Lois

We're planning a trip to San Fransisco in June. Is the area by Mascone Convention Center a convenient one for local transportation. Also, is it a good location in relation to city attractions?

karen

The W Hotel (only a year old) is THE closest hotel to the Moscone (across the street) and is only 4-5 blocks from Market Street and the core of the Union Square shopping/restaurant area.
The W is a trendy New York style place, all black and white. Rooms are very average size, but nice. Among the best beds in the hotel industry.
If you can get a decent rate, this is a great choice for conventions.
If your budget is open, the Four Seasons just opened its newest hotel this fall right on Market Street about 4-5 blocks from the Moscone.

D

The Moscone Center area is very convenient. You've got the Metreon (a Sony entertainment complex), Union Square, SF Museum of Modern Art, the Financial District and the Powell Street Station (for BART & MUNI transportation) all right there. You'll have fun. Enjoy!

Lois

Thanks for the input. I have narrowed my choices down to three hotels. One is by Nob Hill, one is by Mascone Convention Center, and the third is by Fisherman's Wharf. Considering that I only have two days there, which location makes the most sense as far as getting around and being able to get the most in?

Susan

Lois, what do you want to see and do? Have you been to San Francisco before? All three areas have things to recommend them. If it were me I'd stay in Nob Hill. But two days is a short time. Moscone Center is near shopping, the SFMOMA, the Metreon as someone mentioned. But I don't think the Metreon would make the short list of things to do if you only have two days. Fisherman's Wharf is the tourist center of SF, and the location close to the bay will allow you to see more of the beauty of SF than you would in Moscone Center. Do you want to avoid touristy areas?

Transportation is pretty convenient to all three areas. The cable cars run from near the Moscone Center area, through Nob Hill and to Fisherman's Wharf. Cabs and muni busses are as readily available in all three areas.

So, my original question: what do you want to do while you are here?

kam

San FRancisco is such a very small city, even smaller is the part that the tourists are interested in, that it really makes very little difference. The Wharf area is more touristy than the rest of the city, but that's what you are. Nob Hill is slightly more difficult because you need to climb up the hill or take the cable cars which can be backed up at peak times with tourists. Since I consider the Metreon boring and terribly overpriced, the only attraction near Moscone is the SFMOMA, but you could stay there and easily walk to Union Square etc.

Lois

Thanks for the help. It must be obvious that yes, I am a tourist. This will be our first trip to the city. Actually, we are using it as a stopover on our way to Hawaii. Everyone I know who has been to San Francisco says we must get there, so I planned a layover. Unfortunately, it is not very long. So, as a tourist who is middle aged with no kids along [and arthritis!] what would be our best bet to enable us to see the most of the city in the shortest time.

Susan

Lois, my vote goes to Fisherman's Wharf. It's one of the few flat areas of the city and from there you can see the Golden Gate bridge and Alcatraz and you can hop on a cable car to get to Union Square, if you like. Definitely take a ferry out onto the bay, either to Alcatraz or Tiburon. I've heard there is an evening tour of Alcatraz which sounds interesting and then you'd be able to see the city skyline lit up at night from the water. Have fun!

Frank

Lois: If you have arthritis stay away from Nob Hill. It's more like Nob Mountain and the climbs are exhausting. Unless you plan to taxi or cable car to and from your hotel, Fisherman Wharf is probably best considering your limited stay. The Moscone Center is in an okay part of town that caters to the younger crowd and is distant from many of the standard tourist attractions and is not in my opinion an area a "middle-aged" person would find appealing.

Brad

I think the Fisherman's Wharf area is the armpit of the whole SF downtown region which caters to visitors.
Personally I think it's tacky, cheap, and without a bit of charm; but then for people who like to go out of town and stay at Holiday Inn, eat at McDonald's, shop at The Gap, and do all the same things they could do in virtually any sizeable city in the nation, I suppose The Wharf is perfect.

What's unique about SF? Nob Hill.
Yes, it's very hard on the knees if you must walk. To use cable cars you must be somewhat patient.

