San Francisco Travel Answers

I'm not personally a fan of hop on, hop off buses but it may be a good choice for you: allsanfranciscotours.com/bod... As you don't know the city well, this will get you about to a lot of the sights and allow you to spend as much - or as little - time at each as you wish. You will get a narration as it drives along but it's not like a guided tour where you're required to stay at each site only as long as a guide allows. I'm afraid that an efficient trip to/from Yosemite in one day involves and escorted tour if not able to drive yourself. You may find this recent thread on our sister site, Trip Advisor, helpful: tripadvisor.com/ShowTopic-g6... I haven't used this tour company but will offer it up as a place to start; hopefully someone else with some firsthand experience will jump in here. http://www.extranomical.com/ Yosemite is quite some distance away from the city so doing both Muir Woods and Yosemite in one day isn't doable. The tour I've included here is a 14 hour day just to Yosemite/Sequoia. The 2nd tour offered (Yosemite only) is even longer as it involves a dinner stop. There is a seasonal shuttle to Muir Woods but only on weekends and holidays during the summer. marintransit.org/routes/66.h... marintransit.org/routes/pdf/... To do this one, you'd probably want to take the ferry from the docks in SF to Sausalito (it's a fun ride) and catch the shuttle from the ferry building there. Return the same way you came. Or take a bus to the Sausalito docks and catch the bus from there. Again, would love to hear from any members who have done this.

Well that depends on how much these tours are, what time of day it is, and how is the fog situation. My favorite way to see San Francisco is driving (but I do not recommend this in the least bit) ... however if the cost of the tour could compare to hiring a driving, I would do the following. 1. After the fog burns, if it is clear - go up to to Twin Peaks - this is done by going up Stanyan, which is the street that cuts the two sections of GG park. The view is awesome - you see the GG on the left, Bay bridge on the right, all of SF below. 2. I like driving across GG park (walking is actually better). 3. Around 4 PM - I love driving into the Presidio park - the sun hits the trees in a beautiful way around that time. You can have the driver find Lombard off Presidio, and go down the world's most crooked street. There is quite a bit to see. The Muni pass could work I guess if you do some homework, but normally I've just purchased single Muni's from the CalTrain station to the city when I had a house in San Jose. It's also interesting to walk down to Height-Asbury, the heart of the 60's - so from Stanyan, you can take Fell street away from the ocean and you'll get there - don't remember which one crosses Fell, Height or Asbury. I always try to stay away from tours - so what I mentioned here you could do in about half a day with a driver. The Palace of Fine Arts, home of the Exploratorium can also be seen off GG park ... too many choices - but posting here, and doing your homework (SF is quite small as a city - I've ran the Bay to Breakers from the Bay to the Ocean at the end of GG park) - so other than staying away from the "Tenderloin" district (you can google this) it is possible to walk thru most of it, and even the Tenderloin is fairly safe during the day.

In addition, to the tour company that Kate has recommended I would also consider; http://www.yosemite-tours.com/index.htm They offer a little bit more time in the park but I am not certain how there prices compare. I have one source from Livermore who was very happy with this company but I would study all the choices closely. Definitely Yosemite is not a place to be missed and if the fare is around 135-$ 145 and you don't have to do the four hour or so drive it is definitely worth it to take the tour than trying to drive. As for Muir Woods the shuttle to the park from Sausalito on the weekends is very full usually. If you go please go early and try to take an early bus back. If you try to catch the last bus or two of the day and it is full you are in serious trouble. The service is however very convenient and definitely beats taking a car because parking in the area on weekends is next to impossible. The best trails to take at Muir Woods are the Muir Woods and Tourist Club Loop (about 4.5 miles and will take you half day nearly) and the longest of the smaller loop trails that is 1.5 miles long and will take you about an hour and a half or less.

In addition, to the tour company that Kate has recommended I would also consider; http://www.yosemite-tours.com/index.htm They offer a little bit more time in the park but I am not certain how there prices compare. I have one source from Livermore who was very happy with this company but I would study all the choices closely. Definitely Yosemite is not a place to be missed and if the fare is around 135-$ 145 and you don't have to do the four hour or so drive it is definitely worth it to take the tour than trying to drive. As for Muir Woods the shuttle to the park from Sausalito on the weekends is very full usually. If you go please go early and try to take an early bus back. If you try to catch the last bus or two of the day and it is full you are in serious trouble. The service is however very convenient and definitely beats taking a car because parking in the area on weekends is next to impossible. The best trails to take at Muir Woods are the Muir Woods and Tourist Club Loop (about 4.5 miles and will take you half day nearly) and the longest of the smaller loop trails that is 1.5 miles long and will take you about an hour and a half or less.

Thanks for the quick and useful response Regards Sunil

You're very welcome! San Francisco is a beautiful city with a lot to do and see - hope you have a great trip! And do come back to us if you have more questions?