San Francisco

[troutman]

http://forum.calgarypuck.com/showthr...a+wharf&page=2

http://forum.calgarypuck.com/showthr...ight=francisco

http://forum.calgarypuck.com/showthr...robin+williams

[SebC]

Originally Posted by Cowperson

I knew I missed something . . . . . yep, take that car through Golden Gate park and then right down the coast through Half Moon Bay (bakery run!!!), Santa Cruz and then hit Monterrey out to Carmel. Have some lunch or supper in Carmel. You can always take the quicker freeway back.

If you're doing this, don't skip Point Lobos. China Cove (at Point Lobos) is a great place to chill out on the beach. Julia-Pfeiffer Burns park is a bit further out of the way, but has a tidefall (waterfall that lands on the beach), but you can't go down to it. Just an idea, probably not worth it unless you really want to photograph it.

Also consider Yosemite National Park (four hour drive).

And if you're doing Lombard St, go back up and come back down on Filbert St too.

[getbak]

Avoid the Tenderloin.

[OBCT]

Not too much to add. San Francisco and area is really great. Lots of good suggestions already.

Golden Gate Park in SF is very nice. Just walking the paths on a sunny day can be a great time. It's also massive (larger than NYC's Central Park). Contained in close vicinity within the park are 4 distinct "museums" appealing to a wide range of folk. #1: De Young Museum of Fine Arts, #2: Japanese Tea Garden, #3: California Academy of Sciences, #4: SF Botanical Garden/Arboretum. All four are potentially very worth your time - if you're into that kind of thing. I should say that there are arguably "better" similar individual museums than each of these located elsewhere in the Greater Bay Area, but the location, layout and relative newness of these sights certainly makes them notable.

One thing that is a bit of a phenomenon down these parts right now is the broadway musical production, Wicked. I have yet to see it, personally, but can assure you that it gets rave reviews from the vast majority of patrons. I might be the furthest thing from broadway musical type, myself, and even I hope to see it. I mean, when you know someone who currently has $80 tickets to see it for the fourth time, it's gotta be good, right? It is extremely popular, so be sure to buy your tickets well in advance. Note: I hear the show generally isn't recommended for children under 12 (though it depends) due to some adult content. [wikipedia link]

Some people are interested in Silicon Valley and would like an idea of where/how to scout out some key points of interest therein while they're in the area. Though a bit old now, this article gives a good basis for such a self-guided tour (assuming you're renting a car). There are several other notable POIs in the area missed above, including YouTube, Microsoft, Yahoo!, Stanford, etc. Also in the same general area is the Winchester Mystery House and California's Great America theme park.

Another neat little "museum" an hour south of Silicon Valley is the Mystery Spot. It's located in Santa Cruz, a beautiful destination for numerous reasons, not the least of which it's sandy beaches and world famous boardwalk.

I could go on and on, but needless to say, you shant be bored during your stay!

[Saint Troy]

I'm heading there with my wife in a couple of weeks, my second time there and my wife's first. Heading to Yountville for a Thomas Keller restaurant lunch/dinner, and staying on Nob Hill, only wish it was baseball season, but I love the area.

[trumpethead]

The farmers market at the SF Ferry Terminal on saturday morning is cool.

The SF Giants are at home from May 25 to May 31 - even if you are not a baseball fan I highly recommend - AT&T Park is a beautiful stadium - easy to get to by transit and lots to do and look at (and hot dogs/beer/baseball obviously - for you not the 3Yr old).

[transplant99]

One thing I did there that was cool was a helicopter tour...really get a perspective of the land and how everything is laid out.

Alcatraz is a must. Fishermans wharf is awesome...go hungry though.

[opendoor]

If you're going to have a car and don't mind a fair bit of driving in one day (probably 6 hours round trip), the Monterey to Big Sur area is one of the most beautiful places in the world. While a little long, about 2-3 of those hours will have some of the most amazing scenery you'll ever see, so it makes up for having to sit in a car most of the day. If I had a week in San Francisco and access to a car, that would be right at the top of my list.

Also if you have a car, the area on the north side of the Golden Gate Bridge is pretty nice. You can check out old growth redwoods in Muir Woods and head up to Stinson Beach which is a pretty cool beach town about 45 minuted north of the city.


Other than that, there's lots to do in the city itself and I think everyone else has given you a pretty good handle on things. There are lots of fantastic places to eat in the city with pretty much the best of any kind of food you can imagine. Chinese, Italian, Japanese, Mexican, burger joints, there's great food of every kind.

[Tiger]

Go to Santa Cruz for a day. Great Beach. A nice wood roller coaster on the boardwalk and some other rides for the kids.

Really you can walk around anywhere in San Fran and have a great time. ghirardelli square is cool (and they will give you chocolate samples in the store there), the Japanese garden/tea house is nice.

DO NOT GO TO 3COM park on a non-game day. I've traveled all over the world and been in some bad places, but that is the only time I have ever felt not safe. Drive by racial slurs and what not. Some body asked me what the hell I was doing there. I said trying to get out. His response, "I'll tell you the safest way to get out... not the quickest, but the safest." I had to cut past a school that was fenced in with 15 foot fence and the whole cement playground (ie basketball court) was covered in broken glass. It wasn't nice. But that was 7 years ago, it may be a little better now.

[Phanuthier]

Originally Posted by Cowperson

If you have a car, make sure you watch Bullitt before you go and do exactly what those guys did. You'll know what I mean. Even if you go a little slower it's still fun.

