Is there anything to do in San Francisco?

[Kolesar]

Ok, dumb question. I am going to be there on business next month. I am taking some extra time to go to Yosemite NP for my first time. Since my flights are in and out of San Francisco, I would have the opportunity to see some attractions. I am a nature and history buff, for instance, but I am up for anything. Thanks

[democracyindanger]

1. Alcatraz

I've heard it's a great tour. Never have gone m'self, even though I live here--it's one of things that I'll get around to sooner or later.

[Longhorn]

8. I've been on the Alcatraz boat tour. It was many years ago.

We enjoyed it. In March 2001, we spent a week in California for our 25th wedding anniversary. We flew into San Jose, rented a Mustang convertible, and drove down to Monterrey, Pebble Beach, and on down to the Hearst Castle, which is pretty amazing, though sad to me to see such a display of wealth. Then up the coast all the way through the Redwoods to the end of the Avenue of the Giants. Then back down through Napa Valley where we visited some wineries. Made a pass through Berkeley and than back to San Jose.

We spent a couple of days in San Francisco and spent most of the time in the Chinatown/Nob Hill area. And we walked everywhere! Never got on a cable car because the lines were always so long. We went to Coit Tower on Telegraph Hill and walked down the side where the houses are alongside a set of stairs going down the side of the hill. We walked up to Fisherman's Wharf and had lunch, shopped a little, and saw a bunch of sun-bathing sea lions. Of course, we visited the Golden Gate Bridge visitors center and drove across the bridge on our way out of town. We also drove down the crooked street (Lombard Street.) We even went to a little club with one of the corniest singers we've ever heard (when we saw him on the schedule, my husband thought he was someone else! :)) We did take a regular bus a couple of times and it was good service with lots of routes all through the city.

Here are some free walking tours: http://www.sfcityguides.org/

Have fun! :hi:

[WI_DEM]

2. No

It's one of the greatest cities in the world and they have absolutely nothing to do :)

Seriously, there are tons of museums--art, history and otherwise and the city is one of the most beautiful in the world.

[Kolesar]

3. Is there a Haight-Ashbury museum?

I am only half kidding. We Ohio kids really related--about a decade later.

[democracyindanger]

7. The Haight sucks

A few interesting stores, but mostly teenage panhandlers.

[Bitter Betty]

16. Tons of museums, where?

I only know of the MOMA, Legion of Honor, & De Young (which is being seismically retrofitted). HOWEVER, the Asian Art museum just opened up. I've only been there once & really enjoyed it.

For such a cultured city, we don't have enough museums. OK, I went to Europe for the first time in 2003 so that is the measuring stick I use! Excuse me while I go spank myself. :spank:

[judy]

4. Alcatraz is good, indeed...

But there is also:
1 - See some giant Redwoods in Big Basin (South of SF)
2 - See the Golden Gate Bridge from Baker Beach
3 - Go to Ano Nuevo preserve to see the Elephant Seals (google it, they have a website, as you might have to make a reservation)
4 - Have dinner at Forbes' Island (there are Sea Lions there too)
5 - Tons of hikes everywhere, including the Marin Headlands.

[fairfaxvadem]

6. Don't forget Mount Tam over in Marin

If you are renting a car, you can drive to the ranger's station on Mt. Tam and do a hike, or drive to the top if it's not fogged in, or drive down to Stinson Beach. And of course, Muir Woods.

All very worthwhile.

And Golden Gate Park is always nice.

The Marina is a great place to walk around if it's a nice day or cruise around North Beach and get a great Italian meal.

Take a ferry over to Angel Island (or Alcatraz).

The city itself has a ton of stuff, depending on what you like.

[judy]

11. Yes, fairfaxvadem!

I second all these great ideas!

[davidinalameda]

5. Me

you said anyTHING not anyONE

sorry

[Chipper Chat]

9. Go eat somewhere!

Great restaurants! And enjoy a good jazz band while you're at it. Go to Earthquake McGoon's if it's still there.

[Xithras]

10. If the weather's clear, consider Mt. Diablo

The drive to the top of Mt. Diablo is only about a 90 minute detour off the drive to Yosemite anyway. On a clear day (check the weather, it's only clear if it's rained in the previous day or two or if a strong Pacific wind is blowing in) you can look one way see clear out to the Farallon Islands way out in the Pacific Ocean over the top of the Golden Gate Bridge, and from the other side look over the expanse of the Central Valley and see the peaks of Yosemite National Park. On a clear day, from the peak observation deck, you can easily view more than 300 miles of the state simply by turning around. Bring a GOOD pair of binoculars with you!

