What to do in San Francisco - 4 women on a weekend trip.
 

Hello,<BR> <BR>4 girlfriends from college (mid-30s) all meeting in SF from 2/28 - 3/3. We are staying at the Parc 55 because I can get a great rate on a suite there, and I like the location (I travel there for work, but the other 3 women have never been). I feel safe in Union Square, and I know we will be doing some shopping while we are there. Other questions I have:<BR> <BR>How long should we plan for Chinatown? Any moderately priced restaurant recommendations, or are they all touristy there?<BR> <BR>How long is the Alcatraz tour? We may not do this, but just in case there's interest...will it take up 1/2 a day?<BR> <BR>Do any of the hotels do an Afternoon Tea? <BR> <BR>Any recommended spas/salons in the Union Square area? We may all get pedicures or something like that.<BR> <BR>We do not want to jam-pack our days full of sightseeing, although we want to do some. Much of this trip's appeal is just being together in a town where we can shop and eat well! <BR> <BR>Thanks,<BR>Steph

Garden Court restaurant, Palace Hotel on New Montgomery@Market have 1-3 pm tea on Saturdays by reservations. I don't like scones, but theirs are to die for :) They have all info on the web, and if this is not enough they are very friendly on the phone.

sounds like fun!<BR><BR>Chinatown will depend on how long you like to look at the same stuff over and over.<BR><BR>have Brunch at Ella's. It's to die for.<BR>I don't have any good Chinese recommendations except that I used to really like the dim sum at Great Harvest in Embarcadero II. I don't know if it's still there or has changed.<BR><BR>There is good shopping in Haight Ashbury and also on Irving street out near Golden Gate park between 7th and 10th.<BR><BR>Tea at the Palace is great.<BR><BR>Check out Kabuki Hot Springs in Japan town. They have days for women and days for men, it's a really nice day spa, but not for manicures &amp; pedicures, more massage &amp; facials in addition to the steam, sauna &amp; hot water.<BR><BR>

Here are some SF suggestions: <BR>Dim Sum at Yank Sing in Rincon Annex

Whoops..enter sends..to continue:<BR>The Kabuki for spa treatments or if you are only wanting pedicures and the like try the spa at Nordstroms.<BR><BR>Not all the restuarants are &quot;touisty&quot; check at Jeanty at Jacks,Plouf,The tadich grill. These are in the neighborhood in which you'll be staying. Also check out Belden Alley which is in walking distance to Union Square.Beyond that there a million places. You might check out the Zuni. They have good lunch and dinner and the scene in the bar can also be fun. Look into restaurants along Valencia Street like Luna Park. There was an article about Valencia Street in Gourmet two years back. Some one who is more familiar with the Marina might be able to recommend some places there to eat. Shopping can be done in the main shopping places like The San Francisco Center or down around Union Square. You can also find some great spots in the various neighborhoods. You might like to stroll along Fillmore Street between Bush and Pacific or Sacramento Street between Fillmore and Locust. North Beach and particularly Upper Grant Street can alsobe fun to poke around. There are many hotels that do tea:<BR>Check out The Clift and The Fairmont. You can take the cable car to the Fairmont and the Clift again is in walking distance to your hotel. I think the Ritz Carlton also does tea and again you can walk to it.<BR><BR>Speaking of the Clift: the bar has recently been redone there and is supposed to be fun. I've heard very mixed reviews..those who don't like it <BR>preferred the old bar.<BR><BR>Look at the Red Room..a bar that is all red and serve martinis lots of ways. I think it is still around. Check out some of the cabaret spots. The Plush Room in the York Hotel often has some good cabaret. Weslia Whitfield is there right now. <BR><BR>Check out the Ferry Plaza Farmers Market on Saturdays. You can sample SF food and pick up some culinary souvenirs if you're so inclined.<BR> <BR>There is also SFMOMA and the Yerba Buena Center for the arts.<BR><BR>Have a great time! We're old SF folks<BR>who now live across the Bay. Last week we went for the wonderful dim sum at Yank Sing this week it's Weslia Whitfield,MOMA and dinner. Writing these posts sometimes makes me happy I live so close to SF! <BR>

For food, check out chowhound.com. It's got a very active SF board, with loads of recommendations and opinions.

Ok..just got back from &quot;the city&quot; The Red Room is open and is at the Commodore Hotel on Sutter. Jeanty at Jack's is a big walk from your hotel and Paula West will be at the Plush Room while you are in SF. If you haven't heard her you should check her out before coming because she will probably give a great show.

I went with girlfriends last year. Some of the things we enjoyed were the ferry ride to Sausalito and Tiburon. We ate a great Mexican restaurant in Tiburon and enjoyed shopping in Sausalito. We loved the spa at Nordstrom and the shopping in Union Square. The MOMA was great-the price went down in the evening. We had an amazing but pricey dinner at Aqua (need reservations). Chinatown was okay. Fisherman's Wharf was interesting. We had sundaes at Ghiradelli Square and bought chocolate to take home to our kids, otherwise the shopping there wasn't so great. We didn't rent a car and got around fine using cable cars and buses. Fodors online has a good SF section that we used for restaurant info and highlights. Have fun!

A few fun places to go with a group of girlfriends are the Bubble Lounge (yes, there is also one in NYC) for champagne tasting and appetizers; Absinthe for pre-shopping brunch -- definitely have a bloody mary; and Citizen Cake for desserts (or even a meal, the food is great). Shopping is fun down Hayes Street, lots of little boutiques and a few great shoe stores. Also, the Hayes Street Wine Bar is lovely for after shopping.<BR><BR>Guaymas is probably the Mexican restaurant where 'xxx' went in Tiburon.<BR><BR>Definitely have tea at the St. Francis in the Compass Rose, or a glass of champagne during the cocktail hour, but you must dress the part. Have fun!