We are planning a trip to SF the last week of July or the first week of August. We have never been there before so any helpful information would be appreciated. Our questions are:
1) What should we pack for this time of the year?
2) We would like to stay near Fisherman's Wharf and your thoughts on hotels would be helpful.
3) We are from a small town and are nervous about driving in such a large city. Any comments?
Thanks.

1. This is a hard city to pack for in the summer. Temps can range from 50-85, but generally be prepared for cool and windy.
2. I prefer Union Square/Market Street area. But the wharf is a good place also.
3. Don't drive at all. Park your car at the hotel, you can get to almost any part of the city on public transit or by walking. Bring comfortable shoes, there are alot of hills, some quite steep.

Mildred,

San Francisco is actually a fairly small city, population just over 700,000 (the 4th largest in California behind Los Angeles, San Diego, and San Jose) Weather in the summer is quite cold in the summer(rarely gets above 70). Most days in July and August the high will be in the low to mid 60's with variably thick fog except for about 4 hours during the middle of the day (11-2PM) It would be best to pack a sweater, jacket, and an umbrella because of the occasional summer drizzle.

It would be best to avoid the touristy areas such as Union Square and Fisherman's Wharf since these parts of the city do have a significant problem with crime, drug dealing, and agressive panhandlers. By and large the city of San Francisco has been in a decline and has become quite dirty, so don't be surprised. If you have been to San Francisco 15 or 20 yrs ago, it is no longer the great place it once was.

I didn't find it dirty when I visited last year, and the areas you mentioned seemed perfectly fine, Kevin. But, then, I didn't know it from years ago, so have no base for comparison.

Mildred,

I visited SF for the first time earlier this month. We didn't see much "trash" at all and didn't have any problems with panhandlers, crime, etc. We did have a couple of homeless people come up to us, but we basically ignored them and they left us alone. We stayed at the Fisherman's Wharf Sheraton. It was nice, but not that upscale or anything. It's a tough one whether you should stay at FW or Union Square. We loved FW and found it very convenient with lots to do. Union Square is nice too, more centralized. But we were glad we stayed in FW since we hung out there more than anywhere else. The next time we go we're planning to stay at the Orchard Hotel in Union Sq., which was very nice.

It was quite cold when we were there, mostly from the wind. Definitely take sweaters or a jacket and long pants. But then, a couple of days were very pleasant.

Don't bother with renting a car unless you plan to go outside the city (wine country, Carmel/Monterrey, etc.). We rented a car for a couple of days to do the outside trips. Otherwise, we took the trolleys and walked from FW to the financial district and all over. It was great.

Oh great my family will be in San Fran July 1-5, now I'm getting a little concerned that It isnt the city I visited 30 years ago. To me it is The city by the bay, One of earth's most beautiful places. Now I read about the Homeless problem, the hookers, how dirty the city has become, and when I went to the chamber of c. it was talking how businesses are leaving, etc. Please reassure me because when I think of San Francisco I think of the many, many wonderful sights and would hope the things people are talking about will not ruin this vacation. We are staying at the Sheraton-Fishermans Wharf. Heck I even rented a car and now read I shouldn't have. I'm on the east coast(Atlanta) so let me hear the positives about your great city!! Please tell me my family wont be bothered by drug dealers, panhandlers, and such.

Mildred, Listen to Jenna's good advice. Roger, a car is a pain in the you know where in SF. If you want to get to the Wine Country, just rent one in the city around Union Square for the day. You can get to Muir Woods on the Blue and Gold ferry and then a tour bus. Fisherman's Wharf is a fine place to so for first time visitors. To us it's too touristy, but that's what you are and can be great fun. Yes, the homeless are around, but too much has been made of them in recent posts. This is a city, not Disneyland, and so does have some blems. My favorite recommendation at Fisherman's Wharf is the Tuscan Inn. SF is only 49 square miles and most of that is not where the tourists want to be at all. Taxis are abundant, old trolleys run down Market Street, the cable cars have two routes through the city and MUNI, while frustrating, does move the people along. It is interesting that SF has a very high incidence of pedestrian deaths due to tourists who are not used to driving on the steep streets or do not understand that in CA we yield to pedestrians no matter what crazy things they are doing. Always remember, our homeless are mostly likely crazy but not violent and hang onto your shoulder bag when riding the cable cars. The most common crime in SF is purse snatching! For packing think Layers and more Lsyers---fleece vests are very helpful as well as pashminas for ladies. Rarely shorts--linen blazers or oversized shirts over t-shirts and very comfy shoes. BTW, I can almost guarantee no rain in August! Have a great time, relax and enjoy SF.

thanks kam and all, I can't wait to go; tell me about the places tourists won't be; some little place or point of interest you might suggest?