Mt. Diablo is one of the absolute best views anywhere in the state, but sadly the view is often diminished by smog. Even the diminished views are impressive (you're still thousands of feet above the Bay Area and Central Valley) but the Sierras usually disappear in the haze and the total view is cut to 40 or 50 miles.

[NV Whino]

12. Lots of things to do

Golden Gate park: hikes, lakes, museums. Marin Headlands: the World War II bunkers are spooky and other worldly. Lots of hiking and birding there, too. SF itself: museums (SFMO, Palace of the Legion of Honor), great restaurants; all kinds of live entertainment. Want something funny? Try Beach Blanket Babylon (I think it's still playing.) Any kind of music. Small clubs, live theatre, symphony hall, opera house. Bay boat tours, Alcatraz, Angel Island (hiking).

You won't lack for anything to do.

[mitchtv]

13. Fort Point only brick fort in the west

SF bay model Sausalito(Fort Chronkite?)
view from Twin Peaks
Steinhardt aquarium fish around

[Xithras]

15. FYI, the California Academy of Sciences in the park is closed

The Aquarium is still operating at the temporary downtown location, but the great circular fishtank didn't go with them. The renovations on the academy won't be completed until 2008 and the round fish tank will be out of view until then.

[cally]

14. I agree with most of these ideas

I'll just add to them. I love the Exploratorium. It's a great hands on Science Museum.

There's web pages with Barbary Coast Walking tours. I never taken the commercial ones but I have done some personal ones and it's fun to see how SF has changed so drastically.

I also recommend Point Reyes National Sea Shore. Gorgeous hikes, sea shore, whales, and sea lions. It's on the Marin Coast about 45 minutes from SF. Also, there are great Kayak trips in Tomalas Bay near there and some from Sausalito. You don't have to know anything about Kayaking.

[Kolesar]

17. I think the mid-March weather will keep me out of the high country at YNP

There are several roads that they do not even open until late May. The guides describe that several of the trails to the high country are not open. I will probably be hiking to the snow line then turning back early for a beer at the bar.

[Xithras]

19. Yes, and the snow is deep this year.

Actually though, most of the trails remain open all winter for snowshoers and skiers, so if they're closed right now it's likely due to continuing avalanche risk. They do NOT have avalanche patrols in the Yosemite backcountry. When an avalanche danger is recognized, nearby trails are simply closed until the snow either collapses naturally or melts off. I would assume that most of the trails will be back open by next month, and if you have snowshoes I cannot recommend a backcountry winter hike highly enough (there's a certain quiet solitude to it that you simply cannot find in the summer).

[Kolesar]

20. I hope I can rent snowshoes there

I am not up to xc skiing this season due to an ailment. I am just starting to plan this, and am only informed about the trails in the valley at this time. I am just starting to read the Lonely Planet guide to YNP--it is a good guide with trail descriptions and maps. Thanks for all your advice.

[Xithras]

22. If you stay in the valley snow won't be an issue.

The valley floor is several thousand feet below the surrounding park and actually doesn't see snow that often. When it does get some, it typically melts off within days. In fact, even right now the valley is mostly devoid of snow. Take a look at this webcam: http://www.yosemite.org/vryos/TurtlebackCam.htm. You can clearly see the snowline, about halfway up the valley walls.

[Kolesar]

23. Who turned out the lights?

I got all excited and clicked on the url and saw a black screen. Look at the time--the sun is already up in Ohio but not at Yosemite! :think:

[Beaverhausen]

18. Muir Woods, Big Sur

[pelagius]

21. If you're inclined to literary things...

...I recommend you drop in at City Lights Bookstore and its drinking annex, Vesuvivo, in North Beach. Lawrence Ferlinghetti is still in the store sometimes.

For a history buff, a ramble through Jackson Square (http://www.biddingtons.com/content/bentleysfjackson.html) can be pleasurable. It's the oldest surving commercial district in town (survived the 1906 quake and the Loma Prieta). My favorite stop is a little plaque in an alley that reads:

"If, as some say, God spanked the town
For being overly frisky,
Then why'd he burn the churches down
And save Hotaling's whisky?"

This reference to the great fires after the '06 quake in which the Hotaling company's whisky warehouse was one of the few buildings left standing.

Stop a few locals and ask them where they get good Chinese food. Hint: it probably won't in Chinatown. You can get the best Chinese food in the world in San Francisco -- yes, better than in China. Clement Street out in the Avenues is the "new Chinatown" and a likely locale for a good eatery.