Thanks Stu! I've read other posts of yours regarding the area in the past few months as we are heading to the wine country and San Francisco a week from today. I've looked for your driving tour post before and couldn't find it. Glad all of this is in one spot! Look forward to using this info! Thanks again!

WOW! I'm almost overwhelmed w/ all the great info....now to try to figure out what to do w/ 3 full and 2 half days in your area...for sure want to do the wine country...where would you stay in Healdsburg that might not quite break the bank for 2 nights?
Also, how long a drive from there back to San Fran airport? Thanks for all the information. I need a nap after reading all of it!!!!

This thread made our trip to San Francisco most enjoyable. It was better than every guidebook. Thank you, Stu!

This is our trip report:

http://www.fodors.com/community/unit...ne-country.cfm

The time for the drive from Healdsburg to the airport entirely depends on the day of the week & time of day. You may hit 3 different traffic jams on a work day & it could take 2 1/2 hrs. Early on a Sunday, it might take as little as 1 1/2 hrs.

We stay with friends in Healdsburg, so I'm not familiar with hotels there.

Thanks for the kind words, traveller1959 - come back soon !!!

Stu Dudley

Hi Stu and Kim, I haven't been here for a while, and am lost with this new website, but will get use to it in time. So, what's new? Have you been to Half Moon Bay Oceano Hotel? I highly recommend for beauty and luxury. I've stayed several times and in different rooms, they are all equally fabulous! Remember the chef from Two Fools? He has Oceano's kitchen so the lounge and room service food is wonderful. Crab Landing is opened and also delightful. Beautiful and quality decor, granite tables, artistic chairs, blue light stairs, great harbor view, I love it! Only one meal so far, and I'm looking forward to return visits. Please note, The Old Pillar Point Inn is beautifully refresh, thanks to Oceano. Same silky bamboo sheets, decor, flat screen tv's, refrigerators, etc. It had gotten too worn to suggest, but now I do recomend without hesitation and enjoy staying there myself. Of course, Landis Shores B&B is still excellent and my love for the Beach House continues. I've walked by Princton Seafood many times and finally stopped in. It is now another favorite, their Hot Bread was a great surprise.
Guess that's all I have to add, wish I was in Half Moon Bay right now!

Stu, your write up is quite amazing. We have also used your Tuscany & Provence write ups extensively.
Anyhow, we have just returned from our 3rd trip to SF (our daughter lives there), and thought I'd post a few 'off the beaten track' suggestions:

- A very interesting day trip from SF is the Egyptian Museum in San Jose. This place is hard to describe, with several exotic temple type buildings, but it's very unique with lots of photo ops and an extensive collection of artifacts.
- Another very pleasant town for exploring is Palo Alto. The downtown has lots of nice restaurants, the Borders is in an old mission type building, and the Stanford Campus is stunning.
- The back roads connecting the Point Reys area with the Petaluma area are very, very scenic.
- Clement street near 7th. This is the 'other' Chinatown. Not as photogenic as the big Chinatown, but better for shopping,and sprinkled with many interesting restaurants including the famous Burma Superstar.
- For a unique vegan experience, check out one of the several Cafe Gratitude's throughout the bay area and in SF.
- Two hotels we have stayed at and found to be a good value are the Kabuki and the Laurel Inn. The Kabuki, which is in Japantown, is especially nice. The rack rates on these hotels is over $200, but they often run very good specials.

Hello we will be in SF for a few days the last week of this month. We are actually flying into SF on Friday 5-22 spending the night, driving to Sonoma and staying Sat & Sun then on to Yosimite Mon - Wed and back to SF for Thur and Fri leaving Sat. I know it sounds like a lot of traveling but we've never been to California and wanted a sampling to see if we might want to return. The middle part of the trip is booked but not the SF part. I hate to be one of those first timers wondering where to stay in SF but that has been my hardest decision. 2 weeks left and still no hotel!! I thought I had decided on the first night maybe the Westin or Hilton because I like the idea of a downtown hotel with a view and then Fishermans Wharf for the last 2 nights but then I started reading this and I'm back to square one. I don't want to stay somewhere tacky! There are a lot of good rates right now but do you have any specific hotel recommendations? Not too expensive but a fun area. We are both 50 and will have our 20 year old son with us. Thanks

There have been dozens & dozens of past posts about where to stay in San Francisco. That's where I would look for advice. I'm not a big fan of staying at the Wharf - so I would vote for a downtown location around Union Sq. Along the Embarcadero at the foot of Market St would be nice too.

Most people enjoy California. I got a chuckle from your statement about sampling Calif to see if you want to return. I believe San Francisco is the most popular tourist destination in the US, Yosemite is the most remarkable National Park in the US, and judging from the number of people visiting the wine country - it sure seems to be popular. Our housing prices here in the Bay Area are the highest in the US - so lots of people want to live here too. Unfortunatly, you be here on Labor Day weekend, and you'll really only have 1 1/2 days in each location - not enough time.

Stu Dudley

Thanks Stu I know it's too much to see in too little time. I didn't mean to sound insulting about wanting to return to California only perhaps where we might want to visit a second time. We seem to gravitate to warm beaches usually, Florida, Mexico, the Carribean etc. Yosemite is what drew us to California, we love to be outdoors,hike and bike. I will search on!

By the way do you know if Cityscape on top of the Hilton is still open? I don't see a reference on their website and web searches don't turn up much. It appears they are turning it into a private venue but I really couldn't find much in print.

Nope - Don't know

Stu Dudley

I believe you are correct.

I stayed there after the <i>Henry Hunan's Fodor's GTG</i> and tried to get up there for a "Final final" and no button in the elevator.
Read about the private parties later.
Sad too, because it was a very nice place for a cocktail and a view.

