Our San Francisco visit in Jan 09
Jan 15th, 2009, 06:12 AM
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Our San Francisco visit in Jan 09
Wow what a great city! I noticed there was not much info on this city before we left. So I wanted to tell of our great visit and some things I wish someone had told me before we left.
I did get some travel books from the library before we left.
We spent the first three days of our visit doing things on the north side. We went to the Golden Gate Bridge. We went to Golden Gate Park. I wish we had done it on a free day. It was ok. The Japanese tea garden. It was very pretty. Kind of small and not cheap. The Conservatory of flowers was cool. We went to quite a few of the piers. The Pompanito was fascinating, and we were the only ones on it. We went to Fisherman's Wharf early in the morning so as to avoid the major craziness of it. I was warned that it was a vicious tourist trap, and I can see where that could be said. Luckily you can walk around the back side of it as well, so you are not forced to go through twice. Once my son heard that there were sea lions there, he really wanted to do it. We went to Alcatraz. Ok, I have to tell of our experience here. One of the books, and the NPS web site praises the night tour. Not only do they say it is more inclusive, but they say it is less crowded and just adds a little something to it. We were on the night tour, and the crowd getting off the boat looked smaller than ours. When you get off at the pier, a Ranger walks all 400 people up the steep inclines to the prison. It is a pretty walk. They tell you a few things on the two or three stops, but in a crowd of 400+, you don't get it all. They then leave you at the door, you go inside and pick up an audio tour, and move through select areas. It is so interesting, and very cool to see it. The crowd was crazy big. Toward the end, people have thinned out, out of necessity; hanging back or just skipping ahead to get out of the throng. Toward the end you can walk outside and you are kind of on your own getting back to the boat. I would have liked it better at that point if we had daylight. You really could not see much. The lights in the city across the bay, pretty, but you can see it in the city. One of the Rangers did let us go behind some barriers in the medical ward, and I am not sure that would have happened if we were not the last people of the day and group. I would recommend a day tour. I just feel like I wanted to see more. Night tour is more expensive as well.
We went to Muir woods. This was the highlight of the trip. Even our 8 year old, who whined about it on the way, ended up fascinated by the tour and the tour guide. It was absolutely beautiful. It is cheap to get in, and if you like trees and beautiful forests, this was great. It is not just a forest walk. It makes you feel like you have gone back in time. The tour guide said if I loved it there, I would really love Yosemite.
The cable cars were great. Buy a day or multi day pass! Start a little early in the day and get a feel for it before the crowds get big. The Powell Hyde line passes right by the crookedest street, Lombard. It is cool.
The city has a very european feel to me. Especially on the north side. People were very friendly. Even in the not so great restaurants, they were so friendly that it was hard to completely dislike them.
The last day, we decided to check out of the hotel early and go to Alamo square. Just trying to get as much in as possible. We drove through the Tenderloin, and the mission area to get there. Those areas are not nice. We could have driven a different way, and should have. We were at the Hilton on O'Farrell, so I navigated the most direct route. But honestly, if we had driven there day one, it may have tainted the trip for me. I definitely would not recommend that anyone consider trying restaurants in this area, especially at night. The darn books were all about the Taquerias down in the Mission, and one place, Asia AF, which sounded like it would be a hoot. That one is not even open for lunch, so I would say why bother? It is seedy, every last apartment has bars on every opening, just not a place to take the kiddos for tacos. On the beeline back to the north side to have some lunch, we drove by the City Hall, the civic center? People picketing, and then they got mad at picketers on the other side and decided to have a fight in the middle of the street, in front of our car.
I would go back to SF in a heartbeat. But north of Market. We did not have time to get to Napa, and I would love to try that as well. Next time!
I would love to see people post more about various city visits. Especially this one, which I will look forward to getting back to.
I did get some travel books from the library before we left.
