How I love San Francisco
Apr 17th, 2002, 04:52 PM
#21
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Chris: The wife & I are visiting San Francisco in early May then Yosemite afterward. I also got sick of the negative comments in the "hated" post. If you want fantasyland go to Disney World. I'm been reading a considerable amount of good suggestions for the area. My wife has a relative who lives in the city. We will be staying near the Alamo Square area & we basically are open to anything. Everybody has been very helpful with places to go & see. Thanks!
Apr 25th, 2002, 05:21 AM
#22
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Hi,
I think you've chosen a wonderful city to start your honeymoon. I just spent 4 nites there and had a great time. I didn't see many homeless people altho, like any major city, I'm sure they're there. We took one of those Gray Line city tours and had a very informative and fun 4 hours exploring the city. Some tours apparently are audiotape only. We had a guide (Melvin) and I wholeheatedly recommend him! If the weather is nice, I hear that Angel Island is a great place to hike and enjoy the out of doors. Like you, I was getting depressed reading the negative stuff but rest assured it's a wonderful city.
I think you've chosen a wonderful city to start your honeymoon. I just spent 4 nites there and had a great time. I didn't see many homeless people altho, like any major city, I'm sure they're there. We took one of those Gray Line city tours and had a very informative and fun 4 hours exploring the city. Some tours apparently are audiotape only. We had a guide (Melvin) and I wholeheatedly recommend him! If the weather is nice, I hear that Angel Island is a great place to hike and enjoy the out of doors. Like you, I was getting depressed reading the negative stuff but rest assured it's a wonderful city.
Apr 25th, 2002, 06:33 AM
#23
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What about taking the chinatown tour - people on this site rave about it - I plan on going on it next trip.
I love San Francisco - take in the museums, eat...eat..eat...eat. See a show. Have a drink at the bar in the lobby of the Westin St Francis on union Square. Don't miss Alcatraz - I've heard the night tour is fabulous (only been during the day).
We rarely make it out of the city since there is so much to do within.
Have a fabulous honeymoon.
I love San Francisco - take in the museums, eat...eat..eat...eat. See a show. Have a drink at the bar in the lobby of the Westin St Francis on union Square. Don't miss Alcatraz - I've heard the night tour is fabulous (only been during the day).
We rarely make it out of the city since there is so much to do within.
Have a fabulous honeymoon.
Apr 29th, 2002, 05:20 PM
#28
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I live in the Bay Area and my wife and I travel a lot. All over the US and Europe.
We both still get excited returning from an overseas trip to the Bay Area and still love it as much today as when we moved here.
It has a few problems, every city does. But for day in and day out living, you cannot beat this area. Period. No snow to shovel and no heavy coats to wear to work and plenty to do east, west, north or south of the City.
We were in the City of SF on Saturday night for the first time in a few months and again commented on how great the location, the restaurants and the ambiance is. It was a perfect night.
Enjoy your trip here. You will return. We made the mistake of vacationing here one time and then trying to figure out how to actually live in this area. Finally pulled it off with no regrets.
We both still get excited returning from an overseas trip to the Bay Area and still love it as much today as when we moved here.
It has a few problems, every city does. But for day in and day out living, you cannot beat this area. Period. No snow to shovel and no heavy coats to wear to work and plenty to do east, west, north or south of the City.
We were in the City of SF on Saturday night for the first time in a few months and again commented on how great the location, the restaurants and the ambiance is. It was a perfect night.
Enjoy your trip here. You will return. We made the mistake of vacationing here one time and then trying to figure out how to actually live in this area. Finally pulled it off with no regrets.
Apr 29th, 2002, 10:55 PM
#29
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Chris, where are you from? I think a lot of people like San Francisco because of the eclectic people there. You get a wide range of cultures & lifestyles, like New York, but the people are so much more mellow in San Francisco.
I love Union Square and wandering around Chinatown. I love jogging in Golden Gate Park and tripping around the Haight Ashbury. (My brother, a hippie like the dad on 'Dharma & Greg,' ABSOLUTELY LOVED LOVED LOVED the Haight.)
I love eating: Menora's Thai Cuisine, Crustacean, Thanh Long, Real Food, A.G. Ferrari Foods, Yank Sing, the Stinking Rose and the lighthouse.
San Francisco is one of my favorite cities. Enjoy your honeymoon! And enjoy Hawaii too!!
I love Union Square and wandering around Chinatown. I love jogging in Golden Gate Park and tripping around the Haight Ashbury. (My brother, a hippie like the dad on 'Dharma & Greg,' ABSOLUTELY LOVED LOVED LOVED the Haight.)
I love eating: Menora's Thai Cuisine, Crustacean, Thanh Long, Real Food, A.G. Ferrari Foods, Yank Sing, the Stinking Rose and the lighthouse.
San Francisco is one of my favorite cities. Enjoy your honeymoon! And enjoy Hawaii too!!