Oh one other thing , were staying one day and night in Pacifica, anything around that area that might be interesting? (we dont have to be entertained like a Disneyworld or such!)

Roger, Pacifica is pretty boring bedroom community. You'll be near Devil's Slide which is a part of hwy 1 which periodically slides into the ocean in the winter raining season. Half Moon Bay is nearby with the Moss BEach Distillery (supposedly haunted) and a nice Chart House restaurant. Pasta Moon is also nice. My favorite areas of the city are Cow Hollow (Union Street west of Van Ness---Buchanan etc streets) for a small town atmosphere and North Beach for good Italian food and Cafe Trieste for opera and cappuccino. Nice restaurants and reasonable are L'Entrecote on Union, Betelnut (pan Asian) on Union Street, Moose's in Washington Square (North Beach)and Chapeau in the Richmond District, and the Plump Jack Cafe for a great CA wine list. You don't have to spend a fortune to eat in SF. Another neat thing to do is to go to the Mission District (during the day) and see the murals there as well as the Mission. Take the ferry to Tiburon and eat a wonderful meal with view back to city at Guaymus. If you're a baseball fan, try to get tickets to the Giants at the fantastic new Pac Bell Park---right on the bay and looks like an old fashioned baseball park. Take the N Judah Muni there from the Embarcadero. I spent my honeymoon in SF 34 years ago and have lived in Palo Alto for 10 years now. Yes, there are changes, but SF is still wonderful. The businesses that are leaving are the dot com boomers. Come see us and enjoy.

I got a smile on my face, were ready to go Kam.

Roger, have a great trip. We live in Palo Alto and everytime we go up to the city I have a smile on my face despite the city problems. I still would vote it the best in the country for city living. New Yorkers will blast me though!

We surprised our teenagers with a weekend to San Francisco a couple of weeks ago (we are from Canada). I booked everything and then started reading the posts. I wondered if I'd made a mistake. We went anyway and had a great time. Our daughters (12 and 15) loved the city and would like to go back. We felt safe, found lots to do and were glad we didn't listen to the nay sayers. Go - have fun!

Roger,

SF definitely is not the city it was 30 yrs. ago. I was really astounded at how awful the city was since the last time I visited back in the mid 1980's. From what I saw the city was quite dirty and overrn with hookers and panhandlers. I would think twice about going if I were you.

Roger,

I would take Kam's suggestions with a grain of salt. I would not suggest you go to the Mission District for anything. It is a mostly blighted area of SF with high crime(lots of drug dealers). The fact that most of the residences and businesses have iron bars on their windows is a testament to the crime problem in this area of SF. Much of SF has actually become quite undesirable.

I'm just curious why this same SF-basher posts under different names when it's totally obvious that it's the same person! He/she even uses the same words/phrases over and over!

Yes, Dan and you'll notice that all the email addresses are similarly structured. We previously referred to them as the two initial SF bashers. They spend lots of their time promoting San Jose over SF as if there were any reason to take a vacation to San Jose. They claim SJ is the largest city in CA (who cares and why would that mean anything) and that they are close to lots of places (when in fact they are nowhere good, only close to the good stuff).

Actually, I don't live in California and haven't been to the Bay Area in years so I really don't know if the "bashers" are even correct. It's just so obvious that they are bashing just to bash, though, that most of us who live east of Nevada are just ignoring their "advice" altogether!

Well, Dan I live in Northern CA but not the bay area. I visit the City By the Bay often and the bashers are wrong. SF is not perfect but it is still the exciting city that visitors expect.

Dan/X,

I guess that you just have to bash San Jose at every opportunity you get. How unfortunate that you have nothing better to do with your time. I have visted San Jose on several occasions for business and have found it to be a great place, despite what you naysayers have to say. SJ has all the amenities of a major city(restaurants, museums, Performing arts, etc.), so no real reson to go to SF. SF on the other hand is overrated and the summer is frigid.