First of all I want to thank all of you for your help and suggestions when I was planning DH's relatives visit with us in San Francisco. I am practically a native as I moved here when I was 7 years old and DH was born here, but this visit was special for all of us and we wanted them to see and do as much as possible.

They are from a small town in Germany, Helmstadt, about an hour from Frankfurt and have done some traveling in Europe, but this was theie first trip to the US.
We hadn't seen them in ten years, so we were pretty excited about their visit.

The two kids, a boy almost 15 and a girl almost 13, were exceptionally well behaved. No whinning, no brother-sister bickering, they ate everything and were so much fun to be with. If I could have kept them both, I would have! And me who swore that she would never never live through a teenage girl experience again .

They are in the US for one month, Nine days in Ukiah with my in-laws and 4 days in SF and two weeks right now with family in Tacoma, Washington.

DH speaks German and the family, especially the kids speak very good English, so that was never a problem.

Several months ago we started emailing and telephoning them, to get re-acquainted. I sent a tour book, in German, that had the major SF sites and information about our City. I also sent city maps and a pocket sized English-German dictionary. We told them to pick out what they wanted to see and do. They did their homework and of course picked out most of the places that were had already planned to take them. We asked what kind of food they liked and the mother said that she wanted to have Chinese food. They had it once or twice in Germany. Of course they knew pizza, but weren't familiar with Mexican food. Lucky for us, they were all good eaters.

The first night with the SIL, we booked them into a three bedded room at the Star Motel on Lombard, at $145 per night. It had a refrigerator, and they serve a continental breakfast in the office area. They liked the room, but they boy said that it was very noisey at night as it fronted Lombard Street. The other three didn't hear the traffic noise as they slept right threw it.

We rented a seven passenger mini van from Budget. I checked all of the rental companies and Budget had the lowest rate, by as much as $100 per week over some o the others. We had originally reserved it for one week for $313 with a AAA discount. Then we changed it to eight days and the rate jumped to $385. Still a bargain as it was spacious and comfortable for all. We used in in the City and then on the ride back to Ukiah with their luggage and ours, plus our dog crate. The A/C worked beautifully. Even though DH initially felt like a bus driver, he got used to it and I think he started to enjoy driving it.

Our house is small, only two bedrooms and one bathroom, so it was impossible for their family of four to stay here. Plus after being with relatives for almost their entire US stay of one month, we thought that they might like some privacy.

Luckily there was an article in our Noe Valley neighborhood newspaper that listed quite a few short term rentals in our area. We checked out and rented a one bedroom garden apartment about five minutes from our house, for three nights. It was clean and very liveable. It had a nice galley type kitchen, fully equiped, and a very nice garden accessed through the sliding glass doors in the living room. Along with the beautifuly tended flowers, it had a table, chairs and an umbrella. It is private when the garden apartment is rented. If the weather is nice in SF, then it is even nicer in that neighborhood.

The couch in the living room made into a single bed and we supplied a blow up single matttress for the other child.

The refrigrator was already stocked with milk, juice, and bread, there was coffee, tea and sugar there. We bought butter, jam, cheese and packaged ham, as that is what they eat every morning at home.

The apartment was very clean, and quiet and was only $125.00 total, per night. We would drop them off at night and pick them up about 9:30AM each of the three mornings. This gave everyone, us included, time to be alone and relax.

I would recommend this area if you have friends/relatives nearby, as it is off of the beaten tourist path. There is of course public transportation nearby and only a block or so from Valencia Street. For that price, it probably is worth the inconvenience.

They have other short term rentals,all in this general area. This apartment was on Fairoaks St. between 22nd and 23rd Streets. Lovely block with some beautiful old SF homes.

BeMyGuestSF.com - very nice people and easy to deal with.

My SIL and her husband, brought them down from Ukiah to spend the day and evening at Fisherman's Wharf. They took the Quac tour, visited the Jerimah O'Brien and the USS Pampanito submarine. We lucked out in that they took them on the obligatory cable car ride, well maybe I did hint a little. They had to wait almost an hour to get on at the Fisherman's Wharf end of the line.

We picked them up Sunday morning about 11:00AM from the motel and our adventure with them began.

Part II of our excellent adventure..

After picking them up at the Marina District motel, we took them to the Palace of Fine Arts, one of our favorite places. A lot of the property is fenced off due to some ground work, but it is still such a lovely place.

