San Francisco area activities and dining

[gr8leg8]

Fog City Diner is one of my favorites.

Enjoy your trip!

 

[MMCD]

We were just there last month. We stayed at the Travelodge at the Presidio. I forgot the concierge's name who knows every restaurant in SF area. I can't remember the names but the best place he recommended was Off the Grid. offthegrid.com It is a group of food trucks that can be found at different parts in SF depending on day and location.

I was trying to chase down the food truck Bacon Bacon but we were never near the area where the trucks were during certain parts of the day. However when we were going to eat at Little Italy area, the food trucks were there at a park. Bacon Bacon was not there. However, there was this amazing flat taco/fajita-type, amazing flavor bun-like, of different food flavors. I think it was $3 to $4 a pancake-like food. I ate 3, then had to stuff myself for the 4th cause it was sooo gooood. Others ate from the different food trucks. we all had bits and pieces of each others food. I think the most expensive was $8 entre. All the trucks were excellent. Sides and drinks were extra.

Bacon Bacon was highly recommended by the locals. It is a breakfast/lunch place that serves different ways of bacon including chocolate bacon. The restaurant was closed when we were there. The new location was suppose to be open when we were there but it was not.

You can call the Travel lodge and ask for the restaurant expert concierge guy. Ha can guide you. I usually don't tip for advise but this guy was amazing and right on the money of what food I wanted to eat while we were there for 3 days.

 

[sadiebug]

So what is the best way to get around to all the touristy stuff? We do have a car, but I am understanding that driving and parking can be a real hassle. I thought I saw something about some kind of pass you could buy that would let you on the cable cars and busses, etc. but I don't remember where I saw that....

 

[MMCD]

We stayed only in SF area. Our car was parked at the Travelodge. My friend from San Jose came up to see us and we drove that to the GG bridge. We walked across GG. My 15 DS wanted to know where the boat was to go back. We, adults, laughed so hard. He did not believe that we had to walk across to get back.

On that same day, we drove by the places where we were going to visit the next day by foot, bus and trolley. We definitely took the car to drive by the Sisters Row, 7 townhouses famous scene of SF.

The next day we had a $14 day pass which we took a bus to the pier of Alcatraz. Did Alcatraz. Walked to Fish Warf. I wanted to eat Alliotto's crab outside on the picnic tables where the crab was $13/lb. But DH and kids wanted to eat where we can go to the bathrooms easily rather than going to the Mechanized Bathroom at the Fish Warf. So my crab inside the restaurant was $40. We walked to Ghiradell'is square. Then we walked some more to go to Lombard St. Then we took a trolley to the trolley museum. Bathroom break here!! Took a bus to Chinatown. Walked to Union Square. Walked a bit and took a bus to Embacadaro. Bathroom break here!! My friend picked us up there to go to Coit Tower. Otherwise we were going to take a bus. After Coit Tower, we were going to little Italy for dinner until we found the food trucks.

The next day we took the car to Disney Family Museum. Then we drove to Chinatown where we had to go back to the Chinese Bakery next to the Wok Shop. They were famous for their steamed buns. Very authentic steamed buns and other Chinese pastries that I grew up knowing from Chicago's Chinatown. We did not park there. DH drove around the block until I was done getting Chinese bakery goods. Then we tried to go to Bacon Bacon but it was not open. Then we left to go to Disneyland.

You need to go to the other forum of California to get more info about SF.

 

[Zerosinthecloset]

So what is the best way to get around to all the touristy stuff? We do have a car, but I am understanding that driving and parking can be a real hassle. I thought I saw something about some kind of pass you could buy that would let you on the cable cars and busses, etc. but I don't remember where I saw that....

You can get a 1, 3, or 7 day Muni pass good for cable cars, buses, F-line trolleys, or Muni subway, but not BART.

 

[pixiewings71]

Jelly Belly factory in Fairfield See how the famous beans are made and samples.

One of my best friends works there, I've done the tour, it's OK but not sure I'd drive out here for it unless I was a big fan. lol Of course there Budweiser factory next door also does tours and tastings.

