San Francisco Travel Answers

I've been to San Francisco many times on business in the 1980's and 1990's and just got back from a trip to California last November where we spend the last 3 days in San Francisco. First check out my San Francisco pages for some additional information after you read this. Alcatraz is a very good tour, but like you said you would have to devote a good 3 to 4 hours of your time for the tour. I never did Alcatraz until my very last trip, but it is one of the few things I hadn't done in all my other trips there so it was worth it for me. For the 3 physical days you will be there (Friday, Saturday, Sunday) be sure to get the 3 day Muni Pass which will give you unlimited transportation within the city using the Cable Cars (a must to ride), the Trolley Cars, Buses and Light Rail. You can get anywhere within the city with those options. The only transportation they don't include is BART, but that is the line the takes you out of San Francisco to the surrounding towns. If I was going for the first time these would be the things I would have to see: 1) North Beach and Chinatown - Have dinner one night in either section depending on if you want Italian or Chinese. They are right next to each other so you can easily walk from one to another. 2) Coit Tower - Take a walk up here to check out the view. 3) Rick Evans Architectural Tour - I have a tip on this and we really enjoyed his insight into some of the SF architecture. He has tours for both Chinatown and the one we took in the Financial District. 4) Golden Gate - You can only do one, but you could bike across it or walk across it. I haven't done either yet, but I've driven across it many times. 5) Don't spend too much time in the Wharf area. That's where a lot of the tourist go and you really don't get a true feeling of the city (I don't think anyway). You can walk a little along the Embarcadero, but try and limit the time to about 2 hours. 6) Have an evening drink and or dessert on Friday or Saturday night at the Buena Vista Cafe. I have a tip on that on my pages. Great Irish Coffee to warm you up and the desserts are also really really good. 7) The Cable Car will pass right by Lombard Street (the crooked street) You can get off the Cable Car walk up and down and then hop back on the Cable Car with your pass if you so desire. 8) Mission District and Castro District - Take the bus, trolley or light rail to this area of town. They are right next to each other. Mission District is the Hispanic area and the Castro District is the Gay area. Both are interesting to explore and are really only about a 15 to 20 minute trip from where you will be staying via bus. 9) I don't have any one particular seafood restaurant to consider, but obviously the touristy ones are along with wharf. Check out other reviews on line to get a better feeling for what others think. If you have any other questions let me know. SF is my favorite U.S. city outside of my home town of Chicago. Enjoy!!

Whew - nice work, Rich! Just to answer the Alcatraz piece - it IS a very interesting attraction but with the limited time you have (really only 1 and 1/2 days) I'd concentrate on the city. There is so much to do, and the architecture and different neighborhoods are so fun to explore that I'd really give that a miss this time.

It also inspired me to write 2 more tips on San Francisco this afternoon. Now I better get back upstairs and clean the master bathroom floor before my wife gets home.

Also visit, Kate's (Goodfish) SF pages. Her and her husband were also there last year a few months before my wife and I.

Just a thought: As you aren't getting in until Friday night, and leaving Sun. afternoon, you could almost get away with just a one-day pass if you try to use it diligently on Saturday. Here are the prices on passes: sfmta.com/cms/mfares/passpor... If not using a pass, the basic fare for trams, streetcars and buses is2:00 a ride (they allow for 90 minutes worth of transfers). Cable cars are5.00 a pop - no transfers. That said, you could try to get your cable car riding in on Saturday (at just 3 rides, you've more than paid for the pass) plus any other transport you wish to take. Passes do not cover BART or ferries - just so you know. On Sunday, just pay with cash if wanting to use the streetcars or whatever - or walk. Same for Friday night - maybe explore the areas close to your hotel on foot?

