Taking a trip in the next month or two and would like any advice . I will be staying "south of Market" what to do what not to do?
Tripping to SanFran advice?
- Thread starter smurfdaddy
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Don't go to Beldon place near the intersection of Bush and Kearney to enjoy Cafe Bastille or one of the other authentic European cafes' there that spill out across the alley and seem just like your in France or Italy.
Just kidding, do that. Most tourists don't even know it's there, but well worth it.
Just kidding, do that. Most tourists don't even know it's there, but well worth it.
And if you haven't done it go up to pier 39 and fishermans wharf. Every tourist knows that, but it's still cool. It's usually actual cool, even in the summer so bring a jacket or sweater.
We need to start a blog outside of LR with things to do in cities when traveling there. Im pretty confident we have answered the San Fran one several times....and when I say we, I mean Tribe.
not knocking the op for asking either....I would be asking as well if I had a trip lined up to go there as well.
not knocking the op for asking either....I would be asking as well if I had a trip lined up to go there as well.
Oh yeah, my advice.
No matter what you decided to do while in SF, you can't go wrong so long as you aren't sitting in your hotel room. But one of the things that blew me away while I was there was the Sushi at a place called Ryoko's. Holy crap, I didn't know sushi could be that good and that reasonably priced. You will thank me later.
http://www.yelp.com/biz/ryokos-san-francisco?osq=Top+10+Sushi+Restaurants
No matter what you decided to do while in SF, you can't go wrong so long as you aren't sitting in your hotel room. But one of the things that blew me away while I was there was the Sushi at a place called Ryoko's. Holy crap, I didn't know sushi could be that good and that reasonably priced. You will thank me later.
http://www.yelp.com/biz/ryokos-san-francisco?osq=Top+10+Sushi+Restaurants
Giants game. I hate the Giants. But it is probably the best venue in MLB. If you want to tour Alcatraz, book your tickets now. The Oakland ferry is a great way to tour the bay for cheap, and they used to serve drinks on it. Do all the tourist stuff - it's fun. I.e., go to Ghirardelli Square (it's pretty small), ride the trolley, go to Chinatown, eat as much sour dough bread as you can (there is no other place in the nation that has as good of sour dough bread), the Ferry Plaza Farmers market is great place to pick up some wine and cheese and enjoy it while looking out over the bay.
Swan Oyster Depot is fantastic if you like oyster. If you have a car, drive over to Yountville (Napa Valley). Ad Hoc sells box lunches - pick up the fried chicken one and head over to one of the wineries that allows food in (most do), grab a bottle of white or sparkling wine and enjoy.
Remember what Mark Twain said about San Fran: The coldest winter was a summer day in San Francisco.
Swan Oyster Depot is fantastic if you like oyster. If you have a car, drive over to Yountville (Napa Valley). Ad Hoc sells box lunches - pick up the fried chicken one and head over to one of the wineries that allows food in (most do), grab a bottle of white or sparkling wine and enjoy.
Remember what Mark Twain said about San Fran: The coldest winter was a summer day in San Francisco.
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[OTE="DanC78, post: 2210182, member: 6522"]We need to start a blog outside of LR with things to do in cities when traveling there. Im pretty confident we have answered the San Fran one several times....and when I say we, I mean Tribe.
not knocking the op for asking either....I would be asking as well if I had a trip lined up to go there as well.[/QUOTE]
On some cities like NOLA I get asked so many times in real life I just have a long ready to go list/guide set up in Gmail that gets automatically sent. The only difference is if it's relatives I skip out on the strip club portion of my recs.
My wife has been on me to create a travel blog with our real camera photos not the iPhone pics I throw up in ten seconds on Facebook. My excuse is I don't have time, but the reality is I could have already finished it by the time I did my tenth guide to San Fran on here.
not knocking the op for asking either....I would be asking as well if I had a trip lined up to go there as well.[/QUOTE]
On some cities like NOLA I get asked so many times in real life I just have a long ready to go list/guide set up in Gmail that gets automatically sent. The only difference is if it's relatives I skip out on the strip club portion of my recs.
My wife has been on me to create a travel blog with our real camera photos not the iPhone pics I throw up in ten seconds on Facebook. My excuse is I don't have time, but the reality is I could have already finished it by the time I did my tenth guide to San Fran on here.
