I'll be visiting San Fran for 4 days with my 3 women friends in February. We have already booked a late afternoon trip to Alcatraz and the On/Off bus. How can we make the most of our stay in the city? We won't have a car and will be staying at the Fairmont. What maps, tours, restaurants (mid-price) are a must for our mini-vaca? I have read Stu's very comprehensive recommendations and really appreciate hearing about all the amazing things to do and see but am having a hard time pairing things down to something manangable for our short stay. Thanks in advance for any advice

A lot depends on your interests. If I had a very brief time in SF I would be sure to spend a day wandering in Golden Gate Park, being sure to see the Japanese Tea Garden and also the Botanical Garden. GG Park is vast with much to do and see, but these are favorites of mine.

A small bit of advice to begin, we native San Franciscans (and maybe some of the latecomers) are (possibly too) fond of the name of our city, we like to hear the whole thing. SF or SFO for the airport are fine as you write, but the shortened version above is akin to the dreaded "Frisco" of my parents' and grandparents' time. I know I'm not alone in this, so it's good place to begin. It's a great city & I know you'll have a wonderful time.

Do a City Guides tour. They have one for the Fairmont, which we did several years ago and it was great.

http://www.sfcityguides.org/index.html

I think Chinatown is fascinating. I love to go before noon when the sidewalks on Stockton are loaded with fruit and vegetable stands. Try one of the dim sum restaurants or grab some roast duck or pork ribs you see hanging in the windows.

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Important point here - Stockton Street is "real Chinatown", whereas Grant Avenue (one block to the east) is "tourist Chinatown".

Much depends on the weather. If you have the weather we've been having the last couple of weeks (cold but sunny), a day in Golden Gate Park would be nice (which could include visits to the Japanese Tea Garden and the DeYoung Museum, and the Academy of Sciences if you're so inclined), along with a visit to Haight Ashbury area. A day walking along the Embarcadero from AT&T Park to Fisherman's Wharf. On the day you're doing Alcatraz, you could combine visits to Chinatown and North Beach, Coit Tower, and climb some of San Francisco's notable staircases (there are many).

+1 City Guides tours. Free [donation only, which goes to the organization run by SF Public Library]; dozens to choose from which apply to all interests.

Sae your $$ and skip hop on/off bus. Buy a 3 days Muni pass and hop off and on all public transit [including Cable Car] for far less $$

http://www.sfmta.com/getting-around/...tor-day-passes