hi, I'm hoping to visit San Francisco for the first time next March. Any not-to-miss sights, beyond the usual tourist stuff? Any flea markets around SF?

So far, hotel-wise I'm planning on the Hotel des Artes in the French Quarter area. Anyone stayed here before? It looks real nice on the web-site. I'm planning to go in March, but was curious what the weather is like in early January in case my plans change. Thanks, Greg

January will likely be chilly and probably rainy. March is probably more of the same, but not as chilly.

As for sights - there are tons of things to see, just depends on your interests. Let us know what you are into and people will be able to make good recommendations.

I am not familiar with that hotel - or any neighborhood called the French Quarter in San Francisco.

JC, this is so weird, the hotel's website describes the location as "located in the French Quarter" -- and its on Bush Street between Grant and Kearney! (greg, the neighborhood is fine, but the only thing French about it is 1) the name of this hotel, and 2) it's near Belden Alley which has a bunch of french-like bistros.

Have heard that the hotel is nice and the "French Quarter" is Belden Alley which is a really neat small street filled with European type outdoor bistros. It is the center of the small French community in SF.

I've lived here 34 years and never once until today heard it referred to that way

dmlove: You do have to get out more!

ET, I agree, I read these posts and it seems like I know more about places I've visited than I do about SF!

LOL, dmlove and et-I lived in SF for 10 years and never heard of any area called the 'French Quarter'-
Suppose we'll have to have a GTG there !


R5

Now that we got past the "French Quarter" ordeal......
Rent a car and take the drive to Stinson Beach. The drive itself is a major part of the attraction and while there, stop in at Muir Woods for a quiet stroll thru the redwoods. Skip Alcatraz and instead take the ferry to Sausalito. The view of SF from the water is outstanding.

From the SFGate neighborhood description of Union Square:


French Quarter: There is one little dining section of SF, off the well-worn path of Union Square and the Financial District, where joie de vivre and wine flow freely. It's the City's French Quarter, loosely concentrated around Belden Place. Every bistro and café has outdoor tables, some French staff and just enough attitude to approximate that little place just off the Champs-Elysees. Try to be there on Bastille Day (if you can't jet off to Paris in time), when the fête goes on all night.

http://sfgate.com/traveler/guide/sf/.../unionsq.shtml

At best, I'd refer to it as the City's "French one-block long alley"

At best, dmlove - LOL !

R5

Looks like I need to take a day trip up to SF and check that out

thanks everyone for your replies. I'm not planning to drive on this trip. Just going to navigate around by walking and public transport.

For my interests I like art, flea markets, nice (but not real fancy) restaurants and coffee-shops.

I'm planning to do 2 bus trips out of the city: Yosemite for 1 day, and tour of either a Sonoma or Napa vineyard. And I keep hearing about Sausalito but I still don't know exactly what is there to do or see. So, tell me what makes Sausalito so popular. Greg

Sausalito is a small town on the north side of the bay - good views of SF, restaurants, shops, etc. A lot of people really like it, but it wouldn't be on my short list for things to do on a first trip to SF.

For terrific views combined with a trip out on the bay, I would take the ferry out to Angel Island. It has a really interesting history and plenty of walking and biking trails. Definitely a good weather type of trip, so if the weather is rainy, skip it, but if the weather is good, I would definitely recommend it.

If you are in SF on a Saturday (Sunday too?), I would check out the farmers market at the ferry building.

If you are in SF on a Saturday (Sunday too?), I would check out the farmers market at the ferry building.

The Saturday market is fabulous, but check out the ferry building inside (permanent food-related businesses) even if you're not in SF on Saturday. It's really a wonderful market.

As for Angel Island, JCorrea mentions its history - just so you know, it was the West Coast version of Ellis Island -- where Asian immigrants were "processed" in the early 1900s.

The best thing about getting out on the bay is probably the view back toward the city. It's a remarkable skyline and waterfront once your out on the bay-
so you could pick a trip to Sausalito or
Tiburon, stroll around a bit and hop on the return. There are longer trips availiable via ferry-say to Vallejo,
yet I'd think you would do this for the water views only.

R5

Additionally, Angel Island was the staging area for Spanish exploration of the SF Bay Area and then a military base was built there during the Civil War. The base was operational long after that and a lot of the buildings remain. There was housing for the officers and their families, and the place became a self-contained town.

bookmark

J-it's a fun outing to take mountain bikes over to Angel Island and ride around the upper roads-the views are spectacular-
bring a simple picnic lunch and you are set !

R5