We took them to the Exploratorium, which is on the same property. The father commenented on the fact that there was no family admission plan. It was $65 for three adults, one senior and two kids.

The kids had a fabulous time for two plus hours. It was nice that they could interact with their parents (and us), and made it even more enjoyable for all of us. The kids continued to exlore and we had a quick, but decent lunch in the cafe area.

Since we were going to Alcatraz at 6:20PM for the night tour, we didn't have a lot of time for more sightseeing in the area.

We took them to their apartment and got them settled in, then walked on 24th Street and looked in some stores and then got some Chinese take out from our neighborhood restaurant on 24th.

We had just enough time to eat, change into warmer clothes for the night trip and rush off to Pier 41 for the tour.

The weather cooperated with us and even though it was a little windy, it was not a typical cold windy time on the Bay or at the Prison itself. They were a little disappointed at first that they Rangers gave their talks in English, it didn't bother us but once inside with the German audio, they began to enjoy themselves.

We finished about 9:30PM and it was time for desert. We went to nearby Gordon Biersch Restaurant Brewery, 2 Harrison St. I ordered the biggest piece of carrot cake that I have ever seen (shared by all) and the kids had soft drinks and some other deserts. The father was in his glory when DH introduced him to Gordon Biersch beer - 3 glasses worth! I think this and finding it in six packs at the market, were the highlight of his trip

Then home for the night.

Day Two: The son and the father are both computer people, so DH had arranged for a tour of his company's secured computer center. They had to bring their passports as proof of ID. Unfortutely, they boy is onl 14 years old and they wouldn't let him in. DH hadn't asked and no one mentioned that they had to be 18 to get in. The boy was a good sport when DH took the father on the tour and he had to sit in a waiting area. He was disappointed, but handled it very well.

DH was able to show both of them his office and the equipment that they had there. The boy loved seeing some of the programmers with their blue, green and pink hair.

Meanwhile, we girls went shopping. We went to the SF Center, buying tee shirts, and costume jewelry for the 12 year old. She was so good about not asking for things or being a pest, I was so impressed.

We took the center escalator, checking out each store on each level, and Norstrom's corresponding level.

I 'dragged' the mother to the MAC make-up counter, my brand, and told her that she was going to have her eyes made up. At first she blushed and protested (not all that much though) and then plopped into the magic chair. She is 39 years old, but doesn't wear make up or 'girlify' herself in any way.

I can' begin to tell you how pleased she was with the subtle eye make up that the artist applied. She did a beautiful job with no pressure for her to purchase anything. I knew that she wouldn't especially when I told her that she had about $85.00 worth of make up on her eyes - not counting the brushes! I would have treated her, but I knew that she probably wouldn't use it once she got home.

Then the 12 year old girl sat in the chair. She has gorgeous blue eyes and the artist used only a vanilla colored shadow with a beige highlight. No mascara, etc, just a little light pink lip gloss. She was even prettier.

I bought the mother a lipstick and the gloss for the little girl. The mother couldn't pass a mirror without glancing at her eyes and smiling. She also gave her daughter the camera to take a picture. I didn't ask, but I'll bet she had a hard time taking it off that night. That was a really special time and we all enjoyed it. I was immune, as I had just left my contribution for over $100 at MAC a few days earlier!

We met up with the boys, who were only a few blocks away at DH"S office, thank heavens for cell phones. They had gone to Comp USA (?) and the husband was delighted to find Sony camcorder tapes for less than half what they pay in Germany. Of course with the Euro vs the dollar, everything here must have seemed cheap.

They met us for lunch at Nordstrom's bistro on the top level. The food was very good. The kids' favorite drink is Schwip Schwap. It is 2/3 Pepsi and 1/3 orange carbonated drink, combined in a can. We loved saying the name and had been teasing the kids about it. I told the boy to asked the waiter if they served it. Knowing of course that not many people here had ever heard of it. The young smiling waiter was a good sport and brought them the ingredients to mix it themselves.

Then it was off to the Levi Store in Union Square - the main reason for the kids' visit. The store is a madhouse, loud music, no service, sizes all mixed up - in other words, a teenage paradise. Love the high tec bathroom, copper and stainess steel, worth a peek if you are there.

Then into our sturdy steed, our mini van and down the crookest street in the world - Lombard Street. Husband and I jumped out to get pictures. I never get tired of photographing or visiting my City.

