San Francisco must-do's?
 

Trying to decide activities in/around the San Fran area for the last leg of vacation.
Will be there Thursday - Saturday (5/17-19) and so far, we want to go to the Charles Schulz museum, Muir Woods and Point Reyes. May try to hit the tip of wine country for the views, if nothing else. Looking for options at this point.

Has anyone done the Golden Gate bike hike?

If you're visiting the Bay Area for only 2-3 days, I would just stay in San Francisco. Muir Woods & Pt Reyes (on the same trip) will eat up an entire day, and the Shultz museum is in northern Santa Rosa - which is not really on the way to either of the other places. The Shultz museum is entertaining (was there last month), but I wouldn't call it a "destination" or "must do" unless you have kids who love his stuff or you're real enthusiasts.

Search "Stu Dudley" on the US forum & you'll find lots of suggestions for "must dos".

Stu Dudley

I agree with Stu. We recently returned from SF and Point Reyes took FOREVER to get to. For that short of a trip I would save if for next time. We also did the bike trip and that was fabulous! The perfect weather we had made all the difference. I also wouldnt recommend riding on the weekend as the bridge gets too crowded wtih pedestrians and other bikers...

I was wondering where the Charles Schulz museum was - LOL.

I agree with the others, unless you have been to SF before, I would stick to SF itself for so short a trip. Possibly a day trip to the wine country or Point Reyes.

Ride the streetcar from Market/Powell down thru Chinatown to Fisherman's Wharf.

I took the greyline trolley tour that leaves from Pier 39 and thought it was well worth it. They stop at major places in the city and let you get out at some of them for a few minutes. I couldn't have navigated the city as easily on my own. Check out the sea lions while you are at pier 39. Drive down Lombard street if you have time, its a hoot. And make sure you ride a cable car, it is a unique experience and so much fun!

yes defintaely drive down lombard if your renting a car...alcatraz is interesting if your curious. They still have the orignal hole the prisoner dug to escape...it's real small and fascinating. Eat dim sum in chinatown if your into that type of food. The golden gate bike ride is wonderful if your into that. You can rent bikes at the wharf.

ALCATRAZ. They just opened a new center a few weeks ago.

Long time ago we went to the Schultz museum, but not for the museum itself. Neat gift shop, though. We took pictures of the "walk of fame" outside - many famous figure skaters, Yamaguchi, Hamilton, others - left the imprint of their hands, skates.

The museum is in Santa Rosa, but not in the center.

As with any beautiful city, just walking around is great fun. Explore Chinatown, North Beach, Fishermans Wharf (touristy but fun). Go up in Coit Tower, preferably near dusk. The botanical gardens and Japaneese Tea House in Golden Gate Park are relaxing, and the adjoining neighborhood is fun to walk thru. Alcatraz is very memorable (book ahead!), especially on a nice day when you have great views of the SF skyline.
Walking out on the Golden Gate Bridge is also spectacular on a clear day. Just drive across, and on the far side is a parking area, information building and the footpath onto the bridge.

You asked about a bike hike.. not sure what the hike part is. I recommend that you rent bikes (www.blazingsaddles.com) and head across the bridge. You can take a ferry back from Sausalito, or head on to Tiburon or Larkspur to extend the trip before your ferry ride back. It really is a great day and a fun way to see the Bay.

In Sausalito, consider a visit to the Bay Model. It's just past the town and you'll see signage from the bike path. It's a scale sized replica of SF Bay and incredibly informative.

If you go to Tiburon you can add a trip out to Angel Island where you can certainly do some hiking. Be sure to get an early start for this one. The last ferry from Tiburon on a nice day can be crowded and they do limit the number of bikes. If you don't get on, it's a long (uphill) ride back.

I would schedule some time at the Ferry Builidng Markpetplace down by the Embarcadero, very cool place with restaurants, Sur La Table and beautiful views in the back. :)

Shopping in Union Square is fun, we like the Macy's there. Pier 39 is also fun, free entertainment and the seals out on the rocks are fun to photograph. Enjoy your trip! ***kim*** ((f))

Walk up Filmore Street to Pacific Heights for fantastic views. Walk down the hill through Cow Hollow to the Marina. Take a bus to Fisherman's Wharf. Walk through North Beach and Chinatown to Union Square.

