Please help with logistics of our Cali trip!

[ruadisneyfan2]

I'm trying to balance 1. getting enough sleep, 2. cramming in a lot of sightseeing and 3. not staying at 5 hotels in 5 nights and 4. not spending a fortune on numbers 1,2 & 3.

We only have 5.5 days including flying from Philly so we've accepted that we can only hit the highlights and save the rest for another visit.

Fri night: fly into SFO (Embassy Suites SFO)
Sat: tour SF (Embassy Suites SFO)
Sun: Marin Headlands area if we leave early enough then drive to Yosemite. Maybe the Stargazing Tour at Glacier Point if time. (Yosemite condo)
Mon: Grand Tour in Yosemite (Yosemite condo)
Tues: final views of Yosemite then drive to hotel near Sacramento airport (Hampton Inn SMF)
Wed: fly home

So here's our plan:
Friday evening after school, fly into SFO. Our flight arrives at 11pm PDT which is 2am EDT. We'll be dog tired so we booked a hotel close to the airport with free shuttle, Embassy Suites. Since realistically it will be 3:30am EDT when we finally get to sleep, we're not making plans for Sat early am. Luckily we gain 3 hrs so that will help. I'm guessing by 10am PDT, we should be ready to start our day.
Embassy Suites has a free "trolley" ride 5x/day (Fri & Sat only) to Pier 39. I'd like to do a Hop on, hop off tour to see the touristy stuff: Fisherman's Wharf, crookedest street, GG Bridge, ride a cable car, etc. Then end our day with a visit to Alcatraz.

I'm having a hard time buying tickets to anything because it's so hard to judge how much time we'll want to spend doing any particular thing. We are not usually militant planners down to the minute and like to have flexibility in our plans but I realize we at least need to nail down a time for Alcatraz and stick to it.
The dilemma is that I would choose a 6 pm-ish Alcatraz time, to maximize our time on the HOho trolley. The last free trolley back to Embassy Suites is at 5:30pm which we would miss.

What's the simplest way to get back to our hotel? How much would a cab cost? I was planning to use ES's other free shuttle back to SFO to pick up a rental car Sat night so we can get an early start Sunday. I was thinking 9pm by the time we get done Alcatraz. (We got a great rate on ES that includes parking.)
Should we get the car when we wake up and just suck up the hassle/cost of parking downtown? Should we switch to a downtown hotel for Sat night? Then we could just walk back to our room after Alcatraz but we still need to get the car sometime by morning.
I considered picking up the rental car after we're done the HOHO tour, before the Alcatraz tour but realistically seems like we'd need to allow at least an hour or more for the ES trolley to return us to the hotel, then another shuttle to SFO, get the car, then drive back to Alcatraz & find parking downtown on a Sat night. Sounds like a lot of wasted time mid-day. Dh doesn't want to be up late Sat night; he feels we'll still be tired from the night before and touring all day plus he wants to get an early start Sun am.
I half considered just getting the car Fri night but I'm afraid we'll be too tired to drive (plus it's dark in unfamiliar area) & really just need to get to sleep that late.
Maybe just take a cab after Alcatraz directly from the pier to SFO/rental car center. We're kind of stuck with National for car rental. All others wanted an astronomical amount for a one way rental, like $800+!!!
I don't mind spending a little more on some things if it will make our trip go smoother. I realize sometimes the cheapest way isn't the best way or easiest way.

So do you have any ideas on how to improve our plans for our day in SF?
I'd appreciate any tips.

Thank you & sorry this is so long.

 

[usnuzuloose]

Make sure to purchase Alcatraz tickets in advance, as they usually don't have any when you try to purchase same day.

I would wait as long as you can for the car as where you stay they will probably charge a parking fee.

It will be about a 4 hour drive to Yosemite, and it is a very winding road. It is beautiful though. It will be about the same amount of driving time from Yosemite to Sac Airport.

You guys sound like a family that likes getting in as much as you can. I use to be that way. I guess as I got older, I just want to slow down. Hope you enjoy your trip.

