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3 days in San Francisco

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Hello, my wife and I will be in San Francisco this Thursday - Saturday.

We already have tickets to Alcatraz.

What are some other cool things to check out or must eat places?

Thanks.
 

Cudder

Member
Fisherman's Wharf is a good way to spend an afternoon or evening. Eat at In n Out if you're not on the west coast and don't get it where you live.
 
Get tickets to one of the Dodger-Giants games in the top deck, first base side, and be there for sunset. It's gorgeous.

Also try not to slip in human waste while walking around.
 
Go walk around Golden Gate Park, go to Land's End

edit: avoid Union Square for the most part. Fisherman's Wharf is neat but don't eat at any of the tourist trap restaurants there.
 
really enjoyed the Legion of Honor art museum when I was there, definitely worth it if you're into that sort of thing

Otherwise, the burritos (and mexican food in general) in SF is life changing. Any of the burrito joints in Mission are on point. Very different mexican food from what I get in Texas

You can also watch any of the Bourdain shows he's done in SF (the layover and Parts unknown) that are on Netflix for recommendations.
 

see5harp

Member
Alcatraz is the one place I'd def try to hit so you're covered there. Fisherman's Wharf....eh....I wouldn't bother but there's a pretty good dive bar over there. Try and get a reservation for House of Prime Rib. I crave that shit.
 

DBT85

Member
Wher are you staying?

Missus and I will be there in September for 5 days and have no bloody idea. We've already got Mammoth Lakes and Vegas booked.
 

Ray Wonder

Founder of the Wounded Tagless Children
It's funny being on the golden gate bridge looking at a bridge that's like 3 times longer than it. As a kid I didn't understand why tf we wouldn't be more interested in the longer one.
 

Yaboosh

Super Sleuth
Go walk around Golden Gate Park, go to Land's End

edit: avoid Union Square for the most part. Fisherman's Wharf is neat but don't eat at any of the tourist trap restaurants there.


Codmother is good fish and chips. It is a permanent food truck sort of thing across from Walgreens at the end of the wharf.
 

Bamboo

Member
Fisherman's Wharf is a good way to spend an afternoon or evening. Eat at In n Out if you're not on the west coast and don't get it where you live.
If you go there you must check out Musée Méchanique. It's full of old fair attractions, mostly mechanical devices. Especially all the mechanical arcades are amazing, just for their weirdness and uniqueness. Be prepared to spend a lot of quarters. There's no entrance fee, but it's such a joy to see what this or that machine will actually do when you activate it.

I especially loved a french execution machine - a little beheading puppet show, a creepy fortune teller gypsie queen puppet (there are several iirc) and the mechanical multiplayer racing games. For the history of arcades + (video) games it's actually super interesting. Just don't expect a big and posh museum, it's fairly small and a bit run down, but super charming.

Website:
http://museemecaniquesf.com/
 
What interests you OP: physical attractions or culture?

The only place I can recommend that hasn't already been said, is the Mission District. You can take BART there. There's a ton of Latino murals. It's beautiful. Enjoy them while they're still there.
 

butzopower

proud of his butz
Go to Hot Sauce And Panko. If you take no other advice, take this. http://hotsauceandpanko.com They do nothing but chicken wings in so many different styles and types. It's incredible. Incredible. Have the green wings.

Also, Nick's Crispy Tacos is delicious.

Ah, it's a good day when I'm not the first to post about HS&P in an SF thread. Their "Chris's Wings" and their "Beer Wings" are my favorite.

Definitely get a burrito in the Mission. The clam chowder is meh. Anchor Oyster Bar in the Castro does this amazing seafood stew known as Cioppino that is godly (though ~$20 a person), and I think way more authentically San Franciscan.

FREEGOLDWATCH in Haight Ashbury is cool for lots of pinball and sick hoodies.

