What to do in San Francisco?

[Dave113]

Me and my family are spending 5 days in San Francisco from December 22-27. We are all over the age of 18 and are looking for things to do anyone got any suggestions?

So far we have Alcatraz night tour booked.

[macalin]

I also will be going there late December, out of curiousity, how much did the airfare run you?

[Dave113]

I also will be going there late December, out of curiousity, how much did the airfare run you?


I am flying there from Miami as i have a wedding to go to in Fort Lauderdale just before.

We booked our flights From Toronto to Fort Lauderdale then from Miami to San Francisco for $875 a person after tax.

We are flying Air Canada from Toronto to Fort Lauderdale then American Airlines from Miami to San Francisco.

[originalnutta]

Kinda risky booking a holiday somewhere, and not knowing what to do there.

[Dave113]

Kinda risky booking a holiday somewhere, and not knowing what to do there.

My sister just got transferred to San Francisco for work so we are visiting her.

We have a few ideas of what we are gonna do i was just looking for suggestions as well.

[originalnutta]

My sister just got transferred to San Francisco for work so we are visiting her.

We have a few ideas of what we are gonna do i was just looking for suggestions as well.

Haven't been there in ages. But the Fisherman's Wharf is still a decent tourist attraction. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fisherman's_Wharf,_San_Francisco,_California

Of course driving over the Golden Gate Bridge.

Oh and if i could go back there again, i'd drive down this street and piss off the people who live there.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lombard_Street_(San_Francisco)


and i'd check this out too...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Painted_Ladies

Enjoy.

[frogger]

Muir woods, Segway Tour, Sonoma/Napa Valley.

[Pete_Coach]

You are going at a time of year when it can be really crappy weather there. Plus, they celebrate Christmas as well and many things will be closed, so for a couple of your days, it will be real quiet.
San Fransisco is a town you need to walk around in to appreciate. China town for food and trinkets is a must. The Wharf and the cable cars take you to many of the areas of interest. The few days you have will be taken up by that alone.
By the way, you won't P off the residents of Lombard Street, it is often so crowded that you cannot make it down the street (down only because it is one way)

[monty613]

lots to do in SF, great walking city provided the weather cooperates in December for you...

Fisherman's Wharf
Chinatown
Sausalito
Muir Woods
Telegraph Hill/Coit Tower
Museum of Modern Art
Cable Car Ride/Bus Tour
Union Square
Boat Tour of SF Bay

[frogger]

Get tickets for the hop on/off buses, they drop you off at popular attractions and pick up every half hour at same spots.

[chestnut]

Have family there (I happen to be going around the same time again)


Muir woods - very majestic! You can go on the way to Sonoma / Napa. Drop by Sausilito just for walk (little shopping, but very beautiful and expensive housing). One of the highest avg. Income areas in NA I believe.

If you love shopping, you'll love Union square.

I love going to Japan Town just to eat a quick lunch that's pretty cheap.

Fisherman's wharf for an early dinner after a day walking around and visiting Alcatraz and trying Boudin Bakery during sunset at Francisco Restuarant.

You HAVE to go to Swan's Oyster depot (usually long lineups on weekends and its quite a small place o however has a huge following). Clam Chowder, Oyster, and Crab the things you must try.

House of Prime Rib on Van Ness for dinner (need reservations)

Go to Pier 1 (Terminal) on a weekend for a quick lunch.

Walk around Russian hill. Visit the various museums - asian art museum across from city hall is nice.

I always get the city pass as it has a 7 day MUNI (TTC) pass with museums tixs- you can ride unlimited cable car, subway, buses all over San Francisco. You can opt just for the MUNI. Keep in mind parking is INSANELY expensive ($25 - $30 / day) in San Fran down town.

Ofcourse there's the golden gate bridge and golden gate park (which has the deyoung art museum and the japanese garden (for an additional fee $5?)

If you have a car and love driving, drive along HWY 1 south towards Monterey it's considered 1 of, if not the most, scenic drive in NA. If you love driving, you'll just love this road. Photographer's must ^^ as you have the ocean on one side, and escarpements on other.

Oh, half moon bay (towards San Jose) is overrated tourist trap IMO and is always foggy and damp.

Make sure you have good walking shoes - can't stress this enough. I'm sure your calf muscles will start hurting after the 2nd day going up and down the hills in SF. ^^

I always priceline my hotel for 4* or a boutique (around $100) and end up getting something on top of Knob Hill (Intercontinental, Rennaissance, Hilton, Hyatt, etc.)

[mjl_toronto]

I went to SF a few months back to visit some extended family.

Some of the things I enjoyed were:

- Trip to 17 Mile Drive/Pebble Beach http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/17_Mile_Drive
I'm not a golfer but even I appreciated the scenery of the drive and clubhouse.

- Dining at Scoma's http://www.scomas.com/?page=alscoma
Yeah, it's probably a bit of a tourist trap but their crab is pretty darn good.

- Having lunch at The Sentinel http://www.yelp.com/biz/the-sentinel-san-francisco www.thesentinelsf.com
Not a very healthy or cheap place to eat but a very good sandwich by a local celebrity chef. btw, it's takeout only.

- Having dessert at Beard Papa's http://www.muginohousa.com/
I don't even know how to begin describing how good this was. I just hope they never come to Toronto or I'll be in serious trouble. They have 2 locations in SF

You should also try getting tickets to a hockey, basketball or football game.

[pitz]

Oh, half moon bay (towards San Jose) is overrated tourist trap IMO and is always foggy and damp.


+1

Santa Cruz is also pretty bad as well. They have the "Beach Boardwalk" there, but its all pretty run-down too..

East Bay, not much to see. You pretty much want to avoid Oakland/Hayward/Fremont, and don't even think of going to Richmond. Driving up through the Caldecott tunnel to Orinda is kind of neat, and beyond. If you wanna kill half a day driving, start out from SF, cross the Bay Bridge, head to Orinda, then to San Ramon, down California #43, to the Dumbarton Bridge (down I-880), cross the Dumbarton Bridge (toll), continue on #43 till you hit the coast...

SF really isn't a place to take kids, but its paradise if you're into hanging out in coffee shops as there are gazillions of them.


I always priceline my hotel for 4* or a boutique (around $100) and end up getting something on top of Knob Hill (Intercontinental, Rennaissance, Hilton, Hyatt, etc.)

Amazing.. I have no issues getting 3* downtown or in the Fisherman's Wharf/Pier 15 areas for $60-$65/night.

Best restaurants that I've found are on Columbus Avenue.. There's an awesome pizza slice place just off Columbus and Green; Golden Boy Pizza -- extremely highly recommended by yours truly, and cheap too (I've even brave BART and the Muni just to make it up there if I'm not in walking distance). If you're from Toronto, you'll liken it to the King Street restaurant strip.

Make sure you treat yourself to a good burrito at a taqueria too. Search the Internet, there's a number of burrito rating websites. Good burritos are virtually impossible to find in Canada. (although apparently there's a Chipotle Mexican Grille now open in downtown TO...)

And if you're asian, like I am, you'll fit right in.. Chinatown, japanese section, if you want something, you can find it...