Apr 30th, 2002, 05:00 AM
#30
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Have 2 questions, please!! Would we really be missing something if we didn't take the Alcatrez tour? We would like to take a boat ride around the Bay & see Alcatrez but neither my husband or I have a real desire to tour the island? Also, what is the Fire Truck tour, this is the first I've heard of it?
Thanks,
>>>>Author: Faina ([email protected])
Date: 04/17/2002, 01:20 pm
Message: Chris, it depends on how long you will be here, if only few days then yes, take a city tour, if long enough to explore on your own then go for it. Alcatras tour is great - usually sold out few days in advance so make reservations. You may like fire engine tours taking you in a fire truck over the Golden Gate bridge, they loan you real fire fighters clothes for this tour, remember to bring your camera.
Thanks,
>>>>Author: Faina ([email protected])
Date: 04/17/2002, 01:20 pm
Message: Chris, it depends on how long you will be here, if only few days then yes, take a city tour, if long enough to explore on your own then go for it. Alcatras tour is great - usually sold out few days in advance so make reservations. You may like fire engine tours taking you in a fire truck over the Golden Gate bridge, they loan you real fire fighters clothes for this tour, remember to bring your camera.
Apr 30th, 2002, 09:55 AM
#32
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Lived here all my life and have never taken the Alcatraz tour. My husband and I travel all over the world, and always love coming home. Don't miss a visit to the Strybing Arboretum in Golden Gate Park. Some of the best views of the Bay are in Sausalito/Tiburon; you might take the ferry over for lunch/dinner one day. Have fun and Happy Anniversary!
Apr 30th, 2002, 10:09 AM
#33
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Hi Chris - I live here and you will have a wonderful time in our City by the Bay. Here is my list of romantic stuff to do!
1. If you have a car drive to the very top of Twin Peaks on a clear day and you can see forever!
2. Have lunch or dinner at Boulevard at Mission and the Embarcadero. Totaly awesome food and atmosphere.
3. If you are here on Saturday go to the Farmer's Market at Green and Embarcadero. Very gourmet!
4. Go have drinks at Harry Denton's Starlight Room right on Powell at Union Square.
5. Go to the Oh So Very Elegant San Francisco Symphony. They have a website. Plus the part of town around the Symphony Hayes street is very eclectic and nice. Go have a great drink and dinner at Absinthe within walking distance of the Symphony on Hayes street.
6. The Marina on Chestnut street makes for great walking and noshing. Close by is Crissy Field and you can walk along the Bay out to the Golden Gate Bridge.
7. Union St is also a fun place to hang out.
Unfortunately, the Union Square area is a little run down and dirty. Golden Gate park is wonderful and the Irving St in the inner sunset has a fun safe local flavor. The Haight is nasty. The wine country is not to be missed.
Have a Great Time
1. If you have a car drive to the very top of Twin Peaks on a clear day and you can see forever!
2. Have lunch or dinner at Boulevard at Mission and the Embarcadero. Totaly awesome food and atmosphere.
3. If you are here on Saturday go to the Farmer's Market at Green and Embarcadero. Very gourmet!
4. Go have drinks at Harry Denton's Starlight Room right on Powell at Union Square.
5. Go to the Oh So Very Elegant San Francisco Symphony. They have a website. Plus the part of town around the Symphony Hayes street is very eclectic and nice. Go have a great drink and dinner at Absinthe within walking distance of the Symphony on Hayes street.
6. The Marina on Chestnut street makes for great walking and noshing. Close by is Crissy Field and you can walk along the Bay out to the Golden Gate Bridge.
7. Union St is also a fun place to hang out.
Unfortunately, the Union Square area is a little run down and dirty. Golden Gate park is wonderful and the Irving St in the inner sunset has a fun safe local flavor. The Haight is nasty. The wine country is not to be missed.
Have a Great Time
Apr 30th, 2002, 10:21 AM
#35
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I live in SF and I love it! As many have said, it is a city and does have it's problems. However...
I love the Alcatraz tour! I really don't like doing most of the touristy things here, but whenever someone comes to visit I always go with them to Alcatraz. The audio tour is actually really interesting and the view of SF from the island is beautiful.
I too love Stinson Beach, and the drive there is really beautiful and fun. The view when you come around the final curve is breathtaking!
There's a pretty cool place near Half Moon Bay south of the city. It's called Moss Beach Distillery. It's an old house turned restaurant that overlooks the Pacific and is supposedly haunted.
Upstairs is a pricey restaurant, but downstairs is a very casual spot that serves mussels, oysters, etc. and has a patio. You can bring your own bottle of wine, order a bucket of mussels and curl up in one of the big chairs on the patio to watch the sunset. They even provide big comfy blankets!
Having a dinner at sunset in Sausalito is quite nice, especially at Scoma's or Horizons. Right on the water, you can see the twinkling lights of the city across the Bay.
