Going to San Fran

[Lil Pedro]

Hey guys,

I'm heading to San Fran with my wife for the first time in a few weeks! If anyone has any recommendation on restaurants, activities and/or things to see or do please let me know. Currently we are staying in Union Square, and have a night tour of Alcatraz booked, as well as a Giants game. We are also planning on going to Sonoma or Napa for a night or two. We have a week booked there.

Any recommendations would be a huge help. Thanks in advance!

[Harju]

One of the best things I did in San Francisco is weather dependent but was to walk down to the bay and from Fisherman's Wharf head west towards the bridge along the ocean. At a certain point you will reach a bus hub and from there catch a ride to the Golden Gate. Walk across the bridge and on the other side catch a minibus into Sausalito. Look around and in the evening catch a boat across the bay back to Fisherman's Wharf.

Warning: It's been awhile so the logistics of walking west and the bus hub may have changed completely.

[GGG]

Biking the bridge is really fun. Lots of options but I would Bike basically from the Bay bridge, to fishermens wharf, to the golden gate to Sausalito and back. That would be about 4 hrs with stops.

Or if you want to bike less you can get bikes real close to golden gate park, bike across the bridge to Sausalito and take the ferry back.

Also take a trolley from union square all the way to the cable cars and then a cable car back. Yes it's touristy but it's fun.

And for an off the beaten path get a bottle of wine and go to mission to Delores something park. It's on a big hill with a great view of downtown and the bay and you sit and drink all afternoon. Hundreds of people there. Breakfast at the mission beach cafe is really good too.

[Amethyst]

I think you've got most of my recommendations covered. I stayed at the Union Square area and loved it. There was a great little improv club across the street from my hotel. It was several years ago, so not sure if it's still around, but there are lots of cool little places in that area. Actually, it is still around!

http://secretimprov.com

Alcatraz was an interesting tour and it looks like you've already got it booked which is good because I think you need to book well ahead.

We took a "wine train" tour in Napa Valley. It was an old fashioned train that has been restored and it goes to several vineyards in the are. They had a number of different tours. We took one where you got off at one of the vineyards for a tour and then got back on the train on the way back, but some people stayed on and saw more vineyards along the way.

http://winetrain.com

If you like chocolate and ice cream, go to Ghirardellis (near Fisherman's Wharf) for a sundae. My aunt (who grew up in San Francisco) recommended it. I wouldn't have normally gone somewhere just for ice cream but it really was amazing.

We went in July and it was COLD! I knew it was cooler and planned to take a sweater, but it was even colder than I expected. Fall is supposed to be nicer though, so going later in August, I'm not sure if you will get summer weather or fall weather.

We also went to Top of the Mark, near our hotel. We went for martinis, which they are known for, but it looks like they have food there too.

We also did an evening walking ghost tour of the Union Square area. Lombard Street was another interesting walk we did (that was on our own, not a tour).

Loved San Francisco! Enjoy!

[socalwingfan]

If the game is late afternoon/early evening - take a hoodie to the game - no matter how nice it is at the start.

[Muta]

Go check out the Embarcadero. I love that place.

Also, go biking through Golden Gate Park down to Pacific beach. Such a fun experience.

[PepsiFree]

Unless you're passing through Fisherman's Wharf, avoid it. Brutal tourist trap, it stinks, is way too crowded considering the junky stuff there is to do there, and is one of those places you'd almost never find an actual resident of the Bay Area.

A Giants game is an awesome time, so you've got that covered.

I assume you have a car? If not, I think you should get one. There is SO much to see outside of SF at a very short distance.

As far as eating goes:
Brown Sugar (Oakland/Across the bridge) - Breakfast, amazing, get the chicken and waffles

Noodle Theory (Berkley/Across the bridge) - Dinner, great noodle house

House of Nanking (Chinatown) - Chinese, if you walk down Post or Geary to Kearney, you can walk north to this spot (20 minutes maybe). The wait staff isn't great but it is some of the best Chinese you're ever going to eat. They'll also make you something special if you request it, but you don't control what that is and sometimes it's awful. You never know though!

