mabella101

Hello everyone ; I'm in the midst of planning our vacation and have been researching for some time. Was wondering if anyone knows of an app or website where I can enter the places I want to visit in the city and can get an itinerary in return, arranging my route in an orderly fashion. Along with information suggesting routes or modes of transportation I could take. We will have a rental, but for the city, I would like to use public transportation. Just can't figure out what would get me where and how best to combine the sites I want to see. For example, I'm thinking of starting Saturday at the ferry bldg. for the farmers market (which we could drive to) then perhaps walk up the embarcadero hitting pier 39 (yes we have kids) going on an Alcatraz cruise (yes I will make a reservation) then continue up to fishermen's wharf(also walking) but then I'm stuck. What's most practice to get to from their and what cable car, streetcar or bus can I get to take me to one of the other sites on my list. Thanks for any suggestions.

MmePerdu

Please tell us where you'll be staying.

I don't know apps so will leave that for others. But I wouldn't drive to the Ferry Building, unless you aren't staying in The City, and maybe even if you aren't. The market is VERY popular and parking will be at a premium.

What are the other sites on your list?

MmePerdu

Two more questions:

When are you visiting?
For how many days?

rjw_lgb_ca

Here is the website for SF Muni:

http://www.sfmta.com/

If you are only traveling to the City and don't need the car to get out, I would not even consider renting a car. San Francisco is very compact and easy to get around in, despite the hills. I've never missed not having a car when I go there.

mabella101

Wow that was fast, thanks.
Mme I'll be staying in the sunset area; thanks to rjw's link I was able to get a 45 minute est of transit time on muni to the metro embarcadero station. Instead of this though My thought was to take our rental, park at 250 clay street ($3.00 a day with validation) and walk to the ferry bldg. then continue from there either walking or using public transportation. We would plan on leaving in the morning 9:00am? Would traffic or parking be an issue at that time?
We are visiting in mid July and will have 3.5 days in the city.
Sites on my list are the usual 'tourist' stops.
In addition to the ones originally mentioned:
Boudin Bakery
North Beach (pro bravely for a mid afternoon snack. Or early dinner)
Chinatown
Alamo square
Grace cathedral
And definitely ride the cable cars.
Coin tower ( haven't decided on this)

The website rjw mentioned seems to be able to tell me how to get to these places but let me know what your recommendations are.

Thanks again to both of you.

MmePerdu

Do you mean Coit Tower?

It and N. Beach, Chinatown are walking distance from one another.

Cable cars can be caught near Chinatown/North Beach or Fisherman's Wharf on the days you visit those. Grace Cathedral is near both of those cable car routes. http://www.sfcablecar.com/routes.html

Presumably, you mean the Boudin Bakery at the Wharf which you can visit on your Fisherman's Wharf day.

Alamo Square is on your way from the Sunset to everything else on your list, driving or by public transport.

mabella101

Mme, yes Coit, (sometimes I hate the automatic spell check.) Thanks I'll check the cable car routes, I just didn't know what route would most efficient and sensible, guess I should start with a good street map and pin point all these locations.
What do you think of my parking suggestion near the ferry bldg.?

MmePerdu

I've never tried to park near the Ferry Building although I have friends that have successfully. All I know is that it can be a madhouse near the market on Saturdays so if you don't have to drive, I wouldn't.

What I was trying to do above was to give you groupings of things for efficiency. I don't think it's ever the best policy to try to pin yourself down to a particular route or order of doing things. Better to know what's in the same general vicinity and go there, knowing what you want to include and then play it as it comes.

