a week in San Francisco...what should we not miss?

[babydollhead]

mid october...what should we make sure to pack? anyone want to do a meet-up? What do you know about Point Arena?

[tekisui]

1. John Muir woods and the Zen garden, IMO.

Have fun!

[babydollhead]

2. Thank you!

[Retrograde]

37. Skip Muir Woods. See some of the state parks while they're open

Every tourist goes to Muir Woods and Napa Valley, both fine places if you want to see other tourists. IMHO, Cowell State Park near Santa Cruz and Big Basin State Park near San Jose have better redwoods and are less crowded. The really good ones are up north in Richardson State Park near Eureka, but that's an overnight trip. You will need a car to get to any of these, though.

For wines, I recommend Sonoma Valley, one over from Napa. Not as crowded, and I think the wines are more varied. The town of Sonoma is where California declared its independence in 1848.

[Taverner]

3. Bring warm clothes for nights

Even though its our "summer"

[Old Codger]

5. you bet

Mark Twain said "The coldest winter I ever spent was one summer in San Francisco" Not really that cold but will probably be chilly at night... Fishermans Wharf...Is a must see also.... Lunch at N'Alioto's if it still exists, and naturally China Town.. you will see Golden Gate when you go to Muir Woods.

[TNDemo]

4. Check out the restaurants.

There are so many independent ones and I am always surprised at how reasonable a lot of them are. If you like Italian food there is The Stinking Rose in North Beach. Even has garlic ice cream. If you want a good view of the city (and a hike to get there) go up in Coit Tower and look around. The touristy area is around Pier 39 and around there you can watch the sea lions, which are fun, but their barking gets annoying after awhile. Berkeley Gardens is good. Japanese Garden is good. Bubble Lounge (champagne bar) is fun. I'll have to think further...

[Tesha]

23. While you're in the neighborhood of The Stinking Rose,

be sure to check out City Lights bookstore (Ferlinghetti's place and
the home of the Beat Generation; still cool after all these years!

Tesha

[imdjh]

6. Clement Street Bakery

I can't remember the address, but someone will doubtlessly point you to it, or whatever has replaced it as the best dim sum bakery. Get a boxful and take it someplace where you can walk it off after pigging out.

[lunatica]

7. Spend one day in UC Berkeley

BART gets you there and back. Bring comfortable shoes and be prepared for the weather to change. Sometimes when the rest of the Bay Area is warm Berkeley gets fog. Start here:

http://visitors.berkeley.edu /

Oh! And do the tourist thing. Take the Ferry to Tiburon in Marin. Take it to Oakland and go under the Bay Bridge. It's a great tourist place.

If you get a chance go to Carmel and visit the Aquarium in Monterey (they're next to each other in the same general area). You will never regret doing that. If you get a car rental travel an hour or so down highway 1 right by the seashore. You will be awed by it.

[TNDemo]

33. While at Berkeley hike up to the Big C.

This is for when you are wearing your hiking shoes. It's a big letter C at the top of this big hill and the view is fabulous.

[Arugula Latte]

43. Tilden Park is fabulous.

*sigh* I miss/love Berkeley.

[jasperilla]

8. be sure to have a Dim Sum lunch

...maybe a local could tell you better recommendation, we went to Yank Sing and it was great. I totally second Muir Woods, that was a major highlight of our week in SF.

Best wishes!

[xchrom]

9. MOMA, the war memorial museum,

the de young for sure -- don't miss that -- you wanna go to snake alley -- get out to golden gate park -- and be sure to get all the way to the ocea.

you might wanna sample some of our fabulous restaurants -- fleur d'lie, zuni - very old school -- and some newer ones south of market st.
'

[CurtEastPoint]

10. Point Reyes Nat'l Seashore. Beautiful!

See: http://www.nps.gov/pore/index.htm

[Retrograde]

39. as are the Marin Headlands

part of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area, which stretches along the coast from just south of SF to Marin county. It includes a number of abandoned WWII and Cold War era defense installations.

[Tesha]

11. The Exploratorium and the nearby Wave Organ.

The Number 30 bus from Chinatown to the Exploratorium neighborhood.

Tesha

[rvablue]

12. Golden Gate Park AND.....

every other square inch of the entire Bay Area.

I'm envious. I love SF and the environs. Have a wonderful time exploring.

And heed the advice on wearing layers. The temperature can change 10-15 degrees or MORE in the span of a few miles or an hour.

And unless you're music afficiandos, don't bother with the Haight. You're not missing much.

[The Hope Mobile]

13. Ghirardellia square, cable cars, Berkeley, Lombard Street, Fisherman's wharf

The Presidio, Point Reyes, Alcatraz (get tickets in advance)
If you have time to . . . go down the coast a bit, hit Santa Cruz, Ano Nuevo (Elephant Seals before 3:30), Monterey Aquarium and town, Big Sur, Hearst Castle, Morro Bay. Gorgeous coastline. We just did it this summer. Warm clothes for during the day in SF too IMO. Its a little unpredictable bc of the fog but I guess fall is warmer than summer there.
Have a blast!

[secondwind]

14. dress warmly....when that fog rolls in.........BRRR

[Sal Minella]

35. dupe.

