First time to San Fran, 3 days to see it. What should I see? (San Francisco: how much, hotel) - San Francisco - Oakland - California (CA) - City-Data Forum

jakester03 · 12-31-2007, 10:12 AM

I've already booked my stay at Castle Inn and now I have to decide what to do while there. The gf and I will be there MLK weekend. I think on Saturday she wants to drive up to Napa and Muir Woods (I think?). Where should we visit there and do I need to book it in advance? I've heard Alcatraz is worth it, but to book early. Is there a website for that? I've heard there's a good street for shopping to take her to.. Haight Ashbury or something like that. Anyway, if you only had 3 days to see the city, where would you go? Links are helpful

Thanks from Texas!

krudmonk · 12-31-2007, 10:24 AM

My advice is to wander around. You find cooler stuff that way, no matter the city.

MaggieZ · 12-31-2007, 10:57 AM

I didn't know you needed reservations for Alcatraz, when I was there I didn't need any, I just bought a ticket and went but they don't have the guides anymore, you receive a walkman when you get off the boat and you listen to the story of the island that way.
Go see pier 39, Fisherman's Wharf and then go to Alcatraz
Golden Gate park, you can take Haight St to get there.
Chinatown
Clement St is great for shopping too
and Market St is full of shops, take that to the Embarcadero and the Ferry building
Just some ideas, there's loads to do
oh and ride a cable car...

fizbin · 12-31-2007, 11:57 AM

Walk across the Golden Gate Bridge . . .

jakester03 · 12-31-2007, 01:41 PM

Thanks!

I'll be working in Milpitas all week, but when driving up to SF, what's the best route to take?

ImRandy · 12-31-2007, 01:54 PM

237 to 101

capoeira · 12-31-2007, 02:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jakester03

Thanks!

I'll be working in Milpitas all week, but when driving up to SF, what's the best route to take?

The best route(not the shortest) for a visitor is the 237 to 85 south to 280 north. The scenery is very beautiful along the 280 and the traffic is light. For a great view you can stop at the rest area about 17 miles before you get to San Francisco. It is just after Bunker Hill Dr.

http://3dparks.wr.usgs.gov/3Dbayarea/html/JuniperoSerra.htm (broken link)

From this route you can reconnect to the 101 in SF to get to Van Ness. If you are coming into SF after dark the scenery won't matter so the 101 is the most direct.

fizbin · 01-01-2008, 09:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by capoeira

The best route(not the shortest) for a visitor is the 237 to 85 south to 280 north. The scenery is very beautiful along the 280 and the traffic is light. For a great view you can stop at the rest area about 17 miles before you get to San Francisco. It is just after Bunker Hill Dr.

http://3dparks.wr.usgs.gov/3Dbayarea/html/JuniperoSerra.htm (broken link)

From this route you can reconnect to the 101 in SF to get to Van Ness. If you are coming into SF after dark the scenery won't matter so the 101 is the most direct.

Definitely - 280 up the peninsula is one of the sweetest drives around.

ladysrodgers · 01-01-2008, 04:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jakester03

I've already booked my stay at Castle Inn and now I have to decide what to do while there. The gf and I will be there MLK weekend. I think on Saturday she wants to drive up to Napa and Muir Woods (I think?). Where should we visit there and do I need to book it in advance? I've heard Alcatraz is worth it, but to book early. Is there a website for that? I've heard there's a good street for shopping to take her to.. Haight Ashbury or something like that. Anyway, if you only had 3 days to see the city, where would you go? Links are helpful

Thanks from Texas!

Going to Napa can pretty much take up an entire day itself - and well worth seeing! I would go down on the warf and wander around. Ghirardelli Square - across from the warf, is awesome. Lots of neat shops in the building to see, lots of shops across from the warf period.

I don't think there are reservations for Alcatraz. Walk across the Golden Gate Bridge, and make it a point to see to the beach - not the bay. The beach is on the opposite side of the peninsula, from the bay.

Don't let your friends on the Texas CD know you're going to California, they hate California!

LOL I know, I live in Plano and post on the Dallas forum, but am a CA native.

Have fun, I'm insanely jealous!

fizbin · 01-01-2008, 05:18 PM

As much as I love the idea of striking out on my own to discover new places (I totally impromptued New York City in three days and loved it), I would suggest that you consider taking a tour bus or limo of some kind for the day in Napa and the Muir Woods. It is going to be a long day, made longer on your own because you are not familiar with the area. Much less stressful to let someone else do the work. And then you do not have to worry about how much wine you taste before you drive back to the hotel. I googled tours as low as $75/person, but have no personal experience to provide you with specific tour recommendations. If it was me I'd find a limo service that does this and just go as a couple, but that may prove to be a bit more coin than you are willing to fork over.

And from the jaded eyes of a native I think that Alcatraz is overrated, but I love being on a boat in the bay. I'd suggest a sailboat cruise, but maybe not in January . . .