Yep. As Amazing as San Fran is, the best photos and outside adventures are outside of town. Either just driving highway 1 down to Big Sur and back or going across the bridge to Sausolito and the Muir Woods or over past Napa through the Sierra Nevada's to Yosemite. When I'm there I like to go outside of the city during the day and just pop in for dinner and drinks if at all.
Take the boat over to Sausalito and spend the day drinking wine while staring back across the bay at SF.
Get a hot fudge sundae at Ghirardelli.
As mentioned above, go see a Giants game - the ball park is terrific. Have a chicken and rice bowl - very tasty.
At the wharf there's a penny arcade with lots of old mechanical games that's fun to visit.
Get a hot fudge sundae at Ghirardelli.
As mentioned above, go see a Giants game - the ball park is terrific. Have a chicken and rice bowl - very tasty.
At the wharf there's a penny arcade with lots of old mechanical games that's fun to visit.
Yosemite is a 160 mile, three hour drive per Google, 2.5 if you book it. That's not very far for one of America's best national parks and is more than doable as a day trip, I know because I did it easily and still spent a solid 10-12 hours in driving and hiking the park. That's plenty of time to hike the old grove Sequoias, photograph the waterfalls, and see all of the main Vista points.
I drove more than that today to see Weird Al in Biloxi. And San Fran to Big Sur is about the same distance as Yosemite and it's equally well worth the trip. There's nothing in San Fran that tops the sights on highway 1 from Pacifica to Big Sur (for the OP imagine Maine's coastline but higher cliffs and more beautiful) or Yosemite.
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I definitely agree that Sausalito and Muir Woods especially is well worth the trip. There are redwoods in the Golden Gate Park and elsewhere around San Fran but they're "little" ones about the same height but not very big around. Muir woods has the giant ones you can fit a car through.
And I second the penny arcade, it's well worth doing as part of the hike around the piers. Sidenote, a must do is to get a live steamed whole Dungeness crab, an anchor steam beer and a small sourdough loaf from Boudin bakery and chow down on it in a bench at one of the piers while watching the sea lions, sailors and tourists. It's the San Fran equivalent to grabbing some cheese, bread and wine outside the Notre Dame cathedral in Paris.
The night tour of Alcatraz is highly recommended. They clear off the Rock and there's only 1 or 2 boats on the Rock at night. Gives that eerie feeling but also much less crowded and the park rangers do great stories. Plus you get the great city view on the way back.
Every now and then, you might want to look at a map.
I did and you're wrong.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sierra_Nevada_(U.S.)
I'll be kind and say that in your snark you assumed I meant the q¥»¥»^ mountains right by Napa, but.Yosemite is in the Sierra Nevada.Mountains and you pass by plenty more on the way in from Napa.
Agreed.Gorgeous venue. Been lucky enough to take BP there and play a few short games for fun.
To go from SFO to Napa to Yosemite is a 4 hour drive with no stops. I wasn't being snarky, just being real. I know where Yosemite is, I've been there at least 5 times.
There is a (non competing) website named city-data, the info is good the location based forums can be interesting.
http://www.city-data.com/city/San-Francisco-California.html
http://www.city-data.com/forum/san-francisco-oakland/
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Tadich Grill is still around? Nice.
If you have time, take the drive to the Monterrey area.
the views from Highway 1 are incredible
On Saturday nights all the low riders/classic cars cruise Fishermans Wharf.
Theres a bar in downtown SF hotel that's got incredible views with floor to ceiling windows..
http://www.sfviewlounge.com/
we spent four days in SF last year and I didn't want to leave but then we went to Carmel and I wondered why I spent 4 days in Frisco.
If you have time, take the drive to the Monterrey area.
the views from Highway 1 are incredible
On Saturday nights all the low riders/classic cars cruise Fishermans Wharf.
Theres a bar in downtown SF hotel that's got incredible views with floor to ceiling windows..
http://www.sfviewlounge.com/
we spent four days in SF last year and I didn't want to leave but then we went to Carmel and I wondered why I spent 4 days in Frisco.
Just got back from first trip to San Fran. Three days there, drove down to Monterey and then Big Sur and back tracked back to Sonoma for the last couple days.