Actually since they are flying in and won't be renting a car this might be the best bet if you only have very light luggage Take BART from the airport to the Market Street stop in San Francisco. Buy the 3 day muni pass at the Kiosk at Market Street. If the lines arent too long hop on the Cable Car right at the Market Street turnaround and then take it to the Wharf area near your hotel. If the lines are long by the turnaround walk a few blocks up to Union Square and hop on the Cable Car there. The key here is light luggage. If you travel heavier I would recommend taking a shuttle or cab from the airport.

But Rich, they aren't getting in until Friday NIGHT. Why waste a day of pass on one evening? Why not take BART into the city, and then a cab from there? (You know I love ya more than my luggage but am I missing something???)

Rich and Kate have done (as usual) a masterful job for SF tourists. One minor item; the BART stop for the cable car direct to Fisherman's Wharf is Powell Street and it typically is crowded. As BART runs under Market street there really is no Market Street stop. If you have a lot of luggage, you may consider exiting at the Embarcadero stop (last stop before the "tube" to Oakland. Exit to the left side and catch a cab at the Hyatt which is about 50 feet from the BART exit. Fisherman's Wharf is only about a half mile or so but I suspect some enterprising cabbie will make the trip. Dinners... call now to try for Harran Danko near Ghiradelli Square (top side). This would be on the ultra high side. Most of the restaurants on the Wharf are ok, but they do cater to tourists. Pier39 (I watched it burn down when it was a pier, and then get rebuilt to what it is today) is very touristy but typically has some sea lions to entertain people (the lions took over some years ago and refuse to leave). Fog City Diner just a short walk from the Wharf is good. It's on the Embarcadero at Battery. As mentioned Alcatraz is interesting but for such a quick trip I'd opt out. You can get a good photo of it from the end of Pier 39. While you are visiting Lombard Street ("crooked street") I'd head up Columbus and check out some of the restaurants in "North Beach" which has a LOT of SF history. If you like garlic, The Stinking Rose (on Columbus) is a must. And when you get back home, if you haven't tried it already, I'd dine at Pamplemousse. One of my favorites for about 25 years.

Alcatraz is a unique historical site of SF that you would not want to miss. You could spend about 3 hours on the tour. The tour runs out fast, so try to book the night time tour at least one week ahead of time, to make sure you get a spot.

Yes, Rich and Kate have pretty much covered the lot of it, which is to be expected. Just want to add a thought here, and trust me on this, - "Power Tourism" is the worst kind there is. I spied on your Home Page that you are from Las Vegas, and in California terms, - that is right around the corner. You are approaching this as if this will be the first - and last trip to SFO. I guarantee that if you slow down a bit, and enjoy the environment, you will be back sooner than you think. Speaking as a foreigner who has travelled a bit, - the two very best and most unique cities in the entire country are New Orleans and San Francisco. As close as you are, you will be back. You will find that what you want to accomplish is near impossible so before you finish the first day, you are already planning the next trip. Slow it down and smell The City. It will smell you right back! The only thing I would change if possible, is the location of your hotel. I would pick one on or near Union Square, for easy access to all transport and attractions. Aside from the rather expensive St. Francis Hotel right on the Square, I love the four Personality Hotels nearby. Just a thought. http://www.westinstfrancis.com/ http://www.personalityhotels.com/ Remember never to refer to The City (what the locals call it....) as Frisco within an earshot of a local, 'cause them is fighting words......d:o) Here is an easy map of the BART system. Easiest way into The City from the airport. (Stations between UN Plaza and Embarcadero) bart.gov/stations/closest.as... Have lots of fun.......

Take the HO HO bus to do the tour of SFO...it goes across the Golden Gate bridge also...There is a two and three day pass...no car is needed then.I wouldn't take the tour of the prison...I think it is most boring and now a tourist trap....Bourdin bakery have good food and is a tourist trap...but still bakes a mean sourdough bread and has good vittles. cheers tommy x

For a nice trip on the bay coupled with a great seafood dinner or lunch: take a ferry from Fisherman's Wharf over to Sausalito and go here: http://www.331fish.com/ If the weather's good, eat on the patio. I recommend the fresh, grilled sardines.

