View Full Version : San Francisco
fractionMan
30-05-2007, 09:06
I'm of to frisco in a month or so, with flowers in my hair. Any suggestions about what I should do while I'm there?
llantwit
30-05-2007, 09:25
Don't call it Frisco, for starters. They think it's cheesy.;)
Some cool stuff to do in San Fran (that, I've been told, is an acceptable abbreviation):
Wander round China Town and eat great food in some tiny chinese dive.
Ride the trams.
Browse the excellent radical bookshops (you could even head out of town to Berkely (I think) to visit the anarchist publishers AK Press).
Rent a bike and bike the Golden Gate Bridge over to Sausellito in Orange County and then get the ferry back as the sun sets over the original 'dock of the bay', or take a ride around town with the original critical mass.
Visit the great fish market and overdose on fresh oysters.
Get annoyed by crystal toting hippy types in Height Ashbury.
If you're feeling fruity you could look up whether the local Food Not Bombs group is holding an event, and go help out (there is a risk of arrest doing this in san fransisco, tho)
If there's a sunday or christian religious holiday, why not check out one of the radical, inclusive, churches around (there are a few)
Visit the Mission district and have gigantenormous burritos and cold beer at one of the many great Mex cafes before spending an afternoon browsing the cheapo vintage clothes shops for retro stylez.
San Fransisco rocks.
Juice Terry
30-05-2007, 09:32
Do a boat trip to Alcatraz
Head south to see the giant Redwoods
Rent a cool car and pretend to be Steve McQueen in Bullet
Wine tasting in Napa valley
(MOMA) Museum of Modern Art
Folsom st fair :eek:
If its on while u're there. One of the most full-on events i've ever been to.
Orange County is south of LA :)
llantwit
30-05-2007, 13:12
:o
Sausalito's in Marin County. Google is my friend.
fractionMan
31-05-2007, 08:58
We're gonna drive down to LA and on to San Diego at some point!
:o
Google is my friend.
Not too far away from Marin County, either!
Dirty Martini
31-05-2007, 19:47
What others have said really.
MOMA is good
Chinatown's worth it (but Fisherman's Wharf isn't)
Haight for the great Victorian houses that used to be communes and for the vintage clothing, otherwise it's a bit scuzzy.
The Golden Gate Bridge is a beautiful sight, but I could have taken or left the bike ride across.
Trams
Great neighbourhood bars. It's a fine drinking city, not quite New York, but still very fine.
Just pretend to be someone different every day. Steve McQueen on Monday, James Stewart in Vertigo on Tuesday, Dirty Harry on Wednesday, etc. and do what they would have done.
Basically, just a big hang.
We're gonna drive down to LA and on to San Diego at some point!
Don't miss out Monterey :)
fractionMan
01-06-2007, 08:48
I'm gonna try and fit in vegas as well :D
el_starkos
01-06-2007, 09:13
Done the SF, LA, Vegas triangle a few times - you'll have an absolute blast. How are you planning to do it? Driving is a must! Are you planning to stay in hostels?
I'm assuming the threads are still searchable, but perhaps not - I have basically written a guide to SF three times over on this site.
Lived there for nearly 5 years, loved every minute. If you have specific questions, ask away.
Guineveretoo
02-06-2007, 11:49
The first time I visited SF I stayed just outside the city and, every morning when I got up and went and sat outside with my cup of tea (and cigarette), I just loved watching the fog lifting off SF. It was fabulous to watch.
davesgcr
02-06-2007, 14:53
The trams are world class
Great Italian food in Back Bay
Lombard Street - the famous zig / zag flower infested street..
Great architecture..... wooden old houses !
The trams are world class
Great Italian food in Back Bay
Lombard Street - the famous zig / zag flower infested street..
Great architecture..... wooden old houses !
What/where is Back Bay? Never heard of it!
wow, my favourite city. Some good suggestions.
Definately cycle across the Bridge to sausalito (and catch the ferry back!)
Alcatraz tour is wicked.
City Lights, Vesuviius and Chinatown.
can't not stroll along Haight St
farmers market on Saturday morning - great free samples
A trip to Berkeley!! Chez Panisse (Alice's Restaurant) is a wee bit cheaper on Monday nights - around $50 a head and amazing food.
Milennium, the finest vegan restaurant in the world
Museum of Asian Art.
Cow Hollow.
Redwoods at John Muir State park
And the Wave Organ is very trippy http://www.roadtripamerica.com/places/waveorg.htm
I'm going again in September...can't wait!
Meltingpot
02-06-2007, 21:39
Lucky you! It's one of the world's great cities. I changed planes there once at night and saw the city's lights from the airport but never got to explore it.
Expensive to live there though, or so I'm told.
Expensive to live there though, or so I'm told.
Not as bad as NY or London, though.
fractionMan
04-06-2007, 10:40
Done the SF, LA, Vegas triangle a few times - you'll have an absolute blast. How are you planning to do it? Driving is a must! Are you planning to stay in hostels?
We're going to be driving, staying with friends in SF, LA and San Diego, but not sure about vegas. We'll only be there for one night. Any recomendations?
llantwit
11-06-2007, 13:35
Guardian's San Fran top 10:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/travel/2007/jun/05/top10.sanfrancisco
Isn't Back Bay in Boston?
