Riding a Cable Car in SF
 

Going to San Francisco with three kids this weekend for a wedding. Most of the weekend will be taken up with wedding activities but we would like to squeeze in a ride on a cable car for the kids. We will be staying in South SF and the wedding is at Crissy Field. Will have a car. Where could we ride a cable car? Best place to get on? Most interesting route? Someplace near a place to park? Any suggestions will be welcome

For ease of parking and getting on I'd pick the California line. If you get on at the Embarcadero (in front of the Hyatt Regency) there is no line and you can park free at one of the Embarcadero Center lots (with validation for purchase of anything at an Embarcadero shop). But this line isn't as exciting as the Powell St. line which you can catch at the park by Ghiradelli Square (park all day under Ghiradelli for $15) or at Powell and Market (park in lot by Mission and Powell). The Powell St. line always has a really long queue.

Drive and park at either Colma or Daly City BART, take BART to Powell Street Station, go up the escalator at the Hallidie Plaza end of the station and right there at street level is the Powell Street Cable Car turnaround.<BR><BR>some info about them:<BR>http://www.sfgate.com/traveler/guide/transportation/publictrans.shtml#CABLE<BR><BR>map with cable car lines in orange:<BR>http://www.sfgate.com/traveler/graphics/maps/sf-downtown_full.gif<BR>

You don't say how old the kids are, but I can guarantee that they will be happy with a stop for a sundae at Ghirdelli Square if you chose to park there and take the cable car at the turnaround. If you're able to get there early, you will beat the lines, and then stop for ice cream before heading to your car. The old fashioned ice cream parlor was a highlight of our trip, and we loved the cable car experience. Since you're driving, head over the Golden Gate Bridge. There are two worthwhile short trips once on the other side. There is a scenic overlook just over the bridge that affords a spectacular view, and Sausilito [sp?] is an adorable, picturesque town with spectacular views on the other side of the bay.

If you can get a ride first thing in the morning (8 or 9 a.m.), then that is best. I have tried in the afternoon and it is pretty impossible to get a cable car, IMHO.

I agree with Ben - take Bart into SF, get off at Powell and take the Cable Car from there rather than driving into SF and finding parking.

More questions. Why is the Powell st. line more exciting? And is it really impossible to get on in the afternoon? How long would one have to wait? Also, the website says the fare is $2 one way. Is it possible to stay on and come back to where you started or must you get off and back on? Thanks again for all the great advice so far.

The ride up from Ghiradelli is steep, you make several turns, go by Chinatown, the cable car museum, etc. The ride up California is straight up. You must get off at the end and get in the queue if you want to ride again.<BR><BR>Our favorite routine was either to park down by Ghiradelli, ride up, then walk down through Chinatown etc. Or park at the Masonic Lodge up top, walk down, then ride back up the cable car. <BR><BR>The lines can be very long in the afternoon on weekends. Go early or go late.

Here's a suggestion to NOT take the cable car from G'delli Square.<BR><BR>Reason: I like the ride heading toward the square better (don't know the name of the line) because you come over a hill and get a stunning, surprising view of Alcatraz. The ride FROM G'delli square is sort of anticlimatic because you'rve already seen the bay. The kids (and you) will be more impressed with the ride toward the bay.

If there isn't a line of people waiting to get on the cable car, the operator may let you stay on and ride back on the same car, but that is unlikely. If you wait until the afternoon to ride the cable car, the wait could be 2 hours - no kidding. Also, theoretically you can get on the cable car at any stop along the way, but during peak times when the cars are full, there isn't any room. The only way you can get on one is to wait in the line at the ends of the route. <BR><BR>

Which is why the California line is easiest. If all you want to do is ride the Cable car (and you do go through China Town and over a steep hill and through the financial district) it's perfect. I have NEVER seen a line at either end.

Thanks for the info everyone. We had a lovely time in SF. Ended up riding on the California Line. Parked on the street one block from one end. Had a wonderful ride. Didn't have to wait at all. (Drove by Powell and Market and saw the crowds and decided to pass on that line). During our ride, a baby dropped her bottle out the window and the driver stopped the car, got out and stopped traffic in the lane next to us, picked up the bottle and gave it back to the baby. Would never happen in Chicago.

Glad you had a nice ride on the California line! Hope the wedding was lovely, the weather was great!