Anything "unmissable" in San Francisco?
Discussion
JuniorD said:
What are your plans for Vancouver island? It has to be one of the most disturbingly boring places on the planet!
My partner's aunt lives there and we are spending a couple of days with her and then a few days on our own whale watching, bear tracking and just chilling with friends. Then again,maybe you're right. It could just be dull compared with sitting at a desk waiting on my phone to ring.........Bookmarked! I've got 4 days in San Francisco in October at the end of a roadtrip. We'll be driving in from Yosemite, then dropping the car off at the airport, so is there anything worth doing in San Francisco before we drop the car off?
Other than that, my plan was to do a golden gate bridge bike ride, have a tram ride and maybe go to Alcatraz.
Other than that, my plan was to do a golden gate bridge bike ride, have a tram ride and maybe go to Alcatraz.
If you don't do anything else, go to Alcatraz. I'm not massively into museums, but this really is one of the best I've been to. Crash the extra for the audio tour, it's so atmospheric. Stepping into the 'hole' while listening to the gates slam (on the audio! 
) and an ex-prisoner telling a story about it. Amazing.
) and an ex-prisoner telling a story about it. Amazing.If it appeals I'd take an organised trip into the wine lands-otherwise you'd have to overnight there to make the most of it. Sonoma is a lovely little town. We've done a few now, I can recommend Platypus tours. It's tourist central but I like Fishermans Wharf, there are quite a few hop on hop off tours that are OK for getting around.
It is indeed full of 'panhandlers'. A local told me a lot of neighboring states palm them off onto California so they have to bare the burden, don't know how much I believe that.
Vancouver Island is nice, we've family there too. Tofino is worth a visit. Despite it's size and sparse population the main highway that kind of runs up the middle of (most) the island it makes getting about fairly quick.
It is indeed full of 'panhandlers'. A local told me a lot of neighboring states palm them off onto California so they have to bare the burden, don't know how much I believe that.
Vancouver Island is nice, we've family there too. Tofino is worth a visit. Despite it's size and sparse population the main highway that kind of runs up the middle of (most) the island it makes getting about fairly quick.
I've done the Alcatraz tour a couple of times and highly recommend the night tour. It's eerie!
Last boat of the day out so you don't get a new influx of visitors whilst you're there. Sun going down, long shadows and the guys who work there were brilliant. Once it was getting darker, they started working the cell doors to show us how the door system worked. All those doors slamming in the semi dark. Bloody amazing
Yosemite is beautiful too but a bit of a trek!
Last boat of the day out so you don't get a new influx of visitors whilst you're there. Sun going down, long shadows and the guys who work there were brilliant. Once it was getting darker, they started working the cell doors to show us how the door system worked. All those doors slamming in the semi dark. Bloody amazing
Yosemite is beautiful too but a bit of a trek!
Some great advice here.
Couple more things worth adding:
1. If you have time go to the bar at The Top of the Mark hotel, awesome views especially at night.
2. If you like Asian fusion food then book a table at Slanted Door which is in the Ferry Building, great food and great views of the Bay Bridge, also is near the ferry building in the day Gotts does awesome burgers, the Ferry zbuilding itself is well worth a look around.
3. If you go for a walk round china town be sure to stop in one of the many tea houses and enjoy tea tasting, they are free and good fun.
4. Walk, seems odd but you really don't need a car, and download Uber just in case.
5. If you like chocolate get over to Ghiradelli Sq
6. The SF Museum of Modern Art is excellent
7. Check out the numerous Segway tours, they are a giggle.
If I think of any more will pop back.
Couple more things worth adding:
1. If you have time go to the bar at The Top of the Mark hotel, awesome views especially at night.
2. If you like Asian fusion food then book a table at Slanted Door which is in the Ferry Building, great food and great views of the Bay Bridge, also is near the ferry building in the day Gotts does awesome burgers, the Ferry zbuilding itself is well worth a look around.
3. If you go for a walk round china town be sure to stop in one of the many tea houses and enjoy tea tasting, they are free and good fun.
4. Walk, seems odd but you really don't need a car, and download Uber just in case.
5. If you like chocolate get over to Ghiradelli Sq
6. The SF Museum of Modern Art is excellent
7. Check out the numerous Segway tours, they are a giggle.
If I think of any more will pop back.
Someone said "Yosemite", but it's not really even CLOSE to SF.
"Muir Woods", on the other hand, was a great shout - Just over the bridge and wonderful (especially if it's hot in the city!).
While you're that side of the bridge, go up to the Marin Headland and look around the anti-aircraft/ICBM missile sites - As if that would have really stopped it all being turned to dust if a nuclear war had really kicked off...
I'm jealous too - SF is wonderful to the same extent that LA is s
te! 
Sadly my company's HQ is in LA...
M.
"Muir Woods", on the other hand, was a great shout - Just over the bridge and wonderful (especially if it's hot in the city!).
While you're that side of the bridge, go up to the Marin Headland and look around the anti-aircraft/ICBM missile sites - As if that would have really stopped it all being turned to dust if a nuclear war had really kicked off...
I'm jealous too - SF is wonderful to the same extent that LA is s
te! Sadly my company's HQ is in LA...M.
lauda said:
I would definitely agree with this. And whilst you're in Sausalito, I'd recommend lunch here:
http://www.scomassausalito.com/#seasonalwhatsnew
Seconded.http://www.scomassausalito.com/#seasonalwhatsnew
If you're exploring the region a bit more, a overnight trip down to Monterey is a good option too.
Edited by Dr Slotter on Tuesday 4th August 14:25
I got back from the US a couple of months ago. We went to Alcatraz but nearly didnt. If your'e going to go, book early! We also used the Big Bus on a 3 day pass to get around. We went to Santa Cruz, San Jose (Google HQ) and the Redwood national park. Im not into baseball, none of us were but we went to a game ($14ish for a ticket) Great time and a great view over the harbour.
Fluffsri said:
I got back from the US a couple of months ago. We went to Alcatraz but nearly didnt. If your'e going to go, book early! We also used the Big Bus on a 3 day pass to get around. We went to Santa Cruz, San Jose (Google HQ) and the Redwood national park. Im not into baseball, none of us were but we went to a game ($14ish for a ticket) Great time and a great view over the harbour.
Was that in San Francisco?Craikeybaby said:
Fluffsri said:
I got back from the US a couple of months ago. We went to Alcatraz but nearly didnt. If your'e going to go, book early! We also used the Big Bus on a 3 day pass to get around. We went to Santa Cruz, San Jose (Google HQ) and the Redwood national park. Im not into baseball, none of us were but we went to a game ($14ish for a ticket) Great time and a great view over the harbour.
Was that in San Francisco?Gassing Station | Holidays & Travel | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff