Stuff to do in San Francisco

[jpa66]

If you are up for a little exercise and nature trip:
Go to Fisher Men's Warf, rent bicycles and cross the Golden Gate by bike. Along the bay to Sausalito and then up the hill over top and down the other side into Muir Woods Park. Back to Sausalito and take the ferry back to SF.
A wonderful day trip just don't miss the last ferry. I did the Muir Woods thing, my better half stayed in a cafe in Sausalito 😉.

This sounds great! My wife and I are definitely up for some biking, as long as the hills aren't too challenging, as we're only used to the flat topography of the Chicago area.

 

[Dan Daniel]

This sounds great! My wife and I are definitely up for some biking, as long as the hills aren't too challenging, as we're only used to the flat topography of the Chicago area.

If you aren't ready for hills, I'd suggest skipping the Muir Woods leg. Go along the bay, the Crissy Field ride- flat. Then you have to hump it up from Fort Point to the Golden Gate Bridge, but there will be lots of other people like you struggling along and you'll make it- at most 20 minutes of walking if you walk the whole hill.

I don't know the present status of bicycles on the Golden Gate Bridge. It used to be that on the weekends bicycles had to use the west side, which looks out to the Pacific. The east side, the pedestrian side, looks towards San Francisco, Alcatraz, etc.

Anyway, it's all downhill into Sausalito. You might detour to Fort Cronkite in the Marin Headlands- take the one-way tunnel if it is open (if not, the hills are significant and not 20 minute walks).

From Sausalito, it's pretty flat to Tiburon, including a nice stretch along Richardson Bay. There's a ferry from Tiburon back to SF. If you did Fisherman's Wharf to Tiburon, it's maybe 20 miles, just to give an idea.

Angle Island is also worth a look. Sort of an Ellis Island of the west coast, now a nice park area with old housing, intake stations, etc. Popular biking island. There's a shore path that will again avoid hills, but then you'll miss some great views.

 

[Rayt]

And I can't speak for others, but if my family is in the Chinese restaurant, it may have nothing to do with it being the 'real deal', and more to do with that sucker being cheap.

Amen to that!

I lived in San Francisco for about 8 years during the 80's and 90's and currently have been in Hong Kong for the past 15 so I know a thing or two about Chinese food. Forget about what is authentic and go for what is good. Chinese food is better in the US due to the superior ingredients. If you see a restaurant crowded with Chinese in Chinatown that means it is mostly likely cheap not because it reminds them of Guangzhou. That said the cheapest dim sum in Chinatown are miles ahead of high priced equivalent in top restaurants in China due to the ingredients. Same goes with that beloved Vietnamese beef noodle soup. Whenever I am in Ho Chi Minh City for lunch I pine for the superior stuff in San Francisco.

 

[GaryLH]

As an Chinese born and raised in Bay Area, I can relate to both sides of this... Which why I said, if u truly want authentic.. What to look for, but I also said it is a bit of careful what u wish for. There are things I grew up liking that would not sit well w/ the average person.. For example, I love salted fish over ground pork or clay pot tofu and salted fish. My wife is third generation and can't stand the sight of it, but she likes duck feet, which I dislike. There are plenty of dishes that u will only c in that type of restaurant, that u will not c in normal ones.

The Chinese in the Bay Area are spread out all over the place. Some of the best Chinese restaurants are not in the traditional San Francisco Chinatown any longer.. That is not to say we don't go there, but it is for very specific items that we that they still do the best for.

Anyway it is one of the reasons I referred to yelp.com, for the average tourist this may provide better insight.

Gary

 

[35mmdelux]

wine country? you'll have to rent a car to travel to Napa Valley. Lots of stuff to do in S.F. one of the great cities of the world.

 

[furbs]

If you end up in the Mission - which is highly recommended - check out Yamo on 18th St right off of Mission. A miniscule storefront with a single counter, a few chairs, and some of the best $6 entrees I've had in a Southeast Asian restaurant. Whatever you do, SF should be great in October - that's our "summer"! 😀

 

[MikeL]

Some of the best Chinese restaurants are not in the traditional San Francisco Chinatown any longer.. That is not to say we don't go there, but it is for very specific items that we that they still do the best for.