The Moscone area should only be used as a base of operations if you're attending a convention IMO.

kam

Lois, if your arthritis is really a problem, forget about Nob Hill. There are times that you cannot get onto a cable car and so you would have to walk up or down hill. I would think Fisherman
s Wharf would be best, but if you are put off by other tourists,and can deal with the homeless, then look instead for a hotel in the Union Square area. Around Moscone Center is just more business and more walking for you. Again, it's not a very big city and there are lots of taxis around. Enjoy.

seamus

Lois, if the arthritis is bad, think twice about Alcatraz. It requires a climb and good steady footing. You can take a bay ferry that will take you near to Alcatraz or go over to Sausalito to enjoy the view back. Agree with Fisherman's Wharf area. There's a hotel called the Tuscan Inn which is quite nice with a good seafood restaurant in the lobby called Il Pescatore. I know they have a site.

Lois

Thanks for all the input. I was away [Boston in time for their first snow!] and had to search for this message! I was happy to see the responses.
Unfortunately, I have pretty bad arthritis in one foot and if it flares up, walking is very painful. Is there a way to see Nob Hill area? Is it possible to take a trolley up and right back down? Is there a tour of the area that covers the highlights of the city? Am I missing something about the lure of Alcatraz? I don't understand the appeal of going to a former prison. I would like to get to Chinatown. I don't plan to do much shopping. Thanks again to all who responded.

kam

Lois, Any of the 3 cable cars will take you to the top of Nob Hill (or almost to the top) The least crowded is the California Street line and one with probably prettiest views is Powell/Hyde.You will have to get off at the end and wait in line to reboard though so plan to do it on an off hour in the middle of the day. The allure of Alcatraz is the view back to the city for the most part although the prison itself is interesting. If you don't want to see the prison, just get a bay tour on the ferries and you'll get the same view. Ferry tours go from Fishermans Wharf--I think pier 41. A Wokwiz tour might be the best way to see Chinatown. They start on Commercial where it is flat and take the least steep route though the area. It's about 2 hours but they visit various stores where you can sometimes sit for a while. Go to www.wokwiz.com for an explanation. At the end is a dim sum lunch all explained for you by your guide. Nice lady guides most of whom grew up in Chinatown. Yes, there are bus tours of SF, but unfortunately for the arthritis, the best way is to see it on foot. Go to www.sfgate.com for visitor info. Know that one day in SF is not enough---you'll have to come back some day.

Crosseyed

Kam,

You've done it again. Your last post should have had a least 4 paragraphs.

You responses are great, just very hard to read.

Crosseyed

kam

Dear Crosseyed, I am profoundly sorry. In my haste to get the facts to folks who ask, I just type. As I type here I am also working. I work from home and so am not violating any company's policy, but time is short. I will pledge to try to put more

paragraphs

in my next post.

Kam

Lois

Hey Kam, thanks for the info. I don't care if there are paragraphs or not. The information was very helpful and perfectly clear to me. I appreciate the help. I'm going to be in San Fransisco two full days and a half day when we arrive as well as when we depart, so I'm hoping to get in much of what you've suggested. Thanks so much!

kam

We have many folks from all over--East Coast as well as Europe--who come to visit us.

I always suggest the Wokwiz tours and have gone with my guests on several tours.

Shirley Fong-Torres is delightful as is her staff.

Do check her website. (Am hoping one sentence to a paragraph will satisfy Crosseyed.)

BTW, I was an English major in college but never became a teacher. Maybe because I didn't understand paragraphs!

Susan

Is Shirley Fong-Torres related to Ben Fong-Torres of Rolling Stone fame? How common can that name be?

Lois

Kam, where do Wokwiz tours leave from? I assume this is a tour of Chinatown, so I imagine we first need to get there? And, Susan, Seamus or anyone, where do I go for a day cruise [ferry?] I suspect I'd be more interested in one that doesn't include Alcatraz.