First off, thanks to everyone for very detailed/experienced advice. I suspect we will be back to SF following this first trip so I'm going to try and keep that in mind and back off from some of our ambitions. We love the water and don't get to see it much being from deep within the desert so naturly we picked a hotel close to it. I could change our reservations to one at Union Square but I don't think that would be what we'd like the most on this initial trip to SF; I could be wrong though. I've decided to nix the idea of Alcatraz, probably do a harbor cruise to cover that base. Additionally, we're still very much debating trans from SFO to the hotel. I'm thinking we'll not want to mess around/"adverture it" as much as we'll be wanting to get there, get checked in, and start to relax. Thanks again and any/all advice is valued.

Rich mentioned a walk around the Embarcadero. This brought a thought, you might take a look at the Delancy Street Restaurant (600 Embarcadero Street)/Crossroads Café Bookstore & Art Gallery. (699 Delancey Street) These are pretty unique places, and not exactly "tourist-y." The Delancey Street Foundation is an independent, successful, self-supported "rehab" organization. The cafe and restaurant is owned and operated by the residents who have decided to get off and stay off substance abuse and make their lives productive. The atmosphere is nice, the menu is eclectic and the prices are very reasonable!

The Delancey Street Foundation is an independent, successful, self-supported "rehab" organization... The atmosphere is nice, the menu is eclectic and the prices are very reasonable! EXCELLENT suggestion there, Linda!! We had dinner there and you will not find a friendlier, more attentive waitstaff anywhere in SF. And yes, the menu is very reasonable and the food is good. My ribs were maybe not of the highest-quality cut but the sauce was wonderful, and they came with a HUGE piece of to-die-for sweet potato pie that I'm STILL dreaming about. Highly recommend it. AND the place was packed with locals so it would seem that they consistently do a bang-up job.

Your best bet from the airport in your case would be to take a cab. They will get you to your hotel the quickest by far then the other choices. My recommendation for the water part of your trip is to go on over to Sausalito via ferry for a lunch or dinner and then take it back as another poster mentioned. You will get to go right past Alcatraz and have a nice dinner overlooking the bay in Sausalito.

Always nice to get feedback Froggy, from the OP (Original Poster). No need to change hotels, I understand the reasonage. Since you will be back anyway, by tht time you will have been through the Union Square area, and have a much better sense of what to do next time. I like Rich's idea of taking the boat to Sausalito, - pass Alcatraz up close, boat ride on the Bay and a lunch in a nice kinda Italian style town. Very cool. No matter what you do, you will have a great time.....d:o)

Do you guys think I need to reserve a spot on the harbor cruise and/or ferry to Sausilito before we get there? We'll be there this weekend and I'd hate to get stuck waiting hours for a spot on a boat. On the flip-side though we kinda want to free-wheel our itinerary some.

Oh gosh, I wouldn't think so. Alcatraz boats are the ones that fill up some time in advance but we didn't have any problem just buying a ticket and hopping the ferry to Sausalito that morning we decided to do it.

I did it last minute on a Friday night from SF to Sausalito with no problem at all. However, I missed the last boat back to SF. But that was also no problem as they have bus service from Sausalito to SF and I caught a bus back into town.

Just a thought. Taking the Ferry shouldn't pose a problem as they are meant for this sort of trip, however I don't know how full it might be during, before work morning hours or after work afternoon hours--going in the same direction as the work force. Though I doubt that this would actually have much of an impact. Just something to consider.

