I'll be in San Francisco for a conference soon and have a day open. Do any of you have a good suggestion for my wife and I to check out that day? We'll be staying near Union Station.
Thanks for the help.
Thanks for the help.
OT: San Francisco
- Thread starter SyonaraStanz
- Start date
1 -Rent a car and drive to Napa Valley. Depending on the amount of wine consumption - driving might not be the best option.
1a - Tour Alcatraz.
2 - I actually enjoyed walking around Cal-Berkley.
1a - Tour Alcatraz.
2 - I actually enjoyed walking around Cal-Berkley.
Definitely wander the city.
Check for events going on in and around the area. Plenty of great music is played.
If you're a beer guy, Anchor Brewery tour might be good. Also, there's Mikkeller Bar.
Have burritos in the Mission District.
Check for events going on in and around the area. Plenty of great music is played.
If you're a beer guy, Anchor Brewery tour might be good. Also, there's Mikkeller Bar.
Have burritos in the Mission District.
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Muir Woods...
https://www.nps.gov/muwo/index.htm
Also drive down the coastline to Monterey Bay if you have the time as well.
Sonoma Valley, Muir Woods, Alcatraz (just getting out on the bay gives you countless photos) Japanese Tea Garden, Pier 39, or a bayside restaurant in Sausalito, Golden Gate Park, PCH to Santa Cruz, Monterey, or Carmel/Pebble Beach. SF has many world renowned restaurants. You can cap off the day by driving over to Stinson Beach and watching the sunset
My favorite vineyard was Sterling. This was back in 2006 but this was the view from their vineyard.
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I see they offer wine tours into Napa and Sonoma. Would you suggest this over renting a car?
I enjoyed renting a car just because you had control of your schedule and it was a pretty drive. But the wine tours - everything is planned for you and there isn't waiting. Just depends on what you prefer.
I have been to the area four times but it has been 10 years since I have been. If I were going back and only had 1 day I would do as suggested. Muir Woods and the coastline driving HWY 1.
If the weather weather is clear I'd absolutely cross the Golden Gate, get off first exit on the right and drive up to the Marin Headlands for the view back across to SF. It's spectacular and photos don't do justice to the sheer scope of what's in front of you. Muir Woods is only 10 minutes further and is amazing too.
Napa is suggested in this thread.. but honestly it's tough to drive up and back in a day and really enjoy yourself especially if you get your drank on.
If you don't want to drive anywhere, I'd walk from Union Square to Coit Tower for probably the best view of the bay from the city.
Also.. if your trip is before the end of the month I'd walk from US to AT&T park and watch a baseball game. Take a jacket.. or a down parka like you're attempting to summit K2.
Napa is suggested in this thread.. but honestly it's tough to drive up and back in a day and really enjoy yourself especially if you get your drank on.
If you don't want to drive anywhere, I'd walk from Union Square to Coit Tower for probably the best view of the bay from the city.
Also.. if your trip is before the end of the month I'd walk from US to AT&T park and watch a baseball game. Take a jacket.. or a down parka like you're attempting to summit K2.
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I'll be there in November for a conference. I've done the wine country-both Sonoma and Napa. I prefer Sonoma. I've rented a car and I've done the tour. My wife and I are doing the tour this time. I dont' want to end up in a jail after drinking at 3 different wineries. I've also done everything in between. Personally I'm not a fan of San Francisco. We did enjoy Saucalito across the bay. Going south toward Monterey, Pebble Beach and Carmel is awesome but you have to carve out a full day if you have it. This November, we're simply taking out a day to do a guided wine tour in either Sonoma or napa. Haven't decided which yet. My meeting schedule won't allow much time to do anything else so that was our choice w/ our limited time we have.
I was not that impressed by the Haight other than its historical significance.
"1a - Tour Alcatraz."
If you are going to be there overnight, order tickets in advance for a night tour of Alcatraz. Definitely worth it - adds to the "ambiance". You DO have to order in advance, though, as they sell out ahead of time.
Before you take your tour to Alcatraz, you can catch Ghirardelli Square, Fisherman's Wharf, and maybe Lombard Street (you'll recognize it from movies and tv shows - the "crooked street") if you don't mind a little walk.
I don't remember where it is relative to everything else, but the Cable Car Museum is pretty cool. I think it would be near your hotel.
Other options:
Muir Woods (redwoods) is a must-see but may take a big chunk out of your day.
