Presidio/Marina area suggestions
 

Next week I'm coming down to the city for a couple of days and then up to Timber Cove Tues/Wed. Won't be my typical SF visit. I'm staying at the Travelodge out at the end of Lombard next to the Presidio and will probably spend Sunday exploring there, Disney Museum, Crissy Field, etc. Then Monday I'm taking a behind the scenes tour of the Academy of Science.

Any suggestions for things to be sure to see/do Sunday in/near the Presidio and someplace for a good early dinner? Open to any type of meal but right now I'm leaning to seafood some kind of special ambiance or views.

thanks

Have you walked the Coastal Trail from the western edge of Seacliff where it hits the Lincoln Park Golf Course, to the Cliff House???? Spectacular views of the Golden Gate - entrance to the Bay and the Bridge. Might be interesting to do this around 4 or 5 PM and then have dinner at one of the restaurants at the Cliff House. Not at the Marina, but I don't know of any restaruant in the Marina area (other than Greens - a vegetarian place), that has views of the Bay.

Betelnut on Union St is an interesting dinner venue (close to the Marina) - especially if you are dining alone and like to sit at the bar. "Pacific Rim" food - but many seafood selections. If the weather is nice, you can sit outside (heaters).

Stu Dudley

Thanks -- actually Greens might be good for Sunday night. I haven't been there for years. Then I can maybe hit one of the Cliff House places or Betelnut Monday night.

I'm staying at the Travelodge>

ah Travelodge - the same Travelodges you constantly diss when I even mention them in London? One in the same? Did you get a 29 quid rate?

The Legion of Honor Museum is nearby. It's a beautifully situated art museum with a wonderful collection of paintings and sculpture. Lots of great photo ops from the grounds.

GTG? It's been a while till we had one :))

I mean, since we had one. We need "edit" button! At least I do.

(PQ: And you accused <i>ME</i> of stalking?? When was the last time you ever posted on a California thread? Go play in the street will ya . . . - and sweetie -- I never once 'dissed' TL in London or anywhere else. I DID say that touting the TL 'special' is very misleading for London)

There -- that's over :)

zootsi: Thanks -- yes -- the Palace of the Legion of Honor and the Exploratorium are on the radar if I have time.

Oh -- Dayenu -- I didn't see your posts. (was too p^$sed off by PQ ;) )

A GTG would be great. I didn't post this in the Lounge because I wasn't sure about the museum tour and that would have changed my plans.

The best time for me would be Monday night -- but Sunday evening could work too. Whatcha think?

Janisj--Please report back on your experience at the Disney Museum. We are thinking of going there when visiting the Exploratorium since they are nearby and would love some feedback ahead of time.

We probably want to see either the Legiion of Honor or the De Young Museum. I think the impressionist art at De Young on loan from the Orsay in Paris is already or will be gone by summer. We missed it when in Paris last year because it was in San Francisco and now it will be gone. We'll just have to chase it back to Paris one day.

Plus if you eat at Cliffhouse or Betelnut, share your experiences as well.

Hi Janisj,

Assuming you went on your trip, I would appreciate comments regarding the Disney Museum, California Academy of Sciences and if you ate at either the Cliffhouse or Betelnut. How much time do you need for the Disney Musueum? California Academy--probably 3-4 hours? Thanks.

Hi -- The Disney Museum was surprisingly interesting. I'm not quite sure how long I spent there -- but I'd guess about 90 minutes. It is divided into sections about Walt's early life, the movies, and developing Disneyland. It is much larger than I anticipated and very well done for the most part. I'd think an hour would be absolute minimum.

There is a small cafe but I wouldn't bother. Supposedly catered by Wolfgang Puck but my ham/cheese sandwich was pretty basic/tasteless. There is a very nice cafe/bar w/ lovely views at the Presidio Transport center a short walk from the museum. I didn't find that until my walk back so only had a galss of wine there.

I didn't end up eating at either the Cliff House or Betelnut. I had a glass of Champagne at the Cliff House though. I ate a very filling (and good) late lunch in the Moss Room at the Academy of Science so really wasn't in the mood for a big dinner that evening. Had a Duck liver terrine starter and a really good mushroom risotto .