La Taqueria (Mission) - One of the best burritos you'll ever have. We get off the plane and head straight there every single time.

Hog Island Oysters (Embarcadero OR road trip) - Great oyster spot if you like oysters, and if one of you don't then the other options are pretty great too.

Blue Bottle Coffee (Embarcadero OR Oakland) - great cup of coffee. Worth making a trip for (especially the iced coffee).


Possible things to do in SF:
Biking, do a lot of it to explore, or just walk!

Chinatown, you can walk to it.

Coit Tower, you can walk to it.

Union Square, it's a neat area to explore, get some Levi's (I think the flagship is around there).

Embarcadero, before or after your Giants game, you can walk from AT&T to Fisherman's Wharf in about an hour (stop at the Ferry Building along the way).

Baker Beach - Nice beach with some great views of the Golden Gate. Plus you can get naked on the north end of that's your thing.

Castro - Not a ton to do, but a hugely iconic spot for the gay rights movement. Worth exploring even if it's not a cause personal to you.

I would avoid Haight Ashbury, it's apparently nowhere near the counter-culture hub it used to be (it's touristy now).

Things to do outside of SF:
Oakland - try to go on the first Friday of the month, they have a huge block party on Main Street. A good mix of old Oakland of new Oakland. Lots of great spots to eat here too, just avoid walking around the sketchy places by yourself at night.

Berkley - good college town, some nice walks and shops. Drive up the Berkley Hills and you'll be treated to some of the most amazing views of the Bay you could ask for. Even if you don't stop in Berkley, make the time to go up the Berkley Hills. I promise you'll love it.

Point Bonita Lighthouse - Long drive off the highway, but it's a beautiful one and the end result is equally so. You can usually spot some whales from here depending on the season.

Highway 1 North - Take a drive up the coast and enjoy the views. Stop at Hog Island along the way and have some oysters (this is the better spot than the Embarcadero, but you shuck them yourself, I recommend bringing some picnic stuff).

Highway 1 South (Monterey) - The better drive of the two. Spend a day going down the highway and take it all in. Amazing drive. Head down to Big Sur and explore a little, and then turn back and stay in Monterey. Go to the aquarium. It's the best one I've ever been in, period. (You can also just go to the aquarium and back to SF in one day, but it's worth staying over).


Any questions, feel free to ask. These are just a few highlights.

[SportsJunky]

I know I say this all the time but SF has some of the best comedy clubs in the country. The Punchline and Cobb's are two great ones. Some of the best shows I've seen have been in San Francisco. Tons of others including great improv clubs if that's your thing. Lots of great live music around town as well.

[troutman]

There have been many SF threads IIRC. Search "Alcatraz", and you can find them.

http://forum.calgarypuck.com/showthr...light=alcatraz

http://forum.calgarypuck.com/showthr...light=alcatraz

http://forum.calgarypuck.com/showthr...light=alcatraz

http://forum.calgarypuck.com/showthr...ht=point+reyes

[OMG!WTF!]

For sure...

http://www.starlightroomsf.com/?utm_...ign=gbreferral

[Resolute 14]

About the only thing I did there that isn't mentioned here is a hike through Muir Woods. We went at about 9:30 on a Monday morning, and it was so quiet that we literally went over an hour between seeing other people at times.

[Cali Panthers Fan]

Humphry Slocombe is essential for some of the best ice cream you'll ever have. I recommend the Secret Breakfast, a staple of their selection. They have new stuff all the time though.

http://www.humphryslocombe.com

There are countless restaurants in "The City", so I won't bore you with a big long list, but I will say that La Mar on the Embarcadero had some of the best Peruvian food I've ever had, or really just some of the best food I've ever had. Ceviches and Causas are must haves.

http://lamarsf.com

[undercoverbrother]

Originally Posted by socalwingfan

If the game is late afternoon/early evening - take a hoodie to the game - no matter how nice it is at the start.

