San francisco in july (Santa Cruz, San Andreas: amusement park, hotel, buy)

[mm.miami]

Hi, I will be in San Francisco the first 2 weeks on July with my 2 teenagers (boy and girl) We would like to do day trips outside town can you suggest something? Also things to see and do while in the city. Thanks so much in advance.

Monica

[Ruth4Truth]

The redwood forest at Muir Woods, north of SF. Muir Woods National Monument (U.S. National Park Service)

The Russian fort at Fort Ross, from the days of Russian Alaska. (Farther north of SF) Fort Ross, California

Point Reyes National Seashore (could be visited on the way to Fort Ross). http://www.nps.gov/pore/planyourvisit/
After visiting Point Reyes, have lunch in the scenic town of Point Reyes Station http://www.pointreyes.org/pointreyes-marin-county.html.

Driving north from Pt Reyes Station, you'll drive past Tamales Bay, which is a rift zone caused by the San Andreas Fault running the length of the bay. The fault is causing the land to the west of the bay to tear away from the North American continent. Point Reyes may at some point in the future become an island.

In SF:

Alcatraz tour. Buy tickets in advance online.
Science exploratorium. http://www.exploratorium.edu/

[mm.miami]

Great thanks!! how is the surfing scene in San Francisco??

[Ruth4Truth]

Originally Posted by mm.miami

Great thanks!! how is the surfing scene in San Francisco??

Surfing at Ocean Beach. Bring wetsuits. It's cold.

[NoMoreSnowForMe]

Agree with Ruth4Truth on everything. Bring layers. It is cold in SF pretty much all the time. So, even though it will be July, you will be happy you have layers. If it's warm enough to wear shorts when you leave the hotel, put some sweats in your backpack anyway, and a long sleeve warm shirt, and a windbreaker. These can be thin, but you'll be glad you had the layers with you.

And the ocean is coooooollllllddddd in SF! If you want warm surfing, see if you can get to Santa Cruz while you're there. Even then, they wear wetsuits because the water temp is cold.

[Ruth4Truth]

Originally Posted by NoMoreSnowForMe

Agree with Ruth4Truth on everything. Bring layers. It is cold in SF pretty much all the time. So, even though it will be July, you will be happy you have layers. If it's warm enough to wear shorts when you leave the hotel, put some sweats in your backpack anyway, and a long sleeve warm shirt, and a windbreaker. These can be thin, but you'll be glad you had the layers with you.

And the ocean is coooooollllllddddd in SF! If you want warm surfing, see if you can get to Santa Cruz while you're there. Even then, they wear wetsuits because the water temp is cold.

Good idea. A day trip south to Santa Cruz could be fun, driving Highway 1 for the fabulous views, and driving through the artichoke fields. The water on the bay at Santa Cruz is warmer, but the surfers still wear wet suits, because after about 20 minutes in the water, you start to get a little hypothermic. Young people would be able to surf for up to an hour or so without a wet suit, but they'd need to get warmed up by a fire or in a hot shower afterwards. That would only work if you stayed overnight in town. Also, Santa Cruz has a boardwalk amusement park that can be especially fun at night.

And yes, the weather in SF, especially in the evenings, requires warm jackets. Wool. Seriously. Mark Twain famously said that the coldest winter he ever experienced was July in San Francisco. It's the fog--it really penetrates, and makes the slightest cool temperature feel damp and frigid.

[dalparadise]

Originally Posted by Ruth4Truth

Good idea. A day trip south to Santa Cruz could be fun, driving Highway 1 for the fabulous views, and driving through the artichoke fields. The water on the bay at Santa Cruz is warmer, but the surfers still wear wet suits, because after about 20 minutes in the water, you start to get a little hypothermic. Young people would be able to surf for up to an hour or so without a wet suit, but they'd need to get warmed up by a fire or in a hot shower afterwards. That would only work if you stayed overnight in town. Also, Santa Cruz has a boardwalk amusement park that can be especially fun at night.

And yes, the weather in SF, especially in the evenings, requires warm jackets. Wool. Seriously. Mark Twain famously said that the coldest winter he ever experienced was July in San Francisco. It's the fog--it really penetrates, and makes the slightest cool temperature feel damp and frigid.

Mark Twain did not say that.

[Chimérique]

Originally Posted by dalparadise

Mark Twain did not say that.

Lol, But he was thinking it, so now we say it for him, don't u love historians, sometimes they suggest ideas that get perceived as fact.

[dalparadise]

Originally Posted by NoMoreSnowForMe

Agree with Ruth4Truth on everything. Bring layers. It is cold in SF pretty much all the time. So, even though it will be July, you will be happy you have layers. If it's warm enough to wear shorts when you leave the hotel, put some sweats in your backpack anyway, and a long sleeve warm shirt, and a windbreaker. These can be thin, but you'll be glad you had the layers with you.

And the ocean is coooooollllllddddd in SF! If you want warm surfing, see if you can get to Santa Cruz while you're there. Even then, they wear wetsuits because the water temp is cold.

This is great advice. SF can get chilly in July--but we're talking mid-upper 50s at night. People who aren't acclimated can find this very cold. During the day, it can be sunny and 70 or foggy and 60, depending on where you are. The area around the bridge is frequently chilly and foggy, while a short hike away, it can be comfortable for shorts and sunny.

As suggested, layers are great. hiking around the hills in sunshine, you'll be perfectly comfortable in shorts and a t-shirt. If you're not as active and the fog is in, you'll want something on the level of a mid weight fleece.

[mm.miami]

We are from Miami Beach where the water is quite warm all year around. I appreciate all the info! Thank you all!!