You have pier 39 , which has all the stores and restaurants , The presidio is where Walt Disney Museum is located. You can look that up online. There is also the ferry building located way at the other end of pier 39. It sells all kinds of fruits and veggies and snack shops as well. There is a lot to do there, just depends on how you want to spend your time. You can take the bus around town. You can ride the trolly car as well. There may be other people who will chime in with other thoughts and ideas. Hope this helps a little. I live in Sacramento, Old Sacramento has a train museum and lots of little shops.

 

[usnuzuloose]

When visiting Alcatraz, I would wear comfortable shoes. There are inclines. They have the self guided tour and a regular guided one. You can spend as much time there as you like. Take the camera.

 

[gatorfreud]

I don't think you can do the bus tour and Alcatraz on the same day. I would do Alcatraz the next morning, then head to yosemite. I don't see any real need to go to the headlands... other than a view of the city, not much there. You;d have to get there somehow as well, like by car. no idea how you would get there otherwise.

so many things you can get off and see on the bus tour - if you just ride the bus around i think you are missing everything.

cab from sfo to downtown is maybe... $30? i think you can take bart into the city from SFO as well... not sure where it stops. check sfmta.com or transit.511.org

I think a day's parking at the wharf is about $20... I feel like last time I went down there it was cheaper than I remembered.

If you can get a hotel in SF for about the same price as at the airport (not sure if you can), I would just suck it up on arrival night and stay in the city. if you can;t, I would take their shuttle in, and cab home the first night. i guess you could take bart to the airport and your hotel probably has a shuttle from there. Shuttle in, cab back to get rental car second day. (or i guess you could pick up car first).

mainly, I would not try to get to SF like 11ish, and be rushed with an alcatraz time looming.... and alcatraz takes a solid 3-4 hours too. too tired. just do the bus tour, hop off and see what looks interesting, grab some dinner and head back to hotel.

in the morning, do alcatraz, have lunch, hit the road.

Kim

 

[gatorfreud]

I considered picking up the rental car after we're done the HOHO tour, before the Alcatraz tour but realistically seems like we'd need to allow at least an hour or more for the ES trolley to return us to the hotel, then another shuttle to SFO, get the car, then drive back to Alcatraz & find parking downtown on a Sat night. Sounds like a lot of wasted time mid-day.

didn't see this. this part absolutely not. you would not have any time to do anything, you'd just be running back and forth between the wharf and the airport.

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

I don't think you can do the bus tour and Alcatraz on the same day. I would do Alcatraz the next morning, then head to yosemite. I don't see any real need to go to the headlands... other than a view of the city, not much there. You;d have to get there somehow as well, like by car. no idea how you would get there otherwise.

so many things you can get off and see on the bus tour - if you just ride the bus around i think you are missing everything.

cab from sfo to downtown is maybe... $30? i think you can take bart into the city from SFO as well... not sure where it stops. check sfmta.com or transit.511.org

I think a day's parking at the wharf is about $20... I feel like last time I went down there it was cheaper than I remembered.

If you can get a hotel in SF for about the same price as at the airport (not sure if you can), I would just suck it up on arrival night and stay in the city. if you can;t, I would take their shuttle in, and cab home the first night. i guess you could take bart to the airport and your hotel probably has a shuttle from there. Shuttle in, cab back to get rental car second day. (or i guess you could pick up car first).

mainly, I would not try to get to SF like 11ish, and be rushed with an alcatraz time looming.... and alcatraz takes a solid 3-4 hours too. too tired. just do the bus tour, hop off and see what looks interesting, grab some dinner and head back to hotel.

in the morning, do alcatraz, have lunch, hit the road.

Kim

That's a great idea. Is it really 3-4 hrs for Alcatraz? Their website say 2.5 but that may be for just the tour itself & they aren't factoring in time for ferry, etc.

I was also thinking maybe just do Alcatraz 1st. Then the hop on/hop off trolley . Then we can linger longer if we want and just pay for taxi if we miss the trolley offered by Embassy Suites. The trolley site says it's 1 hr if you don't get off but that would be pointless to not get off. We'd like to stop for lunch too.

