, fishwax! My dad would love to visit that Civil War fort.

The rest of the stuff sounds fun, too! I wish we had time to do everything. Maybe I should just move there. :)

[Hamlette]

51. Exploritorium....don't miss it

and Museum of contemporary art and the sculpture garden, park across the street has a great MLK memorial.

If you have a car, I'd go south to Monterey and Big Sur instead of No to Napa and redwoods. Great aquarium in Monterey and Big sur is a knock out IMHO.

Alcatraz is more interesting than I would have thought.

Stop by a bookshop and get a walking tour book. I know that have one or two of architectural walking tours that are pretty interesting.

There is a Frank Lloyd Wright building which looks like a small Guggenheim (NY) by Union Square. It's an art gallery (not museum) last I was there. It's at the end of a small dead end street called Maiden Lane just off the square.

Walk from Fisherman's Wharf to Market street following the ocean as you go....also the walk from Exploritorium to fisherman's wharf along the water is cool

One of my fav stories about Golden Gate Park is it was sand dunes so no one built on it. The city wanted to know if they could turn it into a park so they asked this Scottish guy, John McLaren. He surveyed it and said yes, he could do it for $10,000 and 3 conditions: 1. He got all the fresh water he wanted, 2. He got all the horse droppings from the streets and 3. As long as it remained a park they could never put up a "keep off the grass" sign. After it was built they started erecting statues which pissed him off so he planted groves of trees around them. Find a grove of trees and walk inside, often you'll find some statue he was trying to hide.

I love San Fran. Lived there one summer and have visited a dozen times or so.

[TahitiNut]

52. Breakfast at the Buena Vista! (Get there at 8am)

Dinner at Scoma's ... at the west end of the Wharf ... back along an alley. (Best seafood ... especically abalone in season.)

Coit Tower ... must for strolling at night.

Go north across the Golden Gate, first exit, follow signs to Golden Gate Recreational Area ... bring bread and cheese and beverage and view the city from the bluff. Stroll around the WW2 artillery emplacements. Fascinating.

Take the Cable Cars every chance you get ... stand on the outside. The most fun way to commute evah!

[tammywammy]

57. Buena Vista has the best Irish Coffee

:)

[LuckyLib]

54. Ah, my former home. When folks ask, I tell them to treat it as I do Wash DC:

make modest plans to enjoy a few things well, with time for stops and surprises and coffee. Then be content that you will be back to do/see/eat/view the rest of the list on future trips! Buses and muni go everywhere, and plan to walk! It's the best part of SF!

[TahitiNut]

56. The "neighborhoods" ...best part of the city.

Yup.

[Manifestor_of_Light]

58. A few suggestions:

I haven't been there since right before Bill Clinton was elected in '92.

Chinatown is amazing. If any of the people in your group sew, go to Union Square. Right across from the Neiman-Marcus store is Britex Fabrics, which is in a tiny, narrow 4 story building. Mind-boggling for any seamstress.

The St. Francis Hotel is where the Fatty Arbuckle scandal happened. This was in the days before L.A. was built up and the movie stars had to go to S.F. to party. It has gorgeous huge green marble columns in the lobby.

Climbing up the hill to Coit Tower is pretty strenuous, but fun.

BART is amazingly efficient, if you live somewhere where mass transit is a joke.

Flying tip: Fly into Oakland, then take BART to get to downtown S.F. The airport in Oakland is closer than the S.F. airport.

Berkeley is interesting.

[Manifestor_of_Light]

59. There's a lovely view from Russian Hill.

My cousin took me up to Russian Hill and I still have the pictures. Nice view of the Oakland bridge and downtown.

Mt. Tamalpais is pretty awesome too.

[Luminous Animal]

62. Some ideas...

Alcatraz is great if you take the audio tour. The tour is narrated solely by old prisoners and prison guards and it is really quite good. Do not hang around Fisherman's Wharf... don't eat there, don't shop there. If you happen upon a nice day and you'd like to hang out by the water, go to the Ferry Building. There are some good restaurants there and a pedestrian pier about a half a block east. If you are up for a loooong walk along the waterfront, you can start at the Ferry Building and up at the ballpark. It is a beautiful ballpark on the water and if there is no game, go to the back northeast side and you'll see stairs, go up the stairs to the Coca-Cola playground for a great view of the park.