This is really good advice.

People think San Fran, California, it will be hot.....nope, the wind of that water can be cold!

[Table 5]

If you don't want to stick out too much, refrain from calling it San Fran. Or worse, Frisco.

[Fozzie_DeBear]

Originally Posted by PepsiFree

Highway 1 South (Monterey) - The better drive of the two. Spend a day going down the highway and take it all in. Amazing drive. Head down to Big Sur and explore a little, and then turn back and stay in Monterey. Go to the aquarium. It's the best one I've ever been in, period. (You can also just go to the aquarium and back to SF in one day, but it's worth staying over).


Any questions, feel free to ask. These are just a few highlights.

Agreed with the "get out of SF for a coastal drive"...I always rent a motorcycle and head to Alice's restaurant in ?La Honda?

Very scenic and WORTH it

[PostandIn]

be sure to wear some flowers in your hair.

Oops, he, he, we're a few decades removed from that. nvm. Nothing to see here.

[DoubleF]

Bring a fall/spring wind breaker jacket and long pants. Even mid 20s celcius is FREEZING due to the wind. Wife and I didn't see a store that sold anything reasonably wind breaking or jacket wise in the Union Square area. That was 3 years ago and a friend who went 3-4 months ago reported something similar. (Though they brought fall gear as my wife and I suggested, they were hoping for get an additional layer and didn't find anything) Also, I found San Fran surprisingly dry for being close to water. I've never seen my skin so dry. Even drier than winter, here. Oh, sun screen. It feels cold, but you will get sun burn fast.

San Fran will be cold. Then, 20-30 minute drive inland, it gets super hot. IMO, the city pass is quite worth it if you will be taking transit and you get a handful of discounts/free admission to a few places. Going places was alright, but IMO, I enjoyed the food and culture and parks more than some of the touristy areas.


I found Golden Gate bridge a perfect place for a couple to blow up at one another. It's freaking windy and cold. You have commercial vehicles blasting past you so it's loud. Wind + trucks means you're yelling at one another just because you can't hear anything. And sometimes fog? No, I found fog is often. IMO, I'd suggest just taking a pic from the land portion. I personally wouldn't venture too far onto the pedestrian bridge portion again. If you want to bike, bike the wharf and surrounding parks. Not the bridge.

I enjoyed shopping in Union square. Chinatown was cool, but not much to do there. Definitely shop around for the best price if you buy souvenirs there. I definitely paid $3 per shot glass at one location only to find it for $1 per shot glass at another place a few doors down.

Fisherman's wharf and Pier 39 was it was alright. Aquarium wasn't bad but small. Cable cars are a must. Science centre was meh, the arts museums de Young and Legion of Honor were ok (but I'm not an art fan). I really didn't understand the allure of Haight and Ashbury.

[LanceUppercut]

There is a old Fort under the Golden Gate bridge that is pretty cool. Some World War 2 batteries on the NW side of the bridge as well.

Also, Muir woods is a good suggestion (see above), and if you want to go a little farther (and it's not too foggy), go hike up to the Point Reyes lighthouse. There is a long beautiful beach there as well.

[Rhettzky]

We did Alcatraz with the kids and had a blast. Took the first boat over in the morning and turned in our headphones for a refund and split off from the main group. It was like we had the whole place to ourselves. And the refund was fairly substantial, if I remember correctly we paid $40 each for the fairy over and the audio tour stuff. And when we got to the island we got a refund of $15 each for turning the stuff in. So essentially $25 for a fairy ride over to Alcatraz.

[taco.vidal]

Id say Fishermans Wharf is worth to spend a half day to check out. The sea lions on pier 39 are cool if they are there when you visit.
It is touristy but a trip to San Fran wouldnt be complete without it.