Instead of Betelnut -- on my fist night I ate at Greens and it was VERY good. The views are great of course, and even serious meat eaters wouldn't feel abused there. Several of the dishes are very substantial and there is nothing particularly 'vegetarian/vegan/earth mother-ish' about the place. Had a Potato/Leek/Nettle soup to start (delish) and buckwheat crepes filled w/ squash/sweet potatoes and accompanied by roasted veg.

The Academy of Science tour was really great - it is expensive at $99 but well worth it IMO. And they are running a special - essentially 2 for 1. The tour ran 90 mins and then you get priority entrance/seating to the Planetarium which saves waiting in a huge line (though the planetarium show was heavy on 'WOW' and short on 'meat' IMO. I spent basically most of day there -- popped over to the Japanese Tea Garden for a break and then went to the top of the De Young Tower before going back to the Academy. W/o the tour -- I'd allot about 2 hours for the academy - w/ the tour 3 to 5 hours depending on your interests.

Janisj may have been "rained out" - we've had some realy big rains recently.

Stu Dudley

Still sounds like a good time.

We've been wanting to try the Presido Social Club for lunch/dinner. <i>Anyone</i>?

And we keep forgetting about Green's durnit!

Thanks for the feedback. I heard about the rains and snow up in the mountains that even affected Yosemite Valley not just the higher elevations. I wonder when the Glacier Point and Tioga Road will be open this year.

Sounds like you had a great time despite the rainy weather. Where is Green's? It sounds like a good place. We do want to see the Disney museum and California Academy. Thanks for giving a frame of reference for time allotment. We also want to see the Picasso Exhibit at the Museum of Modern Art.

If you had a choice between Legion of Honor and De Young and didn't have time for both which to choose?

Kal--It's been awhile since I went to the the Presidio Social Club and it has been getting inconsistent reviews for that past few years. Basically interesting location, OK cuisine.

europeannovice: If you can only goto one I'd make it the DeYoung. But honestly - if you leave the park going west and drive along the Great Highway it is only a short detour after the Cliff House up to the Legion of Honor so you might be able to probably fit both in . . .

"<i>Janisj may have been "rained out" - we've had some realy big rains recently.</i>"

Nope - not a drop -- honest. I REALLY lucked out because the whole north state was really being hit hard.

It poured off and on all the way down I-80 but the sun came out (this was on Sunday AM) just as I crossed the Bay bridge and all day Sun/Mon I was outside most of the day and it was always broken clouds (but rained late each night)

And Tues AM at the Golden Gate overlook before driving north, the bridge and city looked like jewels in the brilliant sunshine.

It was still nice when I stopped for a bit in Muir Woods but then it got more and more cloudy as I drove up hwy 1 w/ occasional spitting showers all along Bodega Bay etc.

But when I got up to Timber Cove where I had a fireplace/balcony room and special chef's dinner booked -- OOPS - "<i>Sorry we couldn't reach you! Our power went out in the storm on Sat.</i> (This was now Tues afternoon) <i>and PG&E can't even estimate when it will be on again</i>".

here I was up north of Ft Ross and the nearest places to stay were back down in Bodega Bay. "<i>But we are a sister hotel to the Napa Marriott -- they are under renovation but fully operational. How about of we comp you a room tonight?</i>"

Done!! -- so I took the river road (the river was running really high) across to Napa Valley and spent the night in a concierge floor room w/ free wine, hors d'oeuvres, desserts, breakfast. Then Wed it was an absolute monsoon all the way home.

OH, did I miss you? Sorry, Janet, this "new" Fodor's hurts my eyes when I open it at work, so I haven't spent much time here. I forgot about you coming here, I would send you an e-mail.

Thx SAB Guess I'll just stick with the Buena Vista!

europeannovice: Didn't notice your question about Greens. It is in Fort Mason right on the Marina and about 10 blocks from the Presidio

Dayenu: Not to worry -- I'll be back down in the city when/if the storm door closes.