Just wanted to thank everyone for the tips. Generally speaking, we had a great time in SF. I will say that it pays to know what your spouse/partner prefers and defer to that as much as possible though. In my case, my wife REALLY enjoyed the touristy area around the Fisherman's Wharf part of town. We had fun bar/restaurant hopping and really enjoyed the live-music vibe down there. However, when we ventured out to other parts of the city she was not totally comfortable and/or relaxed. Of course the fact that while we were riding the F train(?) some obnoxious, foul mouth'd person made a scene for blocks and blocks ...including cussing at small children; it really pissed her off to the point where I thought it was going to ruin the entire weekend. I did my best at explaining the reality of city life in SF but was only marginally successful. Point being, if any visitor, or a spouse, are sensitive to that kind of reality then the wharf area is a better option (at least from our 2.5 days of experience in the city), but I digress..... Because of all the great tips we covered a lot of ground, a lot faster, than we otherwise would've. So much so, we found time to try and do Alcatraz but everything was booked out. One standout thing for us that I need to mention is the Catamaran sunset cruise. We absolutely would do that again as it was a wonderful relaxing experience..and is the same as a traditional harbor cruise (a big bonus). I think I would recommend the ho ho bus as an option for folks as well. We didn't use it this trip but I will seriously consider it for our next trip to SF. The cable cars were an absolute blast to ride but as mentioned earlier the negative experience associated with the light-rail tainted, and will most likely linger in our heads (especially the wife). Trans to hotel from SFO. Taxi cost us about45 IIRC. After some run-around with one of the shuttle vans, I caught another company's sitting curbside by the hotel (idle). The guy agreed to take us to SFO direct as it was slow that day and he was going off shift. Cost was15 a person and by the time I tipped him we were very close to taxi fare. Next time I'd just use a taxi as the one we happened into was cleaner and way better maintained than the shuttle van we ended up with. Thanks again for everyone's suggestions on the font end. It really made our time in the city more productive.

Thanks for reporting back to us. Its always good to see that we were helpful. Sorry about your "Big City Crazy Guy" experience, but like you said it comes with the territory sometimes. If you get a chance you'll have to post the Catamaran information on a tip. That will have to be another experience for me to try the next time I get back to San Francisco.

You're welcome, and I'll see if I can figure out the 'tip' function.

Thanks for getting back to us, and glad you had a great trip! Also sorry to hear about Crazy Man but Encounters of The Unpleasant Kind can - and do - happen in every city; you just have to shake it off. We had a member post recently about being verbally harassed twice in the Paris Metro. Trooper that she is, she was curious if this was a common occurrence but by no means let it spoil her trip. Yes, do write up those high points to share with other travelers to SF? Let us know if you have trouble figuring out how? It's really not difficult -I am the world's biggest tech idiot and figured it out!

Yeah I completely understand wackos can be had in every city and if it were not for the fact this crazy 'lady' (according the wife it was a female anyway) was verbally accosting little kids it wouldn't have been so bad. Wife grew up in a small town and living in Vegas and traveling in the circles we travel in, she's really insulated from that kind of behavior as it's not tolerated in a lot of places here. Again, mucho gracias to all the contributors on the board here!!

Great to har back from you compadre. It is always a great pleasure to know that we were able to make anyone's trip easier and more pleasurable. Keep in touch, as we might just be able to help you, no matter how far you go towards the ends of the earth.......d:o)

>>>...and I'll see if I can figure out the 'tip' function. I was going to say that any of us here would be happy to help you and there is the, "VT Site & Technical Help Forum" for questions like that. Howerver, I see that you have figured out the "Tip" function and have started a very nice page on San Francisco with some interesting tips!

Thanks for the feedback and I am glad you enjoy SFO despite the crazy lady, but there are some everywhere. SFO is my favorite city across America and hope you visit again soon. there is so much to do and you just sliced off a tip. They have great musuems that should not be missed besides the natural beauty of the city. cheers tommy x

I know Tommy, I'm with you. I'm always mesmerized when I go to San Francisco. I've never yet made it indoors to one of the museums because I love just walking the streets and seeing sights and people. This time I loved watching the kids on their bikes doing tricks across from the Ferry Building while waiting for a trolley. My wife was a little put off by some of the panhandlers on her only other trip back in 1994, but this time it didn't bother her. I even had some loose change to give to a few on 2 different occasions and both times they said a very polite, thank you sir.