San Francisco.....anyone been/living there?
San Francisco.....anyone been/living there?
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timmy30

Original Poster:

9,325 posts

257 months

Monday 23rd January 2006
quotequote all
Next week Iv'e got to go to San Fran for meetings, they finnish on Thurs so I thought I'd take Friday off and have a few days sight seeing. Any of you lot been there? Or even live there? What's good to see?

I'll have Thursday eve, all Friday and all Saturday. Any suggestions gratefully received.

nervous

24,050 posts

260 months

Monday 23rd January 2006
quotequote all
alcatraz is amazing. go see that. and the tram tour around the city is interesting too.

puggit

49,822 posts

278 months

Monday 23rd January 2006
quotequote all
Yes thanks, it's great

If you want to meet for a pint in Reading over the weekend we can give you lots of ideas

Trooper2

6,676 posts

261 months

Monday 23rd January 2006
quotequote all
It's been along time since I was last there but "Fisherman's Wharf" is not to be missed. You can easily use up a day there and great restaurants in the vicinity as well.

timmy30

Original Poster:

9,325 posts

257 months

Monday 23rd January 2006
quotequote all
puggit said:
Yes thanks, it's great

If you want to meet for a pint in Reading over the weekend we can give you lots of ideas


Cheers Chris, I'll drop you a PM.

nervous

24,050 posts

260 months

Monday 23rd January 2006
quotequote all
personally, i wouldnt wear those shorts in any bar unless youre sure of the clientel.

i had some great mexican food on the road where my hotel was, ill look up the name if you like.

angrys3owner

15,855 posts

259 months

Monday 23rd January 2006
quotequote all
nervous said:
alcatraz is amazing. go see that. and the tram tour around the city is interesting too.


Yep I'd second that one, you might want to book your ticket before you go if you want to get on the island itself though. probably not that bad this time of year though.

take a ride on a tram... they're great if a little scarey.



>> Edited by angrys3owner on Monday 23 January 17:54

timmy30

Original Poster:

9,325 posts

257 months

Monday 23rd January 2006
quotequote all
nervous said:
personally, i wouldnt wear those shorts in any bar unless youre sure of the clientel.

i had some great mexican food on the road where my hotel was, ill look up the name if you like.


Er yes I had heard that the city had a certain reputation. Last time I was over that side I stayed up in Seattle & Portland and didn't get a chance to see SF, I presume there is a certain area of town that, depending on your inclination you either find or avoid ( says Timmy desperately trying to be PC )

jeremyc

28,267 posts

314 months

Monday 23rd January 2006
quotequote all
As has been mentioned simply spending time in the City is great.

Golden Gate bridge (cycle or walk it).

Visit the wineries in the Napa and Sonoma Valleys: if you have a car you can drive out, or there are bus tours from SF I think. You'll pass Infineon Raceway on the way there.

If sport is your thing you may be able to catch a Golden State Warriors game at the Oakland Stadium.

If you just want to drive then seek out Skyline Boulevard and head southwards.

Edited to add: Half Moon Bay is interesting to visit if you like quieter beach/coastal scenery, or there's always the redwood forests just over the Bridge. One thing's for sure, there isn't a shortage of things to fill your time with!

I'll be there next week as well.



>> Edited by jeremyc on Monday 23 January 17:58

timmy30

Original Poster:

9,325 posts

257 months

Monday 23rd January 2006
quotequote all
jeremyc said:

I'll be there next week as well.


I'm there from Monday evening onwards so if you fancy a beer

nervous

24,050 posts

260 months

Monday 23rd January 2006
quotequote all
carmel was nice too.

and go see the seals on pier 37 or whatever its called. the place with all the seals anyway.

but dont go dressed as a red indian, motorcycle cop, telephone repair man or the other one.

timmy30

Original Poster:

9,325 posts

257 months

Monday 23rd January 2006
quotequote all
nervous said:

but dont go dressed as a red indian, motorcycle cop, telephone repair man or the other one.




Humming YMCA as I stroll along.

DieselJohn

2,114 posts

286 months

Monday 23rd January 2006
quotequote all
timmy30 said:
nervous said:

but dont go dressed as a red indian, motorcycle cop, telephone repair man or the other one.