Coit Tower is good as much for the neighborhood as for the tower itself. It's a unique area of the city and if you're on foot from Chinatown into North Beach and have the energy to climb the hill, consider including it.

happytrailstoyou

In San Francisco you can buy a pass for three days ($23) or seven days ($29) that gives you unlimited rides on Muni, Metro, streetcars, and cable cars: http://www.sfmta.com/getting-around/...tor-day-passes

You can also buy a very helpful map of the transit system from one of these vendors: http://www.sfmta.com/getting-around/...ere-to-buy/map

HTtY

DebitNM

I highly recommend these free walking tours (donations only and welcomed) that are run by SF Public library. We have close to 30 of them and with 1 exception ,were all great .they cover all different areas of city and a variety of interest.

http://sfcityguides.org

Shar

heads up unless you buy a 3 or 7 day pass for Muni you will pay $6.00 PER ride (no transfers) on a cable car and that adds up. The pass includes rides on the cable car. BUT I wouldn't leave SF without riding one. They are supper cool and so fun....

StuDudley

After the Wharf, walk south on Van Ness to Union St & then walk west and visit the Union Street shops, cafes, etc. Walk on the shady side of the street to avoid the sun in your face. Union St should be quite active on a Saturday and might be more interesting for you than Pier 39 or the Wharf. Then walk north on Fillmore to Chestnut St and visit the stuff on Chestnut (walking on the shady side). Then retrace your path & walk on the "other" side of the streets (union & Chestnut) with the sun at your back. Continue on Union past Van Ness & climb Union St up to Hyde St. Have an ice cream cone at Swenson's there and hitch a ride on the Hyde St Cable Car back to the Union Square area. See a guide book for details. However, I think you might be exhausted after the market at the Ferry Bldg, Pier 39, Alcatraz, & Wharf. Don't forget the Musee Mechanic at the Wharf.
http://www.museemecaniquesf.com/

Stu Dudley

StuDudley

You might consider an early dinner in the Union St/Chestnut St area. There are several burger places on Chestnut and also on Steiner - which is perpendicular to Chestnut and south of Chestnut on the east side of Steiner. There's a piiza place on Fillmofre and probable elsewhere in that area too. For something a little nicer than burgers or Pizza, try Betelnut on Union St - Asian (not necessarily Chinese) food. There are perhaps 50 dining establishments along this Union/Fillmore/Chestnut walk. After dinner, take the Cable Car back - it should be easier to get on around 7PM or so.

I'm curious - where can you park on Clay street for all day on a Sat for $3 with validation. I've done something like that a few times - but I don't recall the "all day" thing. When does it close? Provide a link if you can.

Stu Dudley

aprillilacs

Yes, $3 a day sounds--unlikely! I would leave your car in the Sunset and take the N-train (catch it on Judah or Irving, depending on where your place is located) for $2 (if you haven't purchased a pass) each to the Ferry Building. Do all the stuff you plan and, if you are tired and want to go home at the end of the afternoon, take the F streetcar ($2) back to the Ferry Building and walk the short distance to the Embarcadero underground entrance to the N-train outbound (free transfer from the F within 90 minutes) to the Sunset.

Getting the 3-day transit pass will be so liberating for you. Makes a lot more sense than driving/parking in the city!

mabella101

Well here's the link.

http://www.chinatownparkandride.com/shuttle/

Though this would work for us as we plan on visiting china town, I think you've convinced me to go via public transportation.
Htty; yes I'm aware of the 1,3 & 7 day passes and was planning on purchasing one of these.
Debit; if it were just me and my husband I would definitely try one of the walking tours but it just won't work for our group this time around.
Stu this is exactly what I am looking for. I've read your list of recommendations from 2008, and they are fabulous, but this is more tailored! Thank you. So is something this is doable? If we have dinner in the union square area, we wouldn't have to go back to the wharf area, we could just walk to market and take the N train back to Judah somewhat as April suggests ? Or is it way too much for one day. I realize this is totally subjective, but it's good to get an insiders opinion.
FYI; we are fairly active, have no problem leaving early in the morning and returning late at night. And with kids in tow, we don't plan on entering too many stores.

aprillilacs

Good find on the parking, mabella--thanks for sharing the info! (But I still would take public transit.)

