3 San Francisco Questions
 

My wife (in a wheelchair) and I are visiting San Francisco again for a week in May. We've been a few times before, but I'm wondering about the following activities:

1. Is the Tiburon - Angel Island Ferry worth an afternoon?
2. Should we stop at Treasure Island to sightsee?
3. How about Fort Mason? Are there interesting shops/galleries there? We might also take a hike on the Golden Gate Promenade, which apparently goes through Fort Mason.

We're going to see a Giants game while we're there. Any other (not so obvious) suggestions for curious tourists would be appreciated.

Any ride on the bay is worth it on a gorgeous day.

Do you eat sausages/hot dogs at ballgames? If so, here's my tip --- the very best sausages at AT&T are at the Evergood sausage cart. It's on the concourse level somewhere around section 117.

How are you getting to Tiburon?

I prefer the Sausalito Ferry.

We're driving to Tiburon. Won't have time to take 2 ferries.

I'm hoping somebody will try to answer my questions. We're depending on the recommendation of somebody who's been there, done that. Thanks!

The views of SF from Treasure Island are impressive, but I'm not sure I would make it a high priority stop. If the day is relatively clear, a ferry ride to Angel island is nice. It's been a few years since I've been to Angel Island, so I'm not sure how accessible the island paths are for a wheelchair. The history is fascinating, the views are great, and it's a nice spot for a picnic. You can hike all around the island; not sure if paths are now paved, though.

Fort Mason has a wonderful used bookstore that benefits the SF Public Library. Also the vegetarian restaurant Green's is there. The food is wonderful and the view of the Golden Gate Bridge from the dining room is the best in The City. There is also a paved road/path that extends to Hyde Street Pier/Ghiradelli Square/Fisherman's Wharf area. This involves one hill, but it might be OK for pushing a wheelchair. The path holds wonderful vistas, so it would be worth trying. You could always turn around if you didn't like the hill. The path the other direction toward Crissy Field and GG Bridge area is flat, so that would work well.

In Tiberon at the ferry stop is an excellent restaurant called Guaymas. Great views of SF and the bay, excellent Margaritas and Mexican cuisine.

The views from Treasure Island back to San Francisco are only good in the morning. In the afternoon the sun is in your face, so you won't be able to see a thing. Access to the island is very easy - stay in the left hand lane as you cross the Bay Bridge. There is a large flat parking lot on Treasure Island. That's where the best views are - so no wheelchair problems. You won't have to pay a bridge toll if you return to San Francisco.

Stu Dudley

Here are my thoughts:

1. Is the Tiburon - Angel Island Ferry worth an afternoon? - Yes, but only if you plan to spend some time on the island. If you are just planning on taking the ferry over and back (there are limited ferries), then you might enjoy a 90 minute bay cruise more. Depending on the day you go, it also might turn into an all day trip because of the limited ferry schedule.
2. Should we stop at Treasure Island to sightsee? - Nope, nothing to see here.
3. How about Fort Mason? Are there interesting shops/galleries there? We might also take a hike on the Golden Gate Promenade, which apparently goes through Fort Mason. - Fort Mason is great if there is an event. There are a handful of shops and restaurants, but most of the action is when a big event is going on here. The walk is beautiful though, as you get some great views of the bay from this trail.

Other options:
Coit Tower: I think someone else recommended this. It is wheel chair accessible through the back doors. The views are amazing and the murals are very interesting.

Mission Murals: Something different is to head over to the Mission to view some of the Mission Murals. San Francisco has over 1,000 murals throughout the city and the largest concentration is in the Mission. You can see some pics here with details on how to find some of them: http://www.san-francisco-tourism-tip...ct-murals.html. The great thing is that they are free!

Have a great time in San Francisco!
Jill

Thanks to all! Very helpful!

>>>2. Should we stop at Treasure Island to sightsee? - Nope, nothing to see here. <<<

Huh???? What about the fabulous views of the SF downtown skyline???

I've been to Treasure Island 4-5 times when "showing off" San Francisco to visitors. I've lived in San Francisco or very close by for 37 years. For 4 of those years I drove home from work by going across the Bay Bridge and enjoying the views of the skyline.

There isn't anything much else to do or see on Treasure Island - but the view is quite nice.

IMO, the best views of SF are from Twin Peaks (good handicapped parking), and from across the Golden Gate Bridge & up into the Golden Gate National Recreation Area on Conzelman Ave (although I don't know if the road work is completed yet).

Read my post about other views & things to do & see in the Bay Area.
http://www.fodors.com/community/unit...mendations.cfm

Stu Dudley

Fiddly foo. Went to get this page for pics of the Marina Green and lost my post. See below: Anyhow - if you take either of the Golden Gate Ferries or a Bay Cruise - I think you get a very good view of the city and don't necessarily need to drive over to TI. And from Ft. Mason to Ft. Point (right under the Golden Gate Bridge - SF side) - is the Marina Green - with free parking all along the street and also on the other side of the grassy area. A great place for strolling/pushing a wheelchair and gazing across the bay at Angel Island, Sausalito, etc.

Years ago - I used to go to my favorite little Deli Chestnut St. and get a reasonably priced Proscuitto Sandwich (try that now) and go down to a bench right by the shore (at the small grassy portion of the Green - toward Ft. Point) and watch the ships, sailboarders, sometimes surfers, whatnot.

