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[Realgirls4me]

I've been wondering the same thing since I'll be visiting SF in the near future. Here in SD, we have a place that is centrally located named "Hotel Circle" which is away from the airport by a couple of miles. This area has just about every type of national recognizable inn and motel to suit any budget, be it large or small. Does SF have such a place?

Anyone?

[Falrune]

I'll be staying in San Fran for the first time ever in about a week. As I usually do before ever traveling anywhere on vacation, I like to post on a couple message boards I use asking for suggestions of places to possibly go while there, in case anyone has any great ideas. I already have a few places I've been told, but want to explore other interests as well. My thanks to whomever can provide some advice :D

SF is a great place for visiting because it is only seven miles wide (I lived in SF for 7 1/2 years, ran the Bay-to-Breakers twice). The main thing about SF is that you should get out of your car and discover the town on foot. Take your time.

There are tiny "mom and pop" restaurants in the non-tourist areas that are fun to "discover." The little restaurants in the Sunset District south of the "must see" Golden Gate Park offer a variety of cuisines. A good street to explore for small restaurants is Irving Street, but there are nice restaurants tucked away throughout SF. It's just fun to explore. North of the Golden Gate Park is the Richmond District, and Clement Street offered a variety of bars and restaurants worth visiting.

I used to have several jogging paths in SF which are also nice for day time touring on foot. I would run from 7th avenue (near my flat) southward to Clarendon, then East to a road, was it Twin Peaks?? and then up to Twin Peaks (and back home... this was about 6 miles round trip). The view from Twin Peaks is spectacular, and can be seen in movies such as the "Flower Drum Song." SF is quite photogenic, and this is a nice vista overlooking Market Street, downtown SF, and the SF Bay.

Another great place to jog is within the Golden Gate Park. I had a 10 mile round-trip path from the panhandle of the park (near the Haight-Ashbury area) to the Ocean. Within the Park in the eastern portion are the arboretum, the Jules Stein aquarium, the Japanese Tea Garden, Stow Lake (and inside of Stow Lake is "Strawberry Hill", where you may leave your heart, if need be). There is a hidden Dell area which I found excellent for reverie (you'll never find it!). Toward the west is the Buffalo Enclave and a small pond for remote controlled model boats (forgot the name). On Stow lake, you can rent peddle boats. If you go to the Ocean, you can head to the North about a mile to a place reknowned for it's Irish coffees, the Cliff House. This is also where they'd end the Bay-to-Breakers. At night, the Cliff House is terrific... go out and you can hear the crashing waves, foghorns, and barking sea lions. The Ocean smell ... my oh my!

After reaching the Ocean through the Golden Gate Park, I also used to jog through Lincoln Park into the Presidio, an old military installation where I used to encounter a lot of military guys running. This is a gorgeous run when it is foggy (but very tiring). The Presidio contains Fort Point and a very scenic view of the Golden Gate Bridge. Most people take pix of themselves from Crissy Field or the Marina Greens (East of the Presidio), northwestward so they can get the GG Bridge in the background.

There are other hidden charms in SF that you just need to find yourself on foot. For example, there's a place near the middle of town, the Buena Vista Park area, which is so enjoyable to walk through, if you do not rush and just enjoy stairways and small parks, and the feel of the wind. Mount Davidson Park is also a fine park, but perhaps a bit out of the way.

Anyhow, I think everyone else can tell you about the rest of SF (Grant Avenue, North Beach, Castro Street, the Embarcadero, South of Market, etc). But the important thing about SF to remember, it is a town that begs to be discovered on foot (unlike Los Angeles). The public transportation system is great (because it only needs to cover a seven mile square).

Oh - If you want, you can drive northward, across the Golden Gate Bridge to several nearby places well-worth the effort -- Point Reyes (I think that's where we got a wonderful shell fish -- clam??? - lunch), Muir Woods, and Sausalito. Oh yes... I used to commute to Vallejo eastward to work -- there are WINERIES to the east (Mondavi is where we'd sometimes have meetings).