We spent the first three days of our visit doing things on the north side. We went to the Golden Gate Bridge. We went to Golden Gate Park. I wish we had done it on a free day. It was ok. The Japanese tea garden. It was very pretty. Kind of small and not cheap. The Conservatory of flowers was cool. We went to quite a few of the piers. The Pompanito was fascinating, and we were the only ones on it. We went to Fisherman's Wharf early in the morning so as to avoid the major craziness of it. I was warned that it was a vicious tourist trap, and I can see where that could be said. Luckily you can walk around the back side of it as well, so you are not forced to go through twice. Once my son heard that there were sea lions there, he really wanted to do it. We went to Alcatraz. Ok, I have to tell of our experience here. One of the books, and the NPS web site praises the night tour. Not only do they say it is more inclusive, but they say it is less crowded and just adds a little something to it. We were on the night tour, and the crowd getting off the boat looked smaller than ours. When you get off at the pier, a Ranger walks all 400 people up the steep inclines to the prison. It is a pretty walk. They tell you a few things on the two or three stops, but in a crowd of 400+, you don't get it all. They then leave you at the door, you go inside and pick up an audio tour, and move through select areas. It is so interesting, and very cool to see it. The crowd was crazy big. Toward the end, people have thinned out, out of necessity; hanging back or just skipping ahead to get out of the throng. Toward the end you can walk outside and you are kind of on your own getting back to the boat. I would have liked it better at that point if we had daylight. You really could not see much. The lights in the city across the bay, pretty, but you can see it in the city. One of the Rangers did let us go behind some barriers in the medical ward, and I am not sure that would have happened if we were not the last people of the day and group. I would recommend a day tour. I just feel like I wanted to see more. Night tour is more expensive as well.
We went to Muir woods. This was the highlight of the trip. Even our 8 year old, who whined about it on the way, ended up fascinated by the tour and the tour guide. It was absolutely beautiful. It is cheap to get in, and if you like trees and beautiful forests, this was great. It is not just a forest walk. It makes you feel like you have gone back in time. The tour guide said if I loved it there, I would really love Yosemite.
The cable cars were great. Buy a day or multi day pass! Start a little early in the day and get a feel for it before the crowds get big. The Powell Hyde line passes right by the crookedest street, Lombard. It is cool.
The city has a very european feel to me. Especially on the north side. People were very friendly. Even in the not so great restaurants, they were so friendly that it was hard to completely dislike them.
The last day, we decided to check out of the hotel early and go to Alamo square. Just trying to get as much in as possible. We drove through the Tenderloin, and the mission area to get there. Those areas are not nice. We could have driven a different way, and should have. We were at the Hilton on O'Farrell, so I navigated the most direct route. But honestly, if we had driven there day one, it may have tainted the trip for me. I definitely would not recommend that anyone consider trying restaurants in this area, especially at night. The darn books were all about the Taquerias down in the Mission, and one place, Asia AF, which sounded like it would be a hoot. That one is not even open for lunch, so I would say why bother? It is seedy, every last apartment has bars on every opening, just not a place to take the kiddos for tacos. On the beeline back to the north side to have some lunch, we drove by the City Hall, the civic center? People picketing, and then they got mad at picketers on the other side and decided to have a fight in the middle of the street, in front of our car.
I would go back to SF in a heartbeat. But north of Market. We did not have time to get to Napa, and I would love to try that as well. Next time!
I would love to see people post more about various city visits. Especially this one, which I will look forward to getting back to.
Jan 15th, 2009, 06:45 AM
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Actually heyletsgo there is a lot of information about SF here on Fodor's, but sadly the Search function doesn't always work to well.
Our Fodorite Stu Dudley has threads regarding SF that has a wealth of information. If interested even though your trip is over, you might try the search engine using his name to read his threads.
Our Fodorite Stu Dudley has threads regarding SF that has a wealth of information. If interested even though your trip is over, you might try the search engine using his name to read his threads.
Jan 15th, 2009, 07:16 AM
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I work in San Francisco and live nearby. Glad you had fun! Some of my favorite restaurants are in or border the Mission, but it does help to be familiar so as not to be in a bad area. Medjool, Delfina, Tartine, Picaro. Great antique shops too, but best enjoyed during daylight if you are not comfortable with the rowdie crowds at night. And dont miss Yosemite next time 
. Go in March/April when the falls are awesome!
. Go in March/April when the falls are awesome!