Love San Francisco
Check out the City Pass and see if you can get your money's worth out of it. We found it worthwhile but YMMV
Golden Gate Park is very nice and the Academy of Science would be good for your ages. Took the bus there from the Fisherman's Wharf area, enjoyed the ride through Haight-Ashbury , Also enjoyed the Exploritorium, your 14 yo is on the upper age for it but will be ok if she has some interest in science stuff (my son was 14 and was fine with it).
Take one of the boat trips on the Bay that go under the Golden Gate (that was part of the City Pass). Just remember that anytime you're out on the water it's going to be windy and chilly... layer up for sure.
If you're there on a Saturday morning, check out the farmer's market in the Ferry Building. The building itself is worth seeing and the market is AMAZING! Really envy people who can shop there every week.

We stayed in the Fisherman's wharf area without a car - it's more hassle and $$ than it's worth - and did everything we wanted to in the area using public transportation (again part of the City Pass). Then grabbed a car, hit the Exploritorium on the way out of town (not as easy to get to on the bus) and stopped at Muir Woods. After that spent several days in Point Reyes/Half Moon Bay/Sonoma before driving back to the airport. Worked well for us and kept our costs down.

The highlight of the trip was a Segway tour. My son still talks about it 4 years later! Minimum age for it in SF is 14, may not work for your family. But if you're looking for something to do just with your older child I can't recommend this enough!

Have fun!

Oh yes, definitely stop by the Ferry Building! If you like oysters drop by Hog Island there as well, they have a good Happy Hour. The Ferry Building is just fun. lol

So what is the best way to get around to all the touristy stuff? We do have a car, but I am understanding that driving and parking can be a real hassle. I thought I saw something about some kind of pass you could buy that would let you on the cable cars and busses, etc. but I don't remember where I saw that....

They do have these but I don't know what they are where to get them, we always just drive in and park. We're about 45 minutes from SF.
I would suggest the Walt Disney Family Museum, Pier 39, eat at the Stinking Rose, so good!! Go to the Cal Academy of Sciences and there's an aquarium on the Wharf as well.
I like the Winchester Mystery House a lot and I love going to Santa Cruz but it can be a challenge to drive from place to place, traffic in the area can be difficult. LOL I do think if you're going to the Mystery House you should probably go the Mystery Spot as well, that's pretty cool. lol

 

[Zerosinthecloset]

We stayed only in SF area. Our car was parked at the Travelodge. My friend from San Jose came up to see us and we drove that to the GG bridge. We walked across GG. My 15 DS wanted to know where the boat was to go back. We, adults, laughed so hard. He did not believe that we had to walk across to get back.

On that same day, we drove by the places where we were going to visit the next day by foot, bus and trolley. We definitely took the car to drive by the Sisters Row, 7 townhouses famous scene of SF.

The next day we had a $14 day pass which we took a bus to the pier of Alcatraz. Did Alcatraz. Walked to Fish Warf. I wanted to eat Alliotto's crab outside on the picnic tables where the crab was $13/lb. But DH and kids wanted to eat where we can go to the bathrooms easily rather than going to the Mechanized Bathroom at the Fish Warf. So my crab inside the restaurant was $40. We walked to Ghiradell'is square. Then we walked some more to go to Lombard St. Then we took a trolley to the trolley museum. Bathroom break here!! Took a bus to Chinatown. Walked to Union Square. Walked a bit and took a bus to Embacadaro. Bathroom break here!! My friend picked us up there to go to Coit Tower. Otherwise we were going to take a bus. After Coit Tower, we were going to little Italy for dinner until we found the food trucks.

The next day we took the car to Disney Family Museum. Then we drove to Chinatown where we had to go back to the Chinese Bakery next to the Wok Shop. They were famous for their steamed buns. Very authentic steamed buns and other Chinese pastries that I grew up knowing from Chicago's Chinatown. We did not park there. DH drove around the block until I was done getting Chinese bakery goods. Then we tried to go to Bacon Bacon but it was not open. Then we left to go to Disneyland.

You need to go to the other forum of California to get more info about SF.

Trolleys and cable cars are two different things.

 

[FINFAN]

luckily the Bart strike ended freeing up more transportation options. Have a fun trip!