San Francisco - 2015

[Montrose1100]

Hello HAIF. 

 

I'm planning to go to San Francisco sometime next year. I'm not sure when to go though! What is the best time of year? Where should I stay? I was reading reviews online and it looks like the Mandarin Oriental has the best views as well as location. Is wine country worth a visit? I know 100% I would need to see the redwood forest. Palace of Fine Arts, of course the Golden Gate Bridge, Coit Tower, maybe Alcatraz. I'm on the fence about the last one.

 

Anyways, please give me the gift of guidance. I've never been to Northern California. 

[Luminare]

Never been to San Fran (though a visit would be neat). Here is a list of things I know about that I think you need to add to the list:

 

-Lombard Street

 

-Pier 39

 

-Golden Gate Park

 

-Chinatown

 

-For all of us mass transit lovers and mass transit trolls (lol):

      -ride the trolley system

      -ride the subway

-Transamerica Tower (observation deck?)

 

-if you are into tech maybe visit Silicon Valley? I don't know if it would be worth it.

 

-there is also Oakland and Santa Clara near San Fran which are a train ride away, but I don't know if those places are worth a visit either.

 

If I have time and find architecture that might be interesting that isn't know about then I'll post it.

[LarryDierker]

The one city that I've actually enjoyed the tourist traps. Alcatraz, China town, etc.

 

If you have time and like to get out of the cities, the drive down hgwy 1 to Big Sur is lovely.

Also Yosemite is a close drive (by Texas standards) and is beautiful.

[mollusk]

Don't forget the Gourmet Ghetto in Berkeley (Shattuck north of UC - home of Chez Panisse, etc.).

 

If you're a gearhead, the Blackhawk Museum in Danville has a fabulous car collection with the lighting designed as if it were jewelry (though for all intents and purposes inaccessible by public transportation).

 

Alcatraz is definitely worth the boat ride.

 

 

[ArchFan]

I stayed once at "The Inn Above Tide" in Sausalito ... spectacular views across the bay of downtown SF, Angel Island, Alcatraz.  Also, just a short walk from the ferry to SF.   In downtown SF, I've heard the newish Intercontinental is nice.

 

Wherever one stays, a trip to Napa Valley is beautiful and fun if you enjoy wine.  By ferry from SF or Tiburon (I think) Angel Island is fun to hike on and has interesting history.  West of SF, the Cliff House has great views of the rocky coast and the food is good.  

 

To the north, Golden Gate Natl. Recreation Area across the bridge is nice for views and hiking.  Further north is Muir Woods (which I haven't been to) which has some redwoods ... for more of those, you could also head south along the coast towards Santa Cruz.  But, I think most of the coastal redwoods are north up the coast.  

 

It's a fun area to visit -- lots of stuff to enjoy whether you prefer city amenities or rugged nature.

[Slick Vik]

If you like wine go to Livermore it's a lot closer than Napa and has a ton of wineries. Only locals know about it so far.

Sf itself you could see most things in a day maybe 2 if you like museums. Get a three day muni pass to take buses, subway, cable cars, and streetcar. A lot of good state parks around to hike in and other areas too as others have said earlier.

I was just there last week it was great.

[brian0123]

San Fran is awesome and Alcatraz should be on the top of your list. The creepiness, history, views back at the city are awesome... plus the fact that there is nowhere else on the planet like it.

At Fisherman's Wharf (awesome place), there is an old arcade at the end of it with some ancient old games (like from 1800s) that was an unexpected cool find.

The redwood forest is incredible. On the way to it, exit right after you get past the bridge for the scenic overlook. Drive to the top and take your iconic photo of the bridge with the city behind it. The views of the coast are also beautiful up there and there is an old fort kids can play around on if you have any. Then continue on the road to the forest.

Ride the trolley.

My wife and I also went to the Castro to see what it was all about. It was interesting to see the theatre and plaque for Harvey milk. Not for everyone though.

