Hi everyone,

I'm going to be in San Francisco for a couple days and will be going by myself, part work part play. I'm looking for things to do that won't make me feel awkward being on my own. I have a conference on Weds and a couple meetings Thurs but will be doing the tourist thing from Thurs night through Sat night. This will be my first time in San Francisco, but I'm very excited as I've always wanted to go.

Also, I'm not a big club goer, so I wouldn't be terribly interested in that.

Thanks!

Take the ferry over to Sausalito and have lunch at a bayview restaurant.
Walk across the Golden Gate Bridge.
If you've got a car rented, consider Muir Woods (redwood forrest), NAPA, or a drive down to Carmel/Monterey Peninsula. I dine by myself on the road more nights than not. You can hit the restaurant scene on your own business as usual in San Fran. It's a great city, you can't go wrong.

I know it sounds corny, but one of my favorite things to do is ride the cable car. I particularly like the route that starts at Market/Powell and goes down thru Chinatown to Fisherman's Wharf.

I've often spend long weekend in San Francisco, sometimes solo.

Should I bother with the tours that are being offered? I saw one where they show you different locations where movies were filmed and the other I was considering was the Alcatraz night tour.

I agree on riding the cable cars.......strike up a conversation with someone. Last time I was there (Oct), my husband was in a meeting and I took off on the trolley. I meet a lady from Denmark and another from Germany. We rode the California and had a great visit. Lots of shopping at the new "mall" on Market. The Napa Valley Wine Train might interest you....but only once. You will meet a lot of people that way. I went by myself and ended up in a group of ladies and we had a blast.

Sure, why not? I've never done a tour myself, but that seems like it might be good since you're on your own and you could cover more of the city, see more things that way.

We have no rules in SF that say couples only-so anything that you would do as a couple you can do by yourself. Take an Alcatraz night tour, go the the Wharf (if you must), eat in one of our many restaurants, go to North Beach, ride a cable car, visit Chrissy Field, go to the Ballet, go to the Symphony, visit SFMOMA, . . .

You must go to Alcatraz...it sounds crazy, but it is a lot of fun! Plus if you get the audio tour, you won't feel the need to chat with anyone else anyways. A winery would be really fun for you as well...I suggested this on another thread, but go to Artesa (http://www.artesawinery.com/index1.html) - it is beautiful and the wine is fantastic!

check out the Ferry Building Marketplace if you have time!
www.ferrybuildingmarketplace.com

I think they offer tours.

Hello bigpanda, a nice thing about SF is that there are so many single people so you will not feel out of place at all. You have been given some wonderful suggestions and I am sure you will enjoy your time in SF. By the way, the mall that was mentioned is the SF Centre which is at Market St. and 5th St. If you do go there check out the front of Bloomingdales and than go through and check out the rear as it is two complete different architecture styles. The SF Centre also has several places you might enjoy checking out for something to eat.
Scala's Bistro on Powell (just one half block north of Union Sq on the same side of the street) is a great and fun place to stop in for a drink..they have a bar/counter where you could sit as so many people on their own do. Have fun!!

If the weather is good, you could rent a bike and ride along the water near the GG Bridge or through Golden Gate Park.

Speaking of GG Park, the deYoung Museum opened up last year in the new building. I have not been yet - planned a couple day trips, but each time something came up and we couldn't go. I hear that it is great though.

I agree with the others - don't think a minute about travelling around SF solo. You have to do A LOT to stick out in SF

I sometimes spend a day by myself in SF while friends are busy with something, and I've never had trouble staying occupied! If you are so inclined, you might consider a WokWiz tour of Chinatown (starting in the financial district) - I am still using the lip balm given me by a fellow tourist whom I got to know at the lunch that was part of the tour, a charming woman from Georgia whose daughter-in-law is a realtor there (the lip balm was a promotion device, and I guess it works!). Have fun!

Since you will be in SF on a Wed. night..check out the Top of the Mark a great cocktail lounge on the top of the Mark Hopkins hotel...its also the night that LaVay Smith and her Red Hot Skillet lickers play live...jazz, swing, etc... dancers in period clothes will be strutting their stuff too....Its wild!!

Check out the Westwood show at the De Young!

Hit North Beach and visit Cafe Trieste. Grab a great coffeee and the paper and sit down,read and watch the world go by.

Hit the art houses for great films you might not catch in your home town. Look at what is playing at: The Bridge, The Clay or Opera Plaza. Check out the Castro theater for old movies.

Cab down to Crissy Field and walk along the path toward the GG Bridge. It's beautiful. Try lunch or dinner at A16 in the marina.

Take Bart to Downtown Berkeley and then pick up a cab at the cab stand just outside. Have lunch or dinner upstairs at Chez Paniss(make reservations). I often have dined alone in the cafe(upstairs). It's great food~mecca for foodies.

See what's playing at Berkeley Rep. Take BART there as well.

Check out sfgate.com for stuff to see and do.

Depending on which Thursday you will be here, I think many of the museums are free.

Take some of the 30 different free walking tours offered by City Guides.
www.sfcityguides.org

Someone mentioned taking the cable car line from Market & Powell. There are actually 2 lines that start from Market & Powell. The Hyde street line is more scenic - sit on the east side of the car for the best views.

Stu Dudley

I'm a big fan of North Beach. Coit Tower is nearby.

A cable car ride is an obvious choice for a first timer, from Union Square (great shopping and theatre area) to Hyde Street near the wharf.

Walking, walking, walking...the best way to see things. Sometimes there's naked people in the trees. Ya never know.

I tried pan-handling but LoveItaly put me in a half-nelson while Faina kicked me in the shins and stole my money.

PamSF pantsed me while climbing one of StuDudley's famous stair trails.

I ended up leaving more then my heart in SF....

Listen to tese people. They know their stuff. >-

At Ferry Plaza you can eat great oysters "at the bar" at Hog Island.(Inside).Other treats" Miette Bakery-try their shortbread, the Montepulciano stand(inside) has the most wonderful apricot jam. Taste Acme bread, taste Cowgirl Creamery cheese.

The Farmers Market is outside on Saturdays(go in am). You will be amazed at the produce! Also there is stuff to buy and take home. Look for the EatWell Farm Stand. They make all sorts of seasoned salts including Lavender. The rosemary salt is FABU!

whoops-depending on when you will be here, consider lunch at Swan Oyster Depot. It's a small place with a few counter seats but the dungeness crab will be divine!

More thoughts: depending on your inclination there are some very beautiful and very old "houses of worship"...I recommend Grace Cathedral(Episcopal-Nob Hill which also has a labyrinth you can walk), St. Peter and Paul (Catholic in North Beach), Temple Emmanuel (Pacific Hgts) and Mission Delores(the Mission).

City Lights Books in North Beach(ground zero for the Beat Generation). You can spend hours in there!

Go to the Mission and have a burrito! SF's fast food.

We went last summer. The DeYoung is a wonderful building. I enjoyed the folk art and some of the modern art. However, it was wonderful just for the building itself-- the copper and the tower with its wonderful 360 views.
On the Friday evening we were there, they had a band and drinks, for a young adults for art gathering. We stayed for part of it.

If you go, you might also consider the Legion of Honor. There is sometimes a bus that runs between the two museums and the ticket is good for both. Lots of Rodin and there was an excellent traveling show when we were there.

We also really liked Coit Tower, the walking tour of the murals.

I would feel comfortable exploring San Francisco by myself.