San Francisco Itinerary

Old Dec 20th, 2008, 01:19 PM
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San Francisco Itinerary

Fri Mar 13
arrive SFO @7:25pm and take BART to Hyatt Embarcadaro Station

Sat
Breakfast?? maybe across the street @ Les Croissants
8:00am-ride cable cars, see Chinatown, kite shop, Lombard Street
10:45ish-eat Dim Sum @ either Gold Mountain or Yank Sing
possibly Ice Cream or Karas Kupcakes in Ghiradeli Square before boarding Segway
1:15-4:30-Segway Tour (this is near Ghiradeli Square)
4:45-fishermans wharf, sea lions, pier 39
6:30-Mona Lisa for dinner

Sun
breakfast??
rent car
7:00am-drive over Golden Gate Bridge
8:30-get picnic lunch @Cowgirl Cantina and then Head to Point Reyes
Lighthouse, Chimney Rock, seals, whales
11:00 hike Tomales Point Trail
6:30-Dinner @ Station House Cafe

Mon
8:00am- Ride MUNI to Golden Gate Park see Japanese Garden, Tulips blooming, Dutch Windmill, eat in park at one of the restaurants
2:30-ride muni to pier 33 for Alcatraz Tour
4:20- evening Alcatraz Tour
7:45-pier 43.5 Bistro Boudin for dinner

Tues
8:15am- take bart to airport
depart SFO 11:00

How does this look and have I allowed enough time to get to places. I am totally confused about MUNI after much conversation on here about it. I don't see any trouble with BART or the cable cars, but the rest is iffy to me. I have never had Dim Sum, so what do I want to do here. This trip will be my wife, 15 year old daughter, myself. They have never been to SF, I was there when I was about 14 and I remember the cable cars were being refurbished, so I didn't get to see them. None of us like nightlife, we are in bed by 9:00 usually. Is there anything close by Hyatt to grab for breakfast other than the hotel?

The main things we want to see are Golden Gate, Alcatraz, Point Reyes, Chinatown, Cable Cars.

Is there something better to do than the Golden Gate Park for the monday morning? We are not into art or museums.


any suggestions? thanks
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Old Dec 20th, 2008, 01:35 PM
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My mom and I stayed at the Hyatt Embarcardero over Labor day's weekend.

The Ferry Building across the street from the hotel has lots of restaurants and cafes, perfect for breakfast.

On Saturdays, it has a HUGE farmer's market. We had a great time wandering through all the stalls and sampling fruits and cheeses (free samples). There are also plenty of food stalls set up at the farmer's market. I'd suggest you spend ~ 2 hours of your Sat AM there.

Shops in Chinatown usually don't open until 10-11 am, so there's no reason to get there too early.

"MUNI" is a term for public transportation in the city. It has buses, street cars, and subways. To get from Hyatt to Golden Gate park, your best bet is take the bus #21 or #5 a few blocks from the hotel.

Dim Sum - type it into the search box here and you should get a number of threads that discussed it. Basically, many restaurants have the dim sum carts, so they push the carts to your table and you can ask them what each one is and pick whichever you want.

Here's the link to my SF trip report from Sept 08, in case you're interested.
http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...1&tid=35154243
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Old Dec 20th, 2008, 01:58 PM
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No Coit Tower?

Alcatraz?

Boulette' Larder at the Ferry Building is a great place for breakfast.

Even though you say you're not into Museums, I'd take a look at the new California Academy of Sciences in Golden Gate Park. WOW!

My favorite thing to do on a nice day is to stroll the Marina Green and then continue on towards Crissy Field and end up at Fort Point under the Golden Gate Bridge.

Have a nice trip.
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Old Dec 20th, 2008, 02:04 PM
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iamq, we are doing alcatraz as indicated. not for sure about coit tower. thanks for the breakfast tip.


yk, I know what dim sum is, just not sure where I want to try it at. thanks for the saturday market tip and the chinatown times
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Old Dec 20th, 2008, 02:21 PM
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Hello spirobuilldog, since you will be having dinner at the MonaLisa on Columbus when you finish with dinner if you three are in the mood walk north on Columbus just a couple of doors and you will see the cross street Vallejo. Walk across Vallejo, turn left (west) and walk down a couple of blocks on Vallejo. You will then see on your right the SFPD station with the public parking garage above. Right before the building you will see a wide alley. There will no doubt be some SFPD vehicles parked in the alley. Walk down the alley and at almost the end of the building (on your left) is an exterior door that gives you excess to the public garage. Go in and take the elevator up to the top level which will bring you to the uncovered parking level for the garage. You will see the most beautiful view of SF Bay, North Beach etc! Free and so easy and not time time consuming! Have a wonderful time in San Francisco with your family.
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Old Dec 20th, 2008, 03:37 PM
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Your Sunday out at Pt.Reyes looks perfect !

R5
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Old Dec 20th, 2008, 04:23 PM
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Golden Gate Park is quite large, and the tulips near the windmill at the very west end of the park are pretty far from the Japanese Tea garden.