Cross the Golden Gate and somewhere around the Sausalito turnoff is a road that takes you through a ridiculously long one lane tunnel, out the other side of a mountain and then you can drive up to a spectacular lookout overlooking the bridge. Breezy but nice.

That area is Mt Tamalpais. Great view of the bay area. If you do have a car and want to stay in SF, there is a drive up one of the higher hills (if you can find it) that is a great view.

Most of the stuff in SF is either Fisherman's Wharf or Union Square. Everything seems to encompass those 2.

I would hop on a BART and take a look at Berkeley, I liked Berkeley a lot.

Most of the best places I went to eat in SF was a hole in the wall type of place. Certainly no Siberro's.

The show "Wicked!" seems to get a lot of attention, and my friends who came to visit me a few months ago saw it and liked it a lot.

SJ, Santa Cruz, Monterey, Carmel and Big Sur are all real nice but a long drive, not sure if you are looking to go to SF with the idea of leaving the SF Bay area. (Although I do agree, Big Sur and 17 mile drive is probably 1/5 most beautiful sights I've ever seen. But I think that whole area of Santa Cruz, Monterey, Carmel, Big Sur is worth a few days and, even though I'm really bias, I have to mention Pinnacles in there.) The best part of SF is just absorbing the ambiance rather than running around and trying to see everything, so I'd just sit back and enjoy the city rather than make things too complicated IMO.

[fundmark19]

I second berkley totally forgot. Walk on campus it is really nice we went to a pizza place there I wish I could remember the name that was really good and some homeless guys were trying to sell roachs of pot for 5 bucks.

[Torrie the Whaler]

Try watching the "I married an axe murderer" it is shot in San Fransisco shows a few things like Alcatraz, but mostly for the laughs....

[EN FUEGO]

I live in North Beach (right by the wharf). I'd recommend going on Yelp and picking out some restaurants that suit your fancy...tough to go wrong in SF. The Stinking Rose is a famous restaurant in North Beach that uses insane amounts of garlic but is incredibly delicious. As far as Marin, I'd go out to Stinson Beach if the winds out there aren't too bad...some nice hikes/walks out there too. Bahiker.com is a great resource if you're looking for hikes to do. You can rent all kinds of bikes, "go-cars", segways, etc. down at the wharf to explore the city (and beyond) on as well. Great mexican food in the Mission, Ocean Beach/Sutro/Legion of Honor area is beautiful....basically the park around the SF side of the golden gate bridge. May is potentially a great time of year to visit....as you probably know the summers here get pretty cold with our "built-in air-conditioning". For some delicious and casual Chinatown food I'd recommend either Henry's Hunan or the famous House of Nan King.

[EN FUEGO]

Originally Posted by Phanuthier

That area is Mt Tamalpais. .

I believe he's actually referring to Rodeo Beach. Tamalpias is a little further up, near Mill Valley.

[Phanuthier]

oi right

In Berekeley, I know a lot of students love "Top Dog" for hot dogs, I dated a girl who went there for a while and she always wanted to go there. I also hang out with a group of Berkeley grads, and whenever we get hot dogs, they ask if its as good as Top Dog.

[MRCboicgy]

Originally Posted by OBCT

One thing that is a bit of a phenomenon down these parts right now is the broadway musical production, Wicked. I have yet to see it, personally, but can assure you that it gets rave reviews from the vast majority of patrons. I might be the furthest thing from broadway musical type, myself, and even I hope to see it. I mean, when you know someone who currently has $80 tickets to see it for the fourth time, it's gotta be good, right? It is extremely popular, so be sure to buy your tickets well in advance. Note: I hear the show generally isn't recommended for children under 12 (though it depends) due to some adult content. [wikipedia link]

Wicked is an awesome show.

I agree with much said here, Monterey Bay Aquarium is one of my favorite places in North America

[OilersBaby]

I live in San Jose and have been here for about 10 years. How long is your trip for. If its just a few days, the things to do in SF/Berkeley will keep you busy. Obviously do the obvious things like ride a cable car in SF, go to Lombardi Street (crooked street), Fisherman's Wharf, Union Square, and China Town.

If you are in San Jose, check out a Sharks game, they might be playing when you come here and tickets arent as bad as Cowtown from what I remember, although I havent been to a game in Calgary in a really long time. Even if you dont have a car, you can take the Caltrain right from SF to SJ (and the station in SJ ends up being right across the street from HP Pavilion where the Sharks play, its called San Jose Diridon). And then on the way back, you can take Caltrain back to SF and get off right by where the Giants play!

I cant remember if its baseball season (not really a fan) but definitely go to a Giants game as the ballpark is gorgeous, right in San Francsico, and right off the water. Beautiful view as some have mentioned. It gets chilly though so bring a sweater.

But as some people mentioned, if you have a few extra days, check out Big Sur (I did a half marathon there last year and it was AWESOME). I lived in Monterey for a year when I first got married and that area has some of the most beautiful places on earth...17 Mile drive is gorgeous, Carmel beach is nice too. But its a bit far if you're only in SF for a few days.

What else are your interests? Are you into nightlife - clubs or bars?

[North East Goon]

Wow, thanks everyone for the great suggestions. Anyone know if there is shuttles offered by the Giants to attend baseball games from downtown? Same goes for Sharks games if they are still in it at that time? I imagine it would be tough trying to score Sharks tickets in the playoffs though.

[North East Goon]

Oilersbaby - we are more of a site seeing/shopping type family. But certainly wouldnt turn down an intimate Blues or rock performance in downtown San Fran.

[Yeah_Baby]

I would suggest the Cetacean Institute.