San Francisco

[KeithTalent]

Is a city in California, just FYI. I have visited there many times, but will be heading there in March with a friend who has never been. We have five nights and I am trying to give her a bit of everything (well not quite everything) San Francisco has to offer. Having been there a fair amount, I feel like I am in a bit of a rut in what to chose. Anyone live there or have been there recently with some recommendations?

I've booked/planned for the following so far:

1. Alcatraz because it was very cool the first time I went.
2. The Wharf because that's a thing to do.
3. MOMA because art.
4. Booked Farallon for an upscale old school seafood type dinner. Is there somewhere better??
5. Found this place: http://www.thewilsonbar.com/ which seems cool, so I booked there.
6. Golden Gate Park/Bridge to see the bridge.
7. Booked dinner here: http://statebirdsf.com/ because her friend recommended it.

Any other food/drink/attraction recommendations? I'm up for anything really. Would be nice to see another art gallery, but I could not pick one.

Thanks in advance friends.

KT

 

[rudeguy]

Is a city in California, just FYI. I have visited there many times, but will be heading there in March with a friend who has never been. We have five nights and I am trying to give her a bit of everything (well not quite everything) San Francisco has to offer. Having been there a fair amount, I feel like I am in a bit of a rut in what to chose. Anyone live there or have been there recently with some recommendations?

I've booked/planned for the following so far:

1. Alcatraz because it was very cool the first time I went.
2. The Wharf because that's a thing to do.
3. MOMA because art.
4. Booked Farallon for an upscale old school seafood type dinner. Is there somewhere better??
5. Found this place: http://www.thewilsonbar.com/ which seems cool, so I booked there.
6. Golden Gate Park/Bridge to see the bridge.
7. Booked dinner here: http://statebirdsf.com/ because her friend recommended it.

Any other food/drink/attraction recommendations? I'm up for anything really. Would be nice to see another art gallery, but I could not pick one.

Thanks in advance friends.

KT

 

[NikolaeVarius]

Do the bike ride from the Bay across the bridge. It's actually really fun I went the entire distance and took the ferry back.

If you're really feeling adventurous, you could go to the national park by bike, but that would take quite a while. But otherwise, rent a car and go to the forest.

 

[KeithTalent]

How dare you twist my words like that!

Do the bike ride from the Bay across the bridge. It's actually really fun I went the entire distance and took the ferry back.

If you're really feeling adventurous, you could go to the national park by bike, but that would take quite a while. But otherwise, rent a car and go to the forest.

I like the first idea. That could be pretty cool. Do you have a rough idea how long that takes?

KT

 

[edro]

Go see the Ghirardelli Prison Trolley Bridge.

 

[vi edit]

I was there in December. Muir Woods was easily my favorite part of the trip. We didn't have a car and had a short time there so we took the lazy tourist route and booked one of the tour buses that ran us around the bay area, across the bridge and up to the woods for a couple hours. Could have easily spent a day hiking around there.

For bars, this one was highly recommended to me by a friend that lived in the area. Didn't make it there on my trip.

http://www.bourbonandbranch.com/

Had breakfast here one morning....
http://frenchsoulfood.com/

They did Eggs Benedict with a cajun battered chicken fillet that is the absolutely best hangover breakfast I've ever had. Great coffee too.

 

[NikolaeVarius]

How dare you twist my words like that!



I like the first idea. That could be pretty cool. Do you have a rough idea how long that takes?

KT

I think it took me about 5 hours or so. I don't exactly remember.

Lots of hills, great leg workout.

Had breakfast here one morning....
http://frenchsoulfood.com/

They did Eggs Benedict with a cajun battered chicken fillet that is the absolutely best hangover breakfast I've ever had. Great coffee too.

That place is THE SHIT. Also if you're going to the woods, you have to go EARLY. The line to get in is like 4 miles long (Literally) at 10am.

 

[vi edit]

I think it took me about 5 hours or so. I don't exactly remember.

Lots of hills, great leg workout.

Getting to the forest wouldn't be so bad...
Getting back out of it.....UUUUUUHHHHGGGGGG

 

[IronWing]

6. Golden Gate Park/Bridge to see the bridge.

As of last November the approaches to the Bridge were fouled in the extreme. Coming up Hwy 1 from the south the traffic jam to cross the bridge started almost all the way back at SF University. You may want to explore your options for getting to the bridge w/o attempting to drive across it.

I liked walking on the Pacific side and in the China Beach area. also, since you have the time, maybe a day trip down the coast. There is a string of state parks south of SF that have short hiking trails along the bluffs.

Seconded on Muir Woods. Very cool place. Can't go wrong with banana slugs.

 

[KeithTalent]

Go see the Ghirardelli Prison Trolley Bridge.

This confuses me. :hmm:

I was there in December. Muir Woods was easily my favorite part of the trip. We didn't have a car and had a short time there so we took the lazy tourist route and booked one of the tour buses that ran us around the bay area, across the bridge and up to the woods for a couple hours. Could have easily spent a day hiking around there.

For bars, this one was highly recommended to me by a friend that lived in the area. Didn't make it there on my trip.

http://www.bourbonandbranch.com/

Had breakfast here one morning....
http://frenchsoulfood.com/

They did Eggs Benedict with a cajun battered chicken fillet that is the absolutely best hangover breakfast I've ever had. Great coffee too.

Yeah the Wilson and Wilson place I linked above is part of Bourbon and Branch. Looks super hipster, but also pretty awesome. I'll look into the other two things; thanks much. Would be nice to see some nature crap.

