First time visitor in aug or sep and plan to stay in the Union Square area. Looking for ideas on how to get the trip off on the right foot. Is this realistic?

1330 Arrive SFO

Take BART to town?

1500 Check in to hotel

Take cable car to Fisherman's Wharf Area

Check out Ghirardelli Square, National Maritime Museum, Pier 39.

Take harbor boat tour or evening tour of Alcatraz

Dinner: McCormick & Kuleto's if time allows?

It sounds OK to me. Definitely do the Alcatraz trip (rather than other seagoing options) even if it means skipping (in my opinion) overrated Ghirardelli Square. If you are staying in the Union Square area, I think you would do better with dinner at the bar in La Scala than at McCormick & Kuletos (which has recently redone the place to maxamize receipts).

Sounds a little ambitious for one day in SF. Alcatraz takes time let alone the other stuff and it is worth the time!! i agree with skipping Ghiradelli - not much there and Pier 39 might be a good thing to drop off the list and spend more time on Alcatraz. Dinner at Scala at the Sir Francis Drake is a good place to grab a bite over Kuletos.

Thanks for the feedback.

Kicking around another option of just exploring around Union Square and maybe Chinatown.

topping

I could have skipped the Wharf area altogether and been a happy camper! (I don't get the attraction and I would never chose a hotel in the area, though I can see why families prefer it.) And to think we went twice because my girlfriend wanted to return there to buy an essential oil. Ugh. Pier 39 is one big "carnival" of shops that do not convey San Francisco IMHO.

I think I would have preferred the Ferry Bldg., but alas, it was closed by the time we made it there.

I chose to take the shuttle from SFO to the hotel because I didn't want to lug luggage and I didn't want to take the chance of having my first impressions tainted by any transportation snafus.

I think Kuleto is in Ghirardelli's so you can combine both and don't have to go back to their Union square location.

Pier 39 is not only shops, it's sea lions fun. And the view of the bay. I'd walk up to Maritime museum from there, stopping at Hyde st pier on the way.

Ferry building is great to visit on Saturdays when the market is on.

Faina, there was not one sea lion at the pier--nada! We were told it was mating season--don't know if this person was pulling our leg or what--but the notion made for a good few jokes on the bus tour.

If you are there over Saturday, be sure to go to the Farmers Market at the Ferry Building. If not, go to the Ferry Building anyway. Stores are open now, then take a walk around the Embacadero. If you like baseball and Giants at home, go to the SPC Park. It must be one of the prettiest ballpark in the country. If nothing's happening on the field, you can gaze the bay. Be sure to take your jacket and be prepared to layer. If the wind kicks up, it can get COLD, especially on the Bay! You'd wish you had a down jacket. I'm not kidding.

I hear you about Fisherman's Wharf Area
being a bit cheezy and commercial, but my "litle wife" says we got to see it at least once.

Relatives have brainwashed her. Thank god they are not going with us. My expectations will be low and we'll go mostly for the sea lions and bay views.

Might have to climb into the attic of the cabin and get down some winter clothes so we don't freeze - going to be quite a change from Georgia.

Sea Lions are fun at Pier 39 and several of the Alcatraz ticket booths are in the area. Make reservations for Alcatraz, as many of my visitors have tried to "wing it" and been disappointed. I prefer the Presidio, Ft. Point, Crissy Field, Marina area for scenic walks when people come to visit SF over Fisherman's Wharf. Great views of the Bridge from below.

right next to the Cannery is a little market each morning. there is a Tre Fratelli restaurant/coffee place, I SWEAR made the best latte I have ever had. I went back again the next morning to have another one (well, I was also going to take the ferry to Sausalito so thought I'd do that as well).

if you go soon, tell them the petite blonde who raved over the coffee last week, sent you. the owner is a tall gent with greyish hair. VERY friendly. everyone in SF was friendly! I love that city (town).

hi

I wasn't clear - it is a farmer's market. very small. I bought huge pain au chocolat to munch on with the coffee, and smelled all the flowers and fresh fruit. also bought a lavender spritzer!

While I agree with most posters that Fisherman's Wharf is very schlocky for the most part, I also think that it's worth a look, especially if you've never seen this big a wharfside complex, or strolled past fishmongers, etc.. (Pier 39, on the other hand, isn't worth even a look, IMO.) And I must point out, not for the first time, that Alcatraz--the tour, the place, the boat ride there and back--is NOT a tourist trap but a really interesting piece of history and well worth visiting. Lastly, Ghirardelli Square is weirdly overrated, but Ghirardelli chcolate is *not*, and there are items in the G. shops that you can't find at your local Target--like their shakes, to die for--so it's worth a stop. Enjoy your trip, degas!

Oh, and as for your original question, degas, I think it sounds like a doable plan if you're quick about getting back out the door of the hotel. Just keep in mind that Alcatraz involves a bit of walking around, and the Wharf is a big area, so if you're pooped, save the Wharf and all that for another day and go to Chinatown for a walk around and dinner. Enjoy!