We just booked our hotel today, last time I was there was 18 years ago, so any advice on good restaurants and what not to miss on a flyby tour (2 days), advice much appreciated.
I'm thinking cable car, al catraz, lombard street..I've never been to Oakland or Berkeley, so will probably head out there for a look.
Isn't Back Bay in Boston?
We just booked our hotel today, last time I was there was 18 years ago, so any advice on good restaurants and what not to miss on a flyby tour (2 days), advice much appreciated.
I'm thinking cable car, al catraz, lombard street..I've never been to Oakland or Berkeley, so will probably head out there for a look.
I have no idea where Back Bay is, but it's not in SF!
The Italian area of SF is North Beach.
Oakland and Berkeley have cool scenes, but in and of themselves might not be that interesting for "a look". There's beautiful hiking in the Oakland/Berkeley hills, really good food in both, some excellent theaters, bars...
Cable car is, whatever, a cable car - expensive, touristy, fun and cool way to see parts of the city.
Lombard Street is neat.
Good restaurants - what kind of food are you after?
when will you be there?
Johnny Canuck2
11-06-2007, 23:58
I have no idea where Back Bay is, but it's not in SF!
The Italian area of SF is North Beach.
Oakland and Berkeley have cool scenes, but in and of themselves might not be that interesting for "a look". There's beautiful hiking in the Oakland/Berkeley hills, really good food in both, some excellent theaters, bars...
Cable car is, whatever, a cable car - expensive, touristy, fun and cool way to see parts of the city.
Lombard Street is neat.
Good restaurants - what kind of food are you after?
when will you be there?
Back Bay is in Boston.
Johnny Canuck2
12-06-2007, 00:00
Cable car is, whatever, a cable car - expensive, touristy, fun and cool way to see parts of the city.
Just don't try holding onto the side poles, and swinging your body out into traffic like a dumb young Canadian tourist might, or you'll find yourself immediately thown off the cable car by a hostile cable car driver.
Good restaurants - what kind of food are you after?
when will you be there?
Well, my other half is a chef, so good food, but doesn't necessarily have to be superfancy. Californian cuisine, I suppose.
We'll be there at the end of July.
When we went 18 years ago my mum took us to this vegetarian restaurant (which was very new age for her, and us at the time!). It was called Greens. It's probably not there anymore, but something like that, or else what you can't get in London.
Oh my, just googled and I see it's still there! Will have to check it out, my first vegetarian meal!
Well, my other half is a chef, so good food, but doesn't necessarily have to be superfancy. Californian cuisine, I suppose.
We'll be there at the end of July.
When we went 18 years ago my mum took us to this vegetarian restaurant (which was very new age for her, and us at the time!). It was called Greens. It's probably not there anymore, but something like that, or else what you can't get in London.
Greens is very famous and it's a gorgeous dining experience, but the food itself is pretty uninventive. There is definitely way better vegetarian food to be had for way less money in SF; but the staff are excellent and the view is unbeatable.
You want new agey vegetarian food, check out Cafe Gratitude in the mission. Delicious, mostly raw, and every dish has a name like "I am Resplendent" or "I am Bountiful" and when they serve it to you, they say, "You are Bountiful!"
It's actually quite a lot of fun.
Delicious Japanese food - Medicine (terrible name, but what can you do) in the Crocker Galleria.
Pacific Catch - very tasty fish, in the Marina
Lulu - Folsom and 4thish - very good Californian
Oola
Bacar
all SOMA area
if you haven't been in 15 years, you're in for a shock!
18! I can barely remember, except that it was cold in August, and there were hills! And an earthquake we slept through. Hope we miss that this time around!
Thanks for all the advice, will look those up. Perhaps we'll try that new agey place for the experience, sounds soo California!
llantwit
12-06-2007, 14:44
Also - the massive burritos in the mission are a must.:cool:
Also - the massive burritos in the mission are a must.:cool:
agreed.
phildwyer
13-06-2007, 06:58
Sea Lions!
Rent a car and do the wine country around Napa... just got back from a wedding there, was amazing. About 30 degrees temperature, as opposed to 13 in SF. The wind just never stops there.
Loved SF tho. Very nice little city - very walkable too, especially if you like a good workout (lotta very steep streets).
Dr. Furface
13-06-2007, 10:31
See if you can get on one of the rave/party boat trips that go out on Sunday nights round the bay. Getting pilled up and sailing under the Golden Gate bridge and round Alcatraz at night with the tunes bangin out was one of the best experiences I ever had, anywhere. :) Mind you, it's been 9 years since i went on one, so they might not still do them (they weren't that often even back then). Tickets were sold at one of the record shops in the Haight area.
Also, have a day out at Santa Cruz beach and funfair - about an hours drive south of SF.
"Also, have a day out at Santa Cruz beach and funfair - about an hours drive suth of SF."
Yeah definitely worth a visit, thats the funfair from the Lost Boys :)
visiting family in santa cruz already, i've just remembered that boardwalk with the rickety roller coaster! forgot about all that.
fractionMan
14-06-2007, 09:34
"Also, have a day out at Santa Cruz beach and funfair - about an hours drive suth of SF."
Yeah definitely worth a visit, thats the funfair from the Lost Boys :)
Awesome.
I think I'm going to hire a convertable and drive down (well get someone else to drive me down) to LA. I'll pop past on the way!
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