We also went to the park from the first scene of Full House which was relaxing and great views, and I went to the front door of where they film Mythbusters to do something random.

Take mass transit as much as possible. Parking is a pain (especially parallel parking on a crazy incline).

[Montrose1100]

 

-Transamerica Tower (observation deck?)

I'll have to look that up. I thought it closed? Anyways, the whole reason I would be willing to shovel out some heavy cash to stay at the Mandarin would be because of the view of this tower. It's on my top 10 favorite list. I mean, other than making the pilgrimage to mecca, this tower is one of the main reasons I want to go.

 

 

The one city that I've actually enjoyed the tourist traps. Alcatraz, China town, etc.

 

If you have time and like to get out of the cities, the drive down hgwy 1 to Big Sur is lovely.

Also Yosemite is a close drive (by Texas standards) and is beautiful.

Is that the highway every woman driving a convertible lets her scarf blow away in the wind? Haha! I think it would be nice, I heard that drive is beautiful.

 

San Fran is awesome and Alcatraz should be on the top of your list. The creepiness, history, views back at the city are awesome... plus the fact that there is nowhere else on the planet like it.

At Fisherman's Wharf (awesome place), there is an old arcade at the end of it with some ancient old games (like from 1800s) that was an unexpected cool find.

The redwood forest is incredible. On the way to it, exit right after you get past the bridge for the scenic overlook. Drive to the top and take your iconic photo of the bridge with the city behind it. The views of the coast are also beautiful up there and there is an old fort kids can play around on if you have any. Then continue on the road to the forest.

Ride the trolley.

My wife and I also went to the Castro to see what it was all about. It was interesting to see the theatre and plaque for Harvey milk. Not for everyone though.

We also went to the park from the first scene of Full House which was relaxing and great views, and I went to the front door of where they film Mythbusters to do something random.

Take mass transit as much as possible. Parking is a pain (especially parallel parking on a crazy incline).

Did you go to the Haight-Ashbury? I also thought about the Full House park. It's been on so many movies in the 90's. Did you and your wife have a chance to eat at any nice restaurants or recommend any bars? I figure we would take taxis and mass transit while in the city, but renting a car and driving across the golden gate to the national parks would be fun.

 

I stayed once at "The Inn Above Tide" in Sausalito ... spectacular views across the bay of downtown SF, Angel Island, Alcatraz.  Also, just a short walk from the ferry to SF.   In downtown SF, I've heard the newish Intercontinental is nice.

 

Wherever one stays, a trip to Napa Valley is beautiful and fun if you enjoy wine.  By ferry from SF or Tiburon (I think) Angel Island is fun to hike on and has interesting history.  West of SF, the Cliff House has great views of the rocky coast and the food is good.  

 

To the north, Golden Gate Natl. Recreation Area across the bridge is nice for views and hiking.  Further north is Muir Woods (which I haven't been to) which has some redwoods ... for more of those, you could also head south along the coast towards Santa Cruz.  But, I think most of the coastal redwoods are north up the coast.  

 

It's a fun area to visit -- lots of stuff to enjoy whether you prefer city amenities or rugged nature.

In Napa, should one be a lush, would it be a good idea to book a hotel close by? I know I'll probably rent a car to drive up and down the coast for a day (Red Woods are us). I thought about driving to Napa and taking some wine tours and tasting, maybe on our last day, and perhaps book a hotel up there. 

[skwatra]

One of my favorite things to do there (if you are in to this sort of thing) is to rent a bike and go across the Golden Gate and ride down to Sausalito for a bite/drink. Then take the ferry back across. If you're a daredevil you can bike down California street, and also a bike in Golden Gate park is great. Be aware if you're riding and just use a map blindly you may make a turn and run in to an uphill that could be painful.

 

there are routes you can find which make it doable, like this:

http://www.mapmyride.com/us/san-francisco-ca/mission-via-wiggle-to-golden-gate-bridge-route-9652078

 

I happen to fly in to SF to visit my brother the night Ike hit, and my work was closed for a week so I just borrowed his bike and explored and had an amazing time.

