I'm going to be in San Francisco for about a week on business. Any suggestions re: and or all of the following:

1) cheap parking in the downtown area (near the Hilton on O'Farrell St.)

2) favorite restaurants for dinner or lunch?

3) a not-to-be missed site for garden/architecture buffs?

4) stellar birding spots?

Thanks much.

Karen

First of all, must you have a car? You won't need it while in the city and parking will run about $20/day and is very hard to come by. The Hilton does have valet parking, but there's most likely a charge for it. I think they provide airport transportation further lessening the need for a car. Birdwatching is very good over in Marin Headlands--up to Pt. Reyes National Seashore. There's an area there that's very well known but I've forgotten the name. Architecture--the old Victorian homes on Alamo Square, Spreckels Mansion,Haas- Lilienthal House, Levi Plaza, Palace of Fine Arts, Grace Cathedral, Coit Tower,Old St.Mary's,Transamerica Building, and of course, the Golden Gate Bridge--I'm sure there are special walking tours of the architecture and/or gardens. A very famous home with gardens is Filoli which is down on the Peninsula. There's a famous rose garden in Berkeley. Restaurants too numerous to list--look at sfgate.com. Enjoy.

Karen, if you're interested in architecture, you migt want to check out www.walking-tours.com/cityguides. These are free walking tours through many neighborhoods, including many geared toward architecture. Most are on Saturday, but some are on weekdays. The Berkeley Rose Garden is lovely in summer, but is not large and might be out of your way. You'll definitely want to check out the Japanese Tea Garden in Golden Gate Park. Since your restaurant requeest was so broad, I agree with Kam; sfgate.com has both listings and reviews from the SF Chronicle and Examiner.

Karen,

I've been to San Francisco on two occasions, and I'm totally in love with this city. Most recently there last summer. Don't know about parking or birding spots. As far as restaurants, eating out has never been a big decision-making process for me. I like to eat fast and get back out to the sights. For your number three question, you have to see the Palace of Fine Arts. It is an awesome place. My other favorites: Walk across the Golden Gate Bridge and ride a cable car from Union Square to Fisherman's Wharf, or vice versa. I'd suggest to take at least a medium weight jacket, and don't expect to need shorts .... it was very cool when I was there last July, and I understand this is normal weather for summer.

Have a great time!

Sandi

1) There is NO cheap parking is SF, do not, I repeat do not drive a car in the city - unless of course you're a super city driver

2)Some restaurants that I have enjoyed eating at are:
Original Joes - near Union Square
The Iron Horse (?)- Maiden Lane
La Vive (?)an Italian restaurant in the North Beach area.
I know there are plenty of more upscale great restaurants. SF is known for its superb dining.
3)I think the suggestions in the previous post are good, I recall some type of old Atrium - somewhere, sorry I am not sure.
I live in the East bay, so only visit SF occasionally.
4) My guess would be the previous post on Pt. Reyes as well.

Have a great trip!

Hello Karen, there is no way to park cheap downtown. You can use a city owned garage but the rates can be more expensive than what your hotel is quoting. If your flying into SFO better to take cab's, buses, street cars, cable cars and your own two feet to see San Francisco. IM guessing that you're driving. If the answer is yes then let me make a suggestion. Park your car in a safe neighborhood along a streetcar line and ride back to your hotel downtown. I would suggest the Noe Valley area and take the J-Church line into downtown. In the Noe Valley there are some streets that do not have time limits (residential parking stickers required) and if you read the signs carefully you can avoid a ticket for street cleaning.

To see the site's you would be most interested in you will need a car. Golden Gate Park is what you're looking for. The old Atrium that Elizabeth refers to is called The Conservatory. Unfortunately it was damaged in a storm a few years back and is not open to the public. You can still appreciate the Victorian architecture and wonderful gardens outside. It's just a short walk from the Japanese Tea Garden, the Steinhart Aquarium, Conservatory of Flowers and the Strybing Arboretum & Botanical Gardens (www.strybing.org) a 70 acre botanical garden well worth the visit. Another architectural gem is the Palace of the Legion of Honor. Wonderful exterior architecture that host one of the original bronze's of Rodin's "The Thinker". Over 40,000 pieces of art inside. Outside you're a short stroll from an impressive view of the Golden Gate Bridge.

Best thing about Golden Gate Park and the Legion of Honor is that it's pretty easy to find a parking.

My suggestion for lunch is the Delancy Street Restaurant. Great food that is reasonably priced with a knockout view of the Bay Bridge. Enjoy the food knowing your helping a good cause because the restaurant is run by and benefits recovering substance abusers. Don't worry about where these people came from because this place is top notch. You can also have your car valet parked for $2.00 (you should really tip them as well)

You can't find a better place to dine and appreciate architecture in SF than the "Garden Court" at the Sheraton Palace Hotel on Market Street. A Victorian paradise with a pianist or harpist usually playing to the satisfied sophisticated diners.

Bon Appetite

and see you in the City...

Hi, Karen,
You made me look. Try http://www.buteo.com/babirding.html for birding. A raptor center near the GG bridge? Who woulda thought?
Anyway, if you're heading to Marin, you can check out FL Wright's famous Marin County Civic Center just off US101 near San Rafael - have a coke or a burger in the cafeteria, and look at the FLW-designed garden just outside.
No, parking is not cheap in SF, but I usually find that a car is too useful a thing in this big region to do without. (F in grammar.) Bite the bullet if you want to be able to get out of the city or see such fun architectural things as Fort Point under the GG bridge, or the Stanford campus in Palo Alto or the Muir Redwoods (talk about architecture).

Karen,

If you must have a car and want to keep it relatively close to you, consider heading south of market. You can find outside lots about 5 blocks away from market for $7 or $8 / day; many of these allow over night stays (but they may not be places you want to walk back to your hotel from late...)
For lunch: If you want to be leisurely one day, try Yank Sing for a wonderful dim sum (there are a couple locations; i like the one at 49 stevenson). Cafe Venue is also a great sandwich/salad shop (a few locations downtown area). For dinner you may want to head to the mission one night. You can find either a cheap and tasty burrito, or some of the trendier and nicest restaurants in SF. My current fave is the Slanted Door. Wonderful food, but a two week reservation wait (but they always save some tables for walk-ins).
What type of food/environment are you most interested in?
oh, and delancey street is nice.. If you want more casual and relaxed, cross roads cafe (right next to delancy street) is part of the same organization. it's good for sandwiches, tea and ice cream, and has a nice outside garden type setting (with view of the bay bridge and bay)

You do not need a car unless you wish to leave the city proper. It is easy to take the bus to Golden Gate park or anywhere in the city. If you can not find a bus map--call the bus line and they will tell you how to get from a to b.

I really don't get this. I live on the Peninsula 40 some miles from SF. So, that means that I have this car, this albatross around my neck, whenever I'm in the city. Why would a tourist who arrives at SFO want to have the albatross as well? Why not get organized and rent a car by the day if you want to get out of the city? To me it seems such a waste of money! There are many rental offices in the city of SF--not just at the airport.

Maybe Karen is not arriving via SFO. Maybe she is driving her own car from wherever.

Thank you one and all for your very helpful replies. I will be arriving by plane, but thought it might be fun to rent a car for a few days and check out Point Reyes and perhaps other spots to hike/birdwatch. Then I plan to see as much as possible in the city proper by foot (and BART etc. as needed).

Karen

I rented a car while a tourist in San Francisco recently and driving around on those hills was a highlight of my visit. I paid the price to park at my hotel and was glad I did. There is one hotel I heard about called the Columbus Inn, I think, near Fisherman's Wharf that has no charge for parking.