Chinatown (good food and the place where they make most of the fortune cookies sold in the U.S. is there - tiny little place)
Mission District (GOT to have some burritos or taquitos, etc.)
Golden Gate/Presidio
Ocean Beach
Sausalito
If you are going to be there overnight, order tickets in advance for a night tour of Alcatraz. Definitely worth it - adds to the "ambiance". You DO have to order in advance, though, as they sell out ahead of time.
Before you take your tour to Alcatraz, you can catch Ghirardelli Square, Fisherman's Wharf, and maybe Lombard Street (you'll recognize it from movies and tv shows - the "crooked street") if you don't mind a little walk.
I don't remember where it is relative to everything else, but the Cable Car Museum is pretty cool. I think it would be near your hotel.
Other options:
Muir Woods (redwoods) is a must-see but may take a big chunk out of your day.
Chinatown (good food and the place where they make most of the fortune cookies sold in the U.S. is there - tiny little place)
Mission District (GOT to have some burritos or taquitos, etc.)
Golden Gate/Presidio
Ocean Beach
Sausalito
Point Reyes national seashore is pretty incredible, and isn't usually busy at all if you want to hike/nature/ocean, drive across golden gate. If you want to see the coast line and some cool small town coastal Cal, head south to half moon bay area. Both are easy day trips
I live in the Bay and I second this. My day would be: leave SF early, go check out the lighthouse (or just any of the beaches) at Point Reyes, on the way back grab some oysters in Tomales Bay, then swing into the little surf/fishing town of Bolinas. Grab a beer at Smiley’s, maybe dinner across the street. Watch some surfers do a sunset lap. Head back to SF.
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I can recommend a ton of places to go and things to do, but one day is not nearly enough. There are so many things to choose from within driving distance.
How much of, "a day" are we talking about? Can you get up and hit the road real early to catch a spectacular sunrise hours away, and be ok with arriving back to your hotel very late in the evening?
Are you ok with a stunning hours-long drive along the coast with so many twisties and sheer cliffs that the driver can't safely take it all in, but you can make multiple stops? Take a trip to Big Sur & back with stops in Carmel (lots of great restaurants...including Mission Ranch Restaurant). If you can take the trip to Big Sur and stay overnight, you could greatly enhance your experience. If you can fit it in, the Monterey Bay Aquarium is world-class and on the way.
If you need to stay really close to SF, then I'd suggest perhaps having dinner around sunset at Sutro's - The Cliff House Restaurant. When you make your reservation let them know you want a table with a spectacular view of the sunset (though I doubt there is a bad view, I'd ask for a window table). Get there early if you can, as the daytime views are fabulous. Food at Sutro's is top-notch.
https://cliffhouse.com/
View attachment 11390
If you want to go wine-tasting, as others have suggested, Napa & Sonoma are the top choices. Both wonderful. If time does not allow for those two, there is a much smaller, but still fun wine region in Livermore, CA, in the SF East Bay.
How much of, "a day" are we talking about? Can you get up and hit the road real early to catch a spectacular sunrise hours away, and be ok with arriving back to your hotel very late in the evening?
Are you ok with a stunning hours-long drive along the coast with so many twisties and sheer cliffs that the driver can't safely take it all in, but you can make multiple stops? Take a trip to Big Sur & back with stops in Carmel (lots of great restaurants...including Mission Ranch Restaurant). If you can take the trip to Big Sur and stay overnight, you could greatly enhance your experience. If you can fit it in, the Monterey Bay Aquarium is world-class and on the way.
If you need to stay really close to SF, then I'd suggest perhaps having dinner around sunset at Sutro's - The Cliff House Restaurant. When you make your reservation let them know you want a table with a spectacular view of the sunset (though I doubt there is a bad view, I'd ask for a window table). Get there early if you can, as the daytime views are fabulous. Food at Sutro's is top-notch.
https://cliffhouse.com/
View attachment 11390
If you want to go wine-tasting, as others have suggested, Napa & Sonoma are the top choices. Both wonderful. If time does not allow for those two, there is a much smaller, but still fun wine region in Livermore, CA, in the SF East Bay.
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My wife and I rented a convertible and drove the coast to Carmel. There is plenty to see all up and down the coast.
