I've been all over the web these past couple of weeks, getting information and planning the details of a trip to San Francisco in May. Of all the web sites I've seen, this Fodor's forum has the most information and the most interesting people, by far!

I originally planned a solo trip to San Francisco for three nights (May 19 - 22), but it's now turned into a five night trip with my daughter-in-law, with my son joining us the evening of May 22. Tuesday through Thursday nights we're staying at the Fairmont on Nob Hill (a once-in-a-blue-moon bit of luxury: I'll be in a main building suite at a whopping $371 per night plus taxes, and my daughter-in-law will be in a "regular" room at $198). On Friday night, when my son joins us, we're moving to the Sheraton Fisherman's Wharf, which I'm having some doubts about after reading about it here on the forum.

We're flying in to SFO from Portland, Oregon via Alaska/Horizon and we will definitely not be renting a car.

The only things I know for sure that I want to do is spend Saturday at the Farmers Market and take a boat tour. Other than that, my daughter-in-law and I will take in some serious shopping at Union Square, the three of us will do the typical tourist thing at Fisherman's Wharf and, since my DIL is from Japan, we'll spend time in Japantown.

My one "must" is a tour of SF-area fabric/quilt stores, including Britex and Peapod Fabrics. I'd also love to get to Berkeley for more quilt shops and, if it's not too hard logistically without a car, get to a San Mateo shop called Always Quilting. A bonus trip would include a visit to Cupertino and/or Santa Clara (the Apple campus and the SF 49ers facility, respectively), but those might be more difficult via public transportation. Are there car services that can be hired for the day to take us to places public transit can't do efficiently?

So, please consider our trip yours to help plan Cost is not the first consideration (although it's definitely NOT a case of "money is no object"), and it'll be my son and daughter-in-law's first trip to San Francisco, and my first in 10 years, so there is much we would love to see and do. We're not adverse to taking organized tours, but there are so many of them from which to choose, I'm sort of stymied. All suggestions most welcome on that front!

Thank you in advance for any and all input.

Billi & kids in PDX

I recommend one of the city tours; we took Greyline. It's about 3-4 hours and gives a good overview of the city plus stops at the GG for magnificent views/pictures, Golden Gate Park, and one other scenic lookout point that overlooked the entire city.

For breakfast, try to make it to Mama's on Washington Square.

Did you run across my suggestions from a past post??

http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...1&tid=35129049

>>will do the typical tourist thing at Fisherman's Wharf

We were at Fisherman's Wharf 3 weeks ago. Disgusting!

Coit Tower - the bushes have grown so tall that it is blocking some of the view.

You will find much to do without Fisherman's Wharf!

We also have Japanese Gardens in the Golden Gate part if your DIL will be interested.

If you do make it down to the Apple campus and the 49rs' camp, you may want to stop at the Quilt Museum http://www.sjquiltmuseum.org/exhibitions_upcoming.html.

There is a big Apple store on Market near Union Square in case that will satisfy your Apple craving.

Caltrain is pretty good at getting you down the Peninsula inexpensively. Many of the downtowns are walkable from the stations. http://www.caltrain.com/ There is a shuttle to the Apple Campus, but only during morning and evening commute hours (as far as I could tell).

In Japantown I like the warm & fresh taiyaki (fish shaped waffles filled with sweet bean paste) at May's coffee shop across from the intriguing Hello Kitty store.

I agree with Dayenu's suggestion of the Japanese Tea Garden. It is also near the De Young art museum, with its incredible view from the tower, which you can see even if you don't pay to see the museum, and the Conservatory of Flowers.

There won't be baseball when you are there, but I enjoy the walk from the Ferry Building to Giant's Stadium, and McCovey Cove behind it.

I do not think the Apple campus is open to the public - do you have a contact there that you will be "visiting"? (I've been there, but on business with Apple people -- there's not really much to see, although it would be a great place to work).

Regarding the San Mateo quilting store, it isn't in the most convenient location for public transportation -- about halfway between two train stations (Hillsdale to the north and Belmont to the south), but not impossible. It's less than a mile walk from the Hillsdale train station. The alternative is bus (called Sam Trans) - I've never taken the bus so I don't know cost or time, but it goes down El Camino Real and therefore you coought too be able to get off very close to the quilting shop.

Wow, you people are wonderful!

Regarding the Apple campus, I am told there is only one place to visit, a store that sells Apple souvenirs ("I visited the Mother Ship" tee shirts and the like). I've got a friend that would kill for one

The only thing I want to do at Fisherman's Wharf is take a picture of the sign, so we can say we've been.

Stu Dudley, your previous posting filled with suggestions is one I've already printed out and put in my travel bag. So much to do that I'm already planning second trip in the fall for a 49er game

That's a long way to go to purchase a T-shirt for someone else. Can you call and have them mail one to you? Buy one on E-Bay?. What if you take the half day to get there, and they are sold out, or your "I am told" source is wrong.

Stu Dudley

Here are two ideas that really made our trip, and I highly recommend them.
If you want to do a tour of the city, do go on the Movie tour. IT shows you all the sites, but also shows you different scenes from famous movies. It showed well over 100 such scenes. For instance, it stopped at 'Mrs. Doubtfire's' house.

The second thing is to get tickets for Beach Blanket Babylon. It's a hilarious show and well worth it.
We had never heard of it, but were so glad to get tickets.

Another vote for Beach Blanket Babylon...35 years and going strong.

Here's what I would recommend to a friend visiting San Francisco:

In Japantown our favorite restaurant is Tanpopo at 1740 Buchanan, particularly for izakaya (small plates). Across the courtyard is Benkyodo which has been making manju and mochi since 1906. Both of these are across Post Street from the main section of Japantown.

Chinatown is one of the biggest in the US...go to Stockton Street one block up from Grant Avenue to see the authentic markets where locals shop.

In Golden Gate Park near the Tea Garden and the De Young Museum, the recently renovated Academy of Sciences has gotten rave reviews.

Take a Golden Gate Ferry ride from the Ferry Building to Sausalito -- nice restaurants and shops in this old waterfront town.

Go to the Yerba Buena Center for the MOMA, the Martin Luther King Fountain, and a nice lunch in the Samovar Tea Room.

Another very interesting tour in the city is the Victorian House walking tour which meets in Union Square. you actually take a public bus (included in the $25.00)to a group of victorians. Well trained tour guide explaining the differences between the styles, etc. Only draw back is that you have to get back on your own - public transportation again. I know the city so I jsut walked down to Union Street, had lunch and then took the bus back. Also the Alcatraz Tour is one of the best in the City.

Train and bus to San Mateo and Always Quilting. It is a long trek, depending on if you get an express train - not all trains stop at Hillsdale however. Catch the train at the Cal Train station on 3rd and King. the train in San Mateo rund parallel to El Camino Real which is the main drag up and down the peninsula. Sam Trans buses run on El Camino (Hillsdale Shopping center is there also) and you can take the bus to to 41st or 42nd (catch the bus in front of Barnes and Nobel bookstore on El Camino.) You actaully could walk it as it is only about 6 - 8 blocks. Always Quilting is
I think on Olympic which is across the street from the Mollie Stones Market. BEWARE - you must have exact change for the bus which is ow $1.75 each way - no transfers.

Hope this helps.....

All great info, but just one clarification -- the Cal-train station in SF is at 4th and King. It was at 3rd and King many moons ago.