sonata123

I was wondering if I will have enough time to do the following in 5 days (technically 4 since I'd be leaving the morning of the last day):

-bay cruise/Alcatraz tour
-Asian Art Museum
-Chinese Culture Center
-Golden Gate park
-Chinese New Year parade
-Conservatory of Flowers
-Ghiradelli factory
-rent a car and see the redwoods in Muir
Woods


If I wouldn't have enough time for all, which are the ones that are definitely worth going to?

I've noticed that the Blue & Gold fleet offers a bay cruise around Alcatraz, but not an actual tour of the prison itself. Is there a company that combines a bay and prison tour?

What are some good restaurants (not too expensive) you would recommend? What about dessert places? I'm open to most any kind of cuisine.

And is the Muni system really as confusing as it looks? The map for the bus routes look like a tangled skein of thread!

Thanks!

StuDudley

You will have more than enough time to do all those things. The Conservatory of Flowers is in Golden Gate Park.

I don't think I've read any trip reports where others have said Muni was confusing.

Click on my name and look for the United States posts to discover some other things that might inteest you.

Stu Dudley

egret

Make sure to visit Fisherman's Wharf, especially Pier 39. You should have plenty of time for your itinerary.
There are several boat tours of Alcatraz available. There is also the Red and White Fleet for one. The tour you are referring to is the "round the rock" tour. Other tours actually take you to the prison.

FainaAgain

Are you doing the bay cruise in addition to Alcatraz? I would do the prison one day, and a boat to Sausalito instead of the bay cruise the other day.

Go to Muir woods as early as you can - parking is a pain there.

If driving, don't go to GG park on Sunday - they close some roads there.

On the day of the parade they start to re-route or cancel MUNI buses early in the day, keep this in mind. There may be ads posted on the stop poles, may be none. With MUNI you never know

To master MUNI, order their own map of SF with the bus lines posted in color, much much easier to use.

And if you have specific questions like "how do I go from A to B" post them here.

StuDudley

Here is the link to "attraction" that I posted earlier in the year.

http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...1&tid=34931964

Stu Dudley

trippinkpj

FYI, my in laws who don't use public transit more than a few times a decade, had no trouble using Muni when they were in the city just over a year ago.

J_Correa

I think that Hornblower has the contract for trips out to Alcatraz now. Blue and Gold Fleet used to have it. The route just goes out and back - basically you buy tickets to go out at a certain time and then you can come back on any boat you want. If you want a cruise around the bay, you have to do a seperate thing.

I am personally not all that fond of Sausalito - lots of people really like it, but I kind of see it as an "Ok, nice view, now what?" sort of place. There are shops and restaurants and places to stroll, but that is about it. I much prefer going out to Angel Island - great views, nice hiking, and some good history lessons too. It's just a matter of what you like.

ElendilPickle

Try using the 511 link on Muni's website to plan your trips. We found it very easy to use.

Lee Ann

maj

I couldn't figure out the muni system before our trip. We asked at the hotel where to catch the bus, but when we got there, we didn't know which corner to stand on. We just asked someone passing by -- it is well marked, we just didn't see it. We got one of the one day passes and bought their map (mentioned above) and after a couple of trips we actually knew what we were doing. (and we've never really used public transportation before) It is very easy once you see how it works. We had quite a few maps of the city, but that was the best one for us to use for the bus system. Also, another map which was the most useful to us and we found it made it very easy to find your way around, even when driving, was the AAA map of San Francisco. The 511 link is great -- I played around with it before we went, but since I didn't know exactly route we would be taking, I didn't use it for the trip. Another reason to get a laptop.

We really enjoyed the Alcatraz tour -- much more than we had anticipated. Presidio is interesting too and Marin Headlands since you will be over there anyway.

polly229

I was very disappointed in Sausalito when I finally got there on my next-to-last trip. Sort of a "is that all there is?" reaction. I have been in SF about 5 times and seen many, many things, and I'd have to say Sausalito is pretty much at the bottom of the list.

One word of advice about Muir Woods, which we still haven't seen yet even though we tried on our last trip, in Oct. The parking lots are very small and when they fill, people start parking along the road. We followed the line of cars and when 2 mi. from the parking lot we still hadn't come to the end, we found a place to turn around and left (after cruising both lots another time). Granted we went on a Sat. on a beautiful day, but I was still surprised at such a crowd (or such small parking lots?). I'll try to get there again sometime but it will be during the week for sure.

juliecav

Yes, you can do all those things.
So much to say about San Fran..I used to live there. First off, there is nothing to see in Fisherman's Wharf. It is just a big tourist trap. Depending on what time of year, you need to buy your tickets for Alcatraz in advance: http://www.parksconservancy.org/visi...raztickets.php
I have taken visitors on bay cruises and we just walked down the wharf and found a boat that was charging $10 a person. They took us out under the Golden Gate and back.
A must for a great view is Marin Headlands on the north side of the Golden Gate Bridge. Just drive up to the top of the hill and there is the best view of the city and the bay.

Also, check out www.sfcityguides.org This is free walking tours of all different neighborhoods - great way to see the city.

Restaurants - not a lot of great ones in Union Square - frustrating as this is where all the Hotels are. But a stroll down Chestnut in the Marina, Union in Cow Hollow or Columbus in North Beach will yield many good choices.

You can incorporate a cable car ride from Union Square with a trip to Ghiaridelli for a sundae by taking the Powell/Hyde route

Hope this helps, have a great time!

StuDudley

>>>First off, there is nothing to see in Fisherman's Wharf.<

Now wait a minute !!!! Last time I walked by the Wharf, there was a Brittany Spears statue outside the Wax Museum.....

City Guides does a lot of 'theme" walks in addition to neighborhoods
Bawdy & Naughty
Gold Rush City
Victorian San Francisco
Ladnmark Victorians of Alamo Square
coit tower murels
Pacific heights mansions
Palace hotel
Palace of fine arts
Ferry Building
Gold Rush city
theater in San francisco

Stu Dudley

J_Correa

I love the City Guides walks - definitely recommend those

halfapair

You should try to buy tickets to Alcatraz ahead of time. We were in SF during the week between Xmas & New Years. Alcatraz was sold out the entire time we were there. We could only get on the Blue & Gold harbor cruise.

npurpleh2

Don't the sea lions count for something to see at Fisherman's Wharf???

SAB

Sure the sea lions are worth seeing, and one could visit them make in conjunction with taking the boat to Alcatraz. For locals who love the CIty the Wharf is not our SF, it is a manufactured experience built around what use to be a working fisherman's area. Even the sea lions, who the owners of Pier 39 tried to get rid of when they first hauled out there, have been incorporated into the "show" that is the Wharf. But it doesn't matter how much we locals spurn going to the Wharf and don't recommend it, thousands of tourists flock there. If you feel that a trip to SF must include the Wharf, so be it.

LoveItaly

Hi sonata, Hornblowers now has the contract for Alcatraz Island. Here is their website which should give you all the information you will need. Have a wonderful time in SF!!

http://www.alcatrazcruises.com/

maj

What exactly is considered Fisherman's Wharf? Is it just that little area with the sign where you catch the tour buses? Or does it extend to Ghiradelli Square? Agree that you can see it in conjunction with the Alcatraz tour -- or walk down that way when you go to Ghiradelli Square. We found ourselves in that general area about 4 times during our trip, without it being a destination in itself. In fact, we watched the sea lions while waiting in line for the ferry to Alcatraz to board (don't know if the pier has changed -- we went on the Blue and Gold).

Get a hot fudge sundae in the ice cream shop in Ghiradelli Square. Best one I've ever had.