What to do in San Francisco, CA???

C. STORR

C. STORR

Joined
Feb 6, 2006
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Hi all...my wife has gotten a wild tear to go visit San Francisco for a few days. In order to appease a pregnant woman, a suppose I better start looking into airline fares. Anyone have any suggestions as to what we may want to do or see (besides the damn bridge) once we get there??? Thanks in advance...
 
Ghiaradelli's Chocolate Factory (urp!) for the best (and probably most expensive) hot fudge sundaes ever... right at one end of the Embarkadero (waterfront), which is about two miles long, so you might want to get a rickshaw if your feet get tired. BTW, there is an excellent knife shop on the Embarkadero -- they even had a Sbenza on display when we were there last February. Lots of fabulous fish places to eat. Then there are the cablecars. Have fun!
 
Alberta Ed said:
Ghiaradelli's Chocolate Factory (urp!) for the best (and probably most expensive) hot fudge sundaes ever... right at one end of the Embarkadero (waterfront), which is about two miles long, so you might want to get a rickshaw if your feet get tired. BTW, there is an excellent knife shop on the Embarkadero -- they even had a Sbenza on display when we were there last February. Lots of fabulous fish places to eat. Then there are the cablecars. Have fun!
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I believe the knife shop in question is called "We Be Knives." When I was there they were closed for the day and the sign said "We Be Closed." I thought that was right humorous. It's a fine little shop. The Choc Factory is also a must. Do be careful not to wander into Oakland.
 
San Francisco is a nice town- down in the touristy area around the piers there's a lot of fun stuff to do, and lots of great seafood restaurants. You can go to Pier 39 and check out the sea lions, they're fun to watch. Alcatraz is a pretty cool place to visit, as well.

If you go across the bay, Sausalito is a beautiful place to visit, and if you drive up into the highlands, you can see all of San Francisco from above. There's an old military base there you can tour, and go inside the missile silos. There are some cool spots along the coast.
 
San Francisco's got much more than the "Bridge" and Fisherman's Wharf. Yeah We Be Knives is there with a great selection, but prices are never discounted. Still for knife nuts, it is a destination stop.

Golden Gate Park has a couple of great museums, the DeYoung and the newly refurbished and beautiful Academy of Sciences. Once away from the 'Wharf, the Embarcadero wraps around the eastern side of the city facing Oakland, and is a great walk.

For shopping, go to the Nordstrom center on Market Street. It's got one of the highest open atrium ceiling anywhere around with some really good restaurants, and one of the best is Nordstrom's own cafe.

For another nice walk and cheap entertainment, Grant Street, which is in the heart of Chinatown, offers a lot to see. Sure there are the typical tourist shops, but get off the main street and you'll see a little of what things looked like 100 years ago.

For more sight-seeing, take the famous cable car line up California Street to the "Top of the Mark' and while there enjoy looking at the turn of the 19th century's railroad baron's mansion and Grace Cathedral with their famous labrynth just outside.

There you go, hope that helps!

Joe K.
 
lots of things to do near Fisherman's Wharf.

If you fancy a hike, there's Angel Island. You can take a boat there from Fisherman's Wharf.

You can also take a tour of a WWII Submarine, the USS Pampanito. It's on pier 45.
 
If you fancy a bike ride you can rent bicycles and ride to Sausalito over the golden gate bridge, have lunch and take a ferry back to the pier 39 area.

I also really like Hyde Street pier, they have some historic boats that you can tour for a few bucks and a small museum.

Golden gate park is excellent, the conservatory of flowers there is really nice.
 
I like going to Coit Tower
Great views of the city

I also like the clam chowder in the sourdough bread bowls on Fisherman's Wharf

The park in Chinatown is nice
A lot of old Chinese men smoking unfiltered cigarettes and playing Mah Gow (or whatever it's called)

I miss Colombo Rolls!!!
Best sourdough rolls ever

The sourdough selection here in SB is weak:mad:

I am a self professed sourdough addict..BTW

The windmills in Golden Gate park are kinda cool
There is a famous restaurant called The Cliffhouse nearby...
 
