need advice for san fransisco trip

[Darth Yan]

I'm going to be visiting San Fransisco on Sunday, so I was wondering if there were any places that I should visit while I am there (I have already visited the Golden Gate Bridge). Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

[Terralthra]

The Legion of Honor is only a hop, skip, and a jump away from the Bridge.

[Shinn Langley Soryu]

How long are you going to be in San Francisco? I'd have suggested visiting Japantown, but that place can be a bit of a time sink, especially if you want to do a little shopping around at Japan Center.

[Dalton]

The Jelly Belly Factory in Fairfield. Also Fisherman's Wharf; look for the Musée Mécanique for a cool collection of antique arcade games.

[Ahriman238]

The trolley ride and naval base are always worth a visit. Alcatraz, if you have time, Chinatown if you want to bring back souveniers and knick-knacks.

According to an aunt who moved there last year, Cali has the best Mexican and Chinese food within the US, and you dare not leave without sampling some.

[Terralthra]

I believe he was saying he'd be in SF for a day. Fairfield is a bit far for a day trip to SF.

[Bob the Gunslinger]

There are certain things you are expected to do: see the Golden Gate Bridge; buy records in the Haight-Ashbury district; eat dim sum in Chinatown; buy chocolate at Ghiradelli, visit Fisherman's Wharf, look for colorful hobos, etc.

If you are looking for great stories to tell later, look for the hobos. The Happy Happy guy and Bush Man are pretty funny, and so is Jokemon (although I think he's just in Berkeley these days), etc.. What appeals to you?

[Rahvin]

How long are you going to be in San Francisco? I'd have suggested visiting Japantown, but that place can be a bit of a time sink, especially if you want to do a little shopping around at Japan Center.

It's a really, really good time sink though. Japan Center is great. Delicious and inexpensive food, import collectibles, furniture, Japanese candy... We go there every time we visit San Francisco, no matter what else we do.

[Dalton]

I believe he was saying he'd be in SF for a day. Fairfield is a bit far for a day trip to SF.

Well, I was staying in Walnut Creek at the time.

[Darth Yan]

Wow. I live in Mountain View, and am going to be living in Moraga. Damn

[Cecelia5578]

Wow. I live in Mountain View, and am going to be living in Moraga. Damn

Wait, how long have you been living in Mountain View? Jeez, its not that hard to visit the city! Just jump on Caltrain!

I also recommend if you're visiting Haight Ashbury, to also visit Golden Gate Park, its right down the street. Also, you really should visit the Castro, just so you can see the most famous gay village in the world. Another tip: do some research on public transportation. The best thing is to take Caltrain to/from the city, and get around on BART/Muni whilst there. Its so much nicer to not have to drive.

[Raj Ahten]

If you are interested in old fortifications and the like I'd recommend Golden Gate Recreation area. The real Highlight is a restored Nike Missile Site. Unfortunately it appears to not be open on Sunday for touring. If you can somehow manage to get down there on a Saturday they have an open house with tours from veterans who ran Nike sites. Very cool. Also around are gun batteries that include a 16'' gun emplacement (unfortunately the guns have been scrapped but the bunkers remain.) The bunker complex associated with that emplacement was also used for nuclear blast wave testing. It's sometimes open for touring, but it might be as rarely as once a month. I'd check with the visitors center for details on that. Plus all these military emplacements are in the beautiful Marin Headlands.

Only downside is you'd have to cross the golden gate to reach the park. I believe there is bus which runs down to the area on weekends though. Be prepared for a good deal of hiking and budget several hours for it if you decide to do it. Also there is a hostel within 1/2 to the Nike site and some of the gun batteries if you're looking to spend the night in the area.

[Darth Yan]

i just moved here. I'm in a hotel. I've been living in the UK

[The Duchess of Zeon]

The Cliff House, the Ruins of Sutro's Bath, the general atmosphere of the climate in the Golden Gate national park out by the sea and the long sandy beaches to the south--all very pleasant. Everyone seems to have a garden around the Veteran's hospital and there's both the Nike Hercules battery and the old gun batteries. I admit that I have never ventured beyond the area around Geary Boulevard in any adult explorations of San Francisco, because I had a friend who lived right off Geary, but the west end thereof is a really, really nice area. Also check out the Sutro Heights Park.

[Havok]

I've lived in and around Oakland my whole life. I haven't seen half the shit in this thread. Just go wander around. Ride a trolly. It's a great city. Stay out of the Tenderloin.

[Bob the Gunslinger]

What part of Oakland? I used to live somewhere near Shattuck and 62nd street. The best Ethiopian restaurant I've ever been to is near there, at Alcatraz and Telegraph. It's amazing.

Also, there were a lot of shootings in that neighborhood.

[Darth Yan]

thank you for the advice; it is all very helpful. Unfortunately, my mother and sister wanted to see Harry Potter instead, so I've decided to delay the trip for a week or so. Still, thank you for all the advice and suggestions.

[Havok]

What part of Oakland? I used to live somewhere near Shattuck and 62nd street. The best Ethiopian restaurant I've ever been to is near there, at Alcatraz and Telegraph. It's amazing.

All over Oakland and Alameda. For the first time, I don't live there as I bought a house in Crap Leandro. Nice place though. On the hill above 580 overlooking the whole Bay Area.

Also, there were a lot of shootings in that neighborhood.

What are you trying to say?! YOU CAN'T PROVE IT WAS ME!!


It was totally me.

[J]

Go see the giant redwood trees at Muir Woods, they were the highlight of my trip to San Francisco.

[Losonti Tokash]

Get your ass over to the Ghirardelli Factory.

[Alferd Packer]

Point Reyes National Seashore. Bit of a slog, but it's worth it. Majestic views of the ocean, remarkable isolation, given how close it is to San Fransisco. I think you can also do some good whale-watching there in winter, IIRC.

[DrMckay]

Point Reyes is seconded, also Muir Woods is where the ROTJ speeder bike chase scenes were shot.

If you like History, there are a metric ton of museums, also Fort Point (a Civil War-Era fort under the golden gate bridge) as well as historic tall ships at the SF Maratime Museum (Where I have interned) as well as a WWII liberty ship and submarine further down fishermans wharf.

For art, SF MOMA, the De Young and the legion of Honor are great, and Ocean Beach is amazing.

If you get the chance, Hit Berkeley, Downtown berkeley near the college is amazing, and has some great restaurants (Brazil Cafe) as well as the best damn Hobby shop/hardware store in the world (Berkeley Ace on University.)

Hope that helps.

[Havok]

He is going for like one day people, not a few weeks.

[loomer]

The Armoury is a pretty impressive slice of historical architecture. Of course it's also a porn headquarters now, but they do tours too, so I guess if you ever wanted to see how a porn company works you could hit them up.