I currently live on the east coast of the U.S. and I am potentially planning on staying in San Francisco (unless somewhere else in California suits me better) for about a week in early December. I am a 20 year old female and will most likely be traveling alone. Where do yall recommend I stay (with out breaking my bank account) and what should I do while I am there? Napa Valley interested me but it is not near by. What are some things that I could do in the San Francisco area for low prices? I enjoy nature, art, beautiful churches, city walks, local hang outs, and some touristy traps.

>>with out breaking my bank account> I enjoy nature, art, beautiful churches, city walks, local hang outs, and some touristy traps.

Explore the neighborhoods. Shops, parks, architecture, coffee houses......

Explore the stairs. Filbert Steps is one of my favorite places.
http://www.sisterbetty.org/stairways/stairways.htm

Regarding the hotel, I don't want to be spending more than $250 a night if possible.

Hi Kate.
It looks like you have given a little more thought to your trip and its nice to see what your interests are.
San Francisco would be an expensive place to stay, but there are hostels in that city and nearby which could save you considerable money, and if you stay just outside of town, in one of the villages like Burlingame for instance, there are lots of interesting shopping options and some local galleries that you may enjoy. And the room rates would be a little less as well.
You mentioned that Napa may not suit you, but you might look into Sonoma County as an option; the distance fronm SF is similar, but Sonoma has historical sites, galleries and fun activities such as Farm-to-Table tours, as well as the Mission Model Museum which tells the story of the California Missions and has models of them. You could also "day trip" to the coast and visit Bodega Bay to see some of the buildings that were in "The Birds", and then day trip up to Mendocino and see some of the scenery made famous on TV shows like "Murder She Wrote".
Back in Sonoma County, there are numerous galleries around the town of Santa Rosa and the Luther Burbank Gardens are worth a look as well.

>> if you stay just outside of town, in one of the villages like Burlingame for instance, there are lots of interesting shopping options and some local galleries that you may enjoy. And the room rates would be a little less as well.

It may be touristy, but any first time visitor should check out Pier 39 and Fisherman's wharf.

You can easily take BART to Berkeley and spend a part of the day exploring that area.

Chinatown is fun experience. I really recommend the Wok Wiz tour which includes tastings along the way and a sit down Dim Sum lunch.

Take the ferry to Sausalito or Tiburon.

Walk or rent a bike to cross the Golden Gate Bridge.

I've stayed in the city both at the wharf and in the Chinatown area. I checked Booking.com and there are a bunch of high rated places in SF easily within your budget. We prefer to stay in the Walnut Creek area in the east bay. There is great shopping and we just take BART into the city.

You can find a decent hotel in SF for $250.00 a night if there are not big conventions in town. Parc55 might have a decent rate, sometimes the Hyatt at the Embarcadero has specials. It depends on when you will be here in December. The Wine country is NOT far at all. An easy day trip. I suggest picking up a NEIGHBORHOOD WALKING BOOK of SF, or STAIRWAY WALKS many of which are right downtown, or along the bay. We live outside of the City and do these walks all the time. MUIR WOODS is a great day trip. We have taken the Victorian House walking tour which was very informative even for those of us who live here as wella s the Chinatown walking tour. The DeYoung Museum, the Legion of Honor have wonderful exhibits. The DeYOung art museum is in Golden Gate Park which in itself is a fun area to walk and explore - Academy of Sciences is right across from the DeYoung and the Japanese Tea Gardens is right there too. In December the Ice rink at Justin Herman Plaza (across from Ferry Building) will be up and running. The Farmers Market at the Ferry Building is good for Saturday experience and walking the Embarcadero is awesome. Recommend the PLANET for a bite to eat on the Embarcadero. Enjoy this great City

We were at the Walnut Creek BART station on Monday. I didn't see any hotels within walking distance of the BART station - but to be honest, I wasn't looking for any. I doubt that a 20 YO can even rent a car if she wants to - so how does she get to the BART station in Walnut Creek from a hotel - and which hotel?

SF City Guides has a very popular Chinatown tour that is a whole lot cheaper than Wiz Wok($50 w/ lunch) if you are on a tight budget.

Stu Dudley

just checked and the Parc 55 has rooms for $251, Handlery at Union Square is $170, Drake Hotel $211, Villa Florence (on Powell street), Sheraton at the Wharf, Standford court, Hilton all have rooms under $250. The Hyatt Regency was over your budget. the Handlery is in a nice location and was the most reasonable. Pinetti and Puccini is a nice fairly reasonable restaurant very close to Parc55 and the Handlery. Lots to choose from within the City. You might try the Hotel Griffon, a small boutique hotel off the Embarcadero as they often have specials too.

All of the above are in SF. For a nice 'nature' day if the weather is decent -- take the ferry to Tiburon and the State Park launch to Angel Island.

There's a direct ferry to Angel Island. If going there, do not miss the former immigration center, now a museum. Go there first and then walk around the island. Take a picnic lunch.

Please let us know where you are starting (specific city).
Please read through your previous thread and consider the questions.
The route varies depending on where on the east coast you live and what you want to see on the way to San Francisco.
I've driven across Texas, Kansas and Nebraska and don't consider them very interesting.
This is the main reason I take the train and then rent a car.

tom: I think you posted to the wrong thread. The OP is asking about San Francisco -- not a road trip across the USA

(>>This is the main reason I take the train and then rent a car

Janis

Read Kate's "other" thread.

Stu Dudley

OK -- this thread doesn't mention anything about crossing the country. It is about what to do and where to stay in SF. Wouldn't tom's post fit better on the other thread?

Please Kate come back and answer the questions in either thread.
The east coast of the US extends from Maine to Key West FL.
I don't care how Kate gets to San Francisco. I presented an option that I think is better than driving. JMHO

Her choice of where to stay might be different if she has her own personal car and can't afford $45/day parking near a Union Sq hotel. Hard to imagine, however, that anyone would drive from the East Coast to the West coast and then back on a single vacation period. While in college, I drove between LA & Indiana about 8-10 times - and it wore me out. I celebrated my 21st birthday sleeping behind a gas station - in Kansas (which I think was a dry state).

Stu Dudley

Be aware that some hotels won't let 20 year olds stay without an "adult" (i.e. someone over 21). It would be wise to check first.

"We were at the Walnut Creek BART station on Monday. I didn't see any hotels within walking distance of the BART station - but to be honest, I wasn't looking for any. I doubt that a 20 YO can even rent a car if she wants to - so how does she get to the BART station in Walnut Creek from a hotel - and which hotel?"

The Marriott is less than .5 miles

Stay in the City. Several here recommend the Mosser Hotel. Handy location and good pricing.

http://www.themosser.com

Skip Sonoma/Napa. Not much fun since you are under 21.