If you go to Chinatown, then you have to go to North Beach right next door. Chinatown is great for its tchotchkes but rest assured, nearly every cheap doodad and bangle you buy will fall apart pretty quickly. There is, though, some high quality lovely linens and silks and some beautiful jade jewelry. Grant Street is the tourist street but with a lot of locals, too. Stockton street is the local street where you will have a more purely cultural Chinese experience. For me, the best way to tour this area of town is to start off mid-morning at the Chinese Gates, eat some dim sum at Hang Ah Tea Room, then do some casual shopping (FYI, many of the "emporiums" have an upstairs and a downstairs). I am crazy about cookware and the Wok Shop is great, packed floor to ceiling with good stuff. The Chinese Historical Museum is well worth a visit.

Then on to North Beach go directly to Caffe Roma, then go to Washington Square Park with your cup of excellent coffee and take a break. North Beach is known for its Italian culture, Beat Generation preservation, and strip joints. There is some beautiful architecture and great food. There are also some nice shops on Grant St. There is a used clothing store run by a crazy lady who will not let you touch the clothes (she insists handing everything to you) but she has some great stuff and if you can tolerate her, you can make some excellent purchases. The Beat Museum is on Broadway. Two great places to stop for a cocktail are Vesuvius Cafe which is absolutely chocked with decades of local art and Specs right across the street (in a little alcove of an alley). Specs was owned by a retired merchant seaman and if full of seafaring memorabilia. If you happen to walk by North Beach Brewery, check out the bar. There is a tile trough on the floor that runs along the length of the bar. It was a "urninal". Sailors would drink AND piss at the bar. Depending on the time, North Beach is a great place to have a late lunch or an early dinner. DO NOT go to the Stinking Rose. DO NOT go to Coppola's restaurant. Rather, go to E' Tutto Qua for great Italian pasta or Cinecitta Ristorante for thin crust Roman style pizza, or Sotto Mare for Italian seafood.

The Mission is the place to go for thrift store shopping and used book store hopping. Go to Mission Dolores first, to the old adobe mission and the old grave yard attached to it then walk east on 16th St. There are several stores that can be fun and too many good restaurants. On 16th, there is Adobe Books for used books, and IDOL for vintage clothes. When you hit Valencia St., hang a right going south. This street is chocked full of stores for several blocks. I'd walk on the west side of the street first. Most notable, the Bombay ice cream store where you can get regular ice cream or exotics like rose petal or cardamom, (they let you taste!),the Mexican Folk Art store and gallery, Paxton's Gate (cool animal skeletons, small animal penis bones, preserved exotic bugs, interesting plants, etc.). Most times, you can get a free cup of tea. The little tea cups and hot tea pot on a trivet are in an alcove to the right of the clerk's desk. Next door to Paxton's Gate is the "The Pirate Store" at 826 Valencia St.. The pirate store disguises a totally free writer's workshop for kids but it is also a totally funky store. Don't forget to look in the drawers and read the signs scattered about. Especially the one over the lard vat with a list of various uses for lard. After leaving 826 Valencia, go back towards 16th St. on the other side of the street and you will hit Community Thrift. A big barn of a place and the proceeds go entirely to charity. It can be a little funky but I have found some fantastic things there. Community Thrift is on the corner of Clarion Alley and Valencia St. After leaving the store take a right Clarion Alley for some of the best urban murals in the city. When you get to the end of the alley, you will be on Mission St. and across the street (catty corner to the right), is Thrift Town, another good thrift store.

The Mission is an excellent place to eat.

Good inexpensive restaurants in the Mission: El Toro (17th & Valencia) for great fresh Mexican with a wonderful salsa bar, Truly Mediterranean for their amazing Mediterranean shwarmas (if you like spicy, make sure you get the hot sauce), Pakwan for Indian/Pakistan, Picaro for Spanish Tapas (the Sangria is excellent), Yum Yum Sushi, and Sunflower for Vietnamese. Sunflower has two entrances and two dining rooms. One on 16th that looks bare bones kitchen and one on Valencia with table cloths and everythaaaaang. If you like shrimp, order the Sunflower prawns with garlic noodles. Oh yum!

Pricier and great restaurants. Ti Couz for French crepes, great salads, and excellent wine. Dosa for a fusion twist on Indian food, French Laundry for upscale California cuisine (and classic movies out on the well-heated outdoor dining room), and Delfina for more upscale California cuisine.

The Mission is teaming with bars and nightlife. It is pretty much hopping any night of the week.

Odds and ends...

