I will be traveling with ny husband on a business trip to San Fran, so I will have plenty of time to tour while he is working. What should I not miss? I'm not sure about a car, but I'm guessing not.

No car. Good decision.

So, how long will you be in our fair city and what are some of your interests? Indoors or outdoors? And are you a foodie? What time of the year? I will check back for your responses.

hi deb and sharon, same here, am traveling with my husband too, been in sf a few times before, but am always in for new must do's and must see's (im from holland) , i think ive done the most touristy things already,so i'd like some inside things!

Even if it sounds like a "touristy" thing or seemmingly has no appeal, the Alactraz trip/tour is very worthwhile. Historically fascinating and the island has the best view of the SF skyline that you can get from anywhere.

Recommend you take a Grey Line Tour of all of S.F... they willpick you up at the hotel..they include so much..you can always go back.. We loved the stop at the Japanese garden.. Also took Blue and Gold tour of the Bay..we did not stop or tour Alcatraz..

Deb, We have enjoyed strolls along the Embarcdero from the Aquatic Park/Fisherman's Wharf area down to the Ferry Building (The Clocktower bldg-near the Bay Bridge)during the sunrise hours. Pretty safe since a lot of joggers/skaters are out early and it's beautiful. Still, always be aware of your surroundings. Mrs Kal and her sister have jogged along the route when they've been there and felt pretty safe.

When you get to the end, you can take a trolley back to the start, or taxi back to your hotel, depending on where your hotel is located.

The Buena Vista Cafe (Beach & Hyde) has a good breakfast and a view of the cable car turn table and the bay. Plus a goooood cup of Irish Coffee to get the morning chill out!

You may wish to take a ferry over to Sausilito or Tiberon. Great view looking back at The City.

Coit Tower allows for a good 360 degree view. You may want to take a taxi up there.
The view from the top of the Bank of America bldg(The Carnelian Room) at California & Montgomery is breathtaking.

You can also buy a ticket to go to the Observation Deck at the top of Embarcadero Center.

Unfortunately, Union Square is being torn up for a massive face lift but the stores and shops are still open.

Very interesting walks thru Chinatown and Northbeach, too.
Good Luck,
Kal

A couple of things you may or may not have done, but which are very worthwhile IMO are the Japanese Tea Garden in Golden Gate Park and the Museum of Modern Art, which is worth a visit for the architecture alone, though they've beefed up the collection lately.

If you like to hike, and if you've already done Alcatraz, consider taking the ferry out to Angel Island and doing a hike and enjoying the view back to SF.

A walk across the GG Bridge is always nice if the weather's good.

If you'd like to see and learn, a walking tour is the way to go. The public library sponsors a bevy of free tours of all kinds--art, architecture, history, specific neighborhoods. You can get details at www.walking-tours.com/cityguides. Not free, but fabulous, is The Wok Wiz eat-and-shop-your-way-through-Chinatown tour, info at www.wokwiz.com.

For some fun theater with topical political/social/SF themes, go to Beach Blanket Babylon (www.beachblanketbabylon.com).

A terrific resourcefor all public transportation in and around SF including BART, MUNI, and ferries, is www.transitinfo.org/counties. Scroll to San Francisco. Maps, schedules, fares, connesctions, links, etc. are all there.

I guess, in response to Sharons question, I could go either way,inside activity if the weather is poor, or outside too, since I like to walk. I wonder if this great store I shopped at years ago is still in business--Harper Greer. Does anyone know? It has been so long since I have been in the city I'm sure a lot has changed. I appreciate everyones suggestions and look forward to the trip. Also, a great garlic restaurant comes to mind, wonder if it is still there--The Stinking Rose. Let me know.Thanks to all.

I have been to San Francisco 3 times and it is a terrific city. Let me give you some suggestions;
1) Agree about the Wok Wiz Walking tour I went on it my last time and it was great.

2) Another walking tour was the Victorian walking tour. It covered mostly Japantown looking at Victorian houses.

3) Walk up Columbus from North Beach, home of the beatniks and Italian coffee houses to Chinatown. Linger at the park near Peter & Paul's Church.

4) Go north across the GG bridge to Muir Beach and eat at the Pelican Inn. It is an English Inn named after one of Sir Frances Drakes's ships. Very romantic.

5) Eat at Plumpjacks just off Union St. (The food anywhere in San Francisco is very good.)

6) Get a Muni pass and jump on a cable car.

7) Walk down Lombard St. -- the crookedest street in the world.

if this is not enough then consult Access San Francisco.

Greg

Well, let me just share some of my favorite things that are not listed above:

1) A sunny day. Take the ferry to Tiburon, lunch at Guaymas Mexican restaurant http://www.tiburon.org/restaurants/Guaymas.html. Marvel at the great views of the city. After lunch take ferry to Angel island. Hike the uninhabited hills. Return to the city just in time to watch the sun set from the deck of the boat.

2) A rainy day. Wander through the beautiful collection at the Legion of Honor. http://www.thinker.org/legion/index.html.

3) A cloudy day. Take a walking tour of San Francisco (you will be grateful there are clouds as you go up and down the hills). Guide yourself using a book such as "Walking San Francisco: On the Barbary Coast Trail," by Daniel Bacon. Or have someone lead you through our interesting and diverse city such as Jay Gifford http://www.victorianwalk.com/.

