I am trying to plan a day trip from Sacramento to San Francisco with two easy going teens.

I want it to include Christmas light and decorations, chinatown, north beach and riding the cable car.

Where do I start? Where do I park? Money is tight so I am not looking for expensive eats, but would like to see a museum, show or maybe ice skating?

Feel free to include other thoughts, ideas or paths to take.

In these tight times we need to take the time to re-discover the beauty around us and take joy in just being together!

Thanks for helping!

Broke in California

Hello solittletime. Taking teens to San Francisco is always so much fun!

Here is the article from the SF Chronicle regarding the two ice skating rinks.

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/articl...TL&type=living

Sadly the Cable cars now cost $5.00 a tickets but if you only use them one way versus round trip the cost for the three of you will be $15.00 versus $30.00 for a round trip.

Regarding parking, I would park at Union Sq. There is the Union Sq. Garage (which is actually underneath Union Sq.) and there is also the Stockton St. Garage (which is at Sutter) which I think is a little less expensive than the Union Sq. Garage.

Money is tight, oh most of us can relate to that solittletime.

The department stores at Union Sq. will be decorated. North Beach from Union Sq. is quite easy to walk to and on the way you will walk through and can visit ChinaTown.

Do you have a map of San Francisco?

The Oakland/SF Bay Bridge toll is $4.00 as is the Carquinez Bridge toll driving home.

Just a few thoughts to get you started. Wishing you three a beautiful day full of fun memories!

Thank you. What route do you think gives you the best bang for the buck on the cable car if I parked at Union Square?

I guess I could take the cable car out and take a walking tour back to the China town area.

Could I leave a picinic in the garage there and enjoy it while watching the ice skaters? Not sure if there is seating there.

Powell/Hyde is the best route - by far. Sit on the east (right) side of the car for the best views. You'll have to fenagle a bit because both the Powell/Hyde and Powell/Mason lines depart from Union Sq.

Stu Dudley

Solittletime, there is the Italian cafe at the east end of Union Square but not sure if there is anywhere to sit to watch the ice skaters at Union Square otherwise. When are you going to SF? I will be there Dec. 11th and if you are going after that date I can sure check it out for you and let you know.

Or hopefully one of our SF residents can advise you.

I would start with ice skating in Union square, or just seeing the tree. Then off to China-town, North Beach (can you do it on foot?), take cable car back.

Somebody told me about parking on O'Farrell near Union Square as less expensive, anybody knows where exactly this is? Stu?

When are you coming? If money is an issue, maybe you can come on a day of free admittance?

Someone posted not long ago about Bay Link ferry from Vallejo.
?? will help with parking expenses but the link is:

www.baylinkferry.com

Otherwise park at Stockton garage.
Macys has a Food Court in basement with some reasonabale to do items/prices.

Tix booth in Union Square has 1/2 tickets: we liked the very funny "Shopping" theater production but you could always ask at the booth..very helpful.

Teens would prob like Virgin Record store and Apple store right off of Union Square.

Also Day after TDay at 6:00pm they light Union Square Xmas tree free

Is Urban Outfitters still open near Union Square? Teens love that place (well, so do I).

I believe Urban Outfitters is still there, and actually, its right around the corner from the O'Farrell garage Faina mentioned, which is at Powell/O'Farrell with an entrance on Powell/Eddy (or is it Ellis?) too. H&M is also right nearby. 5th and Mission garage is just a couple of dollars cheaper than Ellis-O'Farrell.

Here's a link that describes all of them, with maps and rates. They're all within 4 or 5 blocks of each other.

Sorry, here's the link:

http://www.unionsquareshop.com/parking.html

The ferry from Vallejo to SF can be fun (if you don't have to do it daily that is) but at $26.00 round trip times 3 people I think it would be just as well to drive into SF.

The view from the Vallejo St. garage is fantastic! When you are on Columbus walking north toward the SF Bay turn left on the cross street Vallejo. A couple of blocks down on your right you will see the SFPD with the garage. Right before the garage their is an alley (usually SFPD car's will be parked there). Go down the alley, and you will see a door on your left to go into the garage. Take the elevator up to the roof for the wonderful view that urbanstrolls mentioned.

If your teens are interested you can visit the St.Peter Paul Church which is in North Beach right at Washington Sq. I have found many teens do enjoy wandering around in the church. Also, Washington Sq. is a good place to sit and have a picnic!

You will have a fun day solittletime!

In addition to your picnic lunch, you can stop by many of the Chinatown places (especially the bakeries) to pick up just a couple of items to try, for $1-2. I often do that for breakfast, and take them back to my hotel or sit in a park.

When we recently visited S.F. with our preteen, we ended up riding the cablecar a lot, because she loved it so much. The Powell-Hyde has the best views, but all 3 lines are fun. We took the California line one day all the way out and back, and got a look at some less-touristy parts of town.

Also, the walk up to Coit Tower can be interesting. If you do that, make sure you take a walk on the "streets" down the "back" way - they're more like little paths through the vegetation. Supposedly, wild parrots live there, though we didn't spot any on our last visit.

Enjoy!

Thank you all for the many wonderful suggestions. I had not picked a day yet but wanted to wait until the decorations were up and the windows were dressed.

I will look at the links and map out the day and report back.

Thanks again for your generous replies!