The Sutro Ruins at the ocean and an easy hike on the Lands End trail. The Sutro Gardens. The Ramp for brunch or lunch on a sunny day. The Arboretum in Golden Gate park (don't forget bring peanuts and ignore the signs). The grounds on both sides of the De Young museum... also, you can go up the observation tower for free. The real crookedest street in San Francisco (try to find it!). The Marin headlands. The Cable Car Museum which is very cool. You can watch the huge machinery in action that runs the cable cars in the city. North Point (the old civil war fort). A walk on Golden Gate Bridge. The west end of Golden Gate Park... wilder, woolier, and quiet. Karaoke at The Mint. A walk up Corona Heights for an excellent view and no crowds. The pet cemetery in the Presidio. The drag queen show at Aunt Charlie's. A ride on the F train along Market Street (go one way then get on underground for a much faster ride on the way back).

Unless you want some hippy T-shirts, Haight street is not worth the visit. There is no there there.

I don't know if it is obvious yet. BUT I ABSOLUTELY LOVE MY CITY!!!!

Don't forget, hotels have bathrooms in their lobbies and mass transportation is often better than driving and trying to find a frickin' parking space (I drive like 2 miles a month). Don't be afraid to ask for directions... it will save a buttload of time looking at maps. Don't let the homeless get you down. If you feel like giving, I budget $2 a day and when I'm tapped, I'm tapped. As for news, the SF Weekly sucks, the Bay Guardian rules, and the SF Chronicle is managed in New York and they don't even have a clue of who we are.

And most important... layer your clothing. The weather can vary from neighborhood to neighborhood. It can be 10 degrees colder or hotter from one part of town to another and in one day, you can leave your hotel at 52 degrees, 2 hours later it could be 74, and 4 hours later back down to 52. I don't know how many times I've told friends and relatives to bring WARM CLOTHES and they've ignored me and have had to buy sweaters and sweatshirts to keep warm.

Remember that Mark Twain was reputed to have said, "The coldest winter I ever spent was a summer in San Francisco."

If you are interested, I've got good suggestions for the wine country, as well.

[blonndee]

71. Thank you for the fantastic response!

I appreciate you taking the time to help. I do have a question about Napa. We're talking tonight and want to know whether we should rent a car and go it alone or if it's better to join a tour of some kind. So any advice you have about that would be very much appreciated! Thanks again! I can't wait to visit!

[Luminous Animal]

84. If you want to visit wineries

and do some tasting, a tour is the way to go. If you want to be "cutting edge" you might consider a Sonoma tour instead. How long do you expect to be in the North Bay?

[Oilwellian]

63. I'm visiting SF next month

Staying with an uncle who lives in Northern CA and will stay overnight in San Fran on our way home. Have a wonderful trip! I know we will! :D

[gateley]

65. Have fun! nt

[alfredo]

66. Drop by Anchor Steam and have some of their brew.

[scorpiogirl]

69. While you're in Napa....

I recommend going to V. Sattui Winery: http://www.vsattui.com/

They have beautiful grounds and a great deli where you can buy snacks to have with your wine. There are wonderful areas to sit, eat and drink. I haven't been there in years, but I always made a point to go there while in the area. Enjoy!

[blonndee]

72. Thanks for the link!

Tonight we're working out what we're going to do in Napa, so this is timely. That vineyard looks beautiful!

[Luminous Animal]

85. That is a great winery

and I know that it is on a couple of wine tour stops.

[PermanentRevolution]

73. Get a CityPass...

http://www.citypass.com/city/sanfrancisco.html

$54, gets you 7-day free MUNI access (subways, buses, cable cars) plus tickets to 5 attractions. Well worth the money.

If you like strange history and bizarre architecture, the Winchester Mansion in San Jose is definitely one-of-a-kind. It's kinda fun in a very touristy way. Built by Sarah Winchester, who felt that the spirits of all those killed by Winchester rifles were chasing her. She kept workers busy building new additions to the house constantly for 30 years. There's doors that go nowhere, stairs that run into the ceiling, secret passages, all kinds of weird things.

http://www.winchestermysteryhouse.com/

It's maybe an hour's drive south.