And there is also a Marine Safeway - down by Ft. Mason if you need something - and a buddy of mine - years ago - was standing in the checkout line - and right in front of him was none other than "Jolting Joe" DiMaggio. :) May "Mr. Coffee" RIP.

http://tinyurl.com/6qbv4wk

And this shows - on the right hand side - the smaller sized/ grassy part of the Marina Green - where we used to throw the frisbee, sunbathe, etc. We also used to play flag football on the longer part - which is partially shown on the left hand side of this pic, and extends down to Ft. Mason/the Marina Safeway.

http://tinyurl.com/7tan64j

And I forgot. You can also see the beauitful Palace of Fine Arts in upper left hand part of the pic, which is also a great place to walk/stroll/push the wheelchair and watch the fountains, etc.

BTW - if you are from Bend - do you by chance know Oran? He was a supervisor for years. From my ole hometown of Klamath Falls.

http://www.palaceoffinearts.org/Welcome.html

And here are some pages for pics of cute Chestnut St. - which has a number of places to shop/dine, as does Union St - a few blocks toward Pacific Heights from Chestnut. We lived on Union St. for years and loved it.

http://tinyurl.com/7qgyfbm

http://www.unionstreetshop.com/

I'll agree that the Marina Green is great. The parking is free! The view of the Golden Gate Bridge is awesome on a beautiful, clear day!

But don't stop at the Marina Green. If you want to really savor the north shore of San Francisco, after you've strolled around the Green, get in the car and drive through Crissy Field to the very end. Just follow the road (Bay Street) and keep to the right, hugging the green grassy area until the road ends at the parking lot. You can get out of the car, go to the Warming Hut for a cup of coffee or hot chocolate, maybe even maneuver the wheelchair onto the bumptious pier and watch the fishermen fishing right below the Golden Gate. I saw a guy catch a shark there once!

http://www.presidio.gov/experiences/visitor.htm

http://www.flickr.com/photos/scottlo...ss/4955139613/

http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/QGFom...N6hPgtxuwVUqRA

Interesting. After a busy day at the office - I used to jog from our apt on Union St (between Gough and Octavia) - down to the Marina Green and on out to Ft. Point and back - and that was before any real development there (70's) - so the Warming Hut sounds pretty cool.

I never saw any Fishermen under the Gate - but did see some brave surfers - who if they stayed on the waves long enough - had to dive off lest they ride right into the rocky shore. :)

While the VIEWS from Treasure Island are great, there is nothing to "sightsee" there. So it depends if you want to go over there just for a view.

I find Ft Mason itself boring - Greens is WAY too expensive for the food, the bookstore is ok but not worth going over for (and i love used bookstores) The walk is nice along the promenade but it can get cold and windy suddenly.

tomsd: thanks for pointing out what may be misleading in my previous post.

I didn't mean that one would be <i>directly under</i> the GG Bridge.

If you click on my last photo link, you'll see a lot of fishermen at the end of the pier, which is still about 1/2 mile away from the GG Bridge.

roundthebend: another great view area is out towards the Pacific Ocean. If you drive westward on Geary Street (main east-west road in SF), you'll end up at the Cliff House right at the edge of the Pacific Ocean. You can either take lunch/dinner in teh Cliff House at the Bistro end and get a magificent view of the Pacific Ocean as well as Ocean Beach which runs breathtakingly south from the Cliff House. You'll also see the ruins of the Sutro Baths. There's a paved path above the Baths and there is also a paved path below at the Baths level.

On a clear day, the view is glorious!

Instead of Treasure Island - (yes the views are great) since you'll have a car --drive over to Berkeley, take the University Exit and go west to the very end of the road at the Berkeley Marina. There is Skates - a decent restaurant built out over the water w/ the most <u>amazing</u> views of the whole bay including 3 bridges, the fishing pier, Alcatraz, Angel Island, the Ferry Bldg. and the whole San Francisco skyline. If you go a little after the lunch rush you can ensure getting a window table.

http://www.skatesonthebay.com/

Thanks to all for great info! Tomsd, I know Oran well. In fact I was at a meeting at his house this morning.

Mztery, I was worried that Ft. Mason would be boring too, but it looks like there's a 4 day fine arts show there while we're in town. My wife will love that.

Easytraveler, I think we'll head through Crissey Field (whatever that is :-) to watch the fishermen. Can't wait to see it! Thanks!

The path along the bay at Crissy Field is wonderful. The area used to be a marsh, then an air field names after Crissy...and now has a restored wetland, restored low dunes and a nice jog,walk, roll path. Truly wonderful views of the bay and the goldengate bridge and big ships, etc.

Art shows at fort mason are often wonderful. If you go early enough you should be able to park nearby with a placard, but even with a placard , parking in sF can be tough. Look on the event web site or call them to ask about parking. Some parts of fort mason parking are pavement are lumpy with old street car track lumps, but you should be able to navigate. From fort mason i beleive you can wander without you car to the east towards maritime museum...or definitely to the west to crissy field.

More great advice: We used to love to go to the Cliff House for Brunch and then look down on the old Sutro baths. My brother in law had a great poster of "the old days" at the baths.

And there is also a great art museum near there - the Legion of Honor (sort of a Cliff House visit "bonus" http://legionofhonor.famsf.org/ )- as well as great views of the Golden Gate Bridge from over by the cliff side parking.

And don't forget the DeYoung Museum in Golden Gate Park if you like art, plus the nearby Japanese Tea Gardens are beautiful. http://deyoung.famsf.org/

Not sure if on your prior trips you may have seen these places?

And Easyt - it would be fun to watch the fisherman on the pier. They weren't doing that when I was jogging by years ago.

And finally - rtb: Glad you know Oran - and please tell him that at our next high school Reunion in Klamath - the first round is on him, ok? :)

err - what I meant was - you have received more great advice from other posters. :)