If this was my trip, I would keep the car on Monday and use it to explore GG Park, Crissy Field, Fort Point, Presidio, lunch at the Cliff house or "next door" at the Beach Chalet (which is next to the tulips), Union St shops, Haight/Ashbury, view from Twin Peaks (in the afternoon), drive along El Camino del Mar & Lincoln, etc.

You'll only be in San Francisco for two days & you're taking a 3 1/2 hr segway tour on one of those days??? Where does that tour go? Do you really get to see the "wonders" of San Francisco, or is the primary objective to ride a segway??? How about renting a bike at the Wharf instead & doing your own tour along the Marina, Crissy Field, Fort Point Wharf, & Fort Point? Fort Point is entirely open on Sat, and the demonstrations & views from the ramparts are fantastic. If the surf is up, the surfers are interesting to watch from there.

At 10am every Saturday, San Francisco City Guides offers a free walking tour of Chinatown (see www.SFCityGuides.org ).

I would plan a "rainy day" schedule for your Pt Reyes day if the weather is horrible.

Stu Dudley
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Old Dec 20th, 2008, 05:02 PM
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Muir Woods was lovely. Highly recommend it if you can get there early and get a parking place.

PLEASE do yourselves a favor and don't eat at Bistro Boudin after Alcatraz. We did it and it was truly the worst meal we had on our 10 day trip. It was overpriced, service was awful [it was midweek in March and the place was almost empty]and I found little on the menu worth ordering [I only had chowder which was $14 or some ridiculous amount].

You should go somewhere other than Fisherman's Wharf for dinner. I know it seems like a good idea, right of the boat etc. But most places are overpriced and underwhelming. Almost anywhere else would be better.

I recommend going to Tadich Grill for a truly quintessential SF dinner. Sit at the counter and watch the fun all around you. Sand dabs and cioppino are the must haves.

Going to Ferry Building would be better than Bistro Boudin.

IF you are dead set on eat at Wharf after getting off boat, eat at the downstairs Cafe Boudin -- Cheaper and more selections.

Trust me on this one.

Deb
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Old Dec 20th, 2008, 05:06 PM
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Yes, part of the lure, is that we want to ride a Segway. Start is near Ghiradeli Square and it goes along the wharf/marina, coit tower. Chinatown tour might be good idea. Yeah, I'm a little concerned about the weather for pt reyes.

I made reservations at Hyatt because I wanted to take BART and not mess with a car, cab, or shuttle. I am now rethinking and considering Argonaut. However, could I get there easily on BART???

Does the GG Park not have a trolley or something? Still not totally sure the park is what I want to do for that day or not.
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Old Dec 20th, 2008, 05:10 PM
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Debit,

We visited Sequoia National Park this past year, and plan on visiting Redwood NP this next summer, so while Muir Woods certainly looks good we are going to pass on it. Hmmm, I might rethink my bistro boudin. I was wanting to eat at the crabstands there anyway
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Old Dec 20th, 2008, 05:15 PM
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Just wanted to be sure you got the redwoods in somewhere along the line

Deb
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Old Dec 20th, 2008, 05:16 PM
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I really wouldn't count on a picnic or a walk on the beach or the lighthouse in mid-March. You could have absolutely wonderful weather - but you could just as easily have a dreadful late winter storm.

I'd have a few Plan B's up your sleeve for your long walking days and for Sunday.
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Old Dec 20th, 2008, 05:27 PM
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Here is what "my" Saturday would look like;

8:00 Visit the Farmer's market at the Ferry building, tour around & admire the sights & food, and grab something for breakfast.

9:30 - walk west on Washington St from the Ferry Bldg to Portsmouth Square for a 10:00 City Guides Chinatown walking tour. Ask the guide for recommendations for Dim Sum "carry-out" and have a picnic of dim sum at Portsmouth square after the walk (make sure you get lots of napkins).

12:30 Walk west on Washington from Portsmouth Sg to the Cable Car museum on Mason & Washington. Visit the museum, and pick up a Hyde/Powell Cable car to Fisherman's Wharf.

1:30 rent bikes, and ride west on Bay to Laguna, then north on Laguna to Marina Blvd, then west on Marina to Lyon, then north till you hit a walkway along the beach. This is Crissy Field. Admire the GG bridge in front of you, the bay, and the beach and wetlands. This is a very pretty area. Take your time. As you get near some buildings, look for Ft Point Pier sticking out into the bay & bike/walk there & admire everything. Continue on this road to Ft Point. Spend at least 45 mins at Ft Point - longer if there are surfers to watch. You can also bike up & cross over the GG Bridge on your bikes (I believe on weekends, bikers must use the western side of the bridge). Return to the Wharf & admire the fantastic downtown views. Return the bikes & visit the seals & Pier 39 (avoid the tacky stuff at the Wharf).

5:30 hop on the Hyde St Cable Car again, and get off at Lombard St. Walk east down the squiggly portion & then to Columbus. Head southeast on Columbus to North Beach and the Mona Lisa. This short CC ride only makes economic sense if you buy a multi day muni pass. If not, walk down Columbus from the Wharf to North Beach (Little Italy).

