Visiting San Francisco- Tell me where to go (Cupertino, Menlo Park: house, schools)

[Midwesterns45]

I have never been to SF in my life and I'm finally going on July 11th. I'm going to stay w/ family for a week in Menlo Park. This thread post is real simple....all I am looking for is a list of maybe 5 places to go in SF metro that are worth seeing. I'm really excited to to go and I would love to see some enthaustism that suggests that SF is a great place to visit....

Thx

[Kalifornian]

Well, that would depend on what your interests are, so many things to do...but I'll give it a shot anyways:

1. MH de Young Memorial museum in the Presidio, then Chrissy Field Park for view of SF.
2. Museum of natural history & art (golden gate park, Haight/Asbury district nearby)
3. Museum of modern art (downtown)
4. Muir Woods (stop at the viewing spot on the north side of the bridge)
5. a coffee house in the Mission district (new bohemian district) lunch: have a burrito in one of the taquerias

alternates:
1. San Francisco Zoo, Ocean Beach (allow several hours)
2. Fisherman's Wharf, very touristy and crowded. If you have a car, be prepared for a long search for parking.
3. Chinatown for lunch (again, don't expect to find a parking spot).

[hsw]

Menlo is close to everything most relevant in SF region, aside from usual tourist traps of City of SF

Stanford campus, esp engineering school: Intellectual birthplace of Silicon Valley

Office parks of major venture capitalists on Sand Hill Rd (esp 2750 and 3000) in MenloPk; Google campus in Mtn View; Apple campus in Cupertino...a sample of the economic engines/epicenters of the SF region (not unlike visiting 85 Broad, 9 W57, and 767 5th Ave in Manhattan)

Mountain Home Rd in Woodside...many major tech titans live in estates on/off this road; scenic views of Woodside mtns and about 10 mins drive from Sand Hill Rd offices

280 fwy btwn Menlo and SF: perhaps most scenic, fastest urban fwy in world

In SF, Ferry Bldg Mktplace...a foodie paradise; Taylors for some of best burgers in region; Slanted Door for some of best cocktails in region

Broadway and Lyon in SF's Pacific Hts...great views of GGB and Presidio; many of most costly homes in SF are in surrounding blocks (many of residents work in Menlo on Sand Hill Rd or deeper in SV in Mtn View or Cupertino, etc)

Prepare for microclimates of region...on a given day in July, Menlo will likely be 80F and sunny while City of SF may be 60-65F and foggy in AM and late PM w/chilly winds off Ocean/Bay...but will be pleasantly surprised by relative lack of humidity/insects of CA vs Eastern US

[humboldtrat]

Originally Posted by hsw

Stanford campus, esp engineering school...Office parks of major venture capitalists on Sand Hill Rd (esp 2750 and 3000) in MenloPk; Google campus in Mtn View; Apple campus in Cupertino...

Yeh, for sure, visit office parks . They are SO interesting

But if you're not impressed with the titans of high tech and since you're a first time visitor, visit the usual tourist places. Ride a cable car, visit Chinatown, Fisherman's Wharf, Alcatraz, take a bay cruise, go to Golden Gate Park, etc. Best and Worst San Francisco Experiences including Union Square and Fisherman's Wharf

You can travel between Menlo Park and SF on Caltrain caltrain.com - home if you don't want to drive. Parking in SF is difficult and/or expensive. Public transit in SF is good and will take you everywhere.

[BayAreaHillbilly]

The Embarcadero / Pier 39 / Fisherman's Wharf (the first a generally cool place the second two classic must do tourist traps)
Ride a cable car from the Fisherman's Wharf area to Union Square
From there, take the Muni Metro to either the Castro, the Mission or both (for "alternative" vibe)
Hang out on Haight
Stroll around North Beach
Go to Golden Gate Park
Walk across the Golden Gate Bridge then back
Take a dip and play pickup volleyball at Crissy Field Beach
Party in "The Triangle" near Fillmore and Greenwich (not pronounced the way they do in the UK)
Get real Asian food on Clement

[Jonotastic]

I enjoyed San Francisco so much, I decided to move there for two years.

1. Ride the Cable car from Powell Station to G. Square (It's a different experience riding it day or night).

2. Have dinner at R & G Lounge in Chinatown (great authentic Chinese food).

3. Have dim sum for lunch at Great Eastern in Chinatown (only come here for dim sum, noon is the best time)

4. Walk to Coit Tower in Telegraph Hill at night (very romantic with great views in a residential area of San Francisco).

5. Visit Twin Peaks, day or night for the best 360 degree view of San Francisco.

6. Ride bikes across the Golden Gate Bridge.

7. Go to a wine bar in the Marina District.

8. If you are open-minded and enjoy a good laugh, make reservations at Asia SF, request good bar seats around 7:30 to 8:00 pm...plan to stay until 10:30 pm. The food is pretty good, the drinks are great, but it's something any person visiting San Francisco should do...it fits the stereotype of the city so well.

9. Jog or walk from the Panhandle through Golden Gate Park to Ocean Beach and take the MUNI back on Fulton Street.

10. Have an illy cappuccino in North Beach (Little Italy).

Enjoy your trip!!

[Breezer]

I'm visiting SF soon and have never been. What is a good microbrew in the area? Is there a park/forest nearby to see the giant redwoods?

[Jonotastic]

Originally Posted by Breezer

I'm visiting SF soon and have never been. What is a good microbrew in the area? Is there a park/forest nearby to see the giant redwoods?

Muir Woods

[coolbay]

Originally Posted by Breezer

I'm visiting SF soon and have never been. What is a good microbrew in the area? Is there a park/forest nearby to see the giant redwoods?

How about Big Basin Redwood forest. I been to Muir and BB but BB has more giant trees compared to Muir woods.

[jesssicar]

hey here's a really good website on stuff in san fran. hope it helps! [url=http://www.townme.com/san-francisco-ca]San Francisco, CA - restaurants, schools, hospitals, city data, wikis and more[/url]