San Francisco help please

Marcia (Mrs. Pete) · Post by **Marcia (Mrs. Pete)** » Wed Nov 12, 2008 6:50 pm

Pete and I are going to San Fran next Wednesday and will be there through the weekend (no kids or dog with us, yahoo!). We are looking for any suggestions on fun/casual/great restaurants, fun things to do and see, and any other tips for a great experience.

We're staying in the Union Square area.

Thanks for any help you may be able to offer us.

Teddy Salad · Post by **Teddy Salad** » Wed Nov 12, 2008 7:43 pm

Gotta do the Alcatraz tour.

Eric in NJ · Post by **Eric in NJ** » Wed Nov 12, 2008 7:51 pm

We took a bus tour up to the Muir woods (Redwoods) and then to Sausalito where we had lunch & took a ferry back to San Fran. We loved it.

mbw1024 · Post by **mbw1024** » Wed Nov 12, 2008 8:00 pm

jealous! whatever you do get out on the water somehow, it's great!

DELETED · Post by **DELETED** » Wed Nov 12, 2008 8:12 pm

DELETED

Ondine · Post by **Ondine** » Wed Nov 12, 2008 9:08 pm

It kinda depends on what you want to do, SF can cater to anyone. A little local flavor tasting tour of the city could have you enjoying yummy pasta at Cafe Macaroni on Columbus (a hole in the wall gem) or spicy Hunan at House of Nan King (a serious hole in the wall, just all about the food), then with a cocktail at Vesuvio for some beatnik flavor, sit up stairs and watch the world go by, browse some books at Citylights next door, almost an institution of a book store, go the oldest bar The Saloon, on Mondays the Bachelors play and are worth going for, keep going up Grant St past the saloon to the Savoy Tivoli, maybe play some pool or have a coffee at one of many coffee bars along the way, continue to Jack Early park, the smallest park in the city and a very unique vantage point of the city, go to Coit Tower for the view, but then walk the Coit gardens on the other side and see the wild parrots of Telegraph Hill....This is all much more of a local flavor, which I'm guessing any STJ'r would appreciate on some level (you can easily bump into the touristy stuff, so I'll leave that out). And, this is just with a focus on the North Beach area, the city is vast and very easy to navigate given the grid like layout, so much to see and do....Ocean Beach beyond the Golden Gate park is incredible and quintessential Pacific Ocean view...Hmmm, that should get you started. Enjoy, I miss it there!

Terry · Post by **Terry** » Wed Nov 12, 2008 9:14 pm

Elegant dining? Go do Michael Mina. Westin St. Francis, 335 Powell St. 415-397-9222.

Head over on a boat to Saulsalito. Quaint and relaxing. Rent a car and drive up to the southern part of the wine country.

Much to do there, pick some things that you like to do and don't overwhelm yourselves. Enjoy!

California Girl · Post by **California Girl** » Wed Nov 12, 2008 9:40 pm

As to restaurants, I'll check with my friend who lives up there for some recommendations.

For things to do & see:

If you're into the Beat Generation, visit City Lights Bookstore. http://www.citylights.com/ (right next to Vesuvio!) Also in that area of town is the "Hungry i" where many famous people got their start (Smothers Brothers, The Limeliters, Bill Cosby).

If you're into the sixties & the Hippie Generation, hit the Haight. http://www.lovehaight.org/ (great website) I remember being in Haight Ashbury in 1966....well, I think I remember it! [wink!]

If you want more cultural-type suggestions, the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art is pretty nice, and across the street from MOMA is Buena Vista Gardens, a city park type of area. The Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial there is beautiful. Above the MLK Jr. Memorial is a great tea room called Samovar. We had an excellent vegetarian lunch there!

The Legion of Honor is a wonderful art museum, too. Some of Dale Chihuly's glass sculptures are there.

Be sure to get over to the Golden Gate Bridge. The view you get of the bridge from the vista point is spectacular http://gocalifornia.about.com/cs/sanfra ... bridge.htm

I took this picture from there:

waterguy · Post by **waterguy** » Wed Nov 12, 2008 9:44 pm

If you do the Alcatraz tour make sure you get the audio tour it was so much better. I like the street seafoood vendors by fishermans warf also there is a great breat company down there with chili or clam chowder in bread bowls

California Girl · Post by **California Girl** » Wed Nov 12, 2008 9:50 pm

San Francisco Sourdough! YUM!

promoguy · Post by **promoguy** » Thu Nov 13, 2008 12:23 am

Crabs at Fisherman's Wharf

http://www.pbase.com/promoguy101/image/ ... medium.jpg

Golden Gate View from Marin side and then a short drive to Sausalito.

http://www.pbase.com/promoguy101/image/ ... medium.jpg

Lots of good food places around Union Square. Plus easy walk to China Town. Very old steak house a couple of blocks away, that when I figure it out will post it. Any concierge would know the place.

If you're just going to be there for a couple of days you can forget the precious time lost by going to Alcatraz. Take a picture of it from fisherman's wharf site. Check out The Pier. Great shops and eats. Depending how you're getting around there is a great street car system that goes from the wharf to pier to Castro District. The street cars are old cars from around the world. Bunch of good places to eat Italian in the North Beach area.

In fact, there a bunch of good places to eat all over the city.

The wine country is a bit far to use your precious time. Lots to see and do.

PS. Having a car can be a real pain in the city.

nothintolose · Post by **nothintolose** » Thu Nov 13, 2008 7:05 am

We just ate at whatever looked good and fit our mood.

I remember it being chilly on Alcatraz because of all of the wind and very damp so remember that if you do go over.

Have a wonderful trip!

flip-flop · Post by **flip-flop** » Thu Nov 13, 2008 8:22 am

If you like garlic the Stinking Rose is NOT to be missed!!

http://www.thestinkingrose.com/

And if you want an incredibly funny over the top show check out Beach Blanket Babylon - it is chock full of current events and I bet especially now would be hysterical!

http://www.yelp.com/biz/beach-blanket-b ... -francisco

Jan&MikeVa · Post by **Jan&MikeVa** » Thu Nov 13, 2008 9:32 am

An interesting thing that we did was take a helicopter tour. It was great! We went under the Golden Gate Bridge, out along the coast, up to Muir, and of course over the city. Not cheap, but well worth it!

We also went to Haight Ashbury and felt the LOVE...had a good breakfast there too!

Have fun

RickG · Post by **RickG** » Thu Nov 13, 2008 9:54 am

So very thirsty:

City Beer Store for local news, pints and beer to go

Toronado is one of the great beer bars in the US. Very much the dive and 50 taps of mostly locals - www.toronado.com

Magnolia's Brewpub

Rogue Public House

La Trappe Belgian Cafe

21st Amendment Brewpub

Anchor Brewing tour - reservations required

If you see ANY beers from Russian River Brewing then buy them. Vinnie and Natalie Cilurzo are doing remarkable work.

<BURP>

Cheers, RickG

usvi-on-line

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San Francisco help please

San Francisco help please