A few days in San Francisco - what to do?

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BuckyBadger
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A few days in San Francisco - what to do?

Post by BuckyBadger »

My husband and I work in the same field and sometimes were a fortunate enough to get sent to the same conferences. We're going to one of these in September. We'll be at the conference during the day from Sunday through Thursday morning. Then we added a day of vacation, so we'll be free most of Thursday, then all of Friday, Saturday, and Sunday morning. We fly back out of SFO around 2:30 on Sunday. We are also getting in Friday night, so we'll have all day Saturday as well.

I'm looking for anything to do Saturday in San Francisco, anything to do in the evenings during the week, and something to do for 2 ish days on Friday and Saturday close to San Francisco that will get us back to the airport by Sunday at noon.

Thoughts?

Thanks!
vas
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Re: A few days in San Francisco - what to do?

Post by vas »

Treat yourself to a meal at www.chezpanisse.com if you can make a reservation.

Go see www.beachblanketbabylon.com

Take a self guided walking tour and enjoy the sights.

Go to www.hotelutah.com for some local music and color
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The Wizard
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Re: A few days in San Francisco - what to do?

Post by The Wizard »

Book an Alcatraz tour ahead of time (now) for one of those free days.
Drive up to Muir Woods first thing Friday morning, before the parking lot fills up...
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JMacDonald
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Re: A few days in San Francisco - what to do?

Post by JMacDonald »

Attend an opera at War Memorial Opera House: http://sfopera.com/calendar/default.asp ... 901&type=0

Go to the Farmer's Market on Saturday at the Ferry Building: http://ferrybuildingmarketplace.com/farmers_market.php

Walk across the Golden Gate Bridge: http://goldengatebridge.org/bikesbridge/bikes.php

Go to a play at the Gerry Theater: http://www.act-sf.org/home/box_office/calendar.html
This should be really good as it has Bill Irwin and David Shiner in it.
I found a review of the play: http://www.nytimes.com/2013/03/05/theat ... 22%7D&_r=0
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chaz
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Re: A few days in San Francisco - what to do?

Post by chaz »

I agree re Alcatraz.
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rixer
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Re: A few days in San Francisco - what to do?

Post by rixer »

Be sure to catch Beach Blanket Babylon in North Beach one evening. It's a riot! ( a good riot ) :sharebeer

http://www.beachblanketbabylon.com/
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tainted-meat
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Re: A few days in San Francisco - what to do?

Post by tainted-meat »

Not sure what you like to do...

When I was there, I got a map and walked the city.
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RyeWhiskey
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Re: A few days in San Francisco - what to do?

Post by RyeWhiskey »

Being a native, I am not a fan of the touristy things. But if that's your bag, then what's been suggested so far is ample.

I'd say that you should go to Muir Woods on Thursday, not Fri/Sat, as early as possible. On Friday you could go for a walk around Angel Island, which gives picturesque views of the entire bay. As you'll have to approach the island by ferry, you can do so in Tiburon and afterwards walk across the Golden Gate Bridge. On Saturday I'd go to the Cliff House and explore the old Sutro Baths, and then take a walk either on out to Point Lobos on Land's End (just north of the Cliff House) or down Baker Beach and towards Golden Gate Park. You can grab lunch/dinner/drink at the Beach Chalet although it's pricey.
If you're a baseball fan it doesn't get much better than a Giants game. Be sure to take the bus to the park and don't drive.
Anytime is a good time to walk along Cirssy Field which leads almost directly underneath the south side of the GG Bridge.
Clear days are great for driving up Twin Peaks. You can overlook the entire city from the top.
If you're feeling adventurous, you can drive hwy 1 north up over Mt. Tam and onto the Pacific side, enjoy Stinson beach, and head up into Pt. Reyes. There is more hiking/scenic than you can handle in two days.

Hm. As for stuff to do during weeknights, I'd wait to see where you're going to be staying and research nearby activities. It's a small city, there's more than enough to keep you busy. :beer
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livesoft
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Re: A few days in San Francisco - what to do?

Post by livesoft »

Previous recent threads on San Francisco (it's a popular destination):
http://www.bogleheads.org/forum/viewtop ... 1&t=143134
http://www.bogleheads.org/forum/viewtop ... 1&t=138221

And older ones:
http://www.bogleheads.org/forum/viewtopic.php?t=60473
http://www.bogleheads.org/forum/viewtopic.php?t=64249
http://www.bogleheads.org/forum/viewtopic.php?t=41915

Chez Panisse is nice. One can usually get a same day reservation at an early dinner time.
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jnatke
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Re: A few days in San Francisco - what to do?

Post by jnatke »

I agree with Rye Whiskey. My favorite drink by the way, straight and neat. I used to live near cliff house, at 40th & Geary, and I very much enjoy Point Lobos and Lands End. A bit less well trodden. Also try the Beach Chalet upstairs along the window for sunset. Get there a little early. If you're a badger you may enjoy the craft beer.

I'm going back up first weekend in October for the free bluegrass festival in golden gate park (talk about value). The weather is typically sublime that time of year (and pretty much only that time of year in SF). You may be lucky! But you may want to research, because if there are big vents the City can be packed to put it mildly.

You can try Chez Panisse but I've always had terrible luck getting a seat. I've always ended up just going across the street to the cheeseboard collective. Berkeley can be enjoyable in the fall, I'd check to see if the cal golden bears are playing a game or it might be impossible, especially on that Saturday night, to get a seat at Chez.

Personally I don't understand how you can NOT spend quality time in Golden Gate Park. Go for a stroll or rent a bicycle. Check out the ponds, meadows or the conservatory. There are some decent restaurants on Irving Street one block south, off the beaten tourist path. Crissy field and the Presidio can be crowded, maybe go early in the morning and take a sweatshirt (yes even in September). Especially in September.

Call me a relic but I also don't see how you could not visit Haight street. You could start at Memphis Minnie's and the Toronado for lunch and a beer. This is in "lower" Haight. Make your way west. Buena Vista Park, the Panhandle, Ashbury. Have another drink at the Alembic or Cha Cha Cha. Then head straight into the park. You might not come out. Fillmore Street between Geary and Lombard is a nice stretch to stroll as well.

Best way, if you can't already tell, is to see this City on foot. Not the easiest place to drive. Muir Woods get there early I mean EARLY. Crack of dawn early. Lovely taste of the redwoods. Coit Tower. Yerba Buena Gardens and Moscone Center. Asian Art Museum and City Hall Plaza. Bill Graham Civic Auditorium if there's a good concert. AT&T Park for a night Giants game. Repeat, take a sweatshirt.

If you want to venture out you can visit Silicon Valley. Palo Alto, Mountain View Park, Google Campus, Apple in Cupertino. Santa Cruz and Sonoma/Napa are nice little escapes. Half Moon Bay. Sausalito, Mill Valley, San Rafael. Don't try to do too much. And make sure to stop and smell the roses.
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