There's just so much to do in SF. We're also thinking of just walking around the waterfront area after Alcatraz so we're not committed to 2 things then come back next summer for an extended stay.

What's the Bart to the airport? A train? Can we take that from somewhere near the waterfront direct to the airport? Our car pick up time is Sat night at 8:00 so that would work out great if we didn't have to cut our sightseeing short at 5:30 just b/c that's when the ES trolley makes its last return to hotel. I will have to look into that!

Thanks for your help. My head is spinning.

 

[usnuzuloose]

That's a great idea. Is it really 3-4 hrs for Alcatraz? Their website say 2.5 but that may be for just the tour itself & they aren't factoring in time for ferry, etc.

I was also thinking maybe just do Alcatraz 1st. Then the hop on/hop off trolley . Then we can linger longer if we want and just pay for taxi if we miss the trolley offered by Embassy Suites. The trolley site says it's 1 hr if you don't get off but that would be pointless to not get off. We'd like to stop for lunch too.

There's just so much to do in SF. We're also thinking of just walking around the waterfront area after Alcatraz so we're not committed to 2 things then come back next summer for an extended stay.

What's the Bart to the airport? A train? Can we take that from somewhere near the waterfront direct to the airport? Our car pick up time is Sat night at 8:00 so that would work out great if we didn't have to cut our sightseeing short at 5:30 just b/c that's when the ES trolley makes its last return to hotel. I will have to look into that!

Thanks for your help. My head is spinning.

I remember Alcatraz, it was only about 2 hours. You can make it as long as you want. You catch a boat about every 15 to 30 minutes.

 

[usnuzuloose]

That's a great idea. Is it really 3-4 hrs for Alcatraz? Their website say 2.5 but that may be for just the tour itself & they aren't factoring in time for ferry, etc.

I was also thinking maybe just do Alcatraz 1st. Then the hop on/hop off trolley . Then we can linger longer if we want and just pay for taxi if we miss the trolley offered by Embassy Suites. The trolley site says it's 1 hr if you don't get off but that would be pointless to not get off. We'd like to stop for lunch too.

There's just so much to do in SF. We're also thinking of just walking around the waterfront area after Alcatraz so we're not committed to 2 things then come back next summer for an extended stay.

What's the Bart to the airport? A train? Can we take that from somewhere near the waterfront direct to the airport? Our car pick up time is Sat night at 8:00 so that would work out great if we didn't have to cut our sightseeing short at 5:30 just b/c that's when the ES trolley makes its last return to hotel. I will have to look into that!

Thanks for your help. My head is spinning.

The bart is a train. I am not familiar with it. You can always go to any of the transportaion sites online, or ask people at the front desk. If it were me, being somewhere I have not been, I would just do the taxi. Bart is not near the waterfront.

 

[gatorfreud]

I think BART goes to SFO now, so first you would have to get to the airport. Then you can get off BART downtown somewhere, and then you'd have to take some other bus/train/cable car to the wharf. But the hop on bus I think you can pick up at any stop. go to bart.gov

Cab is much easier... depends how badly you want to save $30.

Yes Alcatraz is at your own pace, and I haven't done it in years, but I seem to remember it being at least 3 hours.

I'm thinking if you aren't ready to leave hotel until 10, arrive wharf 11 (if trolley, maybe 30 min. if taxi) - say if you go straight to alcatraz, maybe 11:30 depart, back at 2:30 - eat so 3:30.... not much time left for the bus. If the bus says 1 hour it must be the small loop that does not cross the bridge, and I doubt you want that one. When we did the whole loop I think it said 2.5 hours. There is no way you could cross the city over and back and all around in an hour I don't think. Plus you will want to get off and look at stuff.

 

[CPT Tripss]

BART = PATCO . . . more or less

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

BART = PATCO . . . more or less

I love PATCO & use it every day to get to work in Philly but pp is right. Unless I'm familiar with it, might just be easier to take a taxi. It's probably not worth it. We'd need 4 tickets but taxi wouldn't matter as much the # of passengers.
Dh is not a city person (neither am I sort of) and would rather go straight to Yosemite so I need to keep it simple or he'll be whining.

