JADSJBD

Hi all,
We are a married couple who will be taking the Zephyr from Chicago to San Francisco in October 2017. Neither of us has been to the West Coast. We will only have a few days before flying back home. Should we concentrate our time only in San Francisco, or are there day trips we could enjoy to get a better "taste" of California? We will probably be returning to Cal. in a year or two for more sight seeing, and know we can't cram in everything in just 4 days, but things I'm interested in are the giant redwood trees, a ride down the coast, a visit to Carmel, and general sight seeing in SF. Which, if any of these is doable, and what would you all recommend to California newbies? Also, what part of SF should we stay in?
Thank you for any help!

sf7307

You could easily spend all your time in San Francisco, but just in case, here's my trip report from a day trip we took down the coast a few years ago.

http://www.fodors.com/community/unit...t-part-way.cfm

marvelousmouse

I would skip Carmel. Better for when you come back.

There are redwoods you can see as a day trip. A state park. But not the Redwoods NP- it's actually pretty spread out and north of SF enough that it needs more like 3-4 nights just for that.

Pigeo Point Lighthouse and Devil's Slide is worth a day trip. Pigeon Point Lighthouse is actually a hostel, if that's of any interest. That was a highlight of my trip.

But honestly, I would want all 4 days in SF. There is so much to see and so much variety that just going to another neighborhood feels like a day trip!

Cjar

You could very easily spend your time just in San Francisco. We love Golden Gate Park, Legion of Honor museum, Grace Cathedral, watching Dragon Beard candy being made in Chinatown, riding the cable cars with our kids, going to the theater and shopping, but if you choose not to spend all of your time there, you could take a day trip to Muir Woods to see the coast redwoods. I think it's about a 45 minute drive . I might save anything else for another trip. Enjoy yourselves. San Francisco is a great city. You could just walk and try new and different foods all day and be happy.

StuDudley

My suggestions.

http://www.fodors.com/community/unit...mendations.cfm

Stu Dudley

DebitNM

I could [and did] spend many, many days exploring San Francisco on our first few trips there.

With 4 days, I wouldn't leave the city. You'll go back, for sure, once you've been there.

We have done close to 3 dozen walking tours with:
www.sfcityguides.org

These are supported by SF Public Library and are non-profit and are donation only which go to keep the program running. Guides are all volunteers who truly love their city and are very knowledgeable as they create their own tours. A donation of $10 pp is wonderful, less is ok, more is better.

The tours cover a WIDE range of interests and I cannot recommend them enough!!

NewbE

I assume that taking the Zephyr is in and of itself something you want to do? As an enjoyable thing, I mean?

I would fly instead of wasting all that time on the train, but I am not a train enthusiast. 4 days isn't enough to do all the things you would like to do, especially if you've never been to the West Coast at all.

JADSJBD

Thank you all for the replies!
sf7307, the coast drive sounds wonderful! Thanks for sharing the report, it seems do-able.
StuDudley, your list is amazing. There is so much information there, that would take forever to locate otherwise, and I appreciate it so much. I knew there would be enough in SF to keep us there the whole time, but it is nice to have these specifics.
Question:, What sort of "persuasion" does one use to secure a spot on the outside of the cable car? �� That would be my dream, but how easily are people persuaded? Also, I meant to ask about Alcatraz in the OP, so I'm glad that was also included.
Cjar, Muir Woods sounds close enough, so I will check that out, thanks.
Marvelousmouse, I'm seeing the point of saving Carmel, maybe even staying there on the next trip.
DebitNM, I'm feeling like this might be our next "have to go back" to place. I'm so excited about seeing it, and I know California is massive, so we'll probably not travel too much from SF, except the coastal trip.

Thank you all, and anyone else, please chime in with any suggestions, favorite restaurants, hotels, etc.

Tabernash2

I would stay in San Francisco, for that short of a time. You can take the Sausalito ferry, for a scenic ride, especially at sunset. It's a good half day-trip. Cute shops and restaurants in walkable little downtown Sausalito.

You said "four days"? Is that just three nights? Can you add more days?

Tabernash2

PS. If you have a car, sf's one-day coast drive sounds perfect. Don't underestimate the views or the drive-time. I guarantee you will need to stop every so often, just to look around.

StuDudley

>>What sort of "persuasion" does one use to secure a spot on the outside of the cable car?

tomfuller

As a several time rider of the California Zephyr, this is my insight. Get off in Sacramento and spend a night there after seeing the California Railroad Museum and having a great meal in Old Sacramento. Your baggage can be checked at the train station until you are ready for it.
My favorite lodging in SAC is at the HI Hostel (10th & H) which is a Victorian mansion within walking distance of the train station.
Rent a car in the city after 9AM the next morning. Head to Yosemite and see what you can see before heading for the coast.
There are HI Hostels in Monterey and the one mentioned at Pigeon Point Lighthouse.
If a drop off fee is an issue, take the car back to Sacramento and ride one of the several Capitol Corridor trains that leave SAC before the CZ comes in.
There is a bus ride from EMY to one of several stops in San Francisco no matter which train you come in on.
There are 3 HI Hostels in San Francisco if you are looking for budget lodging.

JADSJBD

Wow, I figured it wouldn't be enough time to do even a bit of what we wanted, and it looks like I'm right.
NewbE, the Zephyr is something I've wanted to do forever, so that is the reason we're going to SF. If we love the experience, we'll plan another trip flying out and training back. Or just fly out and back to get in all that we want to see.

We're planning on four nights, four and 1/2 days. That's because we've never been to Chicago either......so we're staying there the nights.

Stu, I thought that was the persuasion you were talking about. We're generally gifted in persuasion on a subway car, but didn't want to be pushed off going down a SF hill by a disgruntled rider.

Tabernash, I assumed we'd need more time to look, so we'll factor that in. I'm sure it's so beautiful, DH may not get me to return home.

Tomfuller, we've already got the reservations for all the way into EMY, but I'll keep this info in mind for future trips. You must be a train lover too!

Sofia, I'm glad you had a great time, I'm sure I will enjoy it too!

tomfuller

My next trips on the Zephyr are from Winnemucca NV to Chicago (roomette) and the return trip Chicago to Omaha (coach) switching to sleeper OMA to Glenwood Springs and Glenwood Springs back to WNN in coach.
East of Chicago we are taking the Lake Shore Limited to Erie and renting a car from there for a big loop.
Several parts of our trip are being done on Amtrak Guest Rewards points.
If you make online purchases and make long distance Amtrak trips it is worth joining AGR (free).

DebitNM

{Sofia is a troll, advertising the limo company FWIW}

JADSJBD

Tom, I have joined, but, sadly, don't travel by train often enough to make it work. Sounds like you're really getting a lot of time on the rails.

DebitNM, I assumed she was, but jut in case...��