Seriously, forget Charles Schultz, Point Reyes and Muir Woods and the "tip of the wine country" in the time frame you have. Concentrate on the city itself.

I don't know what the "Golden Gate Bike Hike" is, but you can rent bikes to cross the bridge. Many paople then bike down to Sausalito and take a ferry back to the city. That would take most of a day.

I'm surprised that nobody has ever mentioned stopping by Gump's near Union Square when visiting San Francisco. The store has one of the world's finest jade collections.

njgirl, you don't say whether this is your first trip to San Francisco or not. If it is, I would have to agree with several of the other posters here that you would be better off taking time to enjoy the city itself. It is a beautiful city, with lots of things to see. Gloden Gate Park, the area around Seal Rock, Telegraph Hill, Golden Gate National Recreational Area (just on the other side of the Golden Gate Bridge) as well as a boat or ferry ride, all offer great views and are all very scenic. I am not sure of the bike hike, but I have seen people who rent bike to ride accross the Golden Gate Bridge and then take the ferry back from Sausalito or Tiburon. that seems like it would be a great trip. But if you have never been to SF before, please don't shortchange yourself on a chance to see the city itself. It is a wonderful city!!

The other option, from your proposed itinerary, is to skip SF altogether and stay up north for your entire trip.

OH, don't skip San Francisco you first trip, is it?

Save the northern stuff for your next trip.

ITA, with the stay in SF suggestion if it's your first trip.

Actually, I've been to SF once before and I'm not such a city person. Pier 39 was nice but driving around w/the traffic and one-way streets and no parking drove me nuts. But this time I wanted to know if there are must-dos that I might have missed out on last time. (I didn't even drive across the bridge because of too much traffic.)

If you go to the Schulz Museum (at north end of Santa Rosa) the north end of the Sonoma Valley is not far away (look for Hwy 12 on the map). It is a really beautiful part of the Valley and there are some great wineries up there.
We like Wellington.

So you could either spend all or some of your time north of the Golden Gate. Search the archives for other suggestions. If you go to Muir Woods, try to get there when it opens in the morning. Muire Beach is not great for swimming but it is pretty (Keep valuables on you or in the trunk). There is a fabulous view from a few spots along the Marin coast, including Marin Headlands (just north of the GG bridge, and Muir Beach Overlook (a brief drive north of Muir Beach.

Healdsburg, north of Santa Rosa, is a great little town with lots of wine and a great bakery called Downtown.

If you don't need a fancy hotel, you can find some in Santa Rosa a a few in Healdsburg.

Chowhound.com is a great place to ask for restaurant recommendations.

My advice get some good shoes and pund the pavement! walking through SF is a fantastic site seeing adventure.

My advice get some good shoes and pound the pavement! walking through SF is a fantastic site seeing adventure.

Boudin's Bread Bakery at Fisherman's Wharf serves the BEST clam chowder in sourdough bread bowl. It is a must!

>>Boudin's Bread Bakery at Fisherman's Wharf serves the BEST clam chowder <<

Better than Sam's ???? Sam's is a little more "real SF atmosphere" also.

Stu Dudley

Try the Buena Vista Cafe (between Ghiradelli Square and Fisherman's Wharf) for an excellent Irish Coffee.
Check out a book, Stairway Walks of San Francisco. One of the best ways to experience SF is on foot! Walk along the Embarcadero. Walk through Chinatown. Eat at Hunan Home's on Jackson Street. Browse City Lights Bookstore. have a Cappucino at Tosca's. (This is not coffe, but an alcoholic beverage with steamed hot chocolate from their classic machine - very old San Francisco-ish). See Beach Blanket Babylon. Walk across the Golden Gate Bridge - it's usually windy, sometimes strenuous as a bike ride.
Avoid driving; use the trollies. The F line is good. Walk as much as you can.
I agree that you might as well stay in SF as there is much to explore; otherwise move your entire destination north to Napa or Sonoma or a coastal village.
Have a good time!

Oops - Tadich has the best chowder - not Sams.

Stu Dudley