I am traveling to Sunnyvale, CA over Thanksgiving weekend. Would like to go to the Farmer's market at Ferry Building Marketplace on Sat. + some shopping/sightseeing Fri. or Sun. What kind of traffic can I expect, how long between Sunnyvale & Marketplace ? Would it be better to take Caltrain or drive? Thanks

First, make sure there will be market during this weekend.

The best would be if you can drive up to any BART station and take BART to Embarcadero.

The 2nd best is taking CalTrain and line N MUNI to Embarcadero.

What places do you plan to visit? Maybe you do need a car?

The day afterThanksgiving is the MOST crowded shopping day of the whole year !!!!
there is NO parking anywhere, Lots and garages are full by 6:30 AM...
The Ferry Building is wonderful and interesting but try to get there by any means but a car..
Good Luck

Good suggestion - I will email the Ferry Building Marketplace & ask.

I will be renting a car - Thanksgiving & a Great Uncle's 90th birthday party to attend, one in Sunnyvale & one in San Jose. Would like to show my 4 year old the highlights of San Francisco & indulge a couple of "foodie" dreams, not much in the way of dim sum or seafood in the small Kansas town we live in. Thus the Ferry Market place sounds perfect, treats for me, stuff to keep the little one interested.

I have only been to San Francisco once 10 years ago. Got stuck in a 2 1/2 hour Sat afternoon traffic jam between San Jose & San Francisco that time. Was wondering if that is normal for the weekends, esp. holiday weekends.

As traveler24 says, the Friday after T'giving will be a parking nightmare. There is no normal commute traffic to speak of - but shopping traffic will more than make up for it. And Sat will be nearly as bad. so whatever you do - take public transport. BART would be my choice.

Oops - should have added - and you probably already know -- you can't take BART all the way. But you can drive to a BART station and then in from there.

Hi pamann, another vote for taking public transportation into SF for the Friday or Saturday after Thanksgiving. If you can take BART and get off at the Embarcadero BART station you will be right across the street from the Ferry Building. Maybe wonder up to Union Square afterwards and then take BART from the Powell St. station back to where you left you car. Have fun!!! SF after Thanksgiving is busy but it certainly is fun.