Tomsd

And Swan's Oyster Depot was a favorite. We use to also like to go to Fisherman's wharf - and have a shrimp cocktail (from one of the many little stands on the sreet) - but it has been so commercialized that the most I would now recommend would be go get the fabled Irish Coffee at the place where it was "invented" (some say borrowed from Italy) - the Buena Vista in Ghiradelli Square - and watch the Cable Cars turning around.

http://www.thebuenavista.com/home/home.html

Actually - if you want to ride the cable car - and can find a place to jump on (ask around) - that is a great way to enjoy the cable car, and then warm up with an Irish Coffee before heading back.

Tomsd

Oops - my bad. The Irish Coffee was "shanghaied" from Shannon Airport I believe. Read the history - it's a "hoot". http://www.thebuenavista.com/home/irishcoffee.html

outdoor1

Sf7307-We have had an extremely mild non winter here. I don't remember anything ever like this, though last year we were in the deep freeze. I actually really disliked the winter , unlike the majority of my countrymen. We are actually supposed to have better weather than you in the coming week. About the same temps but less rain. Nevertheless I am praying to the weather gods for warm weather on our trip.
Suz24 Tho off the grid food truck thing has just started in my city. One truck parked by my work and everyone went crazy buying gourmet grilled cheese. I will keep an eye out for sure for that. The oyster place sounds great too . Thanks

Tomsd Thanks for totally spelling it out for me. I read your plan to my husband and we both thought it sounded great. I appreciate getting my hike in there. I have to at least do something before I eat all this delicious food.

outdoor1

Oh another question for sf7307- My youngest son keeps asking if I have Lombard street in my plan. He saw it on Mythbusters. Could we walk there from Coit Tower and then double back to your route? Or maybe see it on a cable car? He is mad that he isn't coming , but I think it's kind of cute that he wants to make sure we see it.

isabel

Bookmarking to read tonight. Currently in Monterey - did part of the Big Sur Highway yesterday - absolutely gorgeous. Heading to SF in a few days, apparently along with the rain.

Tomsd

Jumping in here before going to Starbucks. The curvy part of Lombard (v the part out toward the Golden Gate) is not that far from Coit Tower/North Beach - and you can walk it - or if you get the bus routes - you could hop on one to get closer. Or - take one of the cable cars and walk down. We used to live on Russian Hill - by Hyde and Union - and I think both the Hyde St and the other (Mason?) cable cars go by the top of the curvy part and you would walk down it.

Don't try to drive it in summer - unless you want to wait in line for blocks.

Tomsd

Oh yes. Couple more quick thoughts. When you are driving along the Marina Green - toward Crissy Field/Ft. Point/GG - at the last/little grassy area - before you enter the Crissy Field area - you could turn left on Lyon - and go a block to see the Palace of Fine Arts. http://www.palaceoffinearts.org/Welcome.html

And another alternative in Sausalito - is to drive a bit further into Marin County and see Muir Woods - maybe a half? hour from Sausalito. http://www.nps.gov/muwo/index.htm

Tomsd

Go here and if the Muir Woods page isn't up - just enter Muir Woods and you can get a good map of the drive over to Sausalito, Muir Woods, Marin County, Tiburon, etc.

http://maps.google.com/maps

Tomsd

And check on the map for the 202 Bike Route - Marine Dr - going from about the entrance to Ft. Point up the hill to the parking lot on top - just before you get on the road to the toll booths.

Tomsd

My bad: I think it's Lincoln/Bike Route 2 that goes up the hill. 202 I think goes out to Ft. Point. But they converge about a half mile? before you get Ft. Point.

There will be signs there - pointing up to the Golden Gate.

sf7307

Ditto what Tom said about Lombard Street - and you shouldn't miss it!

Tiburon is actually only about 15 minutes from Sausalito. I personally wouldn't make a special trip - it's a nice village, but not a "destination drive" for me.

Oh, and check the map if you're looking for Swan's Oyster Depot. Suz gave the right address, but her "word directions" are note right - Polk and VanNess run parallel to each other. It's actually on Polk, between California and Sacramento Streets.

easytraveler

Hi, outdoor1,

How's the trip planning going?

The suggestion to get a car one day to drive around SanFrancisco is a good one, given your time constraint.

I have some specific suggestions, if you're still interested, but not today. It's a busy day for me.

outdoor1

Planning is going well. We have decided on one day walking at the beginning of the trip and one day with a car at the end of the trip. I just booked Hotel De Sol for our last night because of the free parking but I'm not sure about the location. We may decide to drop the car off and take Bart to the airport the next day. any suggestions regarding that.? Not sure where we are getting the car from yet ,but probably somewhere around Union Square. I am not even sure if we will be able to drop off at the airport without extra charges.

I am always open to suggestions. Who knows the city better than locals. Thanks very much everyone for taking the time to help.

Tomsd

If I didn't post this earlier - I now always start with www.carrentals.com - which lists the least epensive rentals of all the major car companies - and we have used the next tier - the Aces, Fox, Advantage - and as long as you receive a new car - they are also fine.

Now - having said that - at Hotel Del Sol - you are really close enough to just walk down to the Marina Green - and turn left and head out to Crissy Field - and chug up the hill (not that far) and then walk out a ways to the Golden Gate Bridge.

And - if you had rented a car at the airport - or if there isn't a stiff drop off fee - and since the Hotel has free parking? - from Hotel Del Sol to the airport is a fairly easy shot - out 19th avenue (the one that the Golden Gate road becomes as it heads into SF) - and then down 280 and over to the airport.

sf7307

Hotel Del Sol is in a good location - near Union Street, Chestnut Street, the Marina Green and Crissy Field, and the Golden Gate Bridge.

We had lunch at The Tipsy Pig On Chestnut St. today - best duck confit (on a salad) I've ever had.

Tomsd

sf7- good for you. There have been more good restaurants move in to Chestnut since we left - and closer to Filmore - about a half block away on the Lombard side of the street - there used to be a cute little Italian place that had good pizza and pasta, but not sure if it's there anymore. And the little deli where I used to pick up the good (reasonably priced back then) prosciutto sandwiches way back when - was down Chestnut - the other way - toward the Palace of Fine Arts - on a corner - also on the Lombard side - several blocks beyond Lucca deli (which is on the other side of the street) - and Lucca is also very good. http://luccadeli.com/


Back in October - I had a good bagel at Noah's Bagels on Chestnut - http://www.yelp.com/biz/noahs-bagels-san-francisco-9 - and here is a general webpage guide for Chestnut St: http://www.chestnutshop.com/ Even though we lived on Union St. for years - we also loved Chestnut St.

Tomsd

Une Plus: Je t'aime Confit de Canard.

And I hope that doesn't send my high school French teacher - the steely eyed/red haired Ms. Mitchell - spinning in her grave. Actually - she was great - (and in her "day" - probably quite a Bon Vivant as even in her "advanced" years - looked pretty good) - but she could lower the boom on three of us guys who were always cutting up Soph year - with just a glance - or a subtle, yet powerful comment.

After soph year - I took German (thought I wanted to be a scientist - egads) - so my one year of high school French must suffice. Oui - et non?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Duck_confit

sf7307

I know very little French, but I know what you said

Tomsd

Bien mon ami.

outdoor1

Merci. I also stumble along worth poor high school French. Not a big fan of confit de canard, traumatic childhood memories.
For the first time ever my husband is also participating in trip planning. He was reading all about San Francisco last night