Anyone been to San Francisco?

[kirstyfly]

anyone been to san francisco?

what did you think, what time of year did you go and what did you see/do.

any ideas/ tips in planning a trip? i would love to go and want to know what it is like.

How far from LA/Disneyland is it in terms of driving/flying?

Thanks
Kirsty

 

[Alice28]

Hi Kirsty,

I lived in San Jose for 22 years which is about 40 minutes south of San Fran. There's lots to see and do in the area! It is about a 7 hour drive to Disneyland. In San Francisco I can think of the following to do:

Pier 39 and Fisherman's Wharf. Lots of shopping and kitchy entertainment. From Pier 41 you can take a ferry and take a tour of Alcatraz Island. Get a chowder bowl at Boudin's Bakery---yummy. Their tuna sandwiches are great too.

Drive around Nob Hill and Lombard street

Have a picnic at Golden Gate park

Catch a Giants game at their new stadium (very close to Pier 39)

Shop in Union Square

Eat some chocolate at Gharadelli Square

Go to the Science Museum- it's called the Exploratorium

The San Francisco Zoo is decent

You can go north to Napa area for a day and explore wine country or visit a spa in Calistoga

East to Vallejo and go to Marine World USA (a six flags park)

Go South to Santa Clara and go to Paramounts Great America

Go further South and go to the beach at Santa Cruz and take a ride on the Giant Dipper wooden roller coaster

It's a very beautiful area!! If it weren't for the CRAZY housing prices, I would probably still live there.

 

[HaleyB]

About an 8 hour drive depending on how you go. The drive up the coast is well worth the extra time and the only way I would go. Stop in all the cute and often famous towns on the way. The flight is quick (all take off and landing really) but there are no quick airports in the state- so it would be at least 4 hours from the time you get to the airport in OC (use John Wayne) till you get to SFO. I am 99% sure you could also take Amtrack from Fullerton, which is 15 minutes from DL. But really if you have the time drive up the coast.
There is something for everyone in San Francisco. I like the park, to shop, to eat, and to just poke around. Great used bookstores too. Lots of culture. Just north is the best wine country I have ever seen. Just beautiful.
There is a Disneyland board here that has a post about what else to do in CA.
While in Southern CA, if you even sort-of-kind-of-don't-hate museums- see the new (well newer than the old JP Getty roman villa) J. Paul Getty complex. It is a world class museum. I would rank it in the top 10 of the world and I think it is the best the US has to offer (collection and setting). Even if you only walk around the gardens it is worth the trip.

 

[arminnie]

I went to school in the Bay area (Stanford) and lived there for many years (until 2 years ago).

I lived about 20 miles south of SF - about 10 miles south of the airport.

The "rainy" season is late October till April. There is very little rain May-September.

Just remember that SF summers can be very cold. I've seen more tourist freezing in August when the temp was 50. Of course it can also be 90 so you have to pack your layers. It is generally cool at night even in the summer.

The Napa wine country is very nice but I also like Sonoma Valley and some of the smaller ones north of SF like Anderson valley.

Stanford has a fabulous Rodin sculpture garden. I won't repeat all of the stuff in the previous post. There's just so much to do in that area.

 

[KimR]

I went with DH on a business trip about 10 years ago. We went in October and it was absolutely gorgeous (October is summer in SF although it still gets chilly at night). We went to Muir (sp?) woods, Sausalito, Monterey Bay Aquariaum, and just explored the city. I would love to go back - I stayed only for the weekend so I didn't get to see as much as I would have liked (didn't get a chance to visit the wine country). We have plans to go back and visit when the girls get older and can appreciate it.

 

[Alice28]

Originally posted by HaleyB
About an 8 hour drive depending on how you go. The drive up the coast is well worth the extra time and the only way I would go. Stop in all the cute and often famous towns on the way. The flight is quick (all take off and landing really) but there are no quick airports in the state- so it would be at least 4 hours from the time you get to the airport in OC (use John Wayne) till you get to SFO. I am 99% sure you could also take Amtrack from Fullerton, which is 15 minutes from DL. But really if you have the time drive up the coast.
There is something for everyone in San Francisco. I like the park, to shop, to eat, and to just poke around. Great used bookstores too. Lots of culture. Just north is the best wine country I have ever seen. Just beautiful.
There is a Disneyland board here that has a post about what else to do in CA.
While in Southern CA, if you even sort-of-kind-of-don't-hate museums- see the new (well newer than the old JP Getty roman villa) J. Paul Getty complex. It is a world class museum. I would rank it in the top 10 of the world and I think it is the best the US has to offer (collection and setting). Even if you only walk around the gardens it is worth the trip.

Yes, if you do go to Disneyland, it is nice to take the 101 freeway down, as it goes along the coast. It tacks on an hour or so, but the I-5 freeway is very boring (this is the way that takes about 7 hours). If you go via 101 you can stop at San Luis Obispo, Malibu, Solvang, San Simeon (Hearst Castle) and you would even kind of jet through Beverly Hills on your way to DL.

 

[Beauty]

We just got back and I'm still crying because we didn't have more time to spend. We did Fisherman's Wharf and Pier 39. It is absolutly gorgeous and such a charming city! I feel in love there. California in itself is gorgeous! I could just sit at the Golden Gate Park all day long and look out over the water.

I WANNA GO BACK!!!!!!!

Oh and it was very very cold for June and very windy of course!

 

[damo]

We're going in August as part of our two week trip to California. I got a great rate on the Argonaut Hotel at Fisherman's Wharf through Hotwire. I can't wait!!!

 

[Rutt and Tuke]

When we went, we booked a tour out to Alcatraz. During busy time they book up fast so you might want to book one online before you go.

It was worth it just for the views.

 

[legs22]

SF is one of my favorite cities!

There is nothing like seeing the Golden Gate Bridge for the first time on a clear, sunny day.

Stop in the Buena Vista for an irish coffee

Ride a cable car.

 

[clh2]

We took our DD to San Fran. when she was 5. It was a fabulous trip. We went to the Cable Car museum (small, interesting and free!), and loved the Exploratorium - a hands on science museum. There are also many wonderful art galleries and other musuems. The Golden Gate bridge is fun to walk across too.

We love San Francisco - it is a great city, and very easy to get around without having a rental car. The transit system (sorry I can't recall their name to post a link) has great directions on how to get to any tourist attraction on the buses and cable cars.

 

[powellrj]

we were there several years ago in July and FROZE, I couldn't believe how cold it was. It was a neat trip!!

 

[Nutsy]

We were thing in September of 2002 & loved it. It's very pretty.

We went to Alcatraz (bit disappointed with that), not for everybody. Fishermans Wharf (loved it), Golden Gate Bridge & Park, Chinatown.

Would have loved to see more, however we only had one day & crammed as much as we could in.

Weather wise in September it was lovley. Came in a little cool once the sun went down, but that only required a light jacket.

 

[Dan Murphy]

I have been several times. Most of the things for a tourist have been mentioned already, just want to add, like others say, it is a most beautiful city, large yet quaint, very historic, very unique. I always love going to San Francisco.

 

[Big V]

Been there a few times and had a great time! We have friends who live in Hayward area, so no hotel costs for us! We would take the BART (Bay Area Rapid Transit) train to the Embarcedaro and then take the cable cars to Chinatown and then walk to the Wharf. My DW always has to get a fresh Dungeness crab and I have to get the clam chowder in a sourdough bread bowl! Yum Yum!