Humming YMCA as I stroll along.


Funny, I had YMCA in my head from the second I read the thread title!

Trooper2

6,676 posts

261 months

Monday 23rd January 2006
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I'm surprised no one has done the "if you drop your wallet, kick it to Oakland gag yet.

nervous

24,050 posts

260 months

Monday 23rd January 2006
quotequote all
timmy30 said:
nervous said:

but dont go dressed as a red indian, motorcycle cop, telephone repair man or the other one.




Humming YMCA as I stroll along.


i dont think they mind that. they just really dont like red indians, motorcycle cops, telephone repair men or the other one. its a form of racism.

Rob P

5,821 posts

294 months

Monday 23rd January 2006
quotequote all
All of the above.

I thouroughly recommend a Chinese restaurant which I cant remember the name of. Its in Chinatown but not touristy. Que out the door if you dont book and full of natives, if you see what I mean. Will dig the name out.

I took a bike ride down the coast from Fishermans Wharf, through the parks and upto the bridge. Great stuff.

Cable car mueseum if you like that sort of thing

xiphias

5,889 posts

257 months

Monday 23rd January 2006
quotequote all
nervous said:

and go see the seals on pier 37 or whatever its called. the place with all the seals anyway.


That's quite good! And if you can't make it to alcatraz, don't go to to look at it from the peer unless you know the weather, san fran smog is pretty horrific!

clapham993

12,247 posts

273 months

Monday 23rd January 2006
quotequote all
Book your Alcatraz tour before you go (although I think its over-rated)
Do the Golden Gate Park & Bridge
If you've got a hire car do the 46 mile trail around the city
If you like Vietnamese food, there is a brilliant restaurant just opposite the maritime museum
Ride the trolly from the central tram turn, through Nob Hill to the wharfs
Go to Haite/Westbury (& have your eyes opened!)

Enjoy - its one of the great cities of the world!

nervous

24,050 posts

260 months

Monday 23rd January 2006
quotequote all
Rob P said:


I thouroughly recommend a Chinese restaurant which I cant remember the name of. Its in Chinatown but not touristy. Que out the door if you dont book and full of natives, if you see what I mean. Will dig the name out.




did you try the cream of sum yung guy?

tvrolet

4,765 posts

312 months

Monday 23rd January 2006
quotequote all
Alcatraz is a 'must do', but you will have to book ahead (unless its real quiet). You can book on the net. They also do an 'after dark' tour (got the T shirt). Another reason for doing Alcatraz sooner rather than later is that it's really falling in to disrepair and they're just not maintaining it. It'll surely be condemned as unsafe for visitors in the none to distant future.

as you approach the island by boat, the point out some graffitti, supposedly made by some native Americans when they 'took over' the plae many moons ago. However, (and having been a few times) the last time it seemed unusually obvious. Checked back photos from previous trips anf they've been re-doing the graffitti! So much for 'genuine'.

It's a nice city to walk around. Worth going up to Coit Tower. Make sure you use the cable cars...especially hanging on the outside. Visit the world's crookedest street (or whatever they call it). There's also a cablecar museum that's worth a very quick visit. IIRC it's on the same line from fishermans wharf/embarcadero to the crookedest steet. You can then walk down the street and up the other side to Coit Tower (a wee bit of a hike). Chinatown too - some great restaurants...and live toads for sale in the markets. Fishermans's wharf also worth a visit, but pier whateveritsnumber is a bit too touristy now.

If you've got time (and a car) drive over Golden Gate to Sausilito [sp]. Not an awful lot to see, but a nice wee town and nice views over SF. There's also the real photogenic set of houses beside a park. Can't remember the street name, but usually referred to as Postcard Row IIRC. Some nice pix to be had at dawn/dusk - you would recognise it if you see it. Not served by public transport though I don't think, and a bit off the beaten track unless you're actually looking for it with a map. Not walkable from waterfront/city centre area.

No matter how much of an ageing hippy you may (or may not) be, don't bother with Haight/Ashbury. Nothing to see there really - just another anonimous junction.
WB