San Francisco-Route & Parking Advice Needed
 

We will be coming into San Francisco on a Thursday across the Bay Bridge from Berkeley(in a rental car). My teenage daughter wants to visit the City Lights Bookstore, Beat Museum, etc. as she is preparing a research paper on the "Beat Movement". Wife would like to ride down Embarcadero & maybe stop at the Ferry Bldg. for a meal & a wander around. Then we plan to make our way over to the Cliff House(for the Camera Obscura) and then down to Half Moon Bay, making stops along the way to HMB if there are good photo ops. I have looked at Google maps & am thinking my best bet is to come across the bridge, get on Embarcadero and, after making our stop at the Ferry Bldg area, take Bay St. to Columbus Ave. for the City Lights & surrounds.

Should I then take Columbus Ave./Montgomery/Market to Geary & travel on Geary over to Point Lobos & the Cliff House? Does this sound like a good route? Also, didn't see an exit for Embarcadero off the Bay Bridge-could someone tell me the easiest way to get to Embarcadero?

I could also use some advice on where to park for the City Lights area and the Ferry Building area.

Thanks in advance for any help.

Easiest exit is Harrison/Embarcadero which is the first SF exit on the left side of bridge. Make a right onto Harrison from exit and you can't miss the Embarcadero. Instead of going through the financial district to get to Geary, you could take Broadway to Divisadero to Geary--that way you would see a little of Pacific Heights.

For yout "City Lights" visit, park above the police station on the north side of Vallejo, between Stockton & Powell. After parking the car, take the elevator up to the top floor of the garage for a good view of the surrounding area.

Stu Dudley

Thanks for the suggestions. So I guess my route doesn't sound too bad? Anything I need to tweak?

StuDudley-I appreciate the little tidbit for the view. It's a perfect example of why this forum is so helpful. Can you suggest parking near the Ferry Bldg. also?

messy-there are a number of parking lots near the Ferry Building on the east side of the Embarcadero, the other side from where you will be driving (Embarcadero is a divided road). There is validated parking in the Washington street lot across from the Ferry Building. I know there is some parking in a pier just north of the Ferry building, I drive past it every day. I just can't remember the name. I'll pay closer attention when I go past in a couple of hours. There is valet parking--if you want to spring for that and metered street parking, if you are lucky.

OK I remembered to pay attention. The pier parking (on same side of Embarcadero as Ferry Building ) is in Pier 3 and it costs $5 an hour, $20 flat rate. BTW at 11:00 am there was metered street parking south of the Ferry Building, but I assume it is only for an hour.

You've already received good parking advice, but maybe this websie will come in handy: http://www.parkingquest.com/home.shtml

The ride to Half Moon Bay is an interesting one and I don't think you'll have any trouble finding a thing or two to photograph. Lots of access to the beaches along the way.

SAB-I appreciate your help! You went above & beyond-thanks. It is a big help to have the right information in a strange city.

Giovanna-thanks to you too. That website is awesome. Hopefully, it will help me in some other areas of the city also.

You are most welcome. Enjoy your visit to N. California and enjoy the view of the City from the Bay Bridge.

Regarding this comment from you: "Ferry Bldg area, take Bay St. to Columbus Ave. for the City Lights & surrounds."

The City Lights Book store is on the upper end of Columbus away from Bay Street. If you drive past the Ferry Building you will see BROADWAY STREET right after WASHINGTON STREET. Take Broadway. It will run into Columbus and you will be very close to City Lights. In fact, you should be able to see it across the street at the corner of BROADWAY/COLUMBUS. You can then visit there and drive down Columbus to the wharf area.

San Francisco nails you every time you move your car. You may want to consider parking at the Ferry Building, visit there, then take a cab to the City Lights. This avoids moving your car. You can then cab back to the Ferry Building or walk. It is not that far. I walk the area most mornings. Just a thought.

Thanks traveldawg-that is just what I was trying to find out! I knew there had to be a quicker & easier way & appreciate your advice. How far would you say the walk is from City Lights to the Ferry Bldg. area? Asking because wife has a bad knee & can't walk for extended periods.

Actually we are planning to leave that area & make our way over to the Cliff House, Camera Obscura, Sutro Baths, etc.

messy, thats actually pretty far to walk even on a good knee. I mean one could walk it but it is kinda far.