Improving San Francisco trip (Marina, Citrus: hotel, house, neighborhoods)

[jshwon]

I'm trying to better plan and map out my next visit to SF. I went last Aug but am now finding out that there was much more to explore than what I saw. I'll be staying at the W Hotel in SOMA. So far on the list is Nob Hill, Mission, Height, South Beach. What I'm trying to figure out is the best way to get to all these places without a car. Also is there anywhere I should add to get a full idea of what SF has to offer? Also how do you get to the beaches by the Golden Gate?

[Jonotastic]

www.yelp.com

Ride the cable car @ night

Check out the Marina District & Crissy Field

[jshwon]

Originally Posted by Jonotastic

www.yelp.com

Ride the cable car @ night

Check out the Marina District & Crissy Field

Will the cable car get you pretty much all over the city and how late does it run?

Anyone else have any "must do's" while in SF?

[Stacy From Cali]

Which beaches are you interested in? The ones on the Bay or the Ocean side?

Cable cars have a very limited run area and are to be used more for the "cool" factor than as serious public trans. The bus will get you all over town, and if you are going to take this route it would be good to invest in a MUNI map when you get into town (or before if you can find one online).

Did you explore Golden Gate Park much last time? You should really check out the view from the top of the DeYoung museum and the new Academy of Sciences building. The Japanese Tea Garden is cool in spring if you are coming soon, as is the Arboretum. I love to go to the Arboretum and then pop over to Irving street for lunch (and a beer at the Shamrock).

[sfpycroft]

Cable cars cost 5 dollars FYI. And DON'T wait with all the other people at the stop by the GAP, just walk one block up (outside the H&M) and hop on when it passes by. You are almost guaranteed a spot on the edge of the car (making some other tourist who waited for an hour plus hate you hahaha).

Muni is definitely the way to go to see all the major sights, but watch your belongings. Its a really walkable city for the most part, for example you can walk from downtown/union square, up through chinatown and then on into northbeach. That would be a big chunk of one day. To get to baker beach I would suggest taking bus number 29 (catch it on 25th avenue) as it goes into the presidio and that is where the entrance to baker beach is. the 29 will also take you to the goden gate bridge and crissy field. you can walk or bike along crissy field and the marina and into fishermans wharf. That would probably be another day right there.

Definitely explore the park, and the Shamrock! When my mother in law visited she also enjoyed the open bus tour, its pretty cheap and you can hop on and off, but if its overcast and cold it might not be worth it. And you do know to dress in layers, right?

[Jonotastic]

Originally Posted by jshwon

Will the cable car get you pretty much all over the city and how late does it run?

Anyone else have any "must do's" while in SF?

The cable car is a fun experience, it basically runs from Union Square/Powell Station (heart of the downtown shopping area) to Ghirardelli Square. You can hang on the side of the cable car and pass by different neighborhoods such as Nob Hill, edge of Chinatown, Hyde Street, Lombard Street, Russian Hill and Fisherman's Wharf. At night the streets are more empty and so are the lines, it's an entirely different experience from riding during the day, which is still a neat experience, but different.

Best advice would be to check out the districts. My favorite...

Marina District
Fisherman's Wharf
North Beach
Chinatown
Telegraph Hill
Union Square
Financial District
Golden Gate Park/Ocean Beach
Haight

It sounds like a lot, but San Francisco is very compact.

YOU MUST TRY THESE RESTAURANTS! (in order of favorite)

1. R & G Lounge (Chinatown, - authentic amazing Chinese food)

2. Osha Thai (Tenderloin, intersection of Leavensworth & Geary - Pad Thai and Pineapple Fried Rice)

3. Lahore Karahi (Tenderloin, intersection of Leavensworth & O'farrell - cheap authentic Indian)

4. Great Eastern (Chinatown, located on Jackson, between Grant and Kearny - AMAZING dim sum, only come for dim sum, nothing else, the regular menu is westernized, but the dim sum is fantastic)

5. Citrus Club (Haight/Golden Gate Park, intersection of Shrader and Haight - cheap Asian fusion noodle house)

These are just some of the ones I used to frequent when I lived here. Besides R & G Lounge, the entrees are all $10 or less. R & G Lounge averaged $10-$15. If you want some recommendations for more romantic, hip, classy more expensive type of restaurants let me know. I ate out at least once a day for two years straight lol.

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To get to Ocean Beach and Golden Gate Park...take MUNI BUS #5 from Union Square on Market Street and it will take you straight there and back. When you get to Ocean Beach, you will see the famous Cliff House Restaurant. If it's too expensive right above it is another small restaurant that is very cheap and has the same beautiful views...it's only open for breakfast and lunch though.

