I'm going to SF for the first time this President's day weekend and I've been researching this a lot on this informative board. I was hoping to get some advice. What are the suggestions for the 3 day visit? Must see places? Best restaurants? Is it worth it going to the wine country considering it's out of season? Which is nicer, Napa or Sonoma? Also, what's the best mode of transportation to SFI airport? Thanks!

>> I've been researching this a lot on this informative board<<

How did you do a lot of researching, and NOT stumble across answers to many of your questions??

Stu Dudley

"How did you do a lot of researching, and NOT stumble across answers to many of your questions??"

Thanks for your wiseass answer. Sorry if I was misunderstood. I've been researching this a lot since this morning and SF is discussed at length here, but I still would like to hear more opinions, hoping I would find out something new and really helpful.

Hello Ivan, if you do want to take a day for the wine country I would suggest Sonoma versus Napa Valley. You would need a car though. And weather reports indicate we could get some rain although it sounds more like showers.

May I suggest you go to the SF Chronical website which is www.sfgate.com. You will find so much information there and I think you will find the various places and sites that would interest you.

Regarding transporation between the San Francisco Airport (SFO) and SF, BART would be good if you are staying somewhere along the BART route in SF (which is basically along Market St.)
Do you have the website for SFO? It is www.flysfo.com. Their website will give you all the different ways to get to and from SFO.

One place you might enjoy (I always do) is the Ferry Bldg. at the end (east) end of Market St. Lots of shops, cafes etc and a plaza in the rear where you can enjoy the SF Bay and the boating activity etc. Think most people enjoy that regardless of their other preferences.

Welcome to SF and have a wonderful time!

Thank you! That was great advice, I really appreciate it. I just checked the forecast and you're right there may be showers so the prospect of going to Russian River is not looking good. I'm sure my wife and I we'll find lots to do in the city though, I've heard so many great things about it. Thanks for the links, there's a lot of useful info.
BTW, I love Italy also!

For best restaurants, it might be best to ask:

http://www.chowhound.com/california/...francisco.html

There is no out of season for wine country since wine is usually aged and is not seasonal--beaujolais nouveau being the exception.

I prefer Sonoma to Napa because it offers more than wine tasting. There is olive oil tasting available in Glen Ellen, the Jack London State Park is interesting, and Benzinger winery is right next to the state park.

And if you want to visit russian stores you'll find them along Geary street

Thanks Michael, I think I'm more inclined to go to Sonoma now. I'm just crossing fingers there won't be any rain this Sunday.

I don't know whether I'd be interested in Russian stores. What do they sell? My wife wanted a CCCP sweatshirt, for her it's exotic, may be that's why she fell for me. If they have stuff like that then we might pay a visit.

Tatiana Totmianina gave Johnny Weir a CCCP sweatshirt for his birthday, Faina, do they sell them on Geary?

NO, they don't sell clothing, I'm looking for t/sweat/whatever shirts for my kids, they are so americanized now and would love to have them, but can't find any

Any ideas? And no, I won't undress any "babushkas"

There is one store on Geary, and maybe one on Pier 39 selling wooden nesting dolls and what not. The one on Geary is "Troika".

Showers are forecast for both Sat and Sun and unlike this past weekend, instead of highs in the 70's it is going to be a lot colder. Personally with only 3 days to visit I would skip wine country. But I'm biased, because I think that 3 days is not enough to really see SF.

Yeah, the weather isn't welcoming. We were hoping to come to warm californian climate, but it seems like it'll be sunnier on our snowy east coast.