Hi there ... putting aside the Alcatraz access from FW - which do you recommend - a few hours on a Saturday afternoon OR spend a few hours at the Ferry Building? My husband has never been to SF and we'll arrive noon-ish on a Saturday (in May). Thought after a long flight we'd spend the afternoon very lesiusrely at one of these places or the other ... we'll only be in SF until Tuesday a.m. when we'll head north! Thanks for input...

Personally, I'd pick the Ferry Bldg., especially if it's nice weather. If you can get there before 2:00, the farmer's market will still be open. Even without the farmer's market, the transformation of that building is incredible, with all of its food shops and restaurants. Great place to wander, sit out back and sip a cup of coffee, stop at the oyster bar or wine bar for a glass of wine and a snack, etc. It's really a SF highlight. (I work directly across the street, so I'm there often, and I still marvel and what a great job they did. In fact, I'll be heading over to the Tuesday farmer's market at lunchtime).

Cool ... thanks - I love oysters and wine too! Last time I was in SF I don't believe it was developed. Last time I was there was a good 10 years ago I beleive. I was interested in the Farmers Market once I read about it, but thought that I had read it closed at noon.

http://tinyurl.com/yrmpf7

http://tinyurl.com/3x7ant

bookmarking

Ferry building... and if the weather is nice, you can take a boat to Sausalito - a picturesque village just north of SF. You can catch a Golden Gate Transit bus to go back to ride the bridge and to see part of the city.

You can easily "do" both of them. They aren't far apart and there is a convenient trolley that connects them.

"Leisurely" and Fisherman's Wharf don't really fit in the same sentence, at least in my experience. Especially on a weekend. So I too would agree with a Ferry Building recommendation. Besides those places mentioned, MarketBar is also nice for a glass of wine and noshes.

Don't forget the gelato place. Or the cheese shop, or Lulu Petite..... Once in the Ferry Building, you will be tempted. Severely tempted.

I'm with HTTY ... I would do both, as they are close in location. Everybody should see Fisherman's Wharf at least once!

Very few "locals" would ever recommend Fisherman's Wharf. It's tacky, tacky, tacky. If you want fast food (Mc Donalds, IN & Out Burger) or a Hooters, lots of T-shirt shops, a Ribpeys, Wax Museum (last time I was there, they had a wax figure of Britany Spears out front), a Rainforrest theme restaurant, cheap luggage shops, trinket shops - then it would appeal to you. If the description of the Ferry Building that dmlove posted sounds more interesting - then go there. Ghirardelli Sq at the Wharf is being converted to Luxury time-shares - so there are very few shops there. I think Oakville Grocery redently abandoned the Wharf.

Stu Dudley

What? It's Britney now? Last time I was there, it was Eminem

They must change wax periodically!

In San Francisco locals don't go to Fisherman's Wharf, in Seattle they don't go to Pioneer Square, in San Diego they don't go to Old Town, in New York City they don't go to The Statue of Liberty, etc.

Fisherman's Wharf is tacky. So what? It's famous. Check it out and decide for yourself. If you go to Alcatraz (which you should), you will be in the Fisherman Wharf area.

Having been a tourist in all the cities happytrails mentions, I completely agree. I'm not suggesting skipping Fisherman's Wharf, but am suggesting that if you only have a few hours on Saturday and want it to be spent "leisurely", then the Ferry Bldg. should be your choice. Go to Alcatraz and Fisherman's Wharf on Sunday or Monday.

You said a few hours, so I'd do both...since neither is worth more than an hour. The Ferry Building isn't as tacky as FW but don't skip FW if you've never been to SF. I walked between the two, but you can take the trolley. I know that SFers love the Ferry Building, but IMHO it is nice, but nothing special.

thanks all - since I've been to SF, altho years ago - what I remember abt Fishermans Wharf is shops, restaurants, and the "street entertainers" - which my husband has already been amused by in Key West. If there's nothing much else there ... I think we'll go with the Ferry Building experience. We can pick up picnic supplies for the following day too! Sun & Mon are full of better things to do I'm certain ... e.g. Golden Gate Park, the Carnaval in Mission District, Chinatown tour, etc. I think we'd get more out of SF this way. Again - thanks to all -as always I appreciate your thoughts!

If you're going to be in the Mission District, try and see the wonderful murals that are all over that area.
If you go to Precita Eyes Mural Arts and Visitors Center at 2981 24th St., you can get a map of where the murals are..most all of them within walking distance of the Center.

Definitely spend your time at the Ferry Building! If the weather's nice, take a day to rent bikes (Blazing Saddles) and bike across the Golden Gate to Sausalito, its not a hard ride. Then you can take the ferry back to SF. When you arrive back in SF you CAN walk into Pier 39. Once there you'll realize its a waste of time except for seeing the funny sea lions and the funny people who would rather eat a corn dog than Acme Bread Co bread, the Cowgirl Creamery cheese and wine from the Ferry Wine Merchant!

If you can get to the Ferry Building by noon, you can take the free tour offered by San Francisco City Guides. I took it last year, and it was very interesting - you get a lot of information about the building's history and architecture. This is a program run by the SF library, and they have a number of free walking tours all over SF - they just ask for a free will donation at the end of the tour. Here's the web page from their site about the Ferry Building tour:
http://www.sfcityguides.org/desc.html?tour=25

I hope you understand what the Ferry Building market is. As a local shopper, I use it as I live within walking distance and it is fun to pick up a few pieces of cheese or some nice heirloom tomatoes, can't afford to do normal shopping there. It is an all organic, pricey farmers market. Have you ever been to Quincy Market in Boston? Same type of atmosphere, only smaller and more organic foods. The restaurant called The House is a nice place to eat, Asian/Californian fusion type fod. There is a frenzied crowd at the market on Saturdays until after 2pm, so not sure how leisurely or relaxing it might be. But a walk along the Embarcadero is a nice thing to do to glimpse the SF bay. If you are considering Fisherman's Wharf, it can be fun in a tacky touristy way. Pier 39 probably has some of the better shops among the wharf area souvenir type places. I would give a dining tip only by saying, locals never ever eat at Fisherman's Wharf. If you want a nice area to walk and eat and relax I would suggest my favorite neighborhood North Beach. It is San Francisco's little Italy, adjacent to Chinatown and a short walk to the Embarcadero. Dinner at Ideale on Grant (excellent Italian food), Rose Pistola (a bit Americanized but good)on Columbus or E' Tutto Qua (really Italian food accompanied by fun) on Columbus and Broadway. Check out Washington Square, a great place to sit on a bench and people watch with the beautiful Sts. Peter & Paul cathedral as a backdrop. Sorry I got distracted by my own neighborhood, but like to push it as most visitors are truly interested in FOOD! Enjoy your trip.