Yippee - I'm going to San Francisco!
 

I will be going to San Francisco for the first time with my hubby and my daughter in December. She will be 11 mo's old. He has a conference to go to (Oracle Open World) so we will have Sat & Sun to explore the area together, then I will have Mon to Thurs to explore on my own with my daughter.

I would greatly appreciate any and all suggestions of things to do, restaurants etc. I love the outdoors, scenic sites and shopping. I realize the weather won't be that great, so should I rule out the National Parks like Muir Woods, Yosemite, Point Reyes? We will probably rent a car on Sat & Sun to drive around the area. Also, we will probably stay at the Westin St Francis. It sounds like a lovely hotel but I am also open to suggestions about hotels because we can basically stay any place that is offering the govt rate.

Thanks!

I visited a friend of mine in SF and we drove to Muir woods, visited a beach and part of the Golden Gate bridge on the Marin Co side which had a scenic drive.
Maybe somebody else could get on here and tell you how to get to these places.

Chinatown is really cool, of course, but I also really liked Japantown where I found a great stationary store.

There are so many wonderful restaurants. I tend to eat at places that are unlike those where I live (Dallas). Such as: Chez Panisse, Macrobiotic Center, Roxanne's.

I heard Westin Hotels are having a turnaround and are quite nice these days.

The weather might be rainy or it might be really nice.

While you are in SF, you don't need a car and the city is probably best seen without one. Between the buses, lightrail, cable cars, and trolleys, you can get just about anywhere you want to go.

For day trips out of SF:

Muir Woods and Point Reyes is good.

Angel Island is a short boat ride from SF, and is definitely worth seeing if the weather is good.

Monterey is about a 2 hour drive from SF and is a great place to visit.

Santa Cruz is about 1 - 1 1/2 hours from SF and is another good option. There are some great redwood forests in the Santa Cruz mountains.

Yosemite is a significant drive - 4 hours or longer - and since it will be winter, there is a chance you will need chains to get there - so I would probably rule that out.

The weather in December may be anything from perfect to rainstormy. If you want to plan far in advance make "duplicate" plans - if the weather is nice I'll go to A, B, C. If not, it will be D, E, F.
In any case Yosemite and Lake Tahoe will be out because of the snow.

In town, I wouldn't bother with a car. It will be more hassle than it's worth (what with the one-way streets, difficulty finding street parking, and outrageous costs of structured parking). The transit system is great, and the town is surprisingly walkable, though I have never done it with a stroller.

If you like the outdoors but are worried about doing a day trip to scenic spots during the rainy season, I'd suggest starting off with a day at Golden Gate Park. It's huge, beautiful, and there are indoor attractions, like the museums and the arboretum, that you can duck into if it starts to rain. You can also go down to the beach by the Golden gate for a great view of the bridge and some time by the crashing waves. Muir Woods and Pt. Reyes are reasonable drives away, so if it looks like a good day out, go for it! You will definitely get some scenery from those places. Angel Island is also a great suggestion, since it is so close (plus, you will have a great view of the skyline).

Speaking of views, Coit tower is of course a good lookout point in the city, being so high up. Also, if you do want to hop in the car for a short day trip, you can head over the Golden Gate into Marin County to some of the little towns like Sausalito and Tiburon. Sausalito has a sweet little downtown area, and at the end of the commercial area the view opens up to a fantastic vista of SF from accross the bay.

I'd skip Yosemite this time - it's beautiful, but for all the reasons J_Correa mentioned, probably not the best option for this trip.

Again, if you are worried about rain, I'd suggest visiting Marin County rather than driving all the way to Santa Cruz or Monterey. Both Highway 1 and Highway 17 (the 2 roads that take you down to SC) are narrow and curvy, and not much fun to drive in the rain. For Monterey, you could take 101 from San Francisco, but it's not much cuter than the Marin County stops, and it will take you much longer to get there. Monterey has the aquarium, but there is an aquarium at Pier 39 in SF (not as well-renowned, of course).

As far as restaurants, some I like are Indian Oven (Indian food), Home (Comfort food), Chez Nous (Tapas), and Squat & Gobble (breakfast). My favorite pizza of all time is Giorgio's on Clement St (at 4th Ave., I think).

I wouldn't go to Golden Gate Park expecting to be able to go to the museums. The De Young (art museum) is closed and a new one is being built, the Asian Art Museum has moved downtown, and the Academey of Sciences is closed for renovations.

This may be a silly question but is it worth going to Muir Woods in the winter, with no leaves on the trees? I wasn't sure if the effect would be the same but I have never seen a redwood before!