Pier 39 is a waste unless you like Hard Rock Cafe and TGIF, only redeemable place is Musee Mechanique. Chinatown has mostly crap food unless you wanna do something high end, but is fun to walk through. Japantown is pretty stupid, but that's just my opinion. Go to the parks, they are packed full of stuff to do. GGP, Lands End, and Dolores Park.
 
Day 1:
- it's freezing here. Brought long sleeves, didnt think hoodie.
- These hills though. Our hotel is a mile from Fishermans Wharf, in town, and we walked it. What in the holy fuck these hills. The cab drivers dgaf either. Straight up and down felt like car was gonna flip over.
- Water area is sick. Food good so far.
- Our hotel is real close to the ghetto. Tons of homeless and no sight of police. Don't they try to clean that up?
- I couldn't even vape outside at the bar wtf.

Today is Painted Ladies, Golden Gate Park, Bridge, Alcatraz at night.
 

see5harp

Member
Alcatraz at night is badass but man if the hills are killing you now, you gonna be hella cold and winded at Alcatraz.
 

kaiju

Member
Catch dinner at the Cliff House if you can. Amazing seafood, and it's fun to walk around the area. A lot of history in that area to take in.
 

Archurro

Member
La Taqueria or Panchitas in Mission (or many of the other great Mission Mexican food place), SFMOMA (which just opened), Golden Gate Park, Dolores Park. Also Jack London Square in Oakland is pretty cool.
 
Are you into coffee at all? Coffee culture in the city is pretty insane. The best cup I ever had was at Saint Frank in Russian Hill. And even though people scoff at 4 dollar toast, that shit is tasty and worth having at least once. Try a slice at either Trouble Coffee in the Sunset (bit of a trek for you) or at The Mill on Divisadero.

Oh and get your brunch plans ready.
 

ant_

not characteristic of ants at all
Honestly the tourist thing - Bike Across Golden Gate Bridge - is awesome. You ride bikes from Fishermans Wharf to Sausalito. See a good amount of the coastal city, ride across the Golden Gate, and end up in Sausalito (which is also beautiful, btw). Then take the ferry back.

I've done it multiple times with visiting friends, and enjoyed it even as a resident.

Also, go to the Mission and get La Taqueria. If it's a nice day on the weekend, get a 12 pack of beer and check out Dolores Park. My favorite place.
 
Tons of homeless and no sight of police. Don't they try to clean that up?
- I couldn't even vape outside at the bar wtf.

They don't. Some parts of the city - really mostly the Tenderloin - are terrible for it. Crack deals on the street, the homeless tent parts. It doesn't feel good. Still residuals of Reagan's time in office. Really sad.

Also, you should be able to vape if you walk a little way away. Most places treat it as smoking, and that's fine as long as you're on a curb.
 
Walk the GG, take the ferry back.
Codmother's. Best fish and chips I've ever had. Huge portion.
Get a sundae at Ghiradelli.
Food trucks at SoMa StrEat Food Park
Take one of the boat tours you find W of Pier 39. Last trip of the day is pretty cheap.
Take the transit system everywhere.
Game at AT&T. Get the garlic fries.
Eggs Benedict at Beach Street Grill, if Mama's is packed.
I enjoyed ThirstyBear for some beer.
 

Tom Nook

Member
If you have time, check out the museums:

Walt Disney Museum
Cable Car Museum
Musee Mecanique
Asian Art Museum
 
It's funny being on the golden gate bridge looking at a bridge that's like 3 times longer than it. As a kid I didn't understand why tf we wouldn't be more interested in the longer one.
cause you can't walk across it and it's grey. I like the bay bridge a lot though, there's nothing like the view you get driving into the city from east bay.
 
Point Reyes National Seashore is a fun trip north of San Francisco.

A ton of nice parks near San Francisco Bay like Shoreline and Coyote Hills

Golden Gate National Recreation Area
 

FStop7

Banned
It's funny being on the golden gate bridge looking at a bridge that's like 3 times longer than it. As a kid I didn't understand why tf we wouldn't be more interested in the longer one.

