4 Days in SF: how to spend and avoid traffic chaos?
 

My itinerary is to drive from Yosemite Valley to San Francisco on 22/11/2016 with 4 members including me. Then, will stay in the Union Square area for 3 nights. My flight will leave SF on 26/11/206 at 00.05 am.


Since SF is notorious in traffic and unbelievably expensive parking fee, I decide to return the car on 23/11/2016 in the evening. For the rest, we will walk or taking public transportation aiming to explore the CBD. And will take taxi to the airport in the evening of 25/11/2016.


Could you please advice me how to spend each day in the city wisely to cover all main attractions?

Are you aware that Thursday, November 24th, is a national holiday (Thanksgiving)? I don't know what attractions will be closed, but I suspect many will be. Depending on what you hoped to see, you'll have to plan your time in the city carefully.

Also, you don't really have four days in San Francisco. The drive from Yosemite Valley to the S.F. Airport will take at least 4 hours, so it will be afternoon before you reach your hotel. And you may encounter a lot of traffic at the airport because of the enormous volume of people who will be traveling to and from San Francisco in advance of the holiday weekend.

Because the airport will be so busy, you'll need to give yourself extra time to get through the security check before your outbound flight. Depending on where you're flying to, getting to the airport 2-3 hours before your flight would not be unreasonable.

Not only is the 24th Thanksgiving with many (most) attractions closed, the 25th is the day after Thanksgiving and the 'CBD' -- assuming you mean the area around Union Square -- will be absolutely jammed. It is called 'Black Friday' and is the busiest shopping day of the entire year.

Alcatraz is closed on Thanksgiving and if you want to go there the 25th, you will need to book far ahead.

The Ferry Bldg is closed Thanksgiving

The De Young is closed Thanksgiving . . . you are getting the idea.

You will definitely have to pre-book your lunch/dinner on the 24th.

You will need to do most of your major sightseeing on the 23rd

Thanks for your information.

In that case, I will visit Fort Baker, Vista Point, then, drive across Golden Gate Bridge before check in the hotel of the fist night.

On the second day (23/11/20016), Ocean Beach, Baker Beach, Fisherman Wharf, Twin Peak before return the car at O'Farrel Street.

On the thrid day (Thanksgiving Day), walk or taking tram for some nice spots.

On the last day (Black Friday), shopping day.

Is this sound reasonable?

Unless you view shopping as a full contact, competitive sport, I wouldn't do Black Friday. It is not for the uninitiated.

>>On the last day (Black Friday), shopping day.<<

Very bad idea unfortunately. It is not a day one can 'shop' really. The stores are totally packed and sometimes there are literally fist fights over sale items. IMO forget about shopping in San Francisco (do it when you are in Las Vegas). You will have to do any actual sight seeing (where you go inside anyplace) on the Friday.

>>On the thrid day (Thanksgiving Day), walk or taking tram for some nice spots.<<

There will be public transport -- but it will be a more limited Holiday schedule.

Check to see if any walking tours are up and running. Walking with a guide is a great way to see parts of the city you might miss on your own, as well as to stay out of the traffic.

This site has some ideas for free walking tours - scroll down a little. There are also other websites if you google "Walking Tours San Francisco"

https://www.yelp.com/search?find_des...rancisco%2C+CA

And then there's the possibility of weather effecting Yosemite. I'd watch the forecasts and, if there's snow, consider sightseeing along the coast.

For Thanksgiving Day, plan to take a walk from Fort Mason to the Warming Hut (which may be closed, but just turn around and go back, or climb up and walk across the Golden Gate Bridge), the the International Auto Show, then a nice Thanksgiving dinner somewhere.

As for shopping on Black Friday, as long as you're not driving, it's really not that big a deal. Very crowded, yes, but actually festive and fun.

I spent the week before Thanksgiving at Yosemite a few years ago and it was wonderful.

No crowds, warm sunny days in the Valley, and cool (cold) nights - perfect for sleeping. Access roads to higher elevations were all closed, so to get to Glacier Point I had to hike up from the valley. Best single day hiking trip I've ever done. Cabin in Curry Village, Up at dawn, hiked up 4mi trail to Glacier point, then down Panorama trail. Back to my cabin later afternoon. Exhausted, and happy.

From the National Park Service website:

"Yosemite receives 95% of its precipitation between October and May (and over 75% between November and March). Most of Yosemite is blanketed in snow from about November through May. (Yosemite Valley can be rainy or snowy in any given winter storm.)"

https://www.nps.gov/yose/planyourvisit/weather.htm

Weather isn't predictable for a given day, so while J62's experience could also be yours, it may not be. On a visit I made one year in May entrances were closed because of snow. Next day they were open. My suggestion was to simply keep an eye on the weather and have a Plan B.

<It is not a day one can 'shop' really.>
This is obviously not true. I agree with sf7307, it's very crowded, but it can be fun. Fistfights are very uncommon :-)

On the other hand, if crowds and long checkout lines bother you, choose another day for shopping.

They are only in SF 2.5 days -- and one of those is Thanksgiving, so really only 1.5 days for sightseeing. I wouldn't spend any of it shopping . . .

Their trip also includes Las Vegas (and possibly Phoenix). Plenty of shopping in Vegas.

Let them do what they want, for once!

Black Friday shopping can be fun, enjoy the holiday decorations even if they don't buy anything.

San Francisco is really pretty walkable, if you are staying in a central location without a car.

You might want to reconsider turning in the car, since Thanksgiving Friday and Saturday can have very light traffic. In fact I might look at staying in Marin County on the 23rd. That day you could go to Mill Valley, Tiburon, and Fort Baker and other locations on the north side of Golden Gate NRA (look here https://www.nps.gov/goga/planyourvisit/placestogo.htm) Great view from the north side too, with SF in the background of the Golden Gate.

Then on Thursday drive into SF when the traffic is lighter, drop the car if you want after perhaps driving the scenic route and stopping wherever you see parking in the morning.

>>Let them do what they want, for once!<<

I said "I" wouldn't spend any of it shopping -- They will do what they want -- I'm not 'making' them do anything. But at least it gave you a chance to snark. Until this thread the OP had no idea re Thanksgiving and everything being closed. Just suggesting they need to carefully consider how to spend the time If they want to see much of SF.

Thanks for all comments.

All suggestions do useful and allow me to think in various aspects.
More ideas are welcomed. :-)

The open bus tours show you almost everything worth seeing including taking you to Sausalito, which is good for lunch overlooking the Bay. You can get on and off all day long.

See Alcatraz (It is an interesting place and you get a boat ride to and from. Walk through Fisherman's Wharf.

Ride the cable cars by buying a pass that lets you switch lines. Good way to see a lot.

Walk around Nob Hill area

Walk down Lombardi Street which is only a few blocks from the Wharf.

If you are well to do book way in advance a dinner at Restaurant Gary Danko - -one of top 10-15 restaurants in the country and a good value for what you spend (which is a lot).

I don't know Lombardi St. - Lombard?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lombar...(San_Francisco)

<I said "I" wouldn't spend any of it shopping >
Relevance?