[ARMANIXXX]

There's quite a bit you can do.

Are you looking for daytime or nighttime events.

Are you gonna have a car?

Also, keep in mind that while S.F. is a major city with lots of interests, it isn't the only city in the Bay Area, in fact, it isn't even the largest.


Hit me up I definately can point you in the right directions.

[Falrune]

BTW - If you do drive to the wineries, someone should be careful not to over-imbibe!!!

Also, southward, near Pacifica, if I recall correctly, since I've been away from the Bay area for a while, there used to be (and maybe there still is) a clothing optional beach. Even further south is Monterey, of John Steinbeck "Cannery Row" fame. Good sea food.

[BeardedOne]

Have car? Drive down Lombard Street. Go to San Jose and vizzit the Winchester Mystery Mansion (Wear comfortable shoes, you will walk over a mile on the tour without leaving the house). The views from Twin Peaks (In the city) and Golden Gate Park (Across the bridge) are breathtaking.

Get a Muni Passport ($4 a day when I was there last) good for any bus, trolley, trackless, and I believe BART. Was also good on the cable cars. The cable cars are a must. Stop at the museum in the barn/powerhouse (The conductor or grip operator will tell you where it is along the line). Best ride: The F Line from Fisherman's Wharf/Pier 39 to the Castro and back down to Powell, then cable over the hill back to the Wharf. Lunch in the Castro, many places there.

Pier 39 shopping, but also see the sea lions, the Pampinian (Sp?) WWII sub, and Alcatraz. Walk along Embarcadero, great views of the Bay. There's a nice park along the shore in Burlingame (Near the Embassy Suites) where you can watch the comings and goings of SFO.

Down by the Marriott there was a tour that took you over the Golden Gate Bridge on a 1955 Mack fire truck. :D

No visit to SF is complete without a stop at Good Vibrations. :) You may also pay your respects to Norton I, Emperor of the United States and Protector of Mexico at the Woodlawn Cemetery.

Have fun! :D

[dan_drade]

There are so many places to see when you come here, you probably won't have time to see it all. But if you like seafood, you should go to Fishemans Wharf. The food there is fantastic. My favorite is Nicks Lighthouse. It is a small place the but food is the best on the wharf. There is also Ghiradelli Chocolate right down the street if you have a sweet tooth. If you are into outdoor fun like biking and hiking, you can take a ferry from the wharf to Angel Island. There is not much out there except for a little snackbar, but if you walk or bike around the island, you will see some of the best views of the bay area that most people don't take the time to see. It's only about 2-3 miles around the island, but you will be tired by the time you get all the way around because of the hills.
http://www.visitfishermanswharf.com/?gclid=CLyi04Xzoo4CFQJUYQod9msfWg

If you are into the nightlife, there are tons of places to go. My personal favorites and Harry Denton's Rouge, and of course there is the infamous Divas nightclub. Harry's is always packed on the weekends and Divas can be hit or miss. Sometimes its crazy on the weekends and sometimes its a drag LOL.
http://sanfrancisco.citysearch.com/bestof/winners/bartenders

If you want to see something really crazy, you can always go to the Power Exchange. I don't know if they have anything likse this in NY, but it is a sex club that has four levels of wild stuff going on. The top floor is for men only, so you will not be allowed up there but the second floor is for couples usually. On the main floor, there are a few pool tables, palces to sit and a stage with a stripper pole. Down on the bottom floor, there is all kinds of fun stuff. Everything from racks and cages to rooms that most of the T-Girls hook up in. This place has a wide range of customers from straight couples to gays and lesbians, old pervy men, young pervy men and of course it is well known for all of the T-Girls that go there after the clubs have closed down. Anyway, if you want to see something on the wild side, that is the place to go.
http://www.powerexchange.com/home.htm