[west20th]

Hello HAIF. 

 

I'm planning to go to San Francisco sometime next year. I'm not sure when to go though! What is the best time of year? Where should I stay? I was reading reviews online and it looks like the Mandarin Oriental has the best views as well as location. Is wine country worth a visit? I know 100% I would need to see the redwood forest. Palace of Fine Arts, of course the Golden Gate Bridge, Coit Tower, maybe Alcatraz. I'm on the fence about the last one.

 

Anyways, please give me the gift of guidance. I've never been to Northern California. 

Try to get to Berkeley

 

Also, if it fits your travel  plans, take the Amtrak from LA to SanFran. The scenery is phenomenal.

[Slick Vik]

I'll have to look that up. I thought it closed? Anyways, the whole reason I would be willing to shovel out some heavy cash to stay at the Mandarin would be because of the view of this tower. It's on my top 10 favorite list. I mean, other than making the pilgrimage to mecca, this tower is one of the main reasons I want to go.

Is that the highway every woman driving a convertible lets her scarf blow away in the wind? Haha! I think it would be nice, I heard that drive is beautiful.

Did you go to the Haight-Ashbury? I also thought about the Full House park. It's been on so many movies in the 90's. Did you and your wife have a chance to eat at any nice restaurants or recommend any bars? I figure we would take taxis and mass transit while in the city, but renting a car and driving across the golden gate to the national parks would be fun.

In Napa, should one be a lush, would it be a good idea to book a hotel close by? I know I'll probably rent a car to drive up and down the coast for a day (Red Woods are us). I thought about driving to Napa and taking some wine tours and tasting, maybe on our last day, and perhaps book a hotel up there.

Go to Livermore not Napa

San Fran is awesome and Alcatraz should be on the top of your list. The creepiness, history, views back at the city are awesome... plus the fact that there is nowhere else on the planet like it.

At Fisherman's Wharf (awesome place), there is an old arcade at the end of it with some ancient old games (like from 1800s) that was an unexpected cool find.

The redwood forest is incredible. On the way to it, exit right after you get past the bridge for the scenic overlook. Drive to the top and take your iconic photo of the bridge with the city behind it. The views of the coast are also beautiful up there and there is an old fort kids can play around on if you have any. Then continue on the road to the forest.

Ride the trolley.

My wife and I also went to the Castro to see what it was all about. It was interesting to see the theatre and plaque for Harvey milk. Not for everyone though.

We also went to the park from the first scene of Full House which was relaxing and great views, and I went to the front door of where they film Mythbusters to do something random.

Take mass transit as much as possible. Parking is a pain (especially parallel parking on a crazy incline).

Disagree on Alcatraz and fishermans wharf both cheesy tourist attractions

[Fringe]

Love SF. As mentioned above, Alcatraz and Muir Woods should be at the top of your list. The Nike missile site in Golden Gate Recreation Site was fascinating as well as all the views of the Golden Gate Bridge from the Headlands.  We have stayed in several different areas of SF, including by the wharf, downtown and nearby Sausalito. Each place was unique and had plenty to do close by.  If you are flying into SF, take a cab to your hotel and walk and ride the trolley. Plan on doing a LOT of walking.  Rent a car for a couple of days or more to explore outside the city, especially if you want to visit the wine country. I recommend Sonoma over Napa. More laid back and less crowded. There is so much to see in the area I guarantee you will be returning another time to see what you have missed. 

[Montrose1100]

Love SF. As mentioned above, Alcatraz and Muir Woods should be at the top of your list. The Nike missile site in Golden Gate Recreation Site was fascinating as well as all the views of the Golden Gate Bridge from the Headlands.  We have stayed in several different areas of SF, including by the wharf, downtown and nearby Sausalito. Each place was unique and had plenty to do close by.  If you are flying into SF, take a cab to your hotel and walk and ride the trolley. Plan on doing a LOT of walking.  Rent a car for a couple of days or more to explore outside the city, especially if you want to visit the wine country. I recommend Sonoma over Napa. More laid back and less crowded. There is so much to see in the area I guarantee you will be returning another time to see what you have missed. 

