San Francisco

shawnandlauren · June 2012

Hello everyone!

I need some reccomendations for San Francisco, and I figured that I'd start here since the local board doesn't seem as active as this one.

FI and I are spending about a day and a half in San Francisco during our honeymoon. We plan on staying downtown, and we will not be renting a car. Since our stay is so short, we aren't sure how to maximize our time! If you only had 24 hours to spend in San Francisco, what would you do? What are the must-sees?

Also, we're going back and forth between Hotel Triton and Hotel Vertigo. Does anyone have thoughts on either?

Thanks!

katslack · June 2012

We just came back last week from San Francisco. We stayed at Fisherman's Wharf, Argonaut Hotel.. Thats where u get the boat to Alcatraz, Its where all the tourists go. Pier 39 to see the seals, restaurants, bars. Alcatraz was cool. it took us about 3.5 hours total including travel time on the boat. Was pretty cool. Very windy and cool at night. Light sweater weather.

The airport is about 20 minutes from there? DO you know how to get around. We used out costco membersip to get a great rate on a car. Parking at the hotel was an extra 46 a night though.

Taking picks of the bridge would require a car to get to. Theres also a national park Muir Woods, red wood trees. Pretty nice place.
Check trip advisor, we got our hotel off there and they had a 20% off discount.

Summer2011Bride · June 2012

We're going to San Fran and other areas of northern Cali for our 1st anniversary. I have done a LOT of research for this trip haha! We will be in the city for 3.5 days, but if I had to narrow our itinerary down to 24 hours:

I'd book an early morning Alcatraz tour. First tour of the day is usually around 9 AM. Book this in advance! Tours regularly sell out 4-6 weeks ahead of time.
I'd come back around lunch time and walk around the pier, Fisherman's Wharf and grab lunch somewhere around there.
Then I'd go to Blazing Saddles and rent a bike to either bike around the Crissy Field area or over the bridge (we're biking the bridge) to Sausalito and take the ferry back over.

I'd go back to the hotel and get ready for dinner--maybe a place in North Beach? From there, you could take public transit to any number of attractions--crooked part of Lombard Street, Chinatown, checking out other neighborhoods like Haight-Ashbury, go over to Golden Gate Park, etc. For after dinner, you'd only want to pick one or two of those. Maybe end the evening with a drink at the Top of the Mark. It'll be a packed day, but I think it'd be worth it.

Re: a hotel. We're staying at the Westin St. Francis in Union Square. There is a cable car pick-up right out front and it is super close to public transit. I would highly recommend buying a one-day MUNI pass. MUNI includes buses, cable cars, street cars, and the subway. This pass allows you to ride all those for free all day. There really isn't anywhere within SF you can't access on MUNI. A car is not required at all to get around the city and would frankly be a PITA.

erollis · June 2012

If you are in San Francisco for two full days a Muni pass would be worth the cost, if you are not renting a car. The public transit makes it very easy to get around. Having a car in San Francisco makes it very easy to get around, and quick, but the down side it gas is $$ and it's pricy to park anyplace.

I have been there twice for a 1- 2 day visit in the past two months but stayed at one of the airports hotels. I took the hotel bus to the international terminal. Here I would catch the bart to Powell St. I liked using this as a jumping off point. Union Square/ Powell St area has a ton of shopping and a mall at this station.

There is a trolley stop just outside on Powell that will take you a few blocks walk from Fisherman's Wharf. Fisherman's Wharf is a short walk to Pier 39. Both places have plenty of places to eat. I really enjoy Pier 39. The best time to see the Sea Lions at the pier is early in the morning, unless it's very foggy. The Aquarium is small but nice and is there at the pier. You will also be able to get boat tours and the boat to Alcatraz from here.

One day I walked from Powell to Union Square to China Town to Pier 39. It was long but enjoyable. My favorite stop that day was a visit to St. Mary's Cathedral. It has gorgeous stained glass windows and is lovely from the inside. I believe it closes at 3pm to the public, but not 100% on that.

Golden Gate Park is peaceful, well kept and lovely. I walked the entire length one day, and then some. Over the weekends there is a park bus that will take you from place to place within the park. This would have been very nice for me but I didn't know this and went during the week. Golden Gate park has two Museums in it. The Japanese Garden is next to the museums. All cost money to see. I think I spent about $7 to get into the Japanese Garden. It also has a tea shop in it that you can eat at.

I can go on and on about what there is and what I did. There really is so much that you can do here that you have to decide what is most interesting to you both.

Link (info on some attractions)

Link (map of things to do)

ETA: Another way to get around is to buy tickets for the hop on hop off tour busses. They will take you to all the major attractions that you want to see. Also be sure to brig a sweater and jacket. It can get cold and windy there.

fallbride1109 · June 2012

We are going in 3 weeks! If I only had a day, I would want to see the Golden Gate Bridge obviously, Golden Gate Park, the sea lions at the Wharf, and Chinatown. I am also really looking forward to seeing the painted ladies (but that's just me!)

We are eating at Gary Danko for dinner one night (it's like the #2 restaurant on Trip Advisor) and going to lots of bars too (the Tonga Room is one of them). Also having lunch one day at the Cliff House by the water.

shawnandlauren · June 2012

Nope - no cruise! We're spending a week in Maui, then stopping over in San Francisco on our way back. We were in Hawaii in 2010, and our main regret was not breaking up the flight on the way back. Those overnight flights are brutal!

Thanks for all the suggestions!

cheryl.schenk · June 2012

Just quickly from an SF local--be prepared for cool weather. The marine climate means that summertime highs are not what a lot of people picture when they think 'california'. A lot of first-timers come unprepared for a windy, cool city, especially if you are riding a ferry to Alcatraz! The MUNI pass is a great recommendation as driving in SF can be confusing your first time around and the bus and trolleys will get you to most of the places you want to go. If you are looking for a walk that is bayfront and not crammed with tourists with great views of the Golden Gate Bridge, walk from Crissy Field, just west of the Marina, to Fort Point, just beneath the GGB. Stunning especially around sunset. Have a great time and enjoy your honeymoon in Maui!

J&K10910 · June 2012

Get some lunch at Latin Grille Express near Ghirardelli square. SO good.

ElisabethJoanne · June 2012

Ditto everyone else re: Golden Gate Bridge, Fisherman's Wharf, Pier 39, Alcatraz. For Alcatraz do book in advance.

Ditto almost everyone else re: not renting a car. I've commuted into San Francisco for 4 years now and only taken a car 2x. You can walk, but not drive, west from Fisherman's Wharf to get great views of the Golden Gate. Fisherman's Wharf is the end of the line of several buses and street cars.

Other ideas: Lombard Street, cable cars (which are not the same as the street cars near Pier 39 and Fisherman's Wharf), North Beach (our "little Italy").

Our subway/elevated electric rail system (called BART - Bay Area Rapid Transit) takes you from the airport to downtown. I met my fiance on the subway, so I consider it very romantic.

QueerFemme · June 2012

All of the main tourist spots can be reached if you stay closer to Fisherman's Wharf. Union Square has a ton of shopping, but unless you are very focused on shopping, I wouldn't stay there.

And, I second the PP about dressing in layers. It can get very chilly here. Once you are here, you will walk along the wharf or the pier and realize, that almost every store in the tourist area is selling sweatshirts. There is a reason for that. Everyone comes here incredibly unprepared and has to buy a San Francisco sweatshirt !!

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