 

[usnuzuloose]

Taxi would be best as if you have all your luggage, you don't want to lug that from so to speak, planes, trains , bus, trolley and automobile...

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

Taxi would be best as if you have all your luggage, you don't want to lug that from so to speak, planes, trains , bus, trolley and automobile...

I agree about lugging luggage on public transportation but our bags will still be at the hotel. We will be out sightseeing but will need to pick up our car by later that night. Our hotel offered a great AAA-parking rate. To give up parking now would only save me $3/night. Also if we give up the Sat. night keep our car rental goes up $100. Makes no sense but we'll go with the flow.

I did check out the Bart train and looks easy enough. Only $8.25 pp to go from Embarcadero (Market St. near Ferry Bldg.) to SFO. Probably won't give me more gray hair like a taxi ride would.

If ds12 & I can navigate taking the train to Penn Station (a zoo) to cruise on DCL, I feel like we can handle anything. A little research & pre-planning goes a long way.

Thanks everyone!!

 

[ncc1701]

Based on our trip last year a cab takes around 30 mins. from SFO to the Fishermans Wharf area.Some hop on hop off tours take about 2 + hours as they go across the Golden Gate Bridge.
There are tours that give you a highlight of SF that don't last that long but you can't get off.
The earlier you get into town the better.
As for Alcatraz the 2 to 3 hours also includes the boat ride to & from (plus waiting for the boat not to mention the walk up & down the hill)
We used to try to "do everything" on vacation but now just figure out what we want see the most and then do the rest if we feel like it.
So if Alcatraz is tops for you do that 1st and then deal with a tour.
As PP have said you do usually need to book Alcatraz in advance. The tours of SF are easier to get on.
If seeing the city is tops you can check out a harbor cruise that goes near Alcatraz if you can 't get to tour it

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

Based on our trip last year a cab takes around 30 mins. from SFO to the Fishermans Wharf area.Some hop on hop off tours take about 2 + hours as they go across the Golden Gate Bridge.
There are tours that give you a highlight of SF that don't last that long but you can't get off.
The earlier you get into town the better.
As for Alcatrz the 2 to 3 hours also includes the boat ride to & from (plus waiting for the boat & the walk up & down the hill)
We used to try to "do everything" on vacation but now just figure out what we want see the most and then do the rest if we feel like it.
So if Alcatrz is tops for you do that 1st and then deal with a tour.
As PP have said you do usually need to book that in advance. The tours of SF areeasier to get on.

yes, it's so hard to eliminate things off our list. For now we decided to just walk around FW area instead of the tour which would be too rushed. We figure we walk for at least 10-12 hours on some days at the MK in WDW, I'm sure we can walk a few hours and see a lot: FW, Alcatraz, Lombard St, & ride a cable car. In the am we'll drive over GG bridge on our way to Yosemite.

I would love to get downtown earlier but I'm afraid to commit to anything too early. The 11 pm arrival time (2am EDT so that's what our bodies will feel like it is) assumes no delays. We've had Sept flights to Orlando where T-storms lined the whole east coast. We were due to arrive at 11:15pm but instead departed Philly at 12:20 am! It was almost 3am when we arrived delirious.
So not that we want to sleep the day away but if we're delayed like that again there's no way our kids can get by on 4 hrs sleep.
It would not be a nice vacation.
I'd also love to take an earlier flight than the 4:50pm but the earliest I can leave work that Fri is noon which is not enough time to get an earlier flight, 2:45pm.
We just have to find ways to make the best of it. It will all be brand new to us so we'll be having fun no matter what do/see.

 

[gatorfreud]

You don't drive over the Golden Gate bridge on the way to yosemite. It's a solid 30 min up to the bridge from the airport... then back pretty much the same way to go across the Bay Bridge to get to Yosemite.

You obviously can go to the bridge that morning, but just know it is not on the way.

Kim

 

[Tam1067]

I just was in San Francisco earlier this month.