That's how I felt about NYC. I was there for some time but I only saw a quarter of what I wanted to see.

 

Is it like NY in the sense that you can walk in to pretty much any eatery or bar and you're going to find something delicious to eat and amazing to drink?

 

What time of the year should I go? July and June look less wet and a little warmer. 

 

Is the City Hall as big and romantic as it is in photos?

[Slick Vik]

That's how I felt about NYC. I was there for some time but I only saw a quarter of what I wanted to see.

Is it like NY in the sense that you can walk in to pretty much any eatery or bar and you're going to find something delicious to eat and amazing to drink?

What time of the year should I go? July and June look less wet and a little warmer.

Is the City Hall as big and romantic as it is in photos?

Get a three day muni pass and use BART/uber/Lyft for everything else

[Naviguessor]

Tonga Room at Fairmont/Nob Hill. A Tiki Palace.

;-)

[skwatra]

That's how I felt about NYC. I was there for some time but I only saw a quarter of what I wanted to see.

 

Is it like NY in the sense that you can walk in to pretty much any eatery or bar and you're going to find something delicious to eat and amazing to drink?

 

What time of the year should I go? July and June look less wet and a little warmer. 

 

Is the City Hall as big and romantic as it is in photos?

 

weather there is pretty hard to predict (though always mild), generally it is more foggy in the summer, and honestly more crowded. September is when things start to clear up (fog wise) and it often warms up a bit. Peak 'summer' there is often cooler, rainier, and lots of fog. I would recommend late spring (April) or fall (September-October) as the safest bets.

 

There are a ton of festivals year round, you may want to check those out and see if anything strongly peaks your interest. Here's a quick list i found, there are a lot more out there:

http://www.sanfrancisco.com/festivals/

 

Since it has been a bit of a debate, I'll throw in that though Alcatraz is definitely very tourist driven, i think its worth a one time visit. Great views, interesting history. Note that tours get booked up months in advance especially in the summer.

 

As far as random eateries, I would say generally you are going to get good, fresh food - but as with any city there will be some hit or miss. They pride themselves in local and fresh (and you pay for it!). Its probably worth getting the Yelp app if you don't have it, monocle is great there. That will give you a quick take on places, just check out the star rating before walking in.

 

[Montrose1100]

weather there is pretty hard to predict (though always mild), generally it is more foggy in the summer, and honestly more crowded. September is when things start to clear up (fog wise) and it often warms up a bit. Peak 'summer' there is often cooler, rainier, and lots of fog. I would recommend late spring (April) or fall (September-October) as the safest bets.

 

There are a ton of festivals year round, you may want to check those out and see if anything strongly peaks your interest. Here's a quick list i found, there are a lot more out there:

http://www.sanfrancisco.com/festivals/

 

Since it has been a bit of a debate, I'll throw in that though Alcatraz is definitely very tourist driven, i think its worth a one time visit. Great views, interesting history. Note that tours get booked up months in advance especially in the summer.

 

As far as random eateries, I would say generally you are going to get good, fresh food - but as with any city there will be some hit or miss. They pride themselves in local and fresh (and you pay for it!). Its probably worth getting the Yelp app if you don't have it, monocle is great there. That will give you a quick take on places, just check out the star rating before walking in.

Thanks! Folsom Street Fair looks awesome. I love tragedy. I hope they have those rubber balloon animal mask people. Those are by far my favorite. I've only seen them once here in Houston at the Eagle a few months ago.

 

I have yelp, I downloaded it for NYC but ended up not using it (every place I went to was a foodgasm).

 

Perhaps it would be best to plan to go in the late fall. I appreciate your input!