What time do you get in on the 22nd.
Rumors of a small party being bandied about. O:)

>>Rumors of a small party being bandied about<<

Kal - what's up your sleeve???

Stu Dudley

THEE.... ((E))((E))((E))

Stu, just adding my thanks for posting all of this. We will be in the city next weekend and looking forward to it. It think it's been at least 10 years since we've been there for fun.

Hi- Have been ready all of Stu Dudley's fabulous suggestions and have incorporated them into our upcoming trip trip to Calif.
We Have time to do maybe two or three of the city guide tours and want to know which ones we shouldn't miss. Can you help?

A lot depends on your interests...

Many like the Cityscapes & Public Places. The Palace Hotel is nice. We enjoyed Chinatown, Haight Ashbury, Gold Coast, Victorian San Francisco and Landmark Victorians of Alamo Square (natch - my wife is one of the guides), & Nob Hill. Then there are 2 walks you might not want to tell your friends you went on - Prostitution Tour, and Bawdy & Naughty (we've been on neither).

Stu Dudley

topping

Stu, my wife were in San Francisco for a long 4th of July weekend, and I just wanted to thank you for bringing the Noe Valley neighborhood to my attention via this thread.

Unfortunately, we put off our Noe Valley stroll until our last full day, which happened to be the 4th itself. I say unfortunately because we would no doubt have made it over there a couple of times otherwise. At least the Farmers Market was going on even though it was the 4th. We had a great breakfast (lunch) at Savor.

We also rented bikes and rode across the Golden Gate Bridge, due in part to your write-up in this thread.

Glad you enjoyed the Noe Valley !!! We love Savor too.

Stu Dudley

I used to live in Noe Valley! It is a great neighborhood (Stu, I know this is crazy, but we recently stopped and got dinner to-go from Haystack Pizza -- now THAT was a "blast from the past"!)

It has a GREAT tea room too :-)
http://www.lovejoystearoom.com/

Past ????? - we still go to Haystack pizza.

We went there all the time in the 70s when we were working on our Victorian house. Once, we were so tired from working late at night, that I fell asleep at the table at Haystack.

Stu Dudley

Two Haystack stories: 1) When my son was born (1984), for the first 3 or 4 weeks, we had Haystack delivered nightly -- and I think I ate the same thing every night, which was chicken with mushrooms and broccoli on the side! and 2) I once saw a woman come out of Haystack falling down drunk and fumbling with her keys at her car. Knowing the police always ate at Haystack, I went in, apologized to the table of 5 or 6 police officers, and told them wha I saw. They got right up, went outside and took her keys from her!

Do you remember the chicken scarpariello at Little Italy? I sure would love the recipe for that dish! (That and the warm zabaglione were my two favorites at Little Italy)

>>Do you remember the chicken scarpariello at Little Italy?<<

I usually ordered the Sausage Contadina or the sweetbreads. Asparagus sauteed with garlic too.

Stu Dudley

I love, love, love Sondini's Green Valley. Stu, sf? Have you been there? When I was in high school, my Englsih Literature teacher took us up to San Francisco from the burbs for a tour of some book exhibit. He took us for lunch there. I don't remember anything about the book thing, but I still remember the ravioli I had for lunch that day! I think it was just called Green Valley back then (1975). I have been back many times and love it.

Stu, just wanted to let you know that a friend of mine who's never been to the City is coming over to pick my brain and that of my husband in order to prepare for his trip there with friends. (Hubby and I are both natives but living in Bozeman, MT now.) All I'm going to do is bring up this link and set him loose with it! You've provided everything he needs to know and he can read it at all hours, too. Thanks Stu - you're the best :)

Another former Noe Valley girl here(Duncan between Church and Sanchez). It's a great neighborhood to poke around and you can then wander down into the Mission(Delfina,Tartine) or Bernal Hgts.

Just copied/pasted/printed all 22 pages of Stu's info (minus the Wine country parts)! THANK YOU!!! AWE-some!

Hi Stu, I am wondering if the Noe Valley walk is better on a Saturday or a Sunday. Does it matter? We'd probably be out and about in the afternoon on either day. Thanks.

Either day is fine.

Stu Dudley

Bill~then it will be a short drive to Flora Grubb.

Thanks Stu and PamSF.

These country/suburban mice are headed to the city from the hinterlands of Palo Alto on September 5,6 and 7 to celebrate our first wedding anniversary! Can't wait! We want to explore the city on foot mostly. Not sure where we are staying yet.

Oh you mice! I send you most hearty congratulations and well wishes on your first wedding anniversary!

On the 5th, we'll spend our 38th anniversary at Boulevard.

Stu Dudley

Congratulations! I like sitting at those little two person banquet type tables they have along the wall midway into the restaurant. I love Boulevard.

I am contemplating Teatro Zinzanni for the evening of the 5th. Never been.

Better get tickets ASAP - that's Sat night.

Stu Dudley

Mr. Dudley, we will be staying at the JW Marriott (500 Post Street) next week when we visit San Francisco. We are thinking about eating at Perbacco, which shows up to be one mile from the hotel. Would it be safe to walk there, or should we take a cab?

Are there other fairly nice restaurants within walking distance that we should consider? We are not foodies, and hubby likes meat.

While I'm not <i>THEE</i> Stu we've walked dozen of times from the UnSq area to the Perbacco area. I'd walk down Post to Kearny or Montgomery then turn on Calif.

Well traveled so you shouldn't have a prob.

Perbaccooooooooo =P~

Ditto Kal

That area is perfectly safe - through the Financial district. I'm surprised it's as long as 1 mile.

Stu Dudley