BART is easy. It's $8.25 per person one way to or from SFO. I had a red eye and took it at 9:30 pm. Lots of people were doing the same thing. I felt safe the whole time, and my 13 year old and I had luggage. It was not a problem at all. If you're near SFO, that is by far the best way to get to and from the city. Driving in SF is a challenge. It's big city traffic made more stressful by steep hills and cable cars, which have the right of way. I do not recommend it for anyone from out of town.

If you want an evening Alcatraz tour, those must be booked WAY in advance especially during the summer. Daytime tours need to be booked ahead of time too, but there's more availability during the day. The tour itself probably takes about an hour, not including the boat and walking from the dock to the prison. Do get tickets before you go or else you might not get them. I've done it four times, three during the day and once at night. Night is fun with a few extra options but not really that different than day.

Two weeks ago, I took my son on Dylan's Tours. It's a nice alternative to the HOHO. You could combine that with Alcatraz if you schedule correctly.

I grew up in Sacramento. It's a long drive from Yosemite! Take a hour or two to walk around Old Sac and visit the Capitol. They're close to each other.

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

You don't drive over the Golden Gate bridge on the way to yosemite. It's a solid 30 min up to the bridge from the airport... then back pretty much the same way to go across the Bay Bridge to get to Yosemite.

You obviously can go to the bridge that morning, but just know it is not on the way.

Kim

I just was in San Francisco earlier this month.

BART is easy. It's $8.25 per person one way to or from SFO. I had a red eye and took it at 9:30 pm. Lots of people were doing the same thing. I felt safe the whole time, and my 13 year old and I had luggage. It was not a problem at all. If you're near SFO, that is by far the best way to get to and from the city. Driving in SF is a challenge. It's big city traffic made more stressful by steep hills and cable cars, which have the right of way. I do not recommend it for anyone from out of town.

If you want an evening Alcatraz tour, those must be booked WAY in advance especially during the summer. Daytime tours need to be booked ahead of time too, but there's more availability during the day. The tour itself probably takes about an hour, not including the boat and walking from the dock to the prison. Do get tickets before you go or else you might not get them. I've done it four times, three during the day and once at night. Night is fun with a few extra options but not really that different than day.

Two weeks ago, I took my son on Dylan's Tours. It's a nice alternative to the HOHO. You could combine that with Alcatraz if you schedule correctly.

I grew up in Sacramento. It's a long drive from Yosemite! Take a hour or two to walk around Old Sac and visit the Capitol. They're close to each other.

I did check on google maps if we alter our course to include gg bridge it's a MUCH longer route to get to Yosemite. Maybe we'll just cross it and find a place to turn around & go back. Really, I'll never hear the end of it if we get that close but can't say we drove over it. It will be early on a Sunday am so hopefully the least crowded as it can get. That will be the only time we'll be driving in SF.

 

[Disney Enabler]

When planning to walk around SF please remember that San Francisco is a city with many steep streets. Walking may take more out of you than you think especially if you spent the day before on a plane. Have you thought about calling the hotel and asking them what they recommend?

Will you be in Yosemite on a full moon night? They do a night tour which is awesome. It is like seeing Yosemite in black and white just like the Ansel Adams pictures. Seeing the climbers sleeping on the face of the rock walls is a site not quickly forgotten.

Carol
It's a great day to be alive!!!

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

When planning to walk around SF please remember that San Francisco is a city with many steep streets. Walking may take more out of you than you think especially if you spent the day before on a plane. Have you thought about calling the hotel and asking them what they recommend?

Will you be in Yosemite on a full moon night? They do a night tour which is awesome. It is like seeing Yosemite in black and white just like the Ansel Adams pictures. Seeing the climbers sleeping on the face of the rock walls is a site not quickly forgotten.

Carol
It's a great day to be alive!!!

Yes, you're right. That's something not visible on Google maps.

It will be a new moon when we're in Yosemite. At that time they have a Stargazer Tour of Glacier Point. We're hoping to do that our 1st night. Another reason we'd like to get an early start Sunday. It meets at 6:30 IIRC.