SF: Over-Rated Places and Worst Experiences
 

Not trying to be negative - just trying to learn from those who have gone before us. And I know its also subjective, but what didn't you like and why?

I don't care for Pier 39--though on a clear day views from the end of the pier are terrific--last week we could see Sausalito for the first time. IMO, Pier 39 is very "touristy" and has a carnival-like atmosphere which I know some people enjoy but I don't.

Fishermans Wharf is over-rated. That said, I would still take an early morning stroll (say 9:00-9:30 am) to Pier 39 to watch the seals before the tourist trap businesses and teeming masses arrive - at that time of day it's not that bad. Was all over the city (there for 8 days) and have no "bad" experiences to report.

ChatNoir~there is a thread about best things to do in SF. I contributed to it. You could click on my name and see. There are some wonderful suggestions on that thread of things to do from many of us who live here.

The entire Fisherman's Wharf area, especially the most central part of it, is a plastic carnival with not much purpose in being any more except to get tourist dollars. I would give it last priority for your time, and particularly avoid restaurants there. Pier 39 at one end of the area is actually the second least unclassy part of it, and it's true the views and sea lions are good. Ghirardelli Square and the Cannery at the other end are the least unclassy part, and also have fine views. If you spend any time at the Wharf area, these are the places to do it.

Outside of the Fisherman's Wharf area, and aside from the predictable fact that the major hotels, and particularly their restaurants, are likely to be grossly overpriced, I think it's much easier to find treasures, expected and unexpected, than disappointments in S.F.

Thanks for the feedback. I saw and liked very much, the thread about the good experiences. Just wanted to get the flip side and wasn't expecting a huge number of over-rated or rip-off places.

Have to agree with previous posters on Fisherman's Wharf. There's a reason why long-time residents and/or natives just don't go there unless forced to. It's the pits, IMO.

I also do not see the allure of Chinatown, but maybe that's because I've been here so long. I know it's "exotic" to those who live in places where the population is not so ethnically diverse. I do value the neighborhood for its history. I just really have a problem going past the grocery stores where there are live animals (turtles, quail, etc.) that are being mistreated while they wait to become somebody's meal. Anyway, that's just my opinion, and I won't be arguing that cause on this forum.

The Haight-Ashbury is another place that I can't see making a mecca of, unless it's to see some stellar Victorian architecure. Haight Street depresses me, with its very young street punks and drifters - it just seems very dingy and negative. By the way, I was there for the Summer of Love, I was there when the Dead and Janis and Country Joe used to just show up in the Panhandle (eastern extension of GG Park) with a flatbed truck and play music on Sunday afternoons. So I guess I know what it was like and am sad to see what it became.

Hope this gives you some insight, but don't let my opinions or anyone else's prevent you from going out to observe for yourself.

Beach Blanket Babylon is a long running, really entertaining show!
Should not be missed!
Alcatraz was a bit much, but very enlightening.
F.Wharf, and most of the "famous" tourist stuff can certainly be skipped.
Do try Yank Sing for a great tourist Dim Sum lunch.
We really like the Canolis at Stella Pasticceria 446 and Figaro 414 Columbus after a long walk there.
The Stanford Court Hotel and their breakfast Lemon Souffle Pancakes with Raspberry sauce and fresh raspberries are the very best!
The Muir Woods over the GG are very impressive for a morning walk (unless you are a triathelete, you have to drive there).
I really prefer San Diego.
M

I know many people love it, but I did not get the Cable Car museum. A huge wheel, lots of rails, and that's about it! I'd rather take another ride!

Also Cartoon Museum. One must really, really love cartoons to stare at those drawings.

dovima - my mom feels the same way you do about the Haight-Ashbury. I think it's a cool place, but you're right - she remembers what is was like in the 1960s and it's current state saddens her. I'm not old enough to know any better, so I think it's a fine place :)

JCorrea,
There sure wasn't a GAP store on Haight Street in the 60's!
Seriously, I do go down to the Haight on occasion to go to specific businesses like the Red Vic or Mendel's art supply. But the nice general hang-out factor evaporated a long time ago, IMO.
Now that I'm all grown up, I've moved slightly "uptown" to Cole Valley for dining and coffee drinking.
Cheers to you and your mom!