Then to Coit Tower. While the DH and the kids, who opted to stay in the van while DH slowly progressed up the hill and waited for a parking place, the wife and husband and I jumped ship and walked a short distance to the tower. When everyone arrived about 15 minutes later, we all took the elevator to the top for that fabulous panoramic view.

The girl wanted to go across the Bay Bridge, and since it was the tail end of the commute hour, we drove across to Treasure Island. Again, one of MY favorite places. We were the only ones there and the kids let off some steam and ran around and we took lots of great pictures.

Then off to Twin Peaks, about five minutes from our house. I was wondering if truthfully they were getting 'viewed out'. I never tire of seeing the City, but they were either enjoying themseles or were too polite to let us know that they weren't.

Too tired to eat in a restaurant, so we picked up pizza and ate at our house.

A very interesting report, Nina! Can't wait to read the next installment.

Ah the German relatives...have a few of those myself, lol.

Shopping is always a favorite! Nice report...looking foward to more.

What a great idea, taking them to the MAC counter for a mini makeover! I'm going to have to remember that one. Thanks!

DAY THREE: This was their last day in SF and we still had so much to see.

I am a retired SFPD secretary, so I take advantage of my situation and visit police facilities IF I think that our visitors will enjoy it. I don't do it often, but sometimes kids like to see police stations etc..

The little girl loves horses and for the past few years has been going to a horseback riding summer camp, so we took her to the Police Stables in Golden Gate Park. The Sergeant on duty was a sweetheart and gave us the cooks tour, complete with the history of the mounted unit, etc.. By the time we left Sandra was on a first name basis with every horse and had pictures of every stall, saddle and hay pile.

The top sights that they had chosen from home were, Fisherman's Wharf, the cable car, Alcatraz, the Levi Store, and of course walking across the Golden Gate Bridge.

So, our next stop was the Bridge. It was a nice SF summer day - about 65 degrees. The sun was shining and it was 'just a little bit' windy. Since my SIL had stopped on the Marin side for photos when she brought them down from Ukiah, we decided to park on the SF side and walk towards Marin. Fortified with hot chocolate from the stand, off we marched, cameras in hand. We were lucky that there weren't a lot of other pedestrians or bicyclists. It wasn't empty by any means, but very easy to walk in either direction. I wonder if they thought that we had never left our original neighborhood, as every place we went, I was happily yelling out and pointing - 'there's Alcatraz'.

We had planned to stop at again one if my favorite places in the City, Fort Point and also Crissy Field, but I think everyone was hungary and a little tired.

By coincidence, my bestfriend and our goddaughter arrived in SF from Florida about that the time we started our bridge walk. Of course we knew weeks in advance, but it was a shame that the visits couldn't have been scheduled diffferently.

Again, thanks to cell phones, we met them at Mel's on Lombard and we all enjoyed hamburgers, fries and shakes - except for the father who had the largest 'breakfast' (it was about 3:00PM) that I have ever seen someone eat. He eggs, bacon, pancakes, hash browns, toast and loved every bite. We offered hi a Schwip Schwap, but he politely delined.

The next stop was to be Chinatown. We had boarded our little Shih Tzu Zebby with a friend a few blocks away. He was a few days shy of of one year and had never been away from home. Actually this bothered us more than him.

I was supposed to pick him up about 6:00PM, but my girlfriend and I decided to skip Chinatown and go home, while DH took the gang there. The little girl who had been asking about Zebby since she got here, asked if she could skip Chinatown and come home with us.

Needless to say, Zebby, the little girl Sandra, and I, were thrilled at the reunion.

We had planned to go to a Mexican restaurant for our last dinner, but again we will all too tired, so I volunteered to cook for all ten of us!!! Well, nine of us had a relaxing dinner . Off to the market for taco fixings, beans, rice, chips for nacchos avacado for guacamole etc..

At first EVERYONE wants to help and the kitchen becomes a bus station with people passing through. Of course the kids offered to help, so I let them stir various pots. Nice gesture, but every time I turned around that particular pot stirrer was no where to be seen.

While I am frantically chopping various items, and grating cheese, my beloved 16 going on 35 year old goddaughter is looking a me as if I am nuts and asking if I don't known that cheese comes already grated in packages and guacamole comes in cans. Her mother and father both work and mom has never been the family cook, so I understood her confusion immediately and we got a lot of laughs out of it.

