mykidsmomtex

We are a budget-conscious family of 5. We are driving from Texas to California to visit San Francisco and Yosemite--leaving next weekend. We'll be arriving in SF late Sunday night and will spend Mon. through Wed. in area. I have a 4-day reservation for Motel Capri for $120/night. Pros: free parking, closer to sights. Cons: price, amenities. I found some hotels in San Bruno area for lots less and am considering switching reservations to one of these. Advantages: less money, nicer accommodations. Cons: further commute to sights. Advice?

We hope to do the following: Alcatraz, Pier 39, Chinatown, Golden Gate Park, Muir Woods, Marin Headlands, Point Reyes Seashore (possibly), maybe Academy of Sciences, de Young, Exploratorium if we have time. We like to pack our days tight and do as much as possible. Not big "foodies"--we'll pack lunches or do fast food.

Questions: 1) How long does it take to commute from San Bruno to Pier 39 or Chinatown? 2) Can we do Alcatraz, Pier 39, Chinatown, and 1 or 2 of these museums in one day? Any advice will be greatly appreciated! Thanks!

mztery

i would try and be helpful but there is SO much wrong with the plan I'll leave it to someone nicer.

tchoiniere

Question 2 is definitely no. Alcatraz / Pier 39 (travel time between the ferry launch and Pier 39 included) is almost a full day. Let alone travel time to other sites from there.

Don't know much about the Capri Motel but given that its within the city that certainly helps. $120 per night is a good price for a major city. I would definitely not change

sf7307

I live two towns south of San Bruno, and work just south of Pier 39/Chinatown. It takes me about 35 minutes to commute, so it would probably take you the same (except if you avoid commute hours, you might shave a few minutes off that). Would you drive into the city? If so, be aware that parking will eat up much of your hotel "savings".

If you like to pack your days full, you can do all those things in one day if you don't spend too much time at each. Make a reservation in advance for Alcatraz (a must, it sells out, and you can always cancel if you change your mind). Walk through Chinatown to Pier 39, walk around Pier 39, then do Alcatraz. When you return from Alcatraz, drive over to the Exploratorium (it's the closest of the museums to where you will be). You'll have to start very early, and not spend too much time in each place, but yes, it's "doable". Oh, I just remembered, Alcatraz has a night tour which a lot of people like, so you could do that instead and make the rest of your day much easier. You could even eat dim sum for lunch in Chinatown.

SAB

As sf has stated you will probably eat up the amount you save by staying in a San Bruno hotel with parking costs especially at the Wharf, and Chinatown. Muir Woods is at least a 45 min drive from SF, and Point Reyes is at least 30 mins from Muir Woods--so a trip to these locations from San Bruno will be an all day affair--probably made longer if you get caught in the evening commute through SF.

If I was visiting SF I would not stay at a hotel on the Peninsula (no offense to those posters who live there), but it's your vacation and only you know what compromises you can tolerate. Personally, I would not want to drive to and from SF each day, look for and pay for parking and not have the ability to return to my hotel and go out in SF again.

sf7307

>>

No offense taken - it's a great place to live, but I wouldn't want to stay there on vacation either! I want to be right in the "middle of the action" when I'm someplace for only 3 or 4 days.

mykidsmomtex

Thank you for your help! I think we'll use the BART for traveling to Fisherman's Wharf/Chinatown area and not mess with parking. We'll drive to Golden Gate Park and Muir Woods areas. I know we'll need a day for Fisherman's Wharf/Chinatown area and a day for Golden Gate Park and Muir Woods area, but I'm not sure the best area to spend day 3. Thanks again!

sf7307

BART is fine for getting into the city (it's about the same 35 minutes, or a little less), but you should know that BART doesn't go anywhere near Chinatown or Fisherman's Wharf. You'll have to get off at, e.g. Montgomery Street, and walk (it's easy walking distance). I'd suggest walking through Chinatown, then through North Beach, then to Pier 39 and Fisherman's Wharf. If you look at the Googlemaps map of San Francisco, the Montgomery Street BART station is shown (at Market & Montgomery). Go north a little and you'll see the Hilton Financial District -- that's in Chinatown. Go north of that and you'll see St. Peter and Paul (that's in the middle of North Beach). Go north of that, and you'll see Pier 39. Then head west to Fisherman's Wharf.

StuDudley

I live within a couple of blocks of sf7307, and like her I also lived in San Francisco for a number of years. There is no-way-in-the-world I would stay anyplace other than San Francisco if I were visiting here. A BART ticket would cost you $8 per person - round trip. That's $40 per day - which will eat of lots of your cost savings - plus you may have to pay to park your car at the San Bruno station. My wife had a doctors appointment in the City on Wednesday, and it took 1 hr to drive there.

Capri Inn sounds like it is on Lombard (I think I've seen it hundreds of times). As a general guideline, use your car to visit everyplace west of Van Ness, and walk or take public transporttion to everyplace east of Van Ness.

Here sre some suggestions of things to do & see:
http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...1&tid=35129049

Stu Dudley

ElendilPickle

Keep your motel reservation in San Francisco. The time and money it would take to commute isn't worth it IMO.

Gold Mountain on Broadway in Chinatown has good, inexpensive dim sum. We fed four of us for less than $20.

If you feel you must visit Pier 39 (we only stayed long enough to watch the sea lions) North Beach Pizza is pretty inexpensive and has a nice view. Boudin Bakery in Fisherman's Wharf is also pretty inexpensive.

You can pick up some picnic supplies at the Ferry Building. Try Cowgirl Creamery for wonderful cheeses and Acme Bakery for fabulous breads.

Lee Ann