San Fran help! (shopping centers, garage, things to do)

[a12548]

Ill be staying in South San fran. Ill be driving to the piers and I heard parking is tuff. Id like to park near the pier around where most of the action is. Anyone recommend a parking garage and where is the most active part of embarcadero. We'll be doing the alcatraz thing and we have 2 kids age 15 and 12. Any other 'kid' things to do there? Oh and also is it best to take rt 101 and then 280 to king st? thanks!

[filipinagradstudent]

There's ample Parking in the Lot @ Pier 39--beginning of Fisherman's Wharf. There's also lots of The Embarcadero and a Parking Lot Across the Street from Pier 39 near the Art Institute Building. Also some metered parking on side streets perpendicular to The Embarcadero... but the meter is only up to 2 hours. Butterfly near Pier 39 is good dining... ambiance is nice.

Kids stuff... Fisherman's Wharf is pretty interesting. If you go downtown (Market Street and such) there's lots of shopping, Bloomingdale's etc. There's also parking downtown by the shopping centers of course. Coit Tower is interesting. Japan Town's interesting too...

Hope this is helpful. (^_^

[mr bolo]

I know a good place to park within a three blocks of Fisherman's Wharf and you can stay all day for $10

located on the corner of Francisco & Taylor street, an Indian man that owns a souvineer shop charges $10 to park all day in his lot.

it's easy to find, he puts a wooden sign on the corner that says parking $10

if you go early you can get free parking in the street [4 hours free parking] at the end of Van Ness ave near the National Maritime museum. But if you plan on spending the whole day you should park in a lot to avoid getting a parking ticket.