San Francisco

[mnrose]

Here is the typical forecast for San Francisco (city) during the summer months (mid June through August): "Fog at the coast in the morning, clearing at mid day, returning in the late afternoon/evening." Every.single.day. LOL. It's a wonder they pay those meteorologists in the summer months. So, if you want "clear" photos, your best bet would be 2-3 pm. If you want the iconic fog rolling in photo, maybe 4-5 pm. Morning, the entire bridge could well be shrouded in fog and you'd see nothing.

 

[Adelle Dazeem]

Please post your restaurant suggestion. We avoid chains in favor of local at home so absolutely, it's a must, on vacation.

Tommaso's on Kearny is amazing! A warning it's across from the Hustler Store, but not a big deal. The food is amazing. They don't take reservations so sometimes there is a wait, but it's worth it.

 

[Pacolovestacos]

Here is the typical forecast for San Francisco (city) during the summer months (mid June through August): "Fog at the coast in the morning, clearing at mid day, returning in the late afternoon/evening." Every.single.day. LOL. It's a wonder they pay those meteorologists in the summer months. So, if you want "clear" photos, your best bet would be 2-3 pm. If you want the iconic fog rolling in photo, maybe 4-5 pm. Morning, the entire bridge could well be shrouded in fog and you'd see nothing.

Then we wait until we get the shot, lol

 

[DaretoDis]

Our list of restaurants...

Tadich Grill
Sam's Grill
House of Prime Rib
Soto Mare
Swan Oyster Depot
Rocco's
Golden Boy Pizza
Sears Fine Foods

 

[bcla]

Our list of restaurants...

Tadich Grill
Sam's Grill
House of Prime Rib
Soto Mare
Swan Oyster Depot
Rocco's
Golden Boy Pizza
Sears Fine Foods

I'm kind of cheap. Maybe my list could make for a nice juxtaposition with yours, although not everything is that cheap.

Boudin - several locations
Napoleon Super Bakery - Chinatown
New Asia - last big room dim sum place in Chinatown
Red's Java House - Embarcadero, classic dive
Blue Bottle Coffee - several locations including the Ferry Building
Bob's Donuts - best donuts in SF
Arinell Pizza - thin NY style pizza in the Mission
Cheung Hing Restaurant - Sunset, with best roast duck in SF
Acme Bread Company - Ferry Building, get one of their sandwiches
Cowgirl Creamery - Ferry Building

I guess the one joke in town is recommending Golden Gate Bakery on Grant in Chinatown. For whatever reason, they're "on vacation" most times I go there. It's become an in joke about whether or not they'll be open. The few times I've found them open, the line takes up to 45 minutes. There's even a website.

http://www.is-the-golden-gate-bakery-open-today.com/

 

[mnrose]

Then we wait until we get the shot, lol

Patience may be required. I can't tell you how many times I drove across that bridge in deep fog. I like the fog, though!

When we were there in November, though, a cabbie told us that the last few years (I moved 10 years ago) there's been less fog. Weird.

 

[bcla]

Patience may be required. I can't tell you how many times I drove across that bridge in deep fog. I like the fog, though!

When we were there in November, though, a cabbie told us that the last few years (I moved 10 years ago) there's been less fog. Weird.

Oh, I've seen patience. Try Grand Teton NP, where I saw a group of photographers just waiting with their cameras on tripods for the right light over the Moulton Barn. They said they had been there for hours and would probably come back the next day.

Sometimes the ideal shot of fog at the Golden Gate Brisge just happens.

 

[NMAmy]

If you want to explore different parts of the city, consider using San Francisco city guides. They offer walking tours and they are free. Every day there are 10 or more tours available. They last about 2 hours. Donations are welcome; they go to help fund the program. The guides are volunteers that love their city and want to share it with others. We did a Chinatown tour one day and a Castro district tour another. I highly recommend them
Their website is sfcityguides.org.

Thank you so much for this recommendation-I had no idea this was available. I've got a conference in San Francisco in a couple of weeks and I only have to attend a couple of sessions so I'll have some down time and this sounds wonderful.

And thank you all for sharing recommendations, as well. They will come in handy!

 

[Pacolovestacos]

Oh, I've seen patience. Try Grand Teton NP, where I saw a group of photographers just waiting with their cameras on tripods for the right light over the Moulton Barn. They said they had been there for hours and would probably come back the next day.

Sometimes the ideal shot of fog at the Golden Gate Brisge just happens.

I like shots with no people. Sometimes if I find a shot I want but it's too crowded, I'll wake up super early the next morning and return to get the shot.

 

[Mickeyflower]

Definitely take a ride on a cable car. You won't find them anywhere else. Chat with the operators ask them questions, they love it! Go to Gumps, its a retail store that been in San Francisco for over 120 years, REALLY EXPENSIVE but fun to go through for the simple fact of how long its been there. Catty corner across the street from Gumps is a Ghirardelli Chocolate store. Go to the Ferry Building. LOTS of cute stores Acme Bread Company (KICKS Boudin's *** IMO) while on the waterfront, go to Exploratorium and Pier 39-go see the resident Sea Lions they stink but they're fun to look at. Make time to go to Golden Gate Park and visit a museum or go to the Cal Academy of Science, the roof is a living roof, really amazing place. Angel Island is also a must do. Nice ferry ride, do the tour and learn about the not so pleasant but in these times VERY NECESSARY TO REMEMBER, history of Angel Island. While on Angel Island, you will get one of the best views of the GGB. While you can stay outside of SF, I don't recommend it if you're not familiar with the bay area. Parking in San Fransisco SUUUUUUCCCKKKKSSSSS on a good day. There is so much to do in San Francisco, you don't need to go to Napa. There are some really amazing Wine Bars in SF where you can taste Napa, Sonoma wine. If you want to go to Napa and visit a winery, go midweek. If you leave SF at 9am, you'll miss traffic and be in Napa by 10-1030. A winery tour wont take more than 2 hours-MAKE A RESERVATION. I recommend Silverado Winery, if you like bubbly my personal favorite is Schramsburg (Schramsburg Cremont Champagne has been served at every Presidential Inaugural Ball since Nixon) but Mumm is also good and just down the road from Silverado Winery. For a meal in Napa-Rutherford Grill or R&D Kitchen. Don't forget that DL Podcast member and host of Connecting with Walt frequently visits the Walt Disney Family Museum in the Precidio in San Francisco.