Contour Enthusiasts Group Archives Forums Branches California Visiting San Francisco...Where to go?

I'll probably be heading to San Francisco in October for just a few days for our five year anniversary. It will be a surprise because she's always wanted to go to SF. Aside from the Golden Gate Bridge and the trolleys I have no idea what there is to see and do there. So can some of you throw some suggestions. Thanks.

*We may or may not rent a car yet, depending on what we do and how far we need to get.
*No hiking, biking, etc. We're going to sit back and relax. I do enough biking here. Although if we had time to go to Yosemite, that would be an option.
*I was born in NYC and visit frequently. But in Houston, we have no choice but to drive everywhere. How's the transportation in SF?

SF public transportation is the best this side of Chicago & Boston. Bart, Muni, taxi's..... all work great.

Things to do:
drink wine and tour Napa Valley - Rent a convertible for the day or take the Wine Train
$5 cable car ride
WALK across the Golden Gate
Eat Chinese food in China Town
Go to a Giants game
Go shopping in Haight-Ashbury district looking for boutiqe style clothes
Strip clubs or a Asian masage at one of the many cities parlors
Alcatraz
SF Zoo
Golden Gate Park
Dinner Crusie on the bay - Hornblower Cruises
Pier 39
17-mile drive
Monterey - 1.5hr drive south, much better place to relax than SF
See the Old Growth Redwoods by driving North a few hours!
Raiders or 49'ers game Playoff A's baseball

Awesome views of the city with 270degress of pure glass walls in the Starlight Lounge in the Sir Francis Drake Hotel.

All of what was stated above, plus lunch at the Cliff House. Awesome view and great food.

If you get down to Monterey, make sure you take time for the Aquarium. It is World Class. Great Pizza at Giovanni's (I think that is how it is spelled) about two blocks from the aquarium.

Yosemete is great. Even if you only spend a few hours in the park it is worth it.

A little below Monterey on the coast is Big Sir. It is the southern range of the coast redwoods and well worth the hours drive from Monterey. Have lunch or dinner at the Big Sir River Inn and ask for a seat on the deck.

There is a lot of great stuff in Frisco and it would be easy to spend all your time there.

how about the crooked street in the world? lombard st, iirc

Lombard is worth seeing/driving on, even as short as it is!
You may want to consider jumping on hwy 1 along the coast and seeing Muir Woods and Stinson Beach. Its quite a scenic drive. Taking the Golden Gate Ferry across the bay is fun as well.

Greg

Wow. Thanks. It almost looks like two or three days is not nearly enough time. But then again, only being able to do some of the things will leave us with a great impression and wanting to return. Hmmmm.

Definitely will walk across the bridge. Wasn't sure if we could, but I guess so. Definitely will try to schedule a tour for Alcatraz. I'll look into Hornblower Cruises. Lombard St. is on the list now as is Pier 39. Hwy 1 is something I've always wanted to do, but I wasn't sure what parts are best for scenic drives.

Fmr12B, what's a 17-mile drive?

Edit: Forgot to ask what the weather is like in the beginning of October. Here in Houston, we'll still be wearing shorts.

17 mile drive in Monterey is a private road (guarded gate community) through the forest and sea coast of the Monterey Peninsula and includes not only beautiful scenery but three of the worlds most famous golf courses (Pebble Beach, Spy Glass Hill, and I forgot the third). It also includes homes that would make Beverly Hills mansions seem like shacks. The drive along the coast is worth the cost of admission by itself. Public is admitted for something like $7.00 IIRC.

You can start the drive near the Monterey Aquarium, drive along the beach and end up in Carmel after passing the golf courses.

Monterey, Carmel, and Big Sir are worth a seperate trip by itself without spending much time in Frisco.