6:00 walk around North Beach & absorb the ambience. Walk down Grant between Filbert & Vallejo

7:00 dinner at Mona Lisa.

Take Mason/Powell CC south, transferring on Calif St to Calif St CC & back to hotel.

Stu Dudley


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Old Dec 20th, 2008, 05:33 PM
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I'd have to disagree with razzle about Pt. Reyes. If you plan on climbing down to the lighthouse and also hiking the Chimney Rock trail, there is no way you will be at Tomales Point by 11.

The lighthouse doesn't open until 10 am and you will want to spend at least an hour there. Chimney Rock will take another hour. And you may want to spend some time looking at the elephant seals near the Lifeboat Station.

Since you will be there on Sunday, you will also have to contend with the shuttle bus system. If you could go on Monday instead, you could avoid the crowds and the buses.

Tomales Point is at the other end of the seashore from the Lighthouse - about a 35 minute drive. It is well worth going out there to see the elk but hiking the entire trail except on the best of days is an arduous task because of the biting cold wind off the ocean. If you are up for it, by all means do it but it's really an all day 10 mile hike.

Instead you might consider a hike down Drake's Beach to the estero and look for the Drake plaque replica while hanging out with the harbor seals and white pelicans.

There are some nice picnic tables in front of the Visitor Center and Cafe at Drake's Beach where you can picnic next to the Bay.

Then you can go out to see the elk at the Pierce Ranch. You will have the best chance of seeing animals late in the day.
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Old Dec 20th, 2008, 06:55 PM
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Oh, Super, I spaced that about the shuttle buses as we usually don't
go out to PR on the weekends..
thanks for the reminder !
so, yes spiro that will impact your proposed timetable.

A note on "a hike down Drake's Beach to the estero" - no can do
through April -there's a closure on the estero and southern portion of the beach to protect the seals.
You can get terrific views of them from Chimney Rock.

We go out there alot and the weather can change while you are there - just be prepared and have
a great time.

R5

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Old Dec 20th, 2008, 07:01 PM
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I probably won't do the entire hike, but it is 22 degrees right now where we live, so biting cold wind not a problem . We hike here in the winter some. I don't like to hike in the rain unless I am looking at seasonal waterfalls. Another hike I was considering at pt reyes is on the south end and you hike to a waterfall there that spills off into the ocean. I don't recall the name off the top of my head.
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Old Dec 20th, 2008, 07:08 PM
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I do think I want to be able to see the dim sum on the carts for my first experience.
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Old Dec 20th, 2008, 08:38 PM
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They now rent segways @ GG park for personal use with or without a guide.

http://www.segwaysfbay.com/index-2.html


i just discovered this.
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Old Dec 20th, 2008, 09:11 PM
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>> I am now rethinking and considering Argonaut. However, could I get there easily on BART???<<

Nope - not even close.

I would stick with the Hyatt Embarcadero - I think the Wharf (where the Argonaut is located) is the most "un-San Francisco" area of The City. Yuck, yuck, yuck - tacky tacky, tacky. The Embarcadero Hyatt area will get a good mix of business people on work days, locals at the Saturday Farmer's market, locals dining out (rarely at the Wharf - except Gary Danko & Ana Mandara).

If the segway trip starts at Ghiradelli & just kinda wanders in that immediate area - you're really not doing much more than a "state fair fun zone/segway" type adventure. You could probably just stay at home, rent a segway, ride around your neighborhood, and experience the same thing.

I've seen hundreds of bicyclists, joggers, dog-walkers, etc along the Bay-side promenade at Crissy Field & Ft Point - but I don't recall seeing any segways there. Perhaps they are not allowed. San Francisco is truely unique - segways are not. Try to maximize the San Francisco experience while here.

Stu Dudley
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Old Dec 20th, 2008, 09:25 PM
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Hi spiro -
"Another hike I was considering at pt reyes is on the south end and you hike to a waterfall there that spills off into the ocean. I don't recall the name off the top of my head."<I/>

That would be the Palomarin Trail
with the falls being Alamere-could be a fine choice for March if you
have waterproof hiking boots
(and it sounds like you do ) as there are muddy places and seasonal creeks that time of year. Do know
it is at the complete opposite end of the park from the Lighthouse -so let's say it will take you
45 mins. Drakes Beach parking lot back to the Visitors Center/and another minute to the town of Olema -then another good 30 mins south oh Hwy 1 to the Palomarin trail head. The round trip to Alamere Falls is about 4 hours. I would definitely check conditions
at the Visitors Center before proceeding.

So, you need to factor in the total visit to the Lighthouse via shuttle bus and add that to your day. Also,be sure to factor in that to eat dinner at the Station House, you have to back-track back up to Pt. Reyes Station.

Now, let me toss this idea into the ring. After the Lighthouse, you could come back through Inverness and head out to Limantour Beach.
Once you hit the beach from the parking area look to your left - you can walk for miles in this direction right along the ocean.
We have seen whales, as well as non-windy days, in March here.

So, do consult a good amp of Pt. Reyes and see what you think.

R5

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