San Francisco in 3 Days
 

Hello,
This is my first ever posting so sorry if I am not detailed enough! My husband and I are going to SF this July and we only have 3 days to see everything. I would like to take a bike tour to for sure sausalito and maybe to Tiburon. Are there any redwood trees to see along the way? It would save time if we could see them on that bike tour, but if there are not we will go to Muir woods. Any thoughts?

I am also looking for a romantic Italian restaurant in North Beach. We're looking more for ambiance then specific italian food. We would like to spend no more than $100 for the both of us including our meals and drinks.

One last question... alcatraz at night or day?

I think you would find it a slog to bike to Muir woods. Take a car. Or to see everything, take an organized tour for one day and then return on bikes to what you liked best. I would consider visiting Alcatraz at night to leave as much time as possible during the day to see the sights......

Angel Island is a great place to bike ride. you take the ferry over and bike the Island. there are some great walking tours of the neighborhoods which is a a lot of fun. "Walking in San Francisco" (A Falcon Guide) and "Stairway walks in San Francisco." You can also bike ride on the Lands End trail which runs from Golden Gate Bridge to the beach and the old Sutro baths sight. Can't help you on North Beach as we don't eat a lot in that neighborhood. Can recommend a great restaurant (Italian) in the richmond area Mescalanza (sp) on Clement Street. Check out Open Table.com and plug in San Francisco - neighborhood Richmond, Italian and it might come up. Also Bacco in Diamond Heights but that is a ways up in the hills but it is a good resturant - It is on Open table.com

alcatraz def. the night trips are fewer and far between, and therefore get booked up faster. but don't dismay, the day trips are totally awesome as well. not to be missed! for an italian place in north beach, we really, really enjoyed e tutti que, across from the citylights. don't know if i'd call it "romantic", because there are huge glass windows that look out over the busy streets (with some perhaps unsavory establishments) but the service, and meal were impressive. (inexpensive as well)

In case you decide to try the restaurant Otto suggested (we had a Fodor's GTG there awhile back), the name is actually E Tutto Qua (just want you to be able to find it!)

Muir Woods is to the west of where you're planning to bike. Unless you are a pretty strong cyclist I wouldn't recommend it. The ride to Tiburon is relatively easy though, and a really fun day (take the ferry back). If you get an early start, you can even take a ferry to Angel Island from Tiburon and then return back to SF.

In Sausalito, stop and see the Bay Model. If you stop at Mollie Stone's grocery store you can pick up an excellent picnic and eat it by the bay near the Bay Model.

I think North Beach is more about neighborhood atmosphere than romance. Most places get very crowded and a little noisy. But it's a don't miss experience.

North Beach - Mama's on the Square for breakfast... you won't be disappointed! No need for a reservation, just get in line (don't be intimidated if it's out the door, it's common and moves quickly). Also near Washington Square, you will find gelato and pastry shops... YUMMY!

Tiburon (1 day) - take ferry out to Angel Island and rent a bike there. Climb up to Mount Livermore (more like a steep walk, not so much a climb - kids and elderly can make it) to see a 360 degree panoramic view of the Bay Area (from Vallejo to Berkeley to Oakland to the Bay Bridge to Alcatraz/San Francisco to the Golden Gate Bridge to Saulsalito to Tiburon (including Mt. Tamalpais in the background). It's something hardly anyone experiences, yet incredible and you will never forget.

Muir Woods (1/2 day to 1 day) and if time allows, Stinson Beach.

Alcatraz (only need 1/2 day) either by day or night (night is a bit freaky, beware!)
You don't really need to sign up for any tours, just buy your tickets from the ticket box, get on the ferry, unload and walk around at your leisure. Inside the cell area, pick up a free pair of headphones and listen to the audio tour. Return head phones, go out the Recreation Yard door and past the yard to a door near the back, down the stair case to the side of the island that faces the GG bridge, up hill towards the light house, warden's house (or what's left of it) and back to the ferry for your ride back to mainland. This gives you the best views of the island and it's buildings/structures but SF's skyline as well. It will also remind you of scenes from "The Rock" with Sean Connery and Nicolas Cage.

Another suggestion would be to visit the Golden Gate Park area and all that it offers... You could rent a convertible and travel along the "Scenic Route" by following the seagull signs posted along a 49 mile stretch.

http://www.onlyinsanfrancisco.com/maps/49miledrive.asp

And one last thing - park the car or bikes and WALK across the Golden Gate Bridge.

Regarding the Italian restaurant;

Skip North Beach and head over to the Marina (not just a marina anymore... you'll love this neighborhood!).

A16
2355 Chestnut Street
San Francisco 94123
Phone: 415-771-2216

Transports the cuisine of Campania and the wood fire of Naples to San Francisco's Marina neighborhood. The wine bar features 40 selections by the glass and over 350 wines by the bottle.

L W-F 11:30am-2:30pm, D Su-Th 5-10pm, F, Sa until 11pm. Beer/wine. $$$. AE, DC, MC, V.

http://www.a16sf.com/home.html

<i>You don't really need to sign up for any tours, just buy your tickets from the ticket box, get on the ferry, unload and walk around at your leisure. </i>

Just a note that although there aren't &quot;tours&quot; per se, the tickets for the Alcatraz ferry do sell out in advance, so if you are sure this is something you want to do, buy your tickets online in advance.

If you detour along Blithedale into Mill Valley, I think you'll see some redwoods. You could contact one of the local bike shops in Mill Valley.

Check the website &quot;marinbike.org&quot; if you haven't seen it yet. They have a great map.

We had a light dinner at Cafe Divine on Stockton, right across from Washington Square Park &amp; it was a fun, casual place; also had dinner at Risorante Ideale which we enjoyed. I think what we enjoyed the most for Italian was over in Pacific Heights, a place called Osteria - really great gnoicchi! Melted in your mouth! Nice, we thought romantic, but still casual atmosphere. Although not an Italian place, we had a great meal at Cafe Maritime (I think in the Marina district) - the linguine w/ clams was yummy! Hubby had the filet of sole - also wonderful.

Thank you so much for all the great ideas! I appreciate it very much.

New questions:
Should we walk or drive Golden Gate Park? What things should we see?

Is Belden Place a good/fun place to dine? Is it worth going there for a dinner, when we only have 2 nights of dinners in the city-the other one being Italian in possibly North Beach or around that area.

Hello jknutson,

Walk or drive GG Park....hmm bit of a tough call. If I were going to visit one specific site in the park, such as the De Young Museum or the Conservatory of Flowers or the buffalo paddock and Stowe Lake, I'd take a bus that borders or goes through the park. Muni routes #29, 71, 44 and 5 would be useful in this case. If you wanted to see most of the park in one day, take a car or bike through. Be aware that some thoroughfares in the park are closed to autos on Sundays. It's a lovely drive at any rate, and parking along the roadsides is usually not a problem.

Belden Lane is a fun place to go out to eat, and in good weather the restaurants put tables outdoors and it's like a block party. Would I spend one of the only two nights I had in S.F. there? Only if the conditions were optimal - a warm evening, congenial company, no need to drive back anywhere so I could indulge wine-wise. If Belden Lane is on your way to or from anything during the middle of the day, how about lunch there instead?

Thanks Dovima...yes we may do lunch there instead.