San Francisco trip report April 27--May 3, 2011
 

This was our third trip to San Francisco, and hopefully there will be many more since I still have a long list of things I want to see and do there. Weather was fantastic -- blue skies temps 60-70’s. We took our adult daughter with us (her first visit), so redid some of the things we had done before (like Alcatraz, Beach Blanket Babylon, Muir Woods, etc.) and enjoyed them all again. I included where we ate, although we aren’t really foodies -- just kind of grab things on the run.

We picked up our Muni passports at SFO, stopped for lunch with our son who lives in the South Bay area at In-N-Out and proceeded to the Columbus Motor Inn with stops at Ocean Beach, Cliff House, Sutro Baths, Legion of Honor, Holocaust Memorial and otherviewpoints along the way. Really like staying at the Columbus Motor Inn -- location, free parking (we like to both use public transportation and also be able to drive), staff and spacious rooms. Made a trip to the Safeway nearby then on to Pier 39 to see the sea lions. Ate at Boudin Café then the line had finally cleared out at the Mason Cable car (both the California and Hyde lines were down at this time so there was a long line there until about 8PM) so we rode it up and back.

Thursday we took the 3 hour 10:30am Mr. Toads Tour (with John Francisco). Excellent tour -- highly recommend it. We had lunch at the Burger Bar in Macy’s overlooking Union Square. That evening we took the first evening tour of Alcatraz. Ate at Bubba Gumps after.

Friday we ate at Pat’s Café, then drove down Lombard St and through Castro and the Sunset District to Golden Gate park for our Electric Tour Company Segway tour (second time for this company, but first in GGP) which again I would highly recommend. Our guide was Addie. After, we drove up to Twin Peaks (beautiful clear day) then climbed to the top of Buena Vista Park, walked to Haight Asbury (admiring the Victorian houses we saw along the way), then back to Buena Vista Cafe for dinner and Irish Coffee.

The next morning we went to Washington Square Park and caught the bus to Coit Tower, walked down the Greenwich Steps and took the F line to the Farmer’s Market (it was a Saturday) at the Ferry Building. Two of us ate there and the other at Burgermeister. We had dinner at Mona Lisa, then on to Beach Blanket Babylon (saw it two years ago and although the story line is pretty much the same it was updated with current events and I actually liked it even better this time). Then stopped at Mara’s for cannoli and gelato.

Sunday we had breakfast at Joanie’s Happy Days Diner, then walked up to Stella’s in North Beach for a sacripantina slice. Then off to wine country. We visited Matanzas Creek (for a tasting) and Paradise Ridge (tasting and self tour of a vineyard and sculpture garden). This worked well for us since 2 of the 4 of us are not wine drinkers, but enjoyed the views. (thanks for the help with this). We drove back to the Marin Headlands and since it was a sunday we were able to go up Conzelman Rd to the first viewpoint right over the GGB and then drive back down and continue on the road, only missing a small portion of that route. It is one of our favorites so we were really glad our daughter was able to experience it. Back in SF we tried Grumpy’s for hamburgers, but it isn’t open on the weekends so ended up at Fog City Diner.

Last full day. Started off at Vista Point. This was the first day we had a slight amount of fog over the bridge. Drove through Sausalito, on to Muir Woods, back across the Bridge where we parked and walked about half way back across it. On to the Palace of Fine Arts, then up to Cable Car Museum. Walked back through Chinatown and ate at O’Reilly’s in North Beach. Down to Ghiardelli for a hot fudge sundae and then rode the Hyde cable car up to Market and back down.

We love San Francisco!!!

Very nice!

Lovely report about your family time, maj, and I am glad you had such good weather as Northern California has now been experiencing winter weather for these last days.

<i>BUBBA GUMP'S, Pier 39</i>
Somewhere out there THEE Stu Dudley is digging a grave, crawling in it and is spinning. :O)

Seriously, thx for the TR. You hit a couple of our faves, BV, Stella's (we served some of their stuff at our wedding a bazillion years ago), O'Reilly's (2nd best Irish coffees in SF), Fog City Diner...I still wanna hit Grumpy's to take a peek at media types.

I still love the cable car rides....:-X
Especially the California line.

LOL. Stu can stop spinning. I have all of Stu's San Francisco ideas (almost book size by now) printed out and take them with me every time. We always, at the very least, incorporate some of his walks or drives in every trip. I have never found his suggestions for these anything other than outstanding.

We love to visit neighborhoods and talk to the locals. For instance, on our walk up Buena Vista Park we encountered many dog walkers who live there and enjoyed conversations with them. (we are dog lovers so it's easy to spark up conversations).

I understand why San Franciscan's don't want their city just known for Fisherman's Wharf, but, as a tourist you want to at least see these places since you have heard about them. We probably will always make a visit to the Pier 39 sea lions (as long as they stay there) but a quick walk through Pier 39 shopping area (on our way to Bubba Gumps) was enough. Also, I kind of grimaced when I mentioned Bubba Gumps. I know it is a chain, but both it (and InNOut) are not in our area and, again, we have heard about both so wanted to give them a try. DH is not adventurous (to put it mildly) regarding food so we try to hit places where he can get a plain hamburger or such (which he is very happy with). Now that DD has done most of the "tourist" things, I can go back with her and we can hit some more of the neighborhoods, museums and different restaurants (which we both love).

I hadn't heard of Grumpy's before but DS went there when he was working in the city and told us about it. We ended up at Fog City Diner, which was on my list, and definitely a good choice.

Hope I don't sound offended (I'm not but sometimes the written word is misunderstood). I appreciate you reading this report and all comments. Sometimes you feel like you are writing a trip report that is just repeating ideas you have already received from this forum. But I love reading them and usually get an idea or two that I haven't heard before, so therefore I try to write one when I return. And, I think, that is all I have to say about that.

Somehow I missed your TR when you first posted (and I usually click on 'California' at least once every day just to keep my oar in :) )

very nice report - man you squeezed a lot in(!)

I also think a combo of public transport and driving works best in the city. A first timer on a short-ish visit -- no car for sure. But to get around to some places, a car just makes things easier. It is that free parking that makes it doable or not.

maj... ((Y))

jj... ;;)

Kal: ((K)) :-d

I just read the California Cablecar line is closed for repairs. Oh darn. Next week.

Hey - we may be eating at Fog City Diner tomorrow night - for the first time. We dined at Butterfly last week (4th dinner there). Getting closer to FW/Pier 39 - but definitely no Bubba Gumps!!

maj - glad you enjoyed some of my ideas.

Stu Dudley

Butterfly is at pier 33 - just 3 piers away from pier 39 !! I wore a hooded sweatshirt & dark glasses so it would be harder to recognize me.

Stu Dudley

<i>THEE</i> :)) :)) :))

Love Fog City and Butterfly.
Been hitting Butterfly since it opened. Love the decor, too.
Loved the pot roast at Fog City.