[Tesha]

15. Fort Point (dress warmly!) and, across the Bridge, the Marin Highlands.

Everyone knows the view from the Marin Highlands; see it for
yourself and take your own version of the famous picture.

Tesha

[Emit]

16. I think Point Arena is about 100 miles

give or take, north of San Francisco.

Are you planning on going to both?

[KatyMan]

17. Alcatraz

No, really. I was sent on a training course in Pleasanton a couple of years ago, and my wife and I went up the weekend before to sightsee. She booked us a tour of Alcatraz and I thought, well, that'll be a couple of hours I'll never get back, but I was shocked at how interesting it was. Plus, you get a boat ride across the Bay with great views.
We also drove down to Big Sur and back and had a picnic. Great fun. Depending on where you're from, you'll be amazed at how expensive real estate is there! We really liked Pleasanton and Carmel, and some other places and just for fun looked at the housing prices. Shocking. Of course, this was in 2004.

[MajorChode]

49. +1

Yes, it's touristy, but it's still well worth going. Even if you have no interest in touring the prison the gardens and bird habitat alone is well worth the trip.

[Tesha]

18. Coit Tower and the view from the top near sunset.

And remember Tyne Dally with Harry Callahan .

Tesha

[Tesha]

22. If you can get that far, the Monterrey Bay Aquarium.

And try to imagine the "whale pool" from Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home.
Hint: it ain't in Sausalito, although Sausalito and Tiburon are both nice
side trips as well.

Tesha

[tammywammy]

19. Buena Vista Irish Coffee n/t

[rubberducky]

20. The mothball fleet of war ships at Suisan Bay is truelly amazing.

[lapfog_1]

21. The Presidio

The Cliff House
Camera Obscura
Palace of Fine Arts.

Great little (unknown) French Restaurant near the corner of Lombard and Lyon (at the entrance to The Presidio) that I can't remember the name (it's a little ways down Lombard from the corner, not the cafe that's on the corner.

[Tesha]

24. Beach Blanket Babylon

I' *LOVE* to hear what they're singing about Obama!

Tesha

[Mz Pip]

38. +1

I need to go again. It's been a few years. Very funny.

[XemaSab]

25. Definitely take a day trip (or overnight!)

up through Muir Woods, through Bolinas, and out to Point Reyes.

Pack a lunch.

[Tesha]

26. The Cable Car Museum

Don't just ride 'em -- see how they work!

And not too far away, Macondray Lane, known to Armistead
Mauin fans around the world as "Barbary Lane"!

Tesha

[marlakay]

27. check to see what shows are on

i saw a good play last time i was there. they have a couple great comedy places too, one is near fishermans wharf area. pier 39 and the wharf can be fun, ride a cable car...

call together DU folks, i met up with them once at pub.

lots of music at clubs, go on entertainment site.

golden gate park, museums, art gallery depends what your into!

[ourbluenation]

28. I still love China Town. Just walk it and look up. n/t

[rucky]

29. The talking toilets.

[Flying Dream Blues]

30. My favorite Chinese restaurant:

House of Nanking--a tiny place across from Francis Ford Coppola's cafe; it's delicious and get there early or wait in line. The line moves pretty fast if you do have to wait...

919 Kearny St
San Francisco, CA 94133

[phone]‎

[glitch]

31. Do not miss CA Academy of Sciences Natural History Museum and Steinhart Aquarium

Just rebuilt and absolutely fantastic. In Golden Gate Park.
http://www.calacademy.org /
Also nearby is Zazie Cafe in Cole Valley
http://www.zaziesf.com /

[shanti]

32. check out the king tut exhibit

at golden gate park. runs thru next march. also the awesome new aquarium.

[eissa]

34. Ah, my favorite city, was just there last weekend

Many people have already listed my recommendations: Coit Tower; Presidio Park (if you're up to the challenge, take the staircase from the beach up to Battery -- some great views from there as well); Ghiradelli Square (oh, those chocolate-covered strawberries!); Pier 39 (take a bay cruise, visit the aquarium, and don't miss the sea lions!); Fisherman's Wharf (Boudin's famous soup in a sourdough bowl is so yummy). Cross over the Golden Gate Bridge and have a nice lunch in the charming village of Sausalito. You'll get more amazing views of the bay, the bridges, and San Francisco. San Francisco is truly one of the most beautiful cities I've seen, you'll have a great time!

[Javaman]

36. In-N-Out Burger.

Sorry. It's an addiction of mine.

[Mz Pip]

40. Russian River

This is a beautiful drive along the Russian River to Jenner, where the river runs into the ocean. It's not as far as Point Arena.

http://www.russianrivertravel.com/jenner.htm

While in San Francisco have lunch or dinner at the Beach Chalet. The view of Ocean Beach is spectacular and it's right by Golden Gate Park so you can spend some time exploring that.

[Overseas]

41. SFStandup dot com to find out what's happening in comedy clubs

http://www.sfstandup.com/calendar /

[arcadian]

42. SFO

Get on a plane and go to New Zealand.