About half way through, DHwho had offered his help initially and sincerely, before I THREW everyone out of MY kitchen, decided to make mojitos for our adult guests. Not the fastest drinks to make. After making three or four, he got thrown out of the kitchen. THEN DH's sister decides to call from Ukiah to see what time we would be there the next evening - over 24 hours away, and to chit chat.
I looked like Lucy and Ethel and sounded like Rosanne on steroids, as I just about lost it..... All's well that ends well, the food looked and tasted great, and they really enjoyed their first taste of Mexican food.

It was the grandfather's in Germany birthday. So thanks to l016868, we called him at about 7:00AM their time. We put the phone on the speaker, and ten off key voices sang happy birthday to - Opa, Oncle, Otto, and Papa. He loved it, saying that it was the first time anyone sang to him from America. It was a wonderful way to end a great (if I say so myself) dinner. We stuffed them with Hagen Daz and cookies and took them back to the apartment to pack for their return to Ukiah the next morning.

Nina66 - You obviously put a lot of time and thought into your relatives visit. What a good idea to find them the short term rental. A little break from each other is very wise and you seemed to find the right mix. Thanks for sharing the link.

I especially enjoyed reading all the little details. Thank you so much.

Sandy

DAY FOUR;

We had direct orders from my SIL, that we HAD to have them back in Ukiah by 8:00PM. Originally we had planned all sorts of stops along the way, Marin Headlands, Muir Woods and a few other places.

We have a vacation home about a mile from Konocti Harbor Inn, about two hours and forty five minutes north-east of San Francisco. It is about an hour from Ukiah, so we had planned a restful three days there after dropping them off.

The night before, we decided to skip our planned destinations and to take them directly to our house for the remainder of the day.

We stopped for lunch and gas and introduced them to Cold Stone Ice Cream. For those of you who don't have them _yet_, you choose an ice cream flavor or flavors and all sorts of goodies, chocolate chips, gummy bears, nuts etc.. and they mush them into the ice cream. We had lunch at Burger King, because of the kids, and then went to Cold Stone a few doors away. That area, Windsor, California is usually very hot this time of year, but that day was very very nice, not the least bit hot.

We stopped at the market in Lakeport and picked up sandwich fixings and salad for dinner. We had brought some SF sourdough up with us.

When we got to our place, DH and our four guests went directly to the association swimming pool and Zebby and I were left alone to relax and spend some quality playtime together. Oh, did being alone feel great.

We had our sandwiches and salads and took them back to Ukiah.

We had our three relaxing days up there, not counting the two days that DH spent on the roof in the blazing heat, cleaning out the gutters and installing new gutter filters. Well, at least one of us, two if you count Zebby, had three relaxing days

Back to work for DH on Monday. I think that he was thrilled to escape to his office. My best friend from Florida and I spent the next three days doing girlfriend stuff. She had come out here to take her daughter to school in Nevada City, CA, so it was just the two of us. We went to the Monet Exhibit, shopped, caught up on things,lunched - all the good things that best friends do.

It's been a hectic two weeks and that's not counting the time spent getting the house ship shape for our guests. I actually threw out travel mazazines, maps, articles along with lots of other 'junk'. That was easy compared to the dusting, vacuuming, washing, stashing things out of sight, etc.. that goes along with expecting company. I even cleaned out areas that I would have them arrested for looking in to

I had such a good time with them, and with my girlfriend, that I would do it again in a heartbeat. I hope that they enjoyed themselves as much as we did.

Nina

What a great trip report - and I agree. You spent a lot of time and effort into making their visit a success. Will you be my tour guide the next time I'm on the Left Coast?

Great report and I particularly loved the idea of getting the relatives a short term apt. - I wish more people thought like you did (we always stay in a hotel when visiting where family live and they do likewise when visiting us, but I know alot of people cram family in and everyone is miserable) You did a fantastic job of planning, I am sure they will remember this wonderful visit for a long long time.

Great trip report!

Thanks SandyBrit - like a true travel crazed Fodorite, I spent just as much time and effort planning their trip, as I do for my own.

I started as soon as I heard they were coming, about four months ago. I bought books for them and me, got maps, brochures, made calls etc... everything that you all do when planning a trip. I agonizied over every little detail, especially having them stay in a motel for four nights. Would we be able to book two ajoining rooms, if not, would they allow the kids to stay in a room in another part of the motel, would the husband room with the boy and the mother with the girl, how would they feel when they found out that they wouldn't be staying in our home - after we stay with them with in Germany, and on and on ... You guys know the routine.

