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-   -   Indoor Activities/San Francisco (https://www.fodors.com/community/united-states/indoor-activities-san-francisco-305040/)

Bettina222 Feb 15th, 2008 03:57 AM

Indoor Activities/San Francisco
 
My husband and I are leaving Sunday for 5 nights in San Francisco.
The forecast is iffy, calling for showers several of the days.
The weather won't hold us back from doing what we want to do but I'm wondering if there are some indoor activities we can also think about.
any suggestions?
thanks

longhorn55 Feb 15th, 2008 04:13 AM

How about the Exploratorium? We spent an entire day there and then returned in the evening to do the Tactile Dome.

trippinkpj Feb 15th, 2008 04:36 AM

If you are into hi tech stuff, or just a good movie, the Metreon is an indoor option. Also, SF Shopping Center on Market between 4th and 5th St. is indoors.

StuDudley Feb 15th, 2008 08:32 AM

SF City Guides conducts a free walking tour of the Palace Hotel - which is all inside. You'll get to visit several rooms that are not open to the public. For specifics (and other free tours) see

www.SFCityGuides.org

City Guides is sponsored by the San Francisco Public Library.

Stu Dudley

FainaAgain Feb 15th, 2008 10:24 AM

Museums
Movies
Bars
Shopping
Theater, ballet
Bus tours

MichelleY Feb 15th, 2008 01:00 PM

I did the Palace Hotel tour last June. I highly recommend it.

If it is too rainy, eating and drinking options will be endless!!

Hi Faina!

MY

FainaAgain Feb 15th, 2008 01:40 PM

:-x

J_Correa Feb 15th, 2008 01:56 PM

Isn't that DiVinci exhibit still up at the Metreon? I got a brochure about that and it looked pretty interesting.

The DeYoung Museum is another neat indoor activity.

FainaAgain Feb 15th, 2008 03:07 PM

J, no, DaVinci was till December 31, 2007.

I tried a search to see if another exhibit has replaced this one, can't find anything, but I read about Penguino ice-cream at the Metreon, anybody knows where, which floor?

And what is there where the night kitchen was, the cafeteria on the top with a balcony?

Shanti Feb 15th, 2008 04:02 PM

I like the Asian Art Museum & the Conservatory of Flowers.

NewbE Feb 15th, 2008 07:53 PM

In addition to the other great ideas listed here, I would add the Cable Car Museum, which is small but interesting; Japantown, where there is a huge and unusual indoor mall, plus Grace Cathedral; the Ferry Building, where you might miss out on the nice outdoor areas but could enjoy, indoors, the wine bar, cheese shop, chocolate shop, olive oil shop and several restaurants.

Bettina222 Feb 16th, 2008 04:43 AM

Thank you all for your suggestions.
I'm taking them with me tomorrow.
We've been a couple of times before to San Fran but have always been fortunate enough to have great weather and we spent most of our time outdoors.

frankdaddy Feb 17th, 2008 06:02 AM

I hope I am not too late. There is a classic car show at Fishermans Wharf. I stopped by there yesterday. Beautiful

Bettina222 Feb 17th, 2008 08:05 AM

You're not too late....my husband will love that!

dmlove Feb 17th, 2008 11:30 AM

I saw those cars parading up California street at noontime Friday. Very cool (although a pain for both other automobile and pedestrian traffic!).

GiuliaPiraino Feb 18th, 2008 01:01 PM

My husband and I were in San Francisco a few weeks ago and it rained/showered/sprinkled for 5 days so I appreciate your challenge. What I noticed is that the weather was crazy, downpour one minute then sunny and warm all within the same hour! I learned that when they say "showers" it's so not the same as "rain". I think you'll be fine with showers, they are usually light and off and on enough to where you can still have a good time outdoors. We just bought huge umbrellas and did lots of stuff outside, even in the rain. However, we've been there dozens of times so we were content doing the minimum. One thing you might consider is to go to the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art. You can easily spend 8 hours in there if your feet can stand it. Not to mention the incredible shopping that begs to be done downtown, but your husband will likely be bored to tears if you do that!

Don't miss the new cupcake bakery in Cow Hollow, it's right across from Roses Cafe on Union Street. They sell a variety of gorgeous cupcakes that will make your eyes cross. The red velvet was outstanding! http://www.saralynnscupcakes.com/

GiuliaPiraino Feb 18th, 2008 01:02 PM

Oh I totally forgot, ditto to the Asian Art Museum, it's great!

StuDudley Feb 19th, 2008 03:55 PM

I think the OP has been in the City for 3 days now. Don't know if they are checking the forum.

Stu Dudley

Bettina222 Feb 22nd, 2008 09:41 PM

Giulia,
You were so right. It rained two out of the four days we were there but not torrential rain. So off we went with our umbrellas!
We took the bus over to see the Cliff House. There was a power outage so we couldn't have lunch there as planned.
We also took our umbrellas with us through China Town and did lots of walking.
The day we spent at the zoo was beautiful.........no rain that day.
We enjoyed riding the cable cars, street cars, buses etc and we loved all the walking we did too!
Oh, we enjoyed our first day there too when we went to Sausalito and there was no rain that day!
Thanks for everyone's suggestions!

GiuliaPiraino Feb 29th, 2008 09:01 PM

Stu, I still like to reply even if the post is old because you never know who's looking for info! I've gotten a lot of great tips from old posts, it's fun.


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