As for renting a car, I was planning to do so on Sat & Sun just to see other areas like Monterey. Where am I going to park overnight in SF? Obviously the hotel but I am sure it will be a fortune. But, how else would I get to Monterey? Oh, and I would love to see the whale migration - can I see them from shore or do I need to take a boat excursion?

Thanks again!

kcapuani,
The redwoods in Muir Woods are evergreens - they don't lose their leaves completely at any time of year. Winter in Muir Woods is actually an excellent time to go. There are fewer visitors, and the woods are enhanced by the moisture in the air. There will be many mosses, mushrooms and banana slugs in evidence. Bring non-slip shoes for your walk, as the paths can be a bit treacherous after a rain.

I agree - redwoods are best seen in the wintertime. The forests are much more lush that time of year.

I knew I was asking a dumb question :) Thanks for the input - I am definitely going to add Muir Woods to my list of things to do.

Having just visited SF in August, I would love to go back in a season like December, when it isn't so crowded with tourists! I think you can find plenty to do in SF without a car (we didn't have a car there). Later, we did visit some of the areas you're talking about.

I would say forget about Point Reyes, especially with an 11 month old child. It is lovely, but the ride there and back is very difficult (Scarey? Depending on your tolerance!), and once you get there, there is a great deal of walking.

My husband and I did the touristy thing when we were there. We went to Pier 39 and rode the cable car. No matter what the weather riding the cable cars are fun. We also walked around North Beach and Chinatown a little. There was a pretty church that we went to in North Beach, but I don't remember the name. Try to go by and see the Painted Ladies (houses.) And whatever you do, take the trip to Muir Woods it is so gorgeous!

No one has mentioned Alcatraz. Even though you will have your 11 month old it is still a great adventure but you must make reservations. you might want to wait for your hubby so you can both enjoy.
I also just read about a place called the top of the mark. this on top of a hotel where the view is spectacular. you can go there for brunch or with your family for a drink and enjoy the sunset.

I was also considering visiting the top of the mark....is it worth going or just a high priced tourist trap? The view it provides looks breathtaking.

We are also doing the tour to Alcatraz, at first it did not appeal to me, but after reading some history and listening to so many people say it's worth the experience, I've added to my list.

We also thought a trip to Muir woods would be a dissappointment during the colder months (we will be going in Nov) but now that's a must-see. Having never seen a redwood, I'm looking forward to actually seeing a real tree. Texas just has overgrown bushes that call themselves trees...except the east texas pines.

A big thanks to all the fodor's folks that take the time to help others have and inside peek on visiting a new city!!

Definately do the Alcatraz trip. Pre-book our tour - go to the Blue and Gold Fleet website www.blueandgoldfleet.com - and you MUST include the audio tour. All commentary is by former inmates and prison guards. This trip was one of the highlights of our trip to SF from the UK in late July.

We also hired a car for a couple of days - just to travel out of the city. One day we went north to Muir Woods and on to Napa and Sonoma. The next day we drove south along the Scenic Coastal Highway to Monterrey. Neither trip was too arduous although they were both full days - so you may want to consider this if travelling with a young child.

When in the city we found that buying a Muni pass was a great way to go. It gives you unlimited travel for 1, 3 or 7 days on all Muni buses, trams and the cable cars (otherwise they are $3 a trip!). Cost for these are $9, $15 and $20 respectively and you can buy them at the info booths in baggage claim area at SF airport, online or at various places throughout the City. Checkout website www.sfmuni.com. We found the public transport system efficient and user friendly.

Have a wonderful time - it is a terrifc city!

Nobody has mentioned that downtown will be all decorated with Christmas decorations. Usually the Westin has a great big ginger bread house in the lobby. The tree at Neiman Marcus is pretty and union square (which you will be right across from) is decorated. Try Slanted Door in the Ferry Building, TownHall for dinner. Start making resv. Have fun.

I thought about the Alcatraz tour but wasn't sure if I could take the boat trip there with a baby... But, as long as I have a life vest for her then why not? I'd really like to see it.

MaryG1 - thanks for the tip about the Xmas decorations! They must make the city seem even more enchanting.

We were in San Francisco last month and stayed at the Prescott which is close to your hotel. We had a car for two nights while in the city. We parked at the hotel the first night. It was $35 plus tax. The second night we found a garage at O'Farrell and Powell (I believe) for $12.

We had dinner at First Crush which is also close to your hotel and thought it was very good. They have a large selection of California wines and you can try different wines by purchasing flights.

If the weather is nice, I would go to Golden Gate Park. We enjoyed going to the Arboretum, Japanese Tea Garden & Conservatory of Flowers.

The ride to Alcatraz can be cold - bring blankets for the baby.