+1 on Coit Tower, very nice views in a beatiful park.
I used to live in Palo Alto and would visit friends and roam around S.F whenever i could.

Aquarium of the Bay- a must see.

Hearst Castle- Also a must see, just out of S.F.

Ripleys "believe it or Not" museum- kinda freaky, but a must see.

San Francisco Botanical Garden Society at Strybing Arboretum- HUGE!

San Francisco Zoo -Awesome!

Wax Museum at Fisherman's Wharf -Excellent!

There are also plenty of casino's and Wine tours all over.

If you get the chance though, try to see the Winchester Mystery House in San Jose. it is my personal fave along with the "Mystery Spot" just outside of Santa Cruz . http://www.mysteryspot.com/

Damn, now i wish i just stayed in Cali, I'm tired of being bored and freezing my A55 off!
 
Do all that stuff in S.F. It's a lot of fun.
Then ..........
Don't forget a trip up to wine country in the Napa valley just a little bit north of S.F. or a trip South, down the coast to Monterey or Big Sur. These are both a day trip.
Or, do an overnight for extended exploring.
Or just drive Hwy 1 (in either direction) for some of the most beautiful scenery in California ! Bring a camera with lot's of memory cards (or film)
 
There is also Muir Woods a little north of the Golden Gate. Angel Island is nice as some have mentioned but I don't know how it would look after that recent fire over there. Depending on when you decide to visit the city.... check the websites of the zoo, museum, and academy of science as there are free days.
 
You have to go find the bush man. He is famous in his own right. He will hide (in plain sight) behind some fake leaves and scare tourists as they come off the tour buses. I thought my friend was b-sn me about the bush man, but I saw him and watched him do his thing. People actually tip this guy once he scares them. I saw him on the wharf, near a tour bus stop area. If you ask the locals, they will tell you where he is located. If you enjoy people watching, SF is a good place to go.
CJ
 
I stumbled upon We Be Knives when I was out there. Super nice guys really trying to make a go of it in a beautiful, but decidely weapon unfriendly city. The don't discount, but they do have to pay those outrageous Pier 39 rents. What to do in San Francisco? EAT!!!!!!!! That city truly exists for no other purpose other than that and some gorgeous scenery:D I ate at one of the seafood joints at Fisherman's Wharf. I know that is tre touriste, but they did a bang up job and this is coming from a guy who grew up in South Florida. Make sure you cross the bridge and see Marin County too. it is stunningly beautiful as urban areas go. There is also a wine store in Ghiradelli Square owned by a vineyard. they have some wines that are only avaible directly fro the vinyeard and the ones that I bought were fantastic and not stoopid expensive. I know that there is better Cali grape juice out there, but it was fun and I didn't have time to go to Napa.
 
If youre in the financial district, and have a little bit of spending money, and its a clear day, I like this spot: http://www.carnelianroom.com/

Near the the cliff house theres a little diner called louise, its got great views, but its cash only, you can visit the sutro baths below and walk around to baker beach its very cool back there. Its where some of the gun encampents to protect the bay are located.

A tour of alcatraz is a must, but you have to get the tickets in advance.

Chinatown is very cool, and if you go just a block or two past the touristy part there are some amazing food places.

Theres also a taco bell down to the south in pacifica thats worth a trip too. No joke... And of course theres always Sonoma/napa and even marin up north.

I was born and raised in the city, so if you need more places, feel free to PM with your interests and I'll give you even more stuff.
 
If you do any souvenir shopping near Fisherman's Wharf, don't think that you can look for bargains at other stores. Most of the souvenir shops in that area are all owned by the same company - so the prices are the same everywhere you go.

Good tip I got from my uncle when I was in the area about a year ago.
 
sirahren said:
Theres also a taco bell down to the south in pacifica thats worth a trip too. No joke... And of course theres always Sonoma/napa and even marin up north.
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You're totally right, I was thinking the other day, "that is the nicest Taco Bell I have ever seen..." nice enough even to tempt me to actually go inside next time I'm in Pacifica.
 
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