CHat~the thread to which I referred is not the current one..but rather one from a while ago. Some locals contributed some great ideas. If you want to know what absolutely to skip
I'd agree with Pier 39 and the wharf. I'd probably say skip Alcatraz although I've heard the evening tour is pretty interesting. I'd probably also skip Chinatwon and go with folks recommendations for good dim sum.

Chat, usually the tourists think they're going to California, must be hot here, but San Francisco is usually cool, so first thing they do - run out and buy those fleece pullovers with "San Francisco" on them. Don't do that please, bring a sweater with you!

Well, I think you've got to see Fisherman's Wharf if you're a first-timer, but I like the idea of the morning stroll, maybe pick up a snack from one of the stalls, then hit the road. The restaurants and Pier 39 are total tourist traps. I do like stopping at Ghirardelli for something sinful, and it is, indeed, quieter at that end.
I'm not much of a shopper, so the Union Sq. area doesn't do much for me.
As for the Haight, I recall stopping there on my first visit, never again. There just wasn't much to see, although I was glad to be there and think about what I had read about the place in its heyday.
And I've already said here that I like both Alcatraz and Chinatown a lot--so much that I was always happy to accompany out-of-town guests there, instead of just sending them on their own!
So I guess I haven't any major disappointments to relate, either!

Thanks for more great info. But all this talk of Lemon Souffle Pancakes with Raspberry sauce and Dim Sum is making me super hungry.

PamSF - I'll check out the earlier thread.

FainaAgain, I could never live down the shame nor be able to post on the European forum ever again if I dared to buy a SF sweatshirt and actually wear it while in the city.

Sounds like something Degas might do, but not me! LOL.

For me, just being in San Francisco is exhilarating. Last time we were there we took one of those nightime walking ghost tours, which was fun and somewhat educational. Mostly I just enjoy walking-- exploring shops, cafes, bookstores, and catching the cable car.

Oops, you asked what we didn't like. Sorry. Don't you hate it when people don't reply to the question you asked? Even worse, I don't have an answer. I really didn't care much for the Sausalito area... to snooty and expensive.
But then that's not really San Francisco anyway.

Hey Jayne - I thought I was the only one who wasn't enchanted by Sausalito ;) I went over there and thought "THIS is the must-see people talk about?" To each his or her own, I guess.

FainaAgain, I thought it was incredibly fascinating to see how those cable cars work, but then I can gaze at things like steam engines for ages. I like the way you don't have to spend a lot of time in the museum to see the main event, and that it didn't cost anything (although we left a donation).

I really didn't dislike anything about San Francisco. Fisherman's Wharf was about the worst of it.

Faina! As you know I live here...and I own not one but TWO of the San Francisco fleeces :"> . I even wear them when I go fishing!!

J Correa, so true... had another experience like that on the way from Santa Cruz to SF. Someone told us to stop at this art glass place in some little town along PCH. Yes, the stuff was kind of pretty, but I could take a nice little trip for the price of one piece. The owner was a total snob, too. Whatever!

Jayne - was it the Lundberg studios in Davenport? If it was, I am sorry to hear that the owner was snobby to you. I used to know them a little bit once upon a time - one of my high school friend's dad was a glass blower there. They used to open their studio to the public (possibly they still do) right before Christmas and Mothers' Day. It was incredibly interesting to see the pieces take shape and to watch the glass blowers in action.

Kikahead, you gave me an idea... let's have our next SF get-together themed "who can come up with the most unusual (freaky) SF fleece" :)

Can you take the threads off your soft and comfortable fleeces :)

JCorrea,
I think that was the name of the place. I was surprised they weren't more friendly after our friend recommended we stop there. Maybe we caught her on a bad day.

