San Francisco, Off the beaten path?
 

This will be my second time there. I'm looking for interesting non-touristy areas<BR>to explore, within the city limits, or a short train ride away.<BR>

Go to the fortune cookie factory. It is up the block from the Holiday Inn Chinatown/Fin Dist. It is down a small alley. Not really touristy, (barely enough room to stand inside, but I peaked in, watched them make cookies and convinced them to let me make some cookies. You can also purchase the cookies (dirty fortunes are one of your choices. LOL!

What are your interests? Good places for a beer? Good shopping? Walks? <BR><BR>One suggestion is the farmer's market on Saturdays at the Ferry Plaza.

Hang out on Chestnut and then mosey down to Chrissy Field.

I was just in San Fran this past weekend and really enjoyed our drive (and lunch) to Sausalito and Tiburon (I loved Tiburon).<BR><BR>Have a great time! It's one of my favorite cities!!

I really enjoyed walking around the Mission district (I think I have the name right). Hispanic shops intermixed with trendy ones. Lots of restaurants as well, I had lunch at a great vegetarian one.<BR><BR>What have you seen already?

Stinson Beach is a wonderful tiny village. And if you don't want to drive in the mountains take a Golden Gate transit bus, check the schedule.<BR><BR>Take Caltrain to San Jose, plenty to do there. <BR><BR>Berkeley city and University is a nice place for a day out, just make sure you don't get caught in one of their protests - you can get there by BART. <BR><BR>Petaluma, Santa Rosa are 2 nice towns to visit, search the internet for activities there, take Golden Gate transit bus. <BR><BR>

Shopping/browsing on Fillmore and Union Streets. Have you seen the "Painted Ladies" in Pacific Heights? Think there are archetectural tours to see those. If you like baseball, Pac Bell park is terrific and worth a visit. SFMOMA?

I'm interested in walks. Check out my post on 100 things to do in SF to see some of what I've already done. <BR>What is on Chestnut? If I venture out which is more interesting Berkley or San Jose?<BR>I definitely want to see MOMA, I missed it in '95 (did it just open then?) I've seen Sausalito,<BR>didn't seem like much. Is Tiburon much better? I think I did stumble on that fortune cookie factory down an alley.<BR>Is the Castro area interesting if you are not gay? I've seen Mt. Tamplais. I've walked the GG bridge starting from the Wharf.<BR>I've been to GG park. I saw the cliff house. I've been to Japan town, it was really cool to see people playing those drums. I've seen the hippies in the Haight.<BR>I've seen the drummers by the Wharf. I've been to Muir woods.<BR>I've seen the civic center and a symphony at Symphony Hall. I may try to take in a Giants game.<BR>Is it hard to get tickets on game day? What is left?<BR>

vic,<BR>Try visiting San Francisco's beaches - China Beach, Ocean Beach is a great place to watch the sun set, and the beach at Aquatic Park. The free Marine Museum. The wine country is only about 1 hour away. I have a web site with over 110 panoramas I shot in San Francisco, Napa Valley and Sonoma County over the last two years. Lots of historical information and links, affordable restaurant recommendations, etc. You can get lots of ideas there. Go to http://www.inetours.com. Enjoy!

I love a walk starting out on Sacramento St near Arguello, walking through Pacific Heights, down Lyon St and then continue walking all the way down the hill to Chestnut St (shops, eateries) and then out to the Marina Green of Crissy Field. Wonderful on a clear day, and its always cool here for walking up and down hills. Check out Baker Beach and the Presidio area and the Legion of Honor museum by car. Drive along the Great Highway. If you have time, a ferry to Tiburon and lunch at Sam's on the water. If you have even more time go to Angel Island. I would definitely pick Berkeley over San Jose (there's really little to see in San Jose except the Tech Museum. Palo Alto and Stanford are also fun.

I just reurned from SF and had a Victorian Home walking tour ($20 per person) with Jay's outfit which was very enjoyable. His site is www.victorianwalk.com. The city offers free tours of various things. Check out www.walkingtours.com/cityguides. We did the Chinatown one and it was excellant.

There was a cursory mention above, but a day's walk in the Mission district on 24th Street between Mission and Potrero provides a wonderful look at San Francisco's Latino and Hispanic Communities; shops, stores, restaurants (Mexican, Honduran, Ecuadorian, etc.), churches, beautiful Victorian Buildings, teems of locals going through their dailey living. It can be a very interesting and enjoyable day.<BR> Noe Valley is great for a tour with it's smart shops, restaurants and cafes, and, again, beautiful Victorians.<BR>The walk from the Palace of the Legion of Honor down to Seacliff provides some of the most awsome views of the Bay, Golden Gate Bridge and across to Marin County. Plenty of benches and trails to hike or picnic. Take in the Museum while you are at the top of the hill.<BR>Do a walking tour of the Presidio. Some of the old officers' quarters are really beautiful. There is a museum. End up at the Golden Gate Bridge and walk across. Awesome views in every direction.