As of last November the approaches to the Bridge were fouled in the extreme. Coming up Hwy 1 from the south the traffic jam to cross the bridge started almost all the way back at SF University. You may want to explore your options for getting to the bridge w/o attempting to drive across it.

I liked walking on the Pacific side and in the China Beach area. also, since you have the time, maybe a day trip down the coast. There is a string of state parks south of SF that have short hiking trails along the bluffs.

We do not plan on renting a car, so everything would be cab/transit.

KT

 

[vi edit]

Get an Uber account. Saved us a ton over cabs. Almost half the price. And it was way faster and more convenient. Uber cars are *everywhere* in SF.

 

[soulcougher73]

You should definatly drive 20 mins south to San Bruno/Millbrae area where i grew up lol jk

Maybe Coit Tower or Lombard Street for touristy type things?

 

[KeithTalent]

Get an Uber account. Saved us a ton over cabs. Almost half the price. And it was way faster and more convenient. Uber cars are *everywhere* in SF.

Ah right, I will do that for sure. Thanks for the heads up.

You should definatly drive 20 mins south to San Bruno/Millbrae area where i grew up lol jk

Maybe Coit Tower or Lombard Street for touristy type things?

Totally forgot about those two. I'll put them on the list. Thanks bro.

KT

 

[SamQuint]

I did this tour http://therealsftour.com/

Was a really great tour. It takes all day but is worth it for first time visitors. You get a good walk through most of the city. (you also take buses and cable cars and the BART)

Also don't forget to get your Clipper card/ muni pass so you can take public transportation while you are there.

www.sftma.com is your friend. Tell it where you want to go and it will show you exactly how to get there. Also all the buses have GPS and the site tells you exactly when the next bus will come along.

But agree with a previous post you really should rent bikes and bike across the Golden Gate and ride down to Sausilito then take the Ferry back.

​

 

[Ophir]

If you're free Saturday morning, the ferry building & farmers market is a go to for me... and Boccalone Brothers there for a sandwich and meat cone. You can't go wrong with a place whose motto is "tasty salted pig parts." I also like to grab some salumi to go to munch on during the days travels. Letting your blood triglyceride levels dip too far while on travel is a big rookie mistake.

If you have a car, a day trip to Monterey/Carmel and Sonoma/Napa should be thrown in.

 

[KeithTalent]

I did this tour http://therealsftour.com/

Was a really great tour. It takes all day but is worth it for first time visitors. You get a good walk through most of the city. (you also take buses and cable cars and the BART)

Also don't forget to get your Clipper card/ muni pass so you can take public transportation while you are there.

www.sftma.com is your friend. Tell it where you want to go and it will show you exactly how to get there. Also all the buses have GPS and the site tells you exactly when the next bus will come along.

But agree with a previous post you really should rent bikes and bike across the Golden Gate and ride down to Sausilito then take the Ferry back.

​

Nice, thanks. Assume the link should be http://www.sfmta.com/ tried yours and it is an open domain.

I'll definitely get us some passes; seems like it will make life easier.

KT

 

[KeithTalent]

If you're free Saturday morning, the ferry building & farmers market is a go to for me... and Boccalone Brothers there for a sandwich and meat cone. You can't go wrong with a place whose motto is "tasty salted pig parts." I also like to grab some salumi to go to munch on during the days travels. Letting your blood triglyceride levels dip too far while on travel is a big rookie mistake.

If you have a car, a day trip to Monterey/Carmel and Sonoma/Napa should be thrown in.

Oh yeah, forgot about that. Should be free Saturday morning for the market. Thanks.

Thought about Napa, because I love it there, but did not really feel like renting a car.

KT

 

[BTRY B 529th FA BN]

Take a walk down Baker Street by the Palace of Fine Arts to Chrissy Field

 

[KeithTalent]

Take a walk down Baker Street by the Palace of Fine Arts to Chrissy Field

Looks cool. Will do, thanks!

KT

 

[Nograts]

Gay pride parade? :awe:

 

[KeithTalent]

Gay pride parade? :awe:

I've been to the Vancouver one several times. Very fun, but I don't think the SF one is happening while I am there.

KT

 

[Childs]

North Beach, Palace of Fine Arts/Marina, Chinatown...really, just go to Embarcadero and walk to the wharf to the bridge. Also, Dolores Park has nice views of the city. I used to have lunch there quite a bit when I worked in the mission. I don't know if its still there, but in that area off of mission there was a bunch of ghetto gourmet restaurants.

 

[Xonim]

+1 for Muir Woods. It was pretty cool.

If your friend enjoys bookstores, it would be worth a visit to City Lights.
http://www.citylights.com/

Also was going to recommend Mr Toad's Tours, but it seems they have closed. Bummer, it was a very enjoyable "see a bunch of stuff in a small group" type of tour. It was a small family operation, they used cars from the 20s to take you on a tour -- got a lot of personal recommendations for places to eat and such. Wasn't cheap, but I'd do that again in a heartbeat.

 

[Printer Bandit]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vUf_XGdALL4

 

[zinfamous]

Damn, ...looks like Ai Weiwei is "sold out" at Alcatraz, which lasts through April 26. Hope there is some other way to get into that, as I have sucked at making that happen:

http://www.alcatrazislandtickets.com/Ai-Weiwei/

anyway, if you're able to, you will want to do that while visiting.

Oh, and I think MOMA is still closed for another year or so because of renovation?