I've lived in the Bay Area for 40+ years and I still love everything about San Francisco. Yes there are touristy things here but isn't that why people come? Chinatown - one of the best I've every been to and we seem to see a lot of them in the cities we visit. Take the CHinatown Walking Tour and you will find out a lot more about this area of the City - it's not just junk shops, the Wharf everyone has to see it. Yes, it's changed in the past 50 years but it is still San Francisco. Alcatraz is well worth the day trip. I've been several times with out of town guests. There isn't much I avoid when I travel because it is all part of the learning experiences of travel. Enjoy on the worlds greatest cities. However, I do agree about not buying a sweatshirt that says SF - be prepared and bring layers of clothing!

Trying to stick to the question you asked ... I found the Coit Tower to be quite boring. Also, (I'm fixing to be flamed), I didn't care for the Japanese Tea Garden.

I have spent 2 "vacations" in SF. On the first one, we took a guided tour. On the 2nd one, we used taxis and public transportation and went where WE wanted to go ... and it was a lot more FUN.

O.K., now I've got to deviate and tell you what we DID like:
1. Fisherman's Wharf (how can you go to SF and not walk the Wharf?). Look for the "Bush-Man" for lots of laughs.
2. SFMOMA
3. Alcatraz
4. Giants game
5. Chinatown
6. Haight-Ashbury (My kids liked this area so much, we went there twice. I guess it just depends on what you're "in to". It's a funky place, interesting buildings, good for people-watching and picture-taking altho a little dirty. They have a wonderful musical instrument store that attracts lots of celebrities. We went last June for the Haight-Ashbury Street Fair and had a blast.)
7. Riding the cable cars (BUT, do this early in the morning or at night if you can. They are so crowded mid-afternoon, you will end up standing inside, which isn't nearly as much fun as sitting on the outside.)

I thought Sausalito was also a disappointment. Not much going on except a couple of shops..not worth the ferry ride over there.

Fishermans' Wharf! What a pit!

I've only been to SF twice and have only been disappointed with one thing. When ate at Aqua - which came highly recommended by a number of people - the food was mediocre at best. Service was slow, and it was so loud we weren't able to carry on conversations with people sitting across the table from us. Aside from that one incident, I find SF endlessly interesting and hope to get back soon.

Here's another for Fisherman's Wharf and Pier 39 as being over-rated. We did visit both, however. My son really wanted a crab cocktail at Fisherman's Wharf. I find the Wharf run-down and dirty, and of course lots of tourists. The sea lions at Pier 39 are well worth all the cheesy T-shirt shops (and if you have kids, the carousel is great fun - the only double-decker carousel I've ever seen). But the rest of Pier 39 is just like every other manufactured tourist place in the U.S.

I LOVE Chinatown. I love wandering through, and stopping in little places to buy foods I can't get at home. Stockton's a much better street to peruse than Grant (which is where many of the tourist shops are located).

I disagree about Pier 39; I understand the previous poster as part of it "is (INDEED!) just like every other manufactured tourist place in the U.S."

However, where else can you gaze about the Golden Gate Bridge and Alcatraz and sea lions at the same time but on the Wharf? While having some fairly good clam chowder and ride the carousel? All the while seeing huge smiles on your kids' faces as they find their treasures in the souvenir shops?

Ok, technically there are other places (the park)for similar photo ops, but I hope you get my point!

Speaking of a place that is "just like every other manufactured tourist place in the U.S."? IMO that would be vegas. OK OK I know its not like every other manufactured tourist place in America - no, the creators of Vegas continue to work long and hard and overtime making sure it remains the concrete capital of the world. JMHO but eww. Again, JMHO as is the fact that next time in SF, we'll be strolling the Wharf once again.

What an engaging thread this has turned into. I particularly like the fact that there is lively but respectful disagreement going on - it's the true Fodorite spirit.

Just wanted to share an experience from my weekend. I attended the Johnny Winter show at The Independent (nightclub) on Divisadero Street. Not wishing to sacrifice my hearing to the opening act, I took a little stroll around the neighborhood for a half hour or so. Walked up to Alamo Square and looked at "those" houses on the east side of the square - you know, the ones that have become an iconic symbol of S. F. Well, they ARE a nicely matched set of six Victorians, but compared to some of the other architecture on the west and south ends of the square, they're not really standouts, IMO. I guess it's the combination of the Victorian outlines against the modern skyscrapers in the background that make them so appealing. But I just couldn't help but think of all the visitors coming to Alamo Square being surprised at how relatively small these six houses are. Just an observation on imagery and expectations....