Point Lobos
Big Sur: Pfeiffer Beach, McWay Falls
Chicken wings at San Tung immediately south of Golden Gate park - can walk to the park and then the Academy of Sciences after.
Muir Woods
San Francisco Giants game
Stanley Kubrick exhibition is the entirety of the Jewish Museum until October 30. It was amazing.
Point Lobos
Big Sur: Pfeiffer Beach, McWay Falls
Chicken wings at San Tung immediately south of Golden Gate park - can walk to the park and then the Academy of Sciences after.
Muir Woods
San Francisco Giants game
Stanley Kubrick exhibition is the entirety of the Jewish Museum until October 30. It was amazing.
Rent bikes at golden gate park, ride to the presidio and across the golden gate.
Chinatown, trolley, sundae at ghiradelli, (Ben and Jerry's food too).
Alcatraz- order tickets a month in advance. Go eat dim sum at Yank Sing (best ever).
Always like to walk around Haight ashbury
Chinatown, trolley, sundae at ghiradelli, (Ben and Jerry's food too).
Alcatraz- order tickets a month in advance. Go eat dim sum at Yank Sing (best ever).
Always like to walk around Haight ashbury
If I was taking a friend to SF for their first time and we only had one day there, I'd do the things that created my most vivid memories of the most picturesque city I've ever seen. Take the Powell-Hyde Ferry to the wharf area and spend a couple of hours walking around. Take a boat tour of the bay (Alcatraz optional). Have an Irish coffee at Buena Vista. Drive across the bridge to Point Bonita lighthouse for maybe the best sunset you'll ever see. All of these places are popular tourist attractions, but you're a tourist, too...so just go with the flow.
With more time, a drive down to Big Sur is exceptional. Carmel and Monterrey are worth a visit. Muir Woods is beautiful but is often very crowded. Napa is nice, but I didn't think it was spectacular.
With more time, a drive down to Big Sur is exceptional. Carmel and Monterrey are worth a visit. Muir Woods is beautiful but is often very crowded. Napa is nice, but I didn't think it was spectacular.
I went to a Giants-Dodgers game in SF and sat in right field. It was unbelievable that people would get so fired up over a baseball game! At one point I watched a Dodgers fan walking down an aisle when a Giants fan jumped out into his way, starting shoving his Giants cap in the guys face, and yelling at him. The Dodgers fan hadn't done anything to provoke it at all - outside of wearing a Dodgers jersey. Security ended up escorting the Dodgers guy and his party out - I'm assuming for their own safety they were moved to seats somewhere else. It was really crazy.
Most, if not all, have already been mentioned but in no particular order:
--Stinking Rose for a meal
--Chinatown, Dim Sum for a meal
--Giants Game even if you don't like baseball
--Ghiradelli square
--Fisherman's wharf
--Take a Ferry to Saulsalito
--Golden Gate
--Bus transportation is actually quite good and google maps makes navigating them simple!
--There are a TON of great places to eat. Research them over google pending what you want.
--I never got to do Alcatraz but I hear good things... maybe next time for me
--Stinking Rose for a meal
--Chinatown, Dim Sum for a meal
--Giants Game even if you don't like baseball
--Ghiradelli square
--Fisherman's wharf
--Take a Ferry to Saulsalito
--Golden Gate
--Bus transportation is actually quite good and google maps makes navigating them simple!
--There are a TON of great places to eat. Research them over google pending what you want.
--I never got to do Alcatraz but I hear good things... maybe next time for me
Mavericks only breaks on certain huge swells.
Santa Cruz is where to go if you want to see consistent waves and surfing. Also there is a boardwalk (the one shown in The Lost Boys), and nearby Capitola is a great small beach town to check out. Nearby Henry Cowell woods is just as good as Muir Woods if not better.
Or if you want something a little more backcountry hike Out at Point Reyes and hit up Bodega Bay.
If John Johnson is your guide, you're golden. Vicki's the best.
Truthfully before every trip to San Fran I watch So I Married An Axe Murderer. It's a good primer on the area.
One bit of conventional wisdom: If one drops one's wallet in San Francisco, one is advised to kick it all the way to Oakland before bending over to pick it up.