[Arugula Latte]

44. If you have kids, the Exploratorium is great. I have fond memories from my childhood.

Also, the Slanted Door restaurant in the Ferry Building is deee-lish.

[Hell Hath No Fury]

45. From a native --

I cannot recommend enough the many walking tours we have available here -- some great ones are the Barbary Coast, the food of Chinatown, the murals of the Mission District, and the Victorian houses. http://www.sfcityguides.org /

Some other placers/things of interest I would recommend are:

- Sutro Baths/Cliff House (be sure to walkup the hill to see the old Sutro estate gardens) end up down at the Beach Chalet

- the San Francisco Collumbarium http://www.sanfranciscoreader.com/essays/columbarium.ht...

- the Fibert Street steps to Coit Tower http://www.sisterbetty.org/stairways/filbertsteps.htm

- Twin Peaks (if there is no fog) http://www.sftravel.com/twinpeakssanfrancisco.html

- Golden Gate Park
Conservatory of Flowers http://www.conservatoryofflowers.org /
Arboretum http://www.sfbotanicalgarden.org /
Hagiwara Tea Garden http://www.sfpt.org/japanese_tea_garden.html
Bison paddock http://www.homeandabroad.com/c/11/Site/40128_Buffalo_Pa...

- The Exploratorium and the Tactile Dome -- totally cool! http://www.exploratorium.edu /
http://www.exploratorium.edu/visit/tactile_dome/index.h...

- Happy hour at the Tonga Room http://www.fairmont.com/sanfrancisco/guestservices/rest...

- Take a ride on the Cable Car -- take the California line from the Embaracdero to Powell, then catch the Powell/Hyde line to the Wharf -- you MUST stand on the outer floor board and hang on to a pole for the best ride! A visit to the cable house is also cool. http://www.sfcablecar.com /
http://www.sftravel.com/cable-car-san-francisco.html

[NMDemDist2]

48. +1 for Irish Coffees at sunset at Cliff House

it's a must on everyone's SF visit list IMO

[Gormy Cuss]

46. On what to pack, and the Point Arena area.

It's usually far less foggy in October on the coast and sunny days in the 70s are common. Having said that, the coastal areas often have winds off the Pacific and a windbreaking layer is important as something that can handle light drizzle. Fleece is good. You can buy a cheap fleece jacket with a San Francisco logo at Fisherman's Wharf.

Allow plenty of time for driving up highway 1 to Point Arena. Figure that you'll average 30 miles per hour because it's a winding road and there are many spots where you'll want to stop at just take in the view. If you're thinking of going to Point Arena for the day, keep in mind that it's a very long day trip and you probably don't want to be driving down highway 1 in the dark. An alternative to driving in both directions on 1 is to take highway 128 through the Anderson Valley in one direction (stop in Boonville for food.) Highway 128 meets 1 just north of Elk. There are places to stay in the Gualala/Point Arena/Elk area if you're planning an overnight.

You can visit Muir Woods and Pt. Reyes on a day trip from San Francisco. Muir is beautiful and not so crowded in October especially on weekdays. Pt. Reyes has many attractions -- the Earthquake trail with the epicenter of the 1906 quake, elk herds, seasonal whale watching and elephant seal herds, a lighthouse, long sandy beaches (Drake's is one of the special spots) and Tomales Bay. It takes a long time to drive between most points however.

On the far side of Tomales bay is the tiny town of Marshall with its oyster farms and casual places to buy raw and cooked oysters. There's also a kayak rental place that may still be open in mid-October.

Lastly, buy a MUNI passport for 1, 3, or 7 days. It's much easier for navigating the tourist spots in the city than trying to drive and park. It includes rides on the cable cars so it's a pretty good deal.

FYI: up thread lap_frog1 mentioned a French restaurant near the Presidio. I second the recommendation. The name of it is Baker St. Bistro and it's at the corner of Baker and Lombard.

[OffWithTheirHeads]

47. If I could only show you one thing

It would be the view from the top of Mt. Tamalpias.

I can only describe it as otherworldly

[DerBeppo]

50. The Full House house

Everywhere you look, everywhere you go...

[tigereye]

51. ooh! It's so much fun - you will love it!

Muir Woods, Catamaran ride in the Bay and the Ship Museum (it's a Fed. park - forget the name at the moment- really cool ships) near Fisherman's Wharf, Golden Gate Bridge look-out or bike ride, Montery Bay Acquarium, cable-car rides, Coit Tower has an amazing view and wonderful WPA murals, MOMASF, and Asian Art Museum, for a start. (personally, I found Sausalito over-rated, but seeing the flora and fauna were cool.)

Get one of those SF transportation and activity passes someone mentioned you can get em online - great options for good prices for attractions, and you can ride most transport for free all week! We rode pretty much every kind of transport last time we were there- bus, ferry, cable car, BART train, trolley, cab, catamaran, etc. I took a bus through China Town and it was an eye-opener, full of real SF folk, not just (we) tourists. If you can ride down Highway 1 or through Silicon Valley, do it. Gorgeous views and you will see why they call California the "Golden" state.


Also Beat tours through North Beach, drinks at Vesuvio and City Lights bookstore, if you are Beat fans.


Have a great time, we love it there, and wish we could move there.