I agree with others that some aspects of the Fisherman's Wharf/Pier 39 area are bad (tons of tourists, cheap tourist stores, dirty), but the views are worth it.

Driving in San Francisco is the worst experience I think, and finding parking as well. Make sure to do the audio tour when you go to Alcatraz, or else looking at an old prison will be boring!

But even with homeless people everywhere on Market St, and the ton of tourists waiting for cable cars, I don't have anything really bad to say about the city. I live in the area, and I still love it!

I have to agree, driving was a nightmare when we arrived so we parked in the hotel and walked everywhere and this is from someone who lived and was driving in London for years!
Also I have to disagree to some extent about Fisherman's Wharf. I know that it's not hip to like such places, but each to their own, and I have to say that the seals did it for me. We didn't know about them, arrived in the area early in the day, and heard them from a distance, walked along and what a great surprise! Also we did eat in that area on our last night, and our view from our table was the Golden Gate Bridge. Any area that affords you that view whilst eating Italian, goes down well in my book!
Only real disappointment was not being able to get on the trip to Alcatraz cos we hadn't booked in enough time, don't know if this is usual, but if you want to do this book ahead.

Driving in the city is OK, but parking is not. Commuting by car is crazy!
M

Just got back from SF. Fisherman's Wharf is for tourists, which we were. Wanted a quick fish and chips. Settled on the cheapest place, which was a little covered pavillion with picnic tables and a small kitchen. Unlike the rows of bigger places, this one had: An unobstructed view of the bay, made to order (3 min delay after paying)greaseless fried fish, clams, shrimp, and fresh made fries (the other places had premade stuff under heat lamps for instant low quality orders and displays of congealed seafood sandwiches. Yuk.)

Then we walked to Giradelli's, got free samples of chocolate, and had chocolate ice cream sundaes.

The sundaes cost more than the fish, but were very good.

Bought a photo from a street vendor who had NO pictures of the Golden Gate Bridge.

Area rates as maximum for overpriced tourist bait by the inverse post card index (5 for a dollar, usual prices in other areas ranged from 11 for a buck in Chinatown and 7-8 for a dollar near Union Square.) Conclusion confirmed by the tourist T-shirt index, T's were cheaper everywhere else.

You're gonna feel pretty stupid if you decide NOT to go to Fisherman's Wharf or a lot of other places just because someone here, whom you don't know, have no idea what their tastes are, etc., told you "it is the pits" or "it is for tourists" or "none of the locals go there" and then find out later that you might have enjoyed it.

I suggest you check it out and THEN decide if it, or anywhere else is "worth it."

I agree with those who noted Haight-Ashbury. I went there a few years ago with my family - my kids were in the 8-13 range at the time - and ended up wishing I hadn't. Between the head shops, questionable art, and the homeless hippies, I found it to be the opposite of enlightening. I've visited New York numerous times, and I've always found it to be a much more family friendly place, on the whole, as compared to SF. Seems strange to me, but it's very true.

Singletail,
If you will refer to Chatnoir's original post, you'll see she was simply asking for everyone's SUBJECTIVE opinion on what THEY felt was overrated. The forum gave they honest opinions - which is what was requested. I'm sure Chatnoir already realizes she(?) doesn't personally know these people. By the way, she doesn't personally know you either - and you are telling her he is "stupid" if she follows the (admittedly, again) subjective opinions of others. Sheesh!

Visited SF for the second time last fall and have to say the worst "experience" was the number of homeless people (and we come from a large city with its own homeless problem). We did a lot of walking around SF and after 4 days we were sick of constantly encountering the stench of urine (I know this sounds awful).
Contrary to a previous post, we had a great meal at Aqua and highy recommend it.