I used to have a loop through CT, hitting specific shops for the thing each shop did best. Best, of course, was and still is, of course, hotly debated amongst family.

Now, my loop is on Clement, where the best food is (price and quality, in my opinion).

Speaking of which, jpa66, it could be a fun adventure to ride bikes through golden gate park and out to Ocean beach. You could fuel up on some good food just south of the park (chinese, burmese, japanese, etc), hit Green Apple, pop back in to the park and head to the beach. The ride back might make you cuss my name, but it's not too bad. And the beach should be sunny or sunny-ish-er in October.

Edit: Jpa66, to give you an idea of the ride, I did a quick check on a topo. 300ft drop over 3 miles when you ride through the park.

 

[GaryLH]

I used to have a loop through CT, hitting specific shops for the thing each shop did best. Best, of course, was and still is, of course, hotly debated amongst family.

Now, my loop is on Clement, where the best food is (price and quality, in my opinion).

Speaking of which, jpa66, it could be a fun adventure to ride bikes through golden gate park and out to Ocean beach. You could fuel up on some good food just south of the park (chinese, burmese, japanese, etc), hit Green Apple, pop back in to the park and head to the beach. The ride back might make you cuss my name, but it's not too bad. And the beach should be sunny or sunny-ish-er in October.

Edit: Jpa66, to give you an idea of the ride, I did a quick check on a topo. 300ft drop over 3 miles when you ride through the park.

Yeah.. We go to clement as well.

Gary

 

[jpa66]

I used to have a loop through CT, hitting specific shops for the thing each shop did best. Best, of course, was and still is, of course, hotly debated amongst family.

Now, my loop is on Clement, where the best food is (price and quality, in my opinion).

Speaking of which, jpa66, it could be a fun adventure to ride bikes through golden gate park and out to Ocean beach. You could fuel up on some good food just south of the park (chinese, burmese, japanese, etc), hit Green Apple, pop back in to the park and head to the beach. The ride back might make you cuss my name, but it's not too bad. And the beach should be sunny or sunny-ish-er in October.

Edit: Jpa66, to give you an idea of the ride, I did a quick check on a topo. 300ft drop over 3 miles when you ride through the park.

I'll check out this and other rides recommended. I'm a little more accustomed to riding hills, having lived in Pittsburgh for most of my life. I can usually handle them a bit better than my wife. That said, I sometimes tend to forget when I ride on holiday that I won't have my bike, and will be riding a rental, which always makes riding more challenging!

 

[agi]

Clement is in my hood so yes highly recommended. Cheap dim sum, Taiwan's, stinky tofu at Spices, Vietnamese sandwiches, pho, Burma Superstar (prepare to wait in line), Japanese restaurant Halu (throw back place with Beatles memorabilia on the walls), Clementine for high end French and on and on. Sad that Haig's is closed but that seems to be the norm in this town as old places get gentrified. Grab a beer at the 540 after Green Apple and you might just find me there as it's my watering hole.

Highly recommend going to Pier 24 as well. We locals can't recommend that place enough not just for photography lovers but the general public as it's a beautiful serene space.

 

[agi]

Hey locals we should have a beer, gear & grub meet on Clement Street 🙂

 

[MikeL]

Hey locals we should have a beer, gear & grub meet on Clement Street 🙂

That sounds great. Just not Tuesday when Good Luck is closed. And maybe we can coordinate again if jpa66 wants to meet up.

I haven't been to 540 since Alan was still in town and we all met up. I do remember Robert slipped out before paying for shaken-not-stirred martinis...

 

[TheFlyingCamera]

If you have a rental car and do get out of the city, and want something a bit less touristed/crowded but still iconic, try the Purisima Creek Open Space Preserve, south of Half Moon Bay. There are still old-growth Redwoods there, but a fraction of the tourist traffic. For an incredible day trip, get up bright spanking early and drive down 280 to 84 (Woodside Road). Get breakfast at Buck's (across the street from Robert's grocery store aka Bobs for Snobs), then head up the mountain on 84 until you come to the intersection of 84 and 35. Turn right (north) on 35, after noting Alice's Restaurant with all the motorcycles out front (yes, THAT Alice's Restaurant). There is an access point for Purisima Creek from 35 about 8 miles from the intersection of 84 and 35. You'll be hiking in a canyon filled with giant old-growth redwoods, a stream with waterfalls, ferns and banana slugs and a good 10 degrees cooler under the canopy than on the coast or the mountain ridge.