[mollusk]

Fall weather in the Bay Area is reliably pretty decent.  However, it doesn't really rain much there anyway; when it does, it's generally in the range of what we would consider humidity.  A friend in Berkeley describes Gulf Coast weather as "Biblical" in order to adequately convey the concept to others out there.

 

You will walk a lot.  The Haight really isn't the gayborhood so much anymore, just like Montrose isn't.  If you're in the city a car is far more trouble than it's worth; if you must have one, get something small because parking is a bear.

 

At the risk of stating the obvious, BART and MUNI aren't the same thing.  BART is the regional heavy rail system, MUNI runs San Franciso's busses, trolley busses, light rail, and street cars; other parts of the area have their own local transit systems (such as AC Transit in Alameda County - Oakland, Berkeley, etc.).  Tickets for one don't generally work on the others.

[Fringe]

I like going to SF or for that matter, anywhere on the west coast in September. Still hot as hell here but comfortable there. Summer months are nice but a bit crowded. 

 

When last we stayed in SF we booked a couple of nights at the beautiful historic downtown Palace Hotel. Very nice. Even if you don't stay there get a drink at the Pied Piper bar and gaze at the Maxfield Parrish painting. 

 

http://thepalacehotel.org/

[mkultra25]

It's been quite a while since I was last in SF, but a few things haven't been mentioned yet which may or may not be of interest to you.

 

If you're a fan of Hitchcock, there's always the "Vertigo Tour" of locations for that particular film (Muir Woods, the Palace of Fine Arts, Mission Dolores, the Presidio, etc.). Plenty of info out there via Google - a recent one that I just ran across is at http://sf.curbed.com/archives/2014/10/07/a_carefully_plotted_totally_stalky_map_of_hitchcocks_vertigo.php. 

 

Sites related to the history of the counterculture: obviously the Haight and North Beach. Off the top of my head, 710 Ashbury (Grateful Dead house), 2400 Fulton (Jefferson Airplane house), 318 Parnassus (Hunter Thompson's apartment while he was writing Hell's Angels), and 1805 Geary (site of the original Fillmore Auditorium). Have a drink at Vesuvio in North Beach, watering hole to many Beat-era writers, and also right across the alley from City Lights Bookstore. 

 

I'd definitely agree with the earlier recommendations to drive the PCH down to Big Sur, if you get out of the city. Absolutely spectacular scenery. The last time I was there, we drove down from SF through Half Moon Bay, Santa Cruz, Monterey and Carmel to Point Lobos, which is at the northern end of the Big Sur coastline (http://www.pointlobos.org/). If you go, you should be sure to get out of the car and walk down to the shoreline; at Point Lobos there are places where you can wander down the beach right up to the Pacific Ocean. 

[Fringe]

The Coit Tower on Telegraph Hill is also fun to do. Great view of the city and the bay from the top of the tower. Cool neighborhood also. 

[Montrose1100]

Oh Jefferson Airplane... 

 

A friend recently went to SF and she told me the panhandlers and bums are quite aggressive there. I don't have any issues with homeless or the panhandlers, I'm just curious if this is true or not.

[mollusk]

For the last couple of decades, my pal in Berkeley reliably warns me immediately upon arrival that the street people are aggressive.  I then remind him that I've worked in the less new areas of downtown Houston for all that time and longer, and that our street people really aren't any different.  I think there's some local pride there that the the term "panhandler" originated with the annoying folk in the skinny section of Golden Gate Park that extends east between Oak and Fell - the "Panhandle."

 

Then again, we have this posted in the lobby of BG Place for the tender flowers that work there:

 

 

[skwatra]

Twin Peaks is another great spot for views, and is generally not crowded.

[Montrose1100]

For the last couple of decades, my pal in Berkeley reliably warns me immediately upon arrival that the street people are aggressive.  I then remind him that I've worked in the less new areas of downtown Houston for all that time and longer, and that our street people really aren't any different.  I think there's some local pride there that the the term "panhandler" originated with the annoying folk in the skinny section of Golden Gate Park that extends east between Oak and Fell - the "Panhandle."