Went there earlier this summer. Drove from LA up the Pacific Coast Highway to SF
- We did the Muir Woods/Sausalito bus tour and took the ferry back from Sausalito. Well worth the trip.
- Renting a car and taking a day trip to Napa Valley is a great trip (probably depends on how much you like wine)
- Renting a car and heading south to the 17 Mile Drive is another great option. Carmel is a pretty cool town and Monterrey has a fantastic aquarium. You could drive down into Big Sur State Park, which has some of the greatest scenery in the US.
- I did the Alcatraz tour several years ago and was a little disappointed. Maybe the night tour is much better. You get a good view of it on the ferry from Sausalito.
- If you want to ride the cable car, the turnaround at the southern end of Powell Street is always crowded. But you can hop on easily one or 2 blocks north. You can get off at Lombard Street if that looks interesting and then it's a short walk to Fisherman's Wharf/Pier 39
- There's a street car (not cable car) that is a pretty cheap way to go between Pier 39 and the Union Square area. I think it's the F Line.
- Dim Sum in Chinatown
- We did the Muir Woods/Sausalito bus tour and took the ferry back from Sausalito. Well worth the trip.
- Renting a car and taking a day trip to Napa Valley is a great trip (probably depends on how much you like wine)
- Renting a car and heading south to the 17 Mile Drive is another great option. Carmel is a pretty cool town and Monterrey has a fantastic aquarium. You could drive down into Big Sur State Park, which has some of the greatest scenery in the US.
- I did the Alcatraz tour several years ago and was a little disappointed. Maybe the night tour is much better. You get a good view of it on the ferry from Sausalito.
- If you want to ride the cable car, the turnaround at the southern end of Powell Street is always crowded. But you can hop on easily one or 2 blocks north. You can get off at Lombard Street if that looks interesting and then it's a short walk to Fisherman's Wharf/Pier 39
- There's a street car (not cable car) that is a pretty cheap way to go between Pier 39 and the Union Square area. I think it's the F Line.
- Dim Sum in Chinatown
Rent a car and take Hway 1 to Monterrey and Carmel. At Carmel do the 17 mile drive. Great views and it goes by Pebble Beach. Wife will love Carmel.
Nothing to add that hasn’t already been suggested. Ride a cable car, go to Chinatown, Lombard Street, Muir Woods, The Presidio, Golden Gate Park, cross the Golden Gate Bridge and look back at SF, get some clam chowder in a sour dough bread bowl, Fisherman’s Wharf ( couple of WWII ships there), Pier 39 (pretty good aquarium there if you like that kind of thing and Fog Harbor is a good restaurant on Pier 39 and plenty of other things along the wharf). One of my favorite bars is The Irish Bank. It’s close to Chinatown. Market Square and Westfield Centre if you’re into diverse crowds and unique shopping experiences. If you have the time, rent a car and drive up to Napa/Sonoma Valley. Even if you don’t stop to wine taste, it’s gorgeous sightseeing. However, if you really want to see something spectacular, make the 3 hour trip East to Lake Tahoe. A word of caution, some of the public restroom’s in SF can be confusing. Just go in and act like everything’s cool. You’ll know what I mean if you go in one and you’ll figure it out. Just a little surprising at first. Hope this helps and you have a wonderful time!
Cable car ride when i went to San Francisco was so packed you could not breathe in it, memories made though
Go to Scomas in Sausilito for dinner. Sit outside on deck looking toward the City
I’m surprised no one has mentioned the Lagunitas brewery tour in Petaluma (short drive). We had more fun there than on the wine tour. Catamaran sunset cruise on the bay is a good time. Also, Alcatraz is 10 times better at night.
Interesting. I took my adult son to LA, SF, and Denver May 2017. Spent a couple days each in LA and SF. Took the train between LA and SF, then again between SF and Denver. While in Denver we discovered our new favorite beer--Lagunitas Undercover Investigation Shut Down Ale.
In SF, we went to Alcatraz (got in line at 7:30 that morning for tickets to the 8:30 boat, line was about 20 people. Line is longer in the summer), rode the cable car (hotel was on Nob Hill), walked around the wharf, went to an aquarium and toured a submarine on the wharf, walked partially across the Golden Gate and back, went to Fort Point (great view under the Golden Gate), walked through Chinatown, walked through The Presidio, ate at several local restaurants on the wharf and downtown. Great trip. Did not rent a car, used Uber and 30,000+ steps per day walking.
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