Another fun thing to do is to rent bikes and ride them to Tiburon across the GG Bridge, have lunch on the outdoor patio of Sam's on the water and take the ferry back.
I prefer Sonoma to Napa because it is smaller and most of the wineries there do not charge for sampling the wine. Not to be missed is Viansa... not only a winery but an Italian marketplace where you can sample olive oils, dips, chocolates, etc. A very yummy and sobering end to a day of wine tasting!
In the city, I love North Beach for the endless choices of restaurants (mostly Italian) and the electric energy of the people in the streets. One of my favorite places is the Bocce Cafe. The food is only so-so and the wait is usually pretty long, but the ambiance is great and the food is really cheap. Or you can just stroll around North Beach and wander into somewhere that strikes your eye.
Well, I'll stop now... could go on forever. But if Nude Sunbathing is your idea of fun, check out Baker Beach under the bridge!
I love the Alcatraz tour! I really don't like doing most of the touristy things here, but whenever someone comes to visit I always go with them to Alcatraz. The audio tour is actually really interesting and the view of SF from the island is beautiful.
I too love Stinson Beach, and the drive there is really beautiful and fun. The view when you come around the final curve is breathtaking!
There's a pretty cool place near Half Moon Bay south of the city. It's called Moss Beach Distillery. It's an old house turned restaurant that overlooks the Pacific and is supposedly haunted.
Upstairs is a pricey restaurant, but downstairs is a very casual spot that serves mussels, oysters, etc. and has a patio. You can bring your own bottle of wine, order a bucket of mussels and curl up in one of the big chairs on the patio to watch the sunset. They even provide big comfy blankets!Having a dinner at sunset in Sausalito is quite nice, especially at Scoma's or Horizons. Right on the water, you can see the twinkling lights of the city across the Bay.
Another fun thing to do is to rent bikes and ride them to Tiburon across the GG Bridge, have lunch on the outdoor patio of Sam's on the water and take the ferry back.
I prefer Sonoma to Napa because it is smaller and most of the wineries there do not charge for sampling the wine. Not to be missed is Viansa... not only a winery but an Italian marketplace where you can sample olive oils, dips, chocolates, etc. A very yummy and sobering end to a day of wine tasting!
In the city, I love North Beach for the endless choices of restaurants (mostly Italian) and the electric energy of the people in the streets. One of my favorite places is the Bocce Cafe. The food is only so-so and the wait is usually pretty long, but the ambiance is great and the food is really cheap. Or you can just stroll around North Beach and wander into somewhere that strikes your eye.
Well, I'll stop now... could go on forever. But if Nude Sunbathing is your idea of fun, check out Baker Beach under the bridge!
Apr 30th, 2002, 12:20 PM
#36
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San Francisco is nothing but an overrated tourist trap living on its past laurels. There are many cities with a more reputable cultural and culinary scene than that so called city err town by the bay. In addition, the crime rate has steadily been on the rise, to the point where cab drivers are afraid to work. Add to that the downright frigid weather in the summer, overpriced restaurants, homeless, hookers, and trash in the streets, and what you get is the armpit or better yet, crotch of Northern California. Hardly a place for people to waste their hard earned money. San Francisco should take a look at a real city such as New York, with over 10 times the population and virtually no homeless people to be seen, as well as clean streets and the best culture and culinary establishments. Obviously there are some ignorant people who have an agenda to turn this travel forum into some San Francisco love fest and misleadingly promote San Francisco. Those who are so in love with such a trashy town should start by takingm their blinders off. Even then, it may be too difficult to see through the fog.
May 1st, 2002, 06:14 AM
#39
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I agree with XYZ, in substance, if not in intensity. San Francisco is sleazy by US urban standards.
People are fleeing San Francisco and its suburban counties. The San Francisco counties lost population last year, according to the US Census Bureau.
The figures, (April 2000 to July 2001) are:
San Francisco: -6,010 -0.8% LOSS
San Mateo: -5,141 -0.7% LOSS
Santa Clara: -14,276 -0.8% LOSS
How wonderful is the SF Bay Area, if it can't even keep its own people?
People are fleeing San Francisco and its suburban counties. The San Francisco counties lost population last year, according to the US Census Bureau.
The figures, (April 2000 to July 2001) are:
San Francisco: -6,010 -0.8% LOSS
San Mateo: -5,141 -0.7% LOSS
Santa Clara: -14,276 -0.8% LOSS
How wonderful is the SF Bay Area, if it can't even keep its own people?
May 1st, 2002, 07:01 AM
#40
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And as long as I'm The Gov. and I continue to screw up the energy crisis here in California, those counties will continue to lose jobs and it's population. I wish Enron didn't go bankrupt because I'll lose my boogieman to blame it all on.
Vote foe me!
Vote foe me!