Because it takes you to Oakland.

joke

It's not as pretty (though the new span is cool) but it's worth going over to check out Treasure Island.
 

Saucy_XL

Banned
For a specific, iconic SF restaurant I'd say Tadich Grill if you like seafood. It's an SF institution and is famous for cioppino
 

M52B28

Banned
You should definitely go to Java Beach Cafe in the evening.

java-beach-cafe_7593438.jpg


The cafe is basically on the beach. I used to go there to grab a sandwich, watch the sunset and chill on the beach.

Day 1:
- it's freezing here. Brought long sleeves, didnt think hoodie.
- These hills though. Our hotel is a mile from Fishermans Wharf, in town, and we walked it. What in the holy fuck these hills. The cab drivers dgaf either. Straight up and down felt like car was gonna flip over.
- Water area is sick. Food good so far.
- Our hotel is real close to the ghetto. Tons of homeless and no sight of police. Don't they try to clean that up?
- I couldn't even vape outside at the bar wtf.

Today is Painted Ladies, Golden Gate Park, Bridge, Alcatraz at night.
Yeah, it gets cold at night sometimes.

My dad used to tell me about how he has burned out so many clutches on the cars he was learning manual on.

Anyways, understand that San Francisco is a puny part of the Bay Area. If you want a nature retreat, as some have said, you should go across the bridge towards Marin county and go to Muir Woods. You get to see the massive redwood trees that have been there for more years and I can count out loud. I did a hike up to the top of Muir Woods it was probably one of the more memorable things I've done in California. The drive there is also very awesome.

The sunset is amazing from there as well.
 
Fisherman's Wharf is a good way to spend an afternoon or evening. Eat at In n Out if you're not on the west coast and don't get it where you live.
Don't listen to this man, stay outta Fisher Man's Wharf. It's a tourist trap dude, when to San Fran for a weekend last year and that was the worst time I spent during my whole time there. I suggest Coit Tower and the Palace of Fine Arts, I really enjoyed those spots.

Edit: damn I was too late to warn you op
 

M52B28

Banned
Don't lantern to this man, stay outta Fisher Man's Wharf. It's a tourist trap dude, when to San Fran for a weekend last year and that was the worst time I spent during my whole time there. I suggest Coit Tower and the Palace of Fine Arts, I really enjoyed those spots.

Edit: damn I was too late to warn you op
Yeah, if you're visiting San Francisco, Fisherman's Wharf is definitely a mistake to visit.

The prices in the Wharf are even worse than the ones in the actual city.
 

11redder

Member
Fisherman's Wharf is a tourist thronged nightmare. Lombard Street, Coit Tower, the Presidio, Golden Gate Park, the Embarcadero and Haight Street are all worth seeing.
 

sazabirules

Unconfirmed Member
I'll be visiting the city in October. Are there any any parts of the city where I should not get a hotel at? What is the recommended method of transportation while visiting the city? Bus or taxi?
 
I'll be visiting the city in October. Are there any any parts of the city where I should not get a hotel at? What is the recommended method of transportation while visiting the city? Bus or taxi?
Probably not the Tenderloin. I'd recommend taking public transit everywhere you can, but use Lyft or Uber instead of cabs.
 

Yaboosh

Super Sleuth
I'll be visiting the city in October. Are there any any parts of the city where I should not get a hotel at? What is the recommended method of transportation while visiting the city? Bus or taxi?


The Tenderloin is the easiest not to recommend. It is a legitimately bad neighborhood.

Bart, Muni and Uber are the best ways around the city. It is a small city so it isn't real hard to get around.
 

butzopower

proud of his butz
I'll be visiting the city in October. Are there any any parts of the city where I should not get a hotel at? What is the recommended method of transportation while visiting the city? Bus or taxi?

I feel like most of the hotels are in pretty shit areas, except maybe some of them near FiDi. I'd recommend getting an AirBnB not downtown.
 
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