Jan 15th, 2009, 09:06 AM
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Luckily you can walk around the back side of it as well, so you are not forced to go through twice
Just wondering what "it" refers to in this sentence.
I wish we had done it on a free day. It was ok.
?? Did you mean a car-free day?
definitely would not recommend that anyone consider trying restaurants in this area, especially at night.
Well, you'd be missing some darn good restaurants if you skip the Mission District. It may not look so good, but it sure tastes good!
Glad you enjoyed your trip.
Just wondering what "it" refers to in this sentence.
I wish we had done it on a free day. It was ok.
?? Did you mean a car-free day?
definitely would not recommend that anyone consider trying restaurants in this area, especially at night.
Well, you'd be missing some darn good restaurants if you skip the Mission District. It may not look so good, but it sure tastes good!
Glad you enjoyed your trip.
Jan 15th, 2009, 09:29 AM
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Thanks for your report, heyletsgo! There is a lot of good info here on SF from Stu, but the Search function is dismal and aggravating. I'm getting ready for a second visit to SF so I enjoy reading all reports!
Jan 15th, 2009, 09:45 AM
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>>The last day, we decided to check out of the hotel early and go to Alamo square. Just trying to get as much in as possible. We drove through the Tenderloin, and the mission area to get there<<
To get to Alamo Square from Union Sq you don't drive through the Mission, unless you take a very indirect route, which you indicated you did not. You may have confused it with some other district - perhaps Western Addition which is a little threatening in places. Most of the Mission is fine during the day.
>>I would go back to SF in a heartbeat. But north of Market.<<
Then you would miss some of the best neighborhoods in San Francisco. Noe Valley, Glen Park, Castro, West Portal.
Here is my post that others have referred to
http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...1&tid=35129049
Stu Dudley
To get to Alamo Square from Union Sq you don't drive through the Mission, unless you take a very indirect route, which you indicated you did not. You may have confused it with some other district - perhaps Western Addition which is a little threatening in places. Most of the Mission is fine during the day.
>>I would go back to SF in a heartbeat. But north of Market.<<
Then you would miss some of the best neighborhoods in San Francisco. Noe Valley, Glen Park, Castro, West Portal.
Here is my post that others have referred to
http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...1&tid=35129049
Stu Dudley
Jan 15th, 2009, 09:57 AM
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Thanks for the trip report. I agree there is a ton of information here about San Francisco, but it depends on the words you put into the search engine and sometimes you have to go back a few years. In all fairness I have found the same in quite a few search engines. (my computer engineer son goes crazy with Delta's web site -- states it is not user friendly at all). Anyway it will probably be easier when you research for your return trip -- you'll at least have an idea of where things are located, etc.
I found the part about the night tour of Alcatraz very interesting. We took it a couple of years ago and our experience was a little different. We rode over in the daylight and left in the dark. It was the first of two night tours and we planned it that way. It was in September though and probably stayed lighter a little longer. So we got to look back at the City and also do most of the outside tour in the daylight. Then see it a night when we were done with the tour. There were quite a few people, but they had us separated in much smaller groups, each with our own ranger. We enjoyed that part immensely because they gave us the history associated with the area. Once we got the audio tours it went smoother also because the group was more spread out. They also had a ranger giving another talk while you were waiting for the ferry to help pass the time. I know the ferry company changed after we were there, but as I understand it once you are on the island the rest is run by the park service. Have they cut back that much also?
I found the part about the night tour of Alcatraz very interesting. We took it a couple of years ago and our experience was a little different. We rode over in the daylight and left in the dark. It was the first of two night tours and we planned it that way. It was in September though and probably stayed lighter a little longer. So we got to look back at the City and also do most of the outside tour in the daylight. Then see it a night when we were done with the tour. There were quite a few people, but they had us separated in much smaller groups, each with our own ranger. We enjoyed that part immensely because they gave us the history associated with the area. Once we got the audio tours it went smoother also because the group was more spread out. They also had a ranger giving another talk while you were waiting for the ferry to help pass the time. I know the ferry company changed after we were there, but as I understand it once you are on the island the rest is run by the park service. Have they cut back that much also?