The things you listed (from the Ferry Bldg to Alcatraz to Pier 39 and the wharf) will take much of the day--Alcatraz alone will take 2-3 hours. Add maybe a half-hour for the Ferry Bldg, an hour to explore the Embarcadero on either side of the building (you might want to walk down as far as AT&T Park if you are baseball fans), an hour or so for lunch, an hour for Pier 39 and the wharf, and you are pushing 7-8 hours. You might also want to consider visiting the Exploratorium, along the Embarcadero toward the wharf, which is a wonderful place for both kids and adults.

I think you can play it by ear. If you're up for more, go with Stu's plan. (Note: Union Street is different from Union Square. Stu is recommending Union Street.) If your energy is flagging, you can return to the Sunset for dinner--there are plenty of good places to eat along Irving.

StuDudley

>>you can return to the Sunset for dinner

mabella101

Yeah but Stu on your post you say :
"Have an ice cream cone at Swenson's there and hitch a ride on the Hyde St Cable Car back to the Union Square area. "
So you are including both Union Street and Union sq. right.? It seems they are both doable, correct? And if we are so inclined we can walk a couple of blocks into China town from Union Sq.?

StuDudley

If you parked your car downtown - you'll need to get back there to retrieve it. That's why I suggested the Cable Car to take you downtown (Union Sq).

If you took Muni to the Ferry Bldg, after the Cow Hollow/Marina walk (Union St/Fillmore/Chestnut streets) take the 42, 47, or 49 bus south on Van Ness back to Market Street/Van Ness Stn and get on whatever bus/Muni Metro you need to get back to the Sunset.

I would follow aprillilac's suggestion to "play it by ear". I'm not a fan of either the Wharf or Pier 39 - but I may have been when I was a small child (before Pier 39 & the Cannery were even developed). Now, if I wanted to "show off" San Francisco to a newbie, I would do a very fast cruise around them - but that may be hard to do with kids & all the souvenirs/trinkets they have there plus the street performers & huskers. Perhaps start on the Union St walk and have an early dinner first so you can relax & use the WC. Then walk the Union/Fillmore/Chestnut & back walk. Chestnut is perhaps the most "active" area on Sat night in The City - after North Beach.

Actually, if you read my long post, the "tourist" Chinatown in on Grant Street. The "real" Chinatown is 1 block west of Grant on Stockton and after walking through a long tunnel. It's about 7 blocks from Union Sq and, of course, 8 or more blocks back to Market transportation or more to your car.

Ferry bldg, Farmer's market, Embarcadero, Pier 39, Wharf, Cow Hollow, Marina, dinner, back to Hyde to catch the cable car, cable car ride, Union Sq, Chinatown, back to Market St, Muni/drive to the Sunset is about 2 days worth of activities. Plus, don't visit Chinatown after about 5PM - it is more interesting in the morning when residents are shopping.

Consider calling it a day after the Wharf. Then on Sunday, drive to the Union St area, park the car (I find places all the time on Sunday while my wife conducts the City Guide's "Victorian SF" tour). Do the Union/Fillmore/Marina thing. Then drive along Crissy field to Ft Point and explore this pre-Civil War fortress under the Golden Gate Bridge. The kids might love the inside of Fort Point - they often shoot off the cannon and lets the kids take part in the demonstration. If the surf is "up" - there are surfers there too!!! Ft Point is only open on weekends. Then drive over the Golden Gate Bridge to the Marin Headlands and the best views in the Bay area. See my long post for more info about this Golden Gate National Recreation Area (GGNRA) drive - it's fabulous. Look for "Cozelman" on my old post - the kids will love exploring the WWII bunkers & batterys. If I'm "showing off" my city - this is the first place I take friends.

Stu Dudley

StuDudley

I forgot that you are also doing an Alctraz tour. In that case, the activities in the paragraph I said would take two days will actually take 2 very full days. Perhaps after the Wharf, take the Cable Car (long waits in line) back to Union Sq (sit on the left/east side of the CC for best views of the squiggly part of Lombard) and then visit Union Sq. before the ride back to the Sunset. But I would not visit Chinatown unless you do it in the morning or very early afternoon. I've have a few friends who wanted to "escape" Chinatown when I was walking them through it - too much congestion.

Stu Dudley