[blonndee]

78. Thank you! That sounds like a great deal.

Man, I'm so glad I asked. I knew DUers would come through for me! :)

[dogpatch]

74. Dude! One more pitch for the Mission

We are the sunniest neighborhood so if it's foggy out by the beach come on over here. It was glorious today but definitely be prepared for abrupt weather changes and nighttime wind and chilly air. A few more Mission recommendations:

Take BART to 16th and Mission and walk up 16th Street to Dolores to check out the original Mission and church that has been rebuilt several times. You can peek through the fence on the little alley next door into the graveyard where Madeline in Hitchcock's Vertigo goes to visit Carlotta's grave. Then walk over to Bi Rite Creamery on 18th and Dolores across from Dolores Park for the Sam's Sundae, the greatest and weirdest ice cream sundae with bergamot olive oil and sea salt on top. Fabulous!

Then you can either go up 18th to the Castro or stroll down past several great restaurants (Tartine Bakery morning buns, OMFG!) to Valencia Street. A right turn will take you down Valencia past all kinds of great shops to 24th street. Take a left down 24th and now you're on the main street for Latino stores, bakeries, and fabulous tacos. You'd think all we do is eat here, right? But there's some art too: on 24th check out the murals that line Balmy Alley and the Galeria de la Raza on 24th and Bryant.

From there you could catch a Bryant street bus back toward downtown, walk back up 24th to the BART at 24th and Mission, or make your way back toward 16th street on Mission Street itself, which is sort of like Delancey on the Lower East Side or 125th in Harlem, a beautiful jumble of stores and restaurants and street hawkers, some down and out and some gentrifying.

Weird Fish for great fish and chips and vegan stuff on Mission and 18th, Bar Bambino on 16th between Mission and South VanNess for good pasta and great olive oil cake, and the taco trucks at Harrison and 22nd and Harrison and 19th RULE. Coffee Bar at Mariposa and Florida for the best lattes in the world, if you get that deep into the warehouse district of the Mission. Oh and Mission Pies at 25th and Mission, where high school kids learn about cooking and organic farming.

Finally, for a totally different thing check out the houseboats on Mission Creek in the rapidly gentrifying Mission Bay/China Basin area. Despite all the Google zillionaires turning our city into yet impossibly exclusive enclave, SF still has a bit of a heartbeat left. If you get over that way, have a beer at the Ramp off of Mariposa and 3rd Streets, right on the bay.

[blonndee]

81. Thanks so much. This is so exciting!

I envy you, living in such a fantastic city.

[Luminous Animal]

87. Whenever I've visited a great city...

I've ended up spending more time in one area than any other. If I didn't live here, if I were visiting, the Mission would be the neighborhood I'd up hanging out in most often. It really is the heart of San Francisco.

[dogpatch]

75. ps if you like water

You can go kayaking in the bay close to the Bay Bridge, I think it's called City Kayak or even better, up in Marin on Tomales Bay. We like the guides at Point Reyes Outdoors, and last time we went we saw a family of sea otters!

[lucca]

76. Beach Blanket Babylon

A hilarious show, poking fun at current events, local politics, and national politics. Favorite was the their take off of "Dreamgirls", with Nancy Pelosi, Barbara Boxer, and Diane Feinstein as the "girls".



http://www.beachblanketbabylon.com/

Enjoy!

[MzNov]

79. A Must See !!

:bounce:

[BlooInBloo]

77. The ribs at Oola (soma) are the best in earthly existence!

Also, the standard good food spots: Cliffhouse brunch, Foreign Cinema for a romantic dinner, etc.

In general, check Yelp for awesome suggestions.

EDIT: Here's yelp's oola review page: http://www.yelp.com/biz/oola-restaurant-and-bar-san-francisco

[MzNov]

80. Be sure to go the end of Pier 39

to see those big old sea lions who took over the docks many years ago!

[Imagevision]

82. From the City, drive over to sausalito, drive over the golden gate bridge take

the first exit after going over the bridge, simply continue on straight down the exit road and simply drive about a mile and you'll be in Sausalito, incredibly breath taking, the golden gate bridge, San Francisco, the entire bay and many exquisite shops, places to get a snack or a glass of wine. Very beautiful part of northern California.

On your way back to SF. there's a side road before coming back over the GG bridge and the road leads high up into the hills, this area has been photographed constantly on tv and commercials. enjoy...

[laststeamtrain]

88. Sam Wo

Sam Wo
813 Washington St San Francisco, CA [phone] (between Grant Ave. & Waverly Pl(?))

Ultra cheap. Ultra good. Open really late on weekends.

Gary Snyder taught Jack Kerouac to use chopsticks here.

Not a tourist kind of place. An authentic kind of place. You won't be sorry.