If you have a whole weekend to kill and you want to get out of town, you can always take a drive up to the mountains. Unfortunately it is still summer, so there is no snow. But you can take a drive up hwy 80 and then take hwy 50 and drive up to Lake Tahoe. It is about a four hour drive, but well worth it if you love the mountains as much as I do. The lake is nice, the casinos on the south shore are fun, the food is good and there are a lot of nice hotels as well as nice places to camp if that is what you like to do. I personally like to stay on the south shore since that is where the casinos are and the Heavenly ski resort is there as well and they are probably the best ski resort in all of California.
http://www.visitinglaketahoe.com/?source=Adwords&gclid=CMb9g_D4oo4CFSEhYQodIDLDTQ

Lastly, of course there are all of the other places that others have talked about including the wine country, Golden Gate Park, Twin Peaks etc etc...
Hope you have a great trip. SF is a great place and I am sure you will love it here.

[Willie Escalade]

I'll be in St. Francis my self at the end of this week; the Dodgers are playing the Giants and I want to see not only them, but more sights of the city. I'm driving, but I plan on doing a bit of walking...especially downtown. Thanks to all for the info!

[Falrune]

One last important piece of information anyone visiting SF should know: the San Joaquin Valley far to the east (where we produce raisins and peaches etc) gets very hot in the summer. The air is so hot, it moves upward. This movement of air causes replacement air to be "sucked-in" off the ocean through the path of least resistance, the Golden Gate and SF Bay. This cold air also moves over the north and western portion of San Francisco, usually channelled in through there by Twin Peaks. So, areas south and east of Twin Peaks can be sunny, and areas north and west of Twin Peaks can be foggy, cold, and windy.

So what does this mean? This means TAKE A JACKET, even if you're going to SF in the middle of summer... or you may not enjoy yourself. I cannot emphasize this enough... TAKE A JACKET.

TAKE A JACKET
TAKE A JACKET
TAKE A JACKET :!:

[Willie Escalade]

One last important piece of information anyone visiting SF should know: the San Joaquin Valley far to the east (where we produce raisins and peaches etc) gets very hot in the summer. The air is so hot, it moves upward. This movement of air causes replacement air to be "sucked-in" off the ocean through the path of least resistance, the Golden Gate and SF Bay. This cold air also moves over the north and western portion of San Francisco, usually channelled in through there by Twin Peaks. So, areas south and east of Twin Peaks can be sunny, and areas north and west of Twin Peaks can be foggy, cold, and windy.

So what does this mean? This means TAKE A JACKET, even if you're going to SF in the middle of summer... or you may not enjoy yourself. I cannot emphasize this enough... TAKE A JACKET.

TAKE A JACKET
TAKE A JACKET
TAKE A JACKET :!:
I learned that last year. When I left LA, it was 85 degrees. When I got to San Francisco, it was 65 degrees. Good thing I had a spare jacket in my trunk!

[altUKsteve]

Going to SF at end of this month, so this post great. Thanks everyone.

Ps, Willie is that MaryAnn on your avatar? Do you have the Set? Post the pics on a new thread and let me know. Cheers.

[marissaazts]

id suggest taking the boat ride past alcatraz and doing the wine tour .... it was a lot of fun and a great way to spend the day

[BeardedOne]

I agree with TAKE A JACKET. The first time I was there was in the spring. Sunny, breezy days. One morning there was a light dusting of snow on the ground.

In the late summer, early fall, you can be comfortable in a t-shirt, but when the winds pick up it gets real cold real fast.

[Willie Escalade]

Willie is that MaryAnn on your avatar? Do you have the Set? Post the pics on a new thread and let me know. Cheers.
Unless she goes by a different name, no. I know that model as Sandy Summers; the picture is from Pavel Photo (http://www.pavelphoto.com).

[altUKsteve]

Willie is that MaryAnn on your avatar? Do you have the Set? Post the pics on a new thread and let me know. Cheers.
Unless she goes by a different name, no. I know that model as Sandy Summers; the picture is from Pavel Photo (http://www.pavelphoto.com).

Cheers, Great site.