4) A lazy day. Check out our fabulous books stores (i.e. City Light). Find a great read and stop in a neighborhood coffee shop for some enjoyable reading and a cappuccino.

5) A shopping day. Check out the fabulous shopping around Union Street. When you have had your fill and are in need of a pick-me-up, go for high tea at one of our beautiful locations (Top of the Mark, Sheraton Palace, St. Francis).

6) A trendy day. Check out the Haight Street scene. Grab lunch at Cha Cha Cha (Tapas) or Massawa (Ethiopian/Eritrean).

7) A kids day (for all ages!). Visit the California Academy of Sciences and check out the Aquarium. While in Golden Gate Park, take a walk and enjoy some of the most beautiful acres in the city. Wander to Sharon Meadow and play on the swings, or wander all the way out to Ocean Beach and play in the sand. Grab a burger and malt at Luis' at Land's End. Possibly the best burger joint in town... definitely with the best views.

8) An athletic day. Bike across the Golden Gate to the Marin Headlands. I cannot even begin to describe the views you will encounter. If the fog is rolling in the site becomes surreal.

9) An adult night out. Martinis and appetizers at Zuni and then a show (Opera, Play, you name it). Grab a late dinner at Jardiniere.

10) A college day. Take the BART over to Berkeley and spend some time remembering when. Walk the beautiful campus and check out Cody's book store. People watch at a local eatery.

11) A movie day. Check out the scene at the huge cineplex that is our Sony Metreon. Words cannot describe all the lives there http://www.metreon.com.

12) A eaters day on the town... choose from any of our amazing restaurants. Here is a list I find invaluable as a local: The top 100 Bay Area Restaurants. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/articl.../06/FD100Z.DTL

13) A dinner with the boss and her husband. One Market. A place to impress and still maintain that distance...

14) A romantic night out. Froo froo: Dinner at Campton Place http://www.camptonplace.com/restaurant.html or La Folie http://www.lafolie.com/ (either one, both have GREAT food WITH great service).

15) A romantic night out Easy going: Tommy's (best margaritas in town) 5929 Geary Blvd. The outer Richmond

OK, that is a start. I hope it helps.

Yup. Still hereL http://www.thestinkingrose.com/

Sharon,
"13) A dinner with the boss and her husband...."
Remember you are in SF. "The boss and her wife" may be more PC.

Stinkin' Rose been beddy beddy good to neanderthal man. Garlic wine,Garlic beer, roased garlic on sourdough bread, 40 clove garlic chicken...yuuummmm yuuuummmm.

This may be the wrong place for this message, but forgive me as I am new. I too am coming to SF with my family (wife & kids ages 8, 14, and 17). I have read the guidebooks for hours and searched the internet for a good lodging bargain downtonw. I would really like to stay at the Farimont, but it is $379 per nite. I have 2 rooms reserved at the Handlery for $139 a nite. Is the place oK? The kids would like a pool, and I would like a health club. Should I consider the Hilton Towers or Marriott as an alternative? Hotel Nikko is in the high $200s but soulds good also. Please someone give me some advice on this board or email me. Thanks so much.

Woow, what great advice and websites you're giving here! Thank you, Caitlin, Greg, Sharon, I have been to sf 3 times before, but have a whole lot of new things to do! Will let you know, when im back. Deb, when are you going? As both our husbands will be working, we might take a tour together.
Anyone need any advice on Europe (Im from Holland, but I know some about France, Spain) let me know so I can return the favour.

You are welcome. Also, I agree with Union St--lots of good places to eat and shop. If you get to Union St try to walk up the hill to Pacific Heights for views of the Bay & Victorian mansions. Be warned, these hills are steep. If you want to take the easy way up the hill then go to Filmore St where it crosses Union and take the bus. (Filmore St has also has lots of good places to eat and shop.) Walk down Filmore for spectacular views of the Bay
Greg

A few other suggestions not previously mentioned.....the Friends of the SF Library ("City Guides") offer free (optional donation requested) walking tours every day of the week (several per day). These are excellent; I always recommend them to out-of-town guests and have gone on several myself. You can pick up the schedule at the tourist info office at the Powell Street BART station or (probably) at the Main library. The website is www.sfcityguides.org. You can't go wrong with this. Also suggested is the Oakland Museum; it has a great section devoted to CA history. You can get there by BART (Lake Merritt Station). If you have a Friday (daytime) available, take the ferry to Oakland (Jack London Square), walk up Broadway to 9th Street (9 blocks) for a wonderful, very ethnic farmer's market (my in-laws felt tlike they were in another country!) and go across Broadway to Jade Villa restaurant for Dim Sum (and explore Oakland's Chinatown - not so touristy as SF's). If you are interested in SF's Chinatown - avoid Grant Ave., it's all tourist shops. One block over, Stockton Street, is Chinatown that caters to the Chinese. Did anyone mention that the GG Bridge can be walked across? And at the base is an interesting museum (at Ft. Point) with info about the fort which goes back to Civil War times (and bfore). Don't know your age and/or interests, but you can take BART to "infamous" Berkeley (aprx 20-30 minute ride) and walk around Telegraph Ave. If you know any locals (or at your hotel), ask them save you "the pink section" (Datebook) from the most recent Sunday SF Chronicle. This has all the entertainment activities going on in SF and the Bay Area for the week. I'm sure I'll think of more places later.

For the best view of the Golden Gate Bridge drive through the Lincoln Golf Course, and stop at the 17th hole for a terrific view.