Alternately take 280 and get off at the exit for 35/92 West/Half Moon Bay. When 35 splits off, stay on 92 (San Mateo Road) over the ridge and down into Half Moon Bay. Hang a left on 1, and then a left on Higgins Canyon Road. Follow it until you see the entrance to Purisima Creek. There is a very small parking lot at the bottom of the canyon, so you may have to park on the road. When you leave, take Purisima Creek Road (Higgins Canyon Road turns into PC Road at the park) back to 1, head south on 1 until you get to 84 (briefly San Gregorio Road, then La Honda Road) and take it back to Woodside and 280 north back to San Francisco. La Honda road is a beautiful drive if you like going slow, and an exhilarating drive if you like going fast. In Woodside, you can turn down Whiskey Hill Road and go past the ranches of the rich and famous (Joan Baez, Shirley Temple-Black among others), hang a left on Sand Hill Road and see part of the Stanford Linear Accelerator, and follow Sand Hill Road into downtown Palo Alto where you can have a great lunch or dinner before returning to San Francisco.

 

[jpa66]

That sounds great. Just not Tuesday when Good Luck is closed. And maybe we can coordinate again if jpa66 wants to meet up.

I haven't been to 540 since Alan was still in town and we all met up. I do remember Robert slipped out before paying for shaken-not-stirred martinis...

Hey! The wife's into it (although wine and/or beer is more our thing - we love them both!). We just have to figure out what days we'll be in the city all day. We're thinking that Saturday is the day that we'll head out to wine country, so either Friday or Sunday will most likely work. Late afternoons/early evenings would most likely be best, but I'll post when I know more of our schedule.

Jan

 

[icebear]

This sounds great! My wife and I are definitely up for some biking, as long as the hills aren't too challenging, as we're only used to the flat topography of the Chicago area.

If you aren't ready for hills, I'd suggest skipping the Muir Woods leg. ....

I have to admit, the Muir Woods trip, especially the way back up over the hill is not for the faint hearted and the rental bikes are ok but not the greatest. If you go for a bike trip over the Golden Gate, the flat stretch around the bay to Tiburon is a nice day trip.

 

[kdemas]

Hey locals we should have a beer, gear & grub meet on Clement Street 🙂

If its over the weekend I'll be sure to make it.

 

[35mmdelux]

A few nice bars in North Beach, chic restaurants on Columbus Street around the corner. Check out the Cliff House restaurant north tip of Ocean Beach (west side of the City). Good seafood, fabulous view of the ocean. Place to be seen with your main squeeze..

 

[E__WOK]

If you end up in the Mission - which is highly recommended - check out Yamo on 18th St right off of Mission. A miniscule storefront with a single counter, a few chairs, and some of the best $6 entrees I've had in a Southeast Asian restaurant. Whatever you do, SF should be great in October - that's our "summer"! 😀

Negative on Yamo. That place is filthy and will get you sick big time.

 

[E__WOK]

Clement is in my hood so yes highly recommended. Cheap dim sum, Taiwan's, stinky tofu at Spices, Vietnamese sandwiches, pho, Burma Superstar (prepare to wait in line), Japanese restaurant Halu (throw back place with Beatles memorabilia on the walls), Clementine for high end French and on and on. Sad that Haig's is closed but that seems to be the norm in this town as old places get gentrified. Grab a beer at the 540 after Green Apple and you might just find me there as it's my watering hole.

Highly recommend going to Pier 24 as well. We locals can't recommend that place enough not just for photography lovers but the general public as it's a beautiful serene space.

Instead of Burma Superstar, go here instead as the wait is much shorter.
http://www.yelp.com/biz/mandalay-san-francisco

Halu is good if you like grilled food. They don't serve sushi. The ramen is ok.

 

[E__WOK]

That sounds great. Just not Tuesday when Good Luck is closed. And maybe we can coordinate again if jpa66 wants to meet up.

I haven't been to 540 since Alan was still in town and we all met up. I do remember Robert slipped out before paying for shaken-not-stirred martinis...

I always try to hit Good Luck Dim Sum when I'm in the area.