San Francisco
 

I just booked a last minute trip to SFO, arriving late Friday and returning home on Monday. I've never been there before and need advice on hotels/areas to stay. What's a must see!? Do I need a car? What's a good place to jog/enjoy the views. Is Chinatown worth visiting!? And last but not least places to eat?! Thanks for your help ��

You must see the things you are interested in. You must know some things to do there or you wouldn't be going.

No car needed or a good idea.

Yes, Chinatown is worth visiting.

thanks vjblovesitaly!

In the search box at the upper right, type in "San Francisco".

Stay in Union Square area. It's great for first timers as a central location.

Buy a 3 day SF muni pass which will allow you unlimited bus, cable car, etc rides.

http://www.sfmta.com/getting-around/...tor-day-passes

It's $26 but when you figure a single cable car ride is $6, it's a bargain ( also, you can't get off and back on cable car if you have paid just the $6, it/ another $6 to get on again unless you have a 1 day or multi day pass).

If you want a good way to learn about the city do a walking tour. We love Cityguides, sponsored by SF public library. It's donation, only - $5 or more is great. They have close to 100 tours, covering every aspect of SF, including a Chinatown tour!
Sfcityguides.org

As far as hotels, use kayak.com to look, but consider last minutes deals or Priceline or Hotwire, just be sure you know how to use them.

What's your price per night? keep in mind taxes add about 15% to basic room cost.

There is a LOT to see and do in SF. Union Square is the epi-center of the downtown - it's noisy and busy, with lots of hotels and stores of all kinds. Not my favorite area of the city, but not the worst. Chinatown is pretty amazing, and it abuts the Union Square neighborhood. The tenderloin area is also close by, but this is not an area to wander into. The Mission district at one time was considered a bit sketchy, but is now getting gentrified. Mission Delores is a lovely historic church to visit. Don't miss Pacific Park, The Presidio, the Marina. The Legion of Honor Museum is a spectacular site on a clear day.
A great area to jog is Pacific Heights (very upscale) near the Lyon Street steps - lots of jogging, yoga, stretching, etc going on at the top of the steps.

If you stay at UnSq/Embarcadero area... our walking/jogging route is down Market to the Ferry Bldg, north on Embarcadero....up to the Marina District or if in good shape up to the GG Bridge, turn around and come on back down Columbus (keep your head on a swivel-obey traffic signals) to Montgomery or KEarny and then to Market again.

Maybe take a quick hike up Greenwich to Coit Tower for some awesome 360 degree views of The City.

>>need advice on hotels/areas to stay<<

What is your budget?

Pacific Park

Just curious whether you meant to say Golden Gate Park?

As for the Mission District, parts of it are "fully gentrified" (Valencia Street corridor), parts not (Mission Street) (even though they run parallel to each other, one block apart). I'd definitely go there for a meal - Lolo, Limon, Delfina, Tartine and hundreds of other choices. Take a stroll through Bi-Rite (an amazing small grocery). Walk through Dolores Park and up and down Valencia Street and 24th Street.

For jogging, with "low" views, the Marina Green/Chrissy Field - Fort Mason to the Warming Hut makes for a nice walk/jog.

I'd look up hidden staircases and find a few -- take a walk along the Embarcadero/bay, the walk up to Coit Tower and back down to North Beach and Chinatown (which combines two or three distinctly different areas of the city, each of which abuts the other(s)).

For jogging and views, head out to the Presidio.

Here are some ideas.

http://www.fodors.com/community/unit...mendations.cfm

Stu Dudley