 

Then again, we have this posted in the lobby of BG Place for the tender flowers that work there:

 

 panhandle.jpg

Did you originally type tender flowers or is that HAIF correcting a bad word?

 

Well if they are similar to here, I have no anxieties about it. I've been googling a lot, and I want to thank you all for your help. I really appreciate it! If I'm ever not lazy I'll post some pictures from my NY trip.

[brian0123]

We drove around Haight-Ashbury. It was pretty. As for restaurants or bars, we just looked up reviews on Google. I actually thought Houston has better food. For bars, go to the Buena Vista and order an irish coffee (Google it).

[Slick Vik]

We drove around Haight-Ashbury. It was pretty. As for restaurants or bars, we just looked up reviews on Google. I actually thought Houston has better food. For bars, go to the Buena Vista and order an irish coffee (Google it).

There are certain foods you don't find here though like Japanese curry and Filipino chicken adobo that are popular in San Francisco

[sevfiv]

San Francisco is great - for an inaugural trip, just pick a few things and you'll have a great time. And then you'll know more about what you'll want to see on a return trip

On my most recent trip, it was over Christmas and we rented a car and drove north through the redwoods - north to about Crescent City, near Oregon. Depending on how much extra time you have outside of San Francsico can determine how far north you go. Also, in San Francisco we stayed practically next to Union Square which always had stuff going on (oh, and the huge tree!) and it was easy to walk to some places and hop on public transport to others (get that multi-day pass!).

 

As a huge Claes Oldenburg fan, I have to recommend checking out his Cupid's Span sculpture in Rincon Park and his giant safety pin at Golden Gate Park - oh, and the parks are decent places to visit, too!

[ArchFan]

I don't know how much time you have or your tolerance for long drives ... but you could try making a loop.  For instance, SF -> Golden Gate Bridge -> Muir Woods -> Sonoma -> Napa -> SF.   For that, the default Google Maps route is 116 miles (without stops:  2 hours, 46 minutes).  You can add stops along the way as you like, such as Marin Headlands, Sausalito, Pt. Reyes Natl. Seashore.   A bit north of the latter is the town of Bodega Bay, which was the town used in filming Hitchcock's "The Birds".  If you did such a loop tour, I'd recommend staying in Sonoma Valley or Napa Valley (which probably wouldn't be cheap, though).

 

I'm glad Slick Vic pointed out Livermore Valley.  Years back, I enjoyed visiting Wente Vinyards there the tour was pretty interesting.  I would definitely go back and check out other wineries there.  However -- and someone correct me if I'm wrong --I think that the route from SF to Livermore doesn't take one as close as many other points of interest along the way, compared to driving either south or north along the coast from SF.

 

[Slick Vik]

I don't know how much time you have or your tolerance for long drives ... but you could try making a loop. For instance, SF -> Golden Gate Bridge -> Muir Woods -> Sonoma -> Napa -> SF. For that, the default Google Maps route is 116 miles (without stops: 2 hours, 46 minutes). You can add stops along the way as you like, such as Marin Headlands, Sausalito, Pt. Reyes Natl. Seashore. A bit north of the latter is the town of Bodega Bay, which was the town used in filming Hitchcock's "The Birds". If you did such a loop tour, I'd recommend staying in Sonoma Valley or Napa Valley (which probably wouldn't be cheap, though).

I'm glad Slick Vic pointed out Livermore Valley. Years back, I enjoyed visiting Wente Vinyards there the tour was pretty interesting. I would definitely go back and check out other wineries there. However -- and someone correct me if I'm wrong --I think that the route from SF to Livermore doesn't take one as close as many other points of interest along the way, compared to driving either south or north along the coast from SF.

I went to wente last weekend along with cancannom. $10 tastings and no huge crowd with nice scenery. Who needs napa