We will be in San Francisco next week for our first trip to the city. My main problem has been understanding the layout of the city and determining where major ';tourist'; spots are located in relation one another. That being said, this is what I%26#39;ve come up with. I%26#39;m hopeful I can get some opinions on our schedule, and perhaps some suggestions on moving items around based on the layout of the city. Oh, and if there%26#39;s anything that%26#39;s can%26#39;t miss that we have skipped, let me know. We will definitely be back--it%26#39;s only an hour flight!
Day 1 (Thursday)- arrive at SFO at 10am. Head to hotel (Parc 55) to check in via Bart. Head to Fisherman%26#39;s Wharf to hang out for a bit. Leave for 4:00 pm Giants game (want to arrive at stadium an hour early for some drinks and to walk around a bit)
Grab drinks and a bite after game (haven%26#39;t decided where yet). Head back to hotel and check in for the night.
Day 2 (Friday) - Rent bikes and ride across Golden Gate Bridge to Sausalito. Spend time there, take Ferry back. Walk along the Embarcadero and visit Ferry Building Marketplace. Gary Danko for early dinner. (should we skip Embarcadero and Ferry Building and do that a different day?)
Day 3 (Saturday) - Chinatown (free tour at 10 am, followed by Japantown for Cherry Blossom Festival event (street fair, I believe?) Walk Embarcardero and visit Ferry Building if not seen on Friday, otherwise we are going to tour Lombard Street and take the cable cars around town. Night tour of Alactraz (already purchased)
Day 4 (Sunday) - Breakfast (haven%26#39;t decided where yet, prob Dotti%26#39;s True Blue Cafe), check out of hotel and head to airport (leave at noon)
Any thoughts? Suggestions? If it matters, we are going to save the musesums for another trip. We are more interested in good food, bars, relaxing and seeing the city! Thanks to everyone, you%26#39;ve been wonderful in assisting with our trip!
Here's my itinerary- Any suggestions?Just a few quick comments.
Sounds like your Embarcadero/Ferry Building stuff would be better on the day you currently have scheduled. The issue would be how late you%26#39;ll be getting back into the city and/or when you have to get your bikes returned. When you get back in the city you%26#39;ll be along the Embarcadero making it the perfect time to do it and the Ferry Bldg.
The ';problem'; with your alternative day is that Japantown is not that close to the end of Market Street/Embarcadero and your route takes you west from China to Japan and then all the way back to the east of China to see Ferry Bldg. Depending on how fixed your schedule is you might consider trying to squeeze the Embarcadero/Ferry Bldg in between China %26amp; Japan Towns (doubt you can do it before your China Tour).
On the third hand, in the big picture it%26#39;s not really that far from Japantown to the Ferry Building, but on Saturday MUNI bus frequency will be less. And, no matter what you%26#39;ll be spending more time traveling and less time seeing things you want to see.
Bottom Line: If you can squeeze it in on Friday, that when I%26#39;d try to do Embarcadero/Ferry Bldg. If not, consider doing Chinatown %26amp; Embarcadero/Ferry Bldg before going to Japantown.
That%26#39;s my $.02 and hope you enjoy your trip,
HLO
Here's my itinerary- Any suggestions?Don%26#39;t miss the Northbeach area, it%26#39;s next to Chinatown. I%26#39;d substitute it for Japantown, not much to see there.
I%26#39;m not sure if can squeeze this in, but the Ferry Building Farmer%26#39;s Market is worth a visit. Saturdays 8 am to 2pm.
From the Ferry Building to Chinatown is a 15-20 minute walk at a leisurely pace.
Perfect! Thank you everyone. I love Farmer%26#39;s Markets, too, so I may try to sqeeze a quick trip to the Ferry Building in before our tour of Chinatown. Otherwise I will definitely keep the Ferry Building and Embarcadero on the day when I currently have them scheduled.
And about Japantown...do you really think we should skip it and just hit Chinatown? I thought it was a must see since we are there during the Cherry Blossom Festival (not the parade, just the street fair).
Oh, and we are early birds, so we will be renting the bikes early and taking them back early. It should leave plenty of time to tour Embarcadero and the Ferry Building.
Just arrived home from SF yesterday, coit tower is worth a look at, great views bus from opposite pier 39, views from the marin headlands at far side of golden gate bridge are breathtaking (its a bit of an uphill slog from the car park at the far side of GG)
Scoma%26#39;s resteraunt at fishermans wharf was excellent, a bit old fashioned and the menu%26#39;s not hip but good food never goes out of fashion
Buy a MUNI pass and use the F line classic streetcar which goes straight past your hotel to fishermans wharf and the bike hire shops and its also good for the cable cars, Hope you have as great a time as we had
Fantastic, thanks so much for the info!
Skip Fisherman%26#39;s Wharf. You will see enough of that leaving for the night tour of Alcatraz or coming back from Sausalito via ferry if it goes to Pier 39, another tourist trap.
Consider getting out to Land%26#39;s End, Presidio, Pacific Heights, corner of Lyon %26amp; Broadway. You can take the steps down to the Marina.
Weather here now as good as it gets.
If the Cherry Blossom Festival Street fair is in town, then it would be worth a visit IMO.
I went to some event at Japantown last year, but I don%26#39;t think it was Cherry Blossom Festival. I think I just moved into town around the time of last year%26#39;s Cherry Blossom Festival.
There were some people sparring, performers dressed in sailor outfits on stage singing ';Hare Hare Yukai';, a small car show, and lots of yummy food. It was good way to spend a few hours and weather was excellent.
Day 1 sounds perfect. Getting to the game early is a great idea because there is SO much to see! I would avoid the restaurant surrounding the game, over crowded, over priced and kinda rude service.
Day 2 makes sense, especially since the ferry lets you off in the ferry building! haha. Although the Saturday farmers market is worth taking a second trip
Day 3 I love Japantown, I go there 2-5 times a month, but it%26#39;s not worth it for a tourist with limited time. The Cherry Blossom festival is Ok, but not worth the journey. I agree with simbot, Chinatown and North Beach. They kind of melt into each other anyway. Hop on the cable car and enjoy Alcatraz
Have a great time!
No comments:
Post a Comment