Vic - Chestnut is Chestnut Street in the Marina District. It is near Marina Greens, Yacht Harbor, the fantastic Palace of Fine Arts, of course the Bay.<BR><BR>Although Chestnut St. is a nice street, but IMHO, by itself, it is not worth a visit. However, especially on a nice day, the entire area is wonderful.<BR><BR>Have you been to Alcatraz? That is an interestering way to spend part of a day.<BR><BR>Enjoy yourself.

Vic, I forgot to mention one of my all time favorite places, Fort Point in Presidio. It is under the Golden Gate Bridge, right on the water. Tranquil, and a one of a kind photo op. I don't know if public transporation goes there or if you will have a car. It is near Chrissy Field.

IMHO Fort Point is one big bore. For better photo ops try the Marin side of GG.

Nina reminded me of another place to see. The Palace of the Legion of Honor has a great collection of Rodin sculptures, including The Thinker. It is located on a beautiful bluff overlooking the ocean and the bridge. From here you get a more rare look at the ocean side of the Golden Gate. Some great hiking trails right around there too.

ttt

Susan, excellent suggested for the Palace of the Legion of Honor. Easy public transportation to get there.<BR><BR>xx - I'm sorry that you think Fort Point is boring, it still one of my favorite places in the City and we always take out of town visitors there and they love it. Have you taken one of their candlelit evening tours through the Fort itself. Interesting and fun. I don't think they give them throughout the entire year. We did it several years ago and really enjoyed it. You can check through the US Park Service.

How do you get from Union Square to Chrissy field?<BR><BR>TIA,<BR><BR>Sal

Nina sorry you don't like Chestnut.

Hi Vic,<BR>In response to your question re the Castro district:<BR><BR>The Castro is a neighborhood, a real San Francisco neighborhood, not just "gayville". There's a lot of interesting shops on Castro Street and surrounding area. Some good cafes, restaurants, bakeries. The residential streets off Castro have gorgeously restored Victorians and Edwardians. And, of course, the Castro Theatre, one of our last big single-screen movie houses, where an organist plays on stage before most screenings. If you are here on a sunny clear day, combine a trip to Twin Peaks with a walk in the Castro. On a foggy day, especially at about 5:00 p.m. on a July/August evening, stand at Castro & Market and marvel at the huge bank of fog pouring over and through Twin Peaks! Oh, and an insider's S.F. tip - the corner of Castro & Market is the one surefire place in the city where you can always get a cab, 24/7.<BR>Welcome back, and enjoy your trip!<BR><BR><BR><BR><BR>

Thanks for all your great suggestions.<BR>I'll definitely print this off and take it with me.

Vic,<BR>Agree with Nick on Shanghai Kelly's!<BR>GO STEELERS!<BR>I was introduced to it last Sat for the NFL Draft, Kings NBA game and SJ Sharks NHL hockey match. Great people. They may be able to set you up with Giants tics too. Check their website for ballgame specials. <BR>Wind your way down Polk towards Union St.<BR>We also hit the Redwood Room in the Clift Hotel on Geary/Taylor (no sign outside-you have to find it!) and the Grand Cafe at Hotel Monaco. Both very interesting.<BR>A sunset cocktail at the Carnelian Room (top of the B of America Tower) or Cityscapes is also beautiful.<BR>Kal<BR>

<BR>xx - I didn't say that I didn't like Chestnut Street, I guess that was attempted humor on your part :-( . . . or some kind of pay back for liking Fort Point. I was sincere when I said that I was sorry that you didn't like Fort Point. To each his own.

Kal, dude, you are going too upscale for me -- the Redwood Room in the Clift? How was that? Were you scrutinized behind a velvet rope before they let you in? How are the drinks and the crowd?<BR><BR>Some more off the beaten path ideas that involve drinking:<BR><BR>Watch a film at the Red Vic Movie House in the Haight where you can sit on a couch and drink a beer. This month they are showing films including Barbarella and The Shining.<BR><BR>Martinis at Persian Aub Zam Zam on Haight Street, where in past days the bartender was much like the Soup Czar. If you didn't order properly or if you sat at a table instead of the bar he would kick you out. Now Bruno is gone, but the martinis are still the best.

S'pike-What velevet rope? <BR>We just walked right in. Since I was still wearing my Steeler "Throw-back" jersey and after around 5hrs at Shanghai Kelly's maybe they needed the comic relief? <BR>It IS rather..ahem..."upscale" but very beautiful decor.<BR><BR>We haven't been to the Haight in over 5yrs. Mrs Kal was in one of the umpteen tie-dyed shirt shops so I was waiting outside. A "local" slowly walked by eyeballin' me. He turned and walked back and said in a low voice "Hello Officer". Guess I looked like a UndCover Cop? Had some fun there in the early 70s.<BR>We'll have to put those Haight hangouts on our barrhoppin' list. Kezar Tavern still open? <BR>I feel like making another SF run this weekend...but it may rain...:-( Yountville???<BR>Kal