It took me almost two months before I could tell them about the rental apartment. I wasn't sure that they would understand that they couldn't stay with us. They never said a word one way or the other. I don't know if they realize that we rented it for them, as the husband seemed confused and asked my husband if we owned the building.

THEN, in July we made a last minute decision to spend the Christmas and New Years in Paris - so I immediately changed chapeaus or is it chapeaux, and emerged myself totally in our trip.

I really had done as much as I could planning their trip, but I still would have continued until the day of their arrival.

I basically did nothing for them from mid-July to the day of their arrival in SF, August 12 except frantically go through the zillions of notes and bits of paper at the very last minute, and put things in some kind of order. I put a lot of time and energy into the planning, and then I suddenly stopped mid-stream let everything sit until the day before their arrival, which actually showed me that I could do that with every trip.

Will I stop obsessing before my future trips ..... no way. I will be on line, reading, making calls, right up until we leave for the airport

FYI, I ordered my Alcatraz tickets on the phone about six weeks before we took the tour. They mailed them to me. If you are planning to take the tour, either night or day, order in advance, as they are always booked solid on the days of the tours, especially the night tours. We saw a long line of people waiting for no shows and I have no idea if they got on.


Nina

Hi there Nina, I thought your German relatives were visiting with you as I noticed I hadn't seen you here on Fodor's.

What a fun trip report and I smiled many times because your German family basically enjoyed the same things in SF that my friends in Italy enjoy when they come here. Isn't the Levi store headache producing, lol.

I am sure your German family will remember their time with you two for the rest of their lives. And how wonderful that the teens were a treasure Nina.

I hope you can put your feet up and catch your breath this weekend! Thanks for sharing all of the fun with us.

Starrsville, after all of your great posts, it would be my pleasure.

I have a long list of things that we never got around to doing. Several of them were new to me or things that I had never done - ie: the Filbert Street Steps and the Parrots of Telegraph Hill, the mosaic tile stairs in the Sunset district, great walking tours, some free, some very reasonably priced and on and on.

If I didn't already live here, I would have seriously considered relocating to SF.

I love this City, sometimes I forget just how much.

LoveItaly .....and other locals, a friend just told me today that a bakery in Japantown has the original recipes for several of the Blum's cakes. He couldn't remember which ones, but one was he thinks, almond and one chocolate. He is going to get me the name of the bakery and I'll check with them - IF he remembers to get the info for me. He and I are in a tie race for 'senior moments'.

Nina
Nina

The Fodor goblins are at it again. I just reread my above posts and it appears that none of the editing (and I did plenty) took. There are so many typos and I apologize for looking like an illiterate. I would rather think of them as typos than as mispelled words.

I wrote things down as I proof read each one before posting, and I crossed off what I had corrected, and yet they all still appear in every post.

I am not an illiterate ...... I am a very fast, lousey typist!

Nina

Loved your report, Nina! We are Aussie visitors ., going to spend a few days in SF next month, so it was particularly interesting . Wish we had known about the apartments - however,
we got the Marriott Resident Inn at Oyster Point on Priceline and that should be good. DH is from Cologne. buts

Nina dear, if my daughter could have a chocolate cake made with the Blum's receipe..well that is all she would want for her birthday, lol. How interesting.

And yes Nina, having guest and playing tourist with them sure makes us realize how fantastic SF is. You are so fortunate to live in SF. I wish I did.

What a fabulous and useful report! I'm copying it to my "wish list for San Francisco" that I keep to remind me of all the things I haven't done even though I've lived in the Bay Area all my life. I was particularly pleased to hear that you visited the nicer part of Fisherman's Wharf; a friend volunteers on the Jeremiah O'Brien and he tells me that many (maybe most) of the people who come up the gangway to see the ship are from other countries, particularly Germany and Great Britain. Did your guests enjoy the O'Brien and the Pampanito? So many people who come to SF really want to visit the wharf, but are put off by locals who don't know that there are fun places to visit there. Thanks again for a wonderfully detailed and engaging report!

Nina, I have German ancestors, can I come visit you?
Lovely report..Thanks.

Nina, what a lovely way for me to sip my morning coffee, by reading your report! I would think many of us can totally relate to the blessings that come with having company: from the cleaning to the cooking, tourguide, keeping family "treasures" secret, etc. You seem to have mastered the art!

I have a brother who lives in the Berkeley area, and we visit every so often. We have never done the Alcatraz tour but now it will top my list for my next visit.

Great report!