---

If you want to have a bit of fun one night, check out Asia SF. If you are somewhat open-minded and have a sense of humor, you will enjoy it. Make your reservations @ 7:30 and plan to stay until 10:00. It cost I believe $30 or $35 a person for a 3 course meal and the "shows". Ask for a good spot along the bar, I've always been given a free shot or shots every time I time I went.

[Stacy From Cali]

Originally Posted by Jonotastic

If it's too expensive right above it is another small restaurant that is very cheap and has the same beautiful views...it's only open for breakfast and lunch though.

You're talking about Louie's. If you go there (and its totally worth it for the views, not the food), know that its cash only.

[jshwon]

Originally Posted by Stacy From Cali

Which beaches are you interested in? The ones on the Bay or the Ocean side?

Cable cars have a very limited run area and are to be used more for the "cool" factor than as serious public trans. The bus will get you all over town, and if you are going to take this route it would be good to invest in a MUNI map when you get into town (or before if you can find one online).

Did you explore Golden Gate Park much last time? You should really check out the view from the top of the DeYoung museum and the new Academy of Sciences building. The Japanese Tea Garden is cool in spring if you are coming soon, as is the Arboretum. I love to go to the Arboretum and then pop over to Irving street for lunch (and a beer at the Shamrock).

Yes, I'll be there Memorial Day weekend so that should be prime. Are the museum and sciences buildings in SOMA? I heard there were some museums around 3rd st.

[jshwon]

Originally Posted by Jonotastic

The cable car is a fun experience, it basically runs from Union Square/Powell Station (heart of the downtown shopping area) to Ghirardelli Square. You can hang on the side of the cable car and pass by different neighborhoods such as Nob Hill, edge of Chinatown, Hyde Street, Lombard Street, Russian Hill and Fisherman's Wharf. At night the streets are more empty and so are the lines, it's an entirely different experience from riding during the day, which is still a neat experience, but different.

Best advice would be to check out the districts. My favorite...

Marina District
Fisherman's Wharf
North Beach
Chinatown
Telegraph Hill
Union Square
Financial District
Golden Gate Park/Ocean Beach
Haight

It sounds like a lot, but San Francisco is very compact.

YOU MUST TRY THESE RESTAURANTS! (in order of favorite)

1. R & G Lounge (Chinatown, - authentic amazing Chinese food)

2. Osha Thai (Tenderloin, intersection of Leavensworth & Geary - Pad Thai and Pineapple Fried Rice)

3. Lahore Karahi (Tenderloin, intersection of Leavensworth & O'farrell - cheap authentic Indian)

4. Great Eastern (Chinatown, located on Jackson, between Grant and Kearny - AMAZING dim sum, only come for dim sum, nothing else, the regular menu is westernized, but the dim sum is fantastic)

5. Citrus Club (Haight/Golden Gate Park, intersection of Shrader and Haight - cheap Asian fusion noodle house)

These are just some of the ones I used to frequent when I lived here. Besides R & G Lounge, the entrees are all $10 or less. R & G Lounge averaged $10-$15. If you want some recommendations for more romantic, hip, classy more expensive type of restaurants let me know. I ate out at least once a day for two years straight lol.

---

To get to Ocean Beach and Golden Gate Park...take MUNI BUS #5 from Union Square on Market Street and it will take you straight there and back. When you get to Ocean Beach, you will see the famous Cliff House Restaurant. If it's too expensive right above it is another small restaurant that is very cheap and has the same beautiful views...it's only open for breakfast and lunch though.

---

If you want to have a bit of fun one night, check out Asia SF. If you are somewhat open-minded and have a sense of humor, you will enjoy it. Make your reservations @ 7:30 and plan to stay until 10:00. It cost I believe $30 or $35 a person for a 3 course meal and the "shows". Ask for a good spot along the bar, I've always been given a free shot or shots every time I time I went.

Thank you for the awesome suggestions! Just what I was looking for. I will making note of all these places so I can plan out our days.

[Stacy From Cali]

Originally Posted by jshwon

Yes, I'll be there Memorial Day weekend so that should be prime. Are the museum and sciences buildings in SOMA? I heard there were some museums around 3rd st.

There are some museums around SOMA but the Acadamy of Sciences and the DeYoung are in GG Park (around 10th avenue). If you take the 5 Fulton bus to go out to Ocean Beach you can actually get off around 10th ave and walk into the park there.