Cheryl

Has anyone stayed at any of the following hotels?
- Radisson - 1625 Post Street
- Days Inn Downtown/Theatre District - 895 Geary Street
- Days Inn Civic Center - 465 Grove Street
- Howard Johnson Fisherman’s Wharf – 580 Beach Street

I will be visiting SF for 3 nights in Sept. and am not familiar with the area at all. I am concerned about the neighborhoods that the above hotels are located in, as I will be traveling with children. That’s why I’m tempted to go ahead with HoJo’s since it’s in a tourist area. Also, are these hotels close to the cable cars lines, or BART? Thanks.

John Montana

Hello Cheryl, if your with kids I would avoid the Days Inn Civic Center. Nice during the daytime but scary (Bums) at night. Im not sure if the Radisson is a good choice either for the same reasons plus hookers. Im pretty sure it's in an area called the Tenderloin and that's a definate family no no at night. Your best choice of the four is the Howard Johnson's seeing it's your first visit to SF and with kid's you should be pleased with the location. Never stayed there so no first hand info. Better hotel in the warf area is the Holiday Inn. The only warning is that the Warf is not entirely safe either (no large city is). Be aware of your surroundings and rely on your gut. Most SF natives love tourist and are more than willing to help but there are a bunch of losers in every city that prey on tourist. Feel free to contact me if you need more details. I was born and raised in SF and I have a 1 year old son so I know your concerns.

Best Regards

John Montana

Sorry I didn't get to your tras questions. Cable cars run from Market street to the Warf and up and down California street, kind of a criss cross. BART runs under Market street to other parts of the city and other Bay Area Cities. The only place where they intersect is at the Embarcadero at the foot of the Bay Bridge (California Line).

Cheryl

John,

Thanks so much for the info. I did a little more research and have found that your advice matches exactly with my findings. I ended up making reservations for the HJ at Fisherman's Wharf. Looking forward to my trip. Thanks for the advice!

-Cheryl

John Montana

Glad to help. Now for some can't miss family fun in SF.

#1 / Pier 39, you will be a short walk away and even though most natives consider it touristy we all still go now and then. Plenty to explore all around the warf area.

#2 / Exploratorium/Palace of Fine Arts, the first hand's on science center in the region(Maybe country). I have many great memories of running through that place with my brothers and having a great time(70's). It's still a cool place for kid's to blow off steam and learn at the same time. Stroll to the Marina Green nearby and im sure you will see plenty of, Joggers, Kite's, Dog's and maybe a celebrity or two. You might also check out "Fort Point" right under the Golden Gate Bridge. Greta for exploring. If the weather cooperates and your not afraid of heights walk across the GG Bridge. (look at a map you can probably walk to this area through Ft. Funston).

#3 / Moscone Center/Sony Metreon Complex
New complex of museums and retail that have to many cool things for kid's for me to list. Here is a few: Ice Skating Rink, Museum of Modern Art, Circa 1800 Carousel and the new Metreon Complex (IMAX Theater, Fun center like you have never seen and Free hand's on exhibits). A definate visit.Located in the SOMA (South of Market Area) I would suggest riding a cable car to Downtown/Market street and walk two or three block to the area.

John Montana

Here is an except form a great article with ideas for family fun:

You’ve Got to be Kidding World’s Coolest Grown-up.
These are the words shining in Natalie’s and Derek’s young eyes
when you tell them you’re taking them for a doughnut picnic at the
Wave Organ. Martha and Bill’s concerned looks seem to suggest
"World’s Highest Dental Bills," but you know they’ll come around once
they bite into a chocolate éclair.

After procuring the candy-pink box from All Star’s, the five of you walk
down the Marina breakwater, pointing out Angel Island and Alcatraz.
At the end of the path, a Dr. Seussian series of pipes gurgles and
sighs to the incoming slosh of the sea. Nine-year-old Derek presses
his ear to one. "Sounds like Dad’s stomach." Bill grins and pats his
belly.

By the time the box is empty the kids are frothing to be set loose in
the Exploratorium’s cavernous hall of science. Derek practically trips
in his eagerness to experience centrifugal force on the spinning
machine; Natalie is slightly more dignified as she hurries toward the
giant bubbles shimmering up from the center of the room.

You catch up with them at the
large shadow box, where Natalie
performs a shaky handstand
against the wall and Derek leaps
into the air. Flash! An upside-down
Natalie is captured in shadow, her
younger brother two feet off the
ground beside her. Before long,
you, Martha, and Bill are elbowing
kids aside, twisting sideways against the wall in pharaoh profile as Bill
hums "Walk Like an Egyptian." Suddenly, you see Natalie standing in
front of you, arms folded. "You guys are so embarrassing."

So much for World’s Coolest Grown-up.

Cheeseburgers and malteds at Mel’s Diner soon smooth over the
Shadowgate incident, and Natalie even joins in when "The Chipmunk
Song" comes on the jukebox. With preteen scorn defused, it’s time to
rent skates and head for Golden Gate Park.

Since it’s Sunday, the park’s main drive is
blocked off, and a legion of in-line skaters
weave expertly through orange cones,
leaping over obstacles. It looks effortless. A
hundred yards later you’re cursing what
seem to be ball bearings strapped to your
feet. Just as you hit the ground for the
second time, Martha whizzes by. "Looking
good, Martha!" you shout in admiration.

"Where are the brakes?" she shrieks.

By the time you reach the Japanese Tea
Garden you’re happy to settle into the
shady teahouse with a plate of almond
cookies. The kids won’t stop clambering
over the bridge that arches across the koi
pond, and you eventually convince the whole
family to perch on its perfect half-circle.
"Say ‘bonsai trees!’ " you call out and snap
the photo.

The long second stretch of skating goes
smoother, and when you finally reach
Ocean Beach you’ve stopped clutching your
chest in fear. Martha doles out street shoes
from her backpack and you head up to the
Cliff House and the Musée Mécanique,
home of the old arcade games from the Playland-by-the-Sea
amusement park. You’ve brought a roll of quarters so everyone can
watch the dancing marionettes, hear the player pianos, and peer
through the aging stereoscopes, but most of the roll goes to feeding
Laughing Sal, the mechanical redhead whose maniacal cackle elicits
peals of laughter.

If you didn’t have to return the skates, you’d take the kids down to the
Sutro Baths to poke around the ruined foundations and salty tide
pools. Happily, the cab ride back to the Haight carries its own
entertainment value for two suburban kids.

You’re hoping Isobune’s circular sushi bar will be a similarly
successful novelty, though it’s a stretch for children raised on grilled
cheese and fries. As wooden boats piled with mackerel and spicy
tuna float by, Natalie decides she’s sticking to California rolls. Derek,
on the other hand, is delighted with the idea of raw fish. "Hey, Nat!
Nat!" he yells, wiggling a pale strip of halibut at his sister. "This one
isn’t dead yet!"

So much for cultural enrichment.