Help with San Fran Itinerary

[viluvsdisney]

Hi

We'll be in the SF area for a couple days and would like to see some tourist sights in the city on June 1. The wish list is Alcatraz, the wharf, GG Bridge, trolly ride and Ghirardelli. Are these possible to do in one day? If so, is there a recommended order? And suggestions on where to park for the day would be appreciated

Thanks!

 

[bcla]

You could do it, but it wouldn't be easy. You mentioned parking for a day in another thread, so public transportation is going to slow you down.

One issue is that since the switch to Hornblower for the Alcatraz transportation, they've moved to Pier 33 when they used to be at Pier 41. However, it's kind of within walking distance of Fishermans Wharf.

I mentioned the ferry in another thread. I'd recommend the following:

1) Take the ferry into San Francisco. Get a bite to eat at the Ferry Building and then take the MUNI F-line to Pier 33.
2) Try to reserve the first Alcatraz ride to give you flexibility for the rest of the day. Depending on how long you spend on Alcatraz, you might take an earlier or later ride back to Pier 33.
3) Walk to Fishermans Wharf and Ghirardelli. Take the cable car and get a ride back. Does the cable car need to be round trip? In any case, I'd recommend buying a day pass in advance if you can. That will also allow you on other MUNI services.
4) Get back to the Ferry Building and take a ferry ride back to Larkspur.
5) From there, ride to the Golden Gate Bridge. It might be late, but the bridge looks great at night. Then drive back and stop at Vista Point and perhaps Conzelman Road.

There's also the Vallejo ferry, but that's a long ride.

 

[cedricandsophie]

The Walt Disney family museum is wonderful. I would highly recommend.

 

[viluvsdisney]

Thanks again!

This was also suggested to me: Any thoughts are appreciated:

"you will be coming into SF via the GG Bridge so do readwww.goldengate.org/tolls and then park on either or both ends and see the bridge -- and walk there . Then make your way to Fisherman's wharf which is right next to Ghiradelli Square and park there and get in line for the cable car and then take that to Union Square and then the F wharves street car back to Fisherman's wharf ( I presume that is what you mean by wharf -- there are plenty of wharves) and then see the area and take your alcatraz cruise from Pier 33 and then head back to Sonoma"

 

[usnuzuloose]

I would order you Alcatraz tickets in advance, as they usually sell out fast.

 

[viluvsdisney]

Thanks! I think I read that it's 90 days in advance which is coming up soon

 

[JimMIA]

First, if you're not familiar with this part of SFO, you need to distinguish what you mean when you say "Fisherman's Wharf." There are actually five main areas you might be interested in along the waterfront, and they are not exactly "right next" to each other. From East to West, here are the distances:

• Alcatraz Ferry - called Pier 33, but actually in the middle between 31 and 33.
• Pier 39 - tourist shops, restaurants, kind of a big outdoor mall, and with a pretty nice acquarium, and don't miss the Sea Lion colony at the very end -- about .3 mile from Alcatraz Ferry
• "Fisherman's Wharf" - Pier 45 - this is the older area where most of the famous restaurants are -- .4 mile from Pier 39
• Hyde Street Cable Car terminus - about .3 mile from Fisherman's Wharf
• Ghiradelli Square - about .2 mile from the end of the cable car line.

viluvsdisney's suggestion above (Cable car from Hyde Street to Union Square or Market Street, "F" Line trolley back to Fisherman's Wharf) is a great suggestion!

Doing that, you will have two of the great SFO experiences -- the cable car and the 1910's era trolley car down Market Street to the Embarcadero and finally to Fisherman's Wharf. For us, no SFO visit would be complete without both...and dinner at Scoma's (next street/wharf west of Fisherman's Wharf).

 

[JimMIA]

Several other suggestions:

• Chinatown is on most folks "Must Do" list for SFO.
• Drive down Lombard Street - the "crookedest street in the world"
• if you're a baseball fan, take in a game at AT&T park -- one of the best venues in baseball.
• Golden Gate Park is another favorite of ours and the drive from the SFO side of the bridge to the park is a very nice drive along the coast.
• Just east of the bridge are the Marina District, Palace of Fine Arts, and the Presidio
• Postcard row -- area of 700 block of Steiner Street, right across from Alamo Square Park
• Marin Headlands - coastal area on the north side of Golden Gate Bridge.

too many others to list.

 

[bcla]

Doing that, you will have two of the great SFO experiences -- the cable car and the 1910's era trolley car down Market Street to the Embarcadero and finally to Fisherman's Wharf. For us, no SFO visit would be complete without both...and dinner at Scoma's (next street/wharf west of Fisherman's Wharf).

Very few of the streetcars are 1910s vintage. Most of the fleet is late 1940s to 1950s vintage PCC streetcars, including ones originally purchased for use in San Francisco, New Jersey, and Philadelphia. Many are painted in "tribute" livery, although I remember one operator insisting that it was an original car for the service on the outside (I looked it up and it was only painted that way). They have a lot that came from Milan.

http://www.streetcar.org/streetcars/

Occasionally they do operate buses in place of the streetcars. They'll run right in the same area as the streetcars, even over the cobblestones that the streetcars don't need to deal with.

 

[JimMIA]

Wow, a bus would sure be a big disappointment! I think I'd wait for a streetcar.

 

[JimMIA]

Very few of the streetcars are 1910s vintage.

Don't know how many, but I know I've seen plaques on some of them saying they were from the early 1900's. Fun ride, regardless of the age of the streetcar.

 

[AdamEfimoff]

Hi

We'll be in the SF area for a couple days and would like to see some tourist sights in the city on June 1. The wish list is Alcatraz, the wharf, GG Bridge, trolly ride and Ghirardelli. Are these possible to do in one day? If so, is there a recommended order? And suggestions on where to park for the day would be appreciated

Thanks!

where are you staying??

 

[AdamEfimoff]

Hi

We'll be in the SF area for a couple days and would like to see some tourist sights in the city on June 1. The wish list is Alcatraz, the wharf, GG Bridge, trolly ride and Ghirardelli. Are these possible to do in one day? If so, is there a recommended order? And suggestions on where to park for the day would be appreciated

Thanks!

I would go to Yosemite

 

[AdamEfimoff]

The SFMOMA is back online in May

 

[viluvsdisney]

We are staying in the town of Sonoma for 4 days (house rental)

Thanks for the replies everyone! I'm starting to get a feel for the area

 

[AdamEfimoff]

I would say french laundry in Napa area is the place to eat

 

[bcla]

I would say french laundry in Napa area is the place to eat

Good luck getting a reservation and have a fire extinguisher handy for when your credit card catches on fire.

I believe Bouchon or Ad Hoc might be easier to get into.

Also - The Restaurant at Meadowood is probably hotter than French Laundry these days.

 

[AdamEfimoff]

@bcla having been to it. I m

Good luck getting a reservation and have a fire extinguisher handy for when your credit card catches on fire.

I believe Bouchon or Ad Hoc might be easier to get into.

Having eaten there must say it was worth it.

 

[bcla]

@bcla having been to it. I m


Having eaten there must say it was worth it.

It's on my bucket list. However, The Restaurant at Meadowood has a reputation just as good.

 

[bcla]

Oh - I'd recommend a trip to Russian River Brewing in Santa Rosa.