San Francisco

2,909 Views | 31 Replies | Last: 11 yr ago by Stew
fido00
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I will be taking my wife there in June for a conference. We will be spending 4 days there, and I am looking for everyone's opinion of things to do and to see. We are the type of travelers that love to experience everything.

I plan on arriving in SF at about 10 am and renting a car and driving around the city, Lombard st, Muir Woods, and some of Napa. I plan on trying to get reservations at Ad Hoc or another Thomas Keller restaurant's for dinner.

What else should we do or see? Alcatraz and Fisherman's Wharf are also on the list!
Roger That
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Personally, I'd ditch the car and use the public transportation instead.
ORAggieFan
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A car in SF is not a good idea. If you're heading out of the city get one just for that.
iloveAP
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quote:
Personally, I'd ditch the car and use the public transportation instead.
That was my thought as well. I've done SF with a rent car and without. When we had a rent car, it was just costly to park it, and otherwise was just annoying. Public transportation got us everywhere we wanted to go and then we rented a car to head out to Sonoma County.
monarch
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Don't rent the car.

Cross the GG bridge, get on Hwy 1 that runs alongside the ocean and enjoy the ride.

If you want an out of the way hotel, stay at Seal Rock Inn on 48th & Pt Lobos. Ask for a corner room if still available and if not get one on the west side of the hotel. If you don't want that, stay at the Kensington Hotel off Union Sq, across from the St Francis. Kensington is a small European Hotel, but is very charming and quiet. Two sides of the building have city and bay views.

Remember, just because you are there for a conference, don't ignore your wife. Have fun.
fido00
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We are going to rent a car for the day just to drive up to Muir woods and to Napa and then turn it in. I don't plannin spending $$$ just to park it.

And this trip is much more for a vacation with my wife than a conference. The conference just gives me an excuse to write it on my taxes.
rondis23
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zebco
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Did the night tour of Alcatraz last fall. It was well done imo. Something about walking thru there at night
Waiting on a Natty
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Take a ferry over to Sausalito for lunch. Great view back to SF. Go to Haight/Asbury area and walk over to Golden Gate Park. Interesting area. Have to hit Chinatown. You will feel like you are in a different country. Hunan House is our favorite,ace to eat there. Second Alcatraz tour.
monarch
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Take a ferry over to Sausalito for lunch. Great view back to SF...Have to hit Chinatown. You will feel like you are in a different country. Hunan House is our favorite,ace to eat there....Have dinner at the Carnelian Room atop the BofA tower (office bldg. that looks like a needle). You can see clear into next week...
ORAggieFan
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I don't do much of the tourist stuff but I know a good amount of restaurants and bars. The House is a great one but I can rec others.
Smokedraw01
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Get to Muir Wood early. Also, I recommend a stop in Healdsburg. It's a very cool downtown square area with little shops and redwoods.
chipotle
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Get your Alcatraz tickets now(or as soon as possible).
SouthTexasAg06
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Alright, so we land in SFO tomorrow at 1pm. Need to stick around till 8pm (picking up the rest of our party) before heading to Napa.

Made 6pm reservations at Range in the Mission District. Any recs or suggestions on what to do before then (approx 2-6pm)?
Waiting on a Natty
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Go to Union Square and ride a cable car down yo the Fisherman's Wharf area. Walk around then take cable car back to Union Square. Walk around Chinatown. IF you have never been to SF before then this will keep you plenty busy. Have an Irish Coffee at the end of of the Powell St--I believe--cable car route at the Bueno Vista Bar. They were invented there. Walk down towards Fisherman's Wharf and take a different cable car route back. That one takes you through Chinatown.
BSD
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Alright, so we land in SFO tomorrow at 1pm. Need to stick around till 8pm (picking up the rest of our party) before heading to Napa.

Made 6pm reservations at Range in the Mission District. Any recs or suggestions on what to do before then (approx 2-6pm)?


Dandelion Chocolate (if you like dark chocolate)
BSD
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quote:
. I plan on trying to get reservations at Ad Hoc or another Thomas Keller restaurant's for dinner.



I'd personally do Bouchon instead. It would suck to hit Ad Hoc Ina night that you weren't in the mood for what's cooking. At Bouchon you have options...and its a Michelin starred restaurant. The specials at Bouchon usually are very worthwhile. Here's a tip, do Ad Hoc for lunch out back at the Addendum shack. They serve the fried chicken and bbq Thurs-Sun I believe.
rondis23
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Great recommendations! Anyone been to Ad Lib by any chance?
SouthTexasAg06
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That's really close to the restaurant we're going to, thanks!
fido00
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Great tip! Thanks

I am definitely interested in restaurant recommendations.
schmendeler
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Great recommendations! Anyone been to Ad Lib by any chance?

if you mean ad hoc, then yes. i enjoyed it quite a bit. the food was excellent.
schmendeler
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i like "Liverpool lil's". right outside the Lombard gate of the presidio. it's a really funky/kind of crusty looking place that serves higher end food. kind of a unique atmosphere.
el aggie
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Ad Lib is the temporary setup at the Silverado resort while the French Laundry kitchen is being renovated. We have backup reservations there for June in case the temporary kitchen at French Laundry isn't ready.
schmendeler
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interesting.
rondis23
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Thank you. I was wondering because Ive got reservations to Ad Lib next month. So far, the reviews seem to vary. However, it is supposed to essentially be the original French Laundry staff.
el aggie
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It's as close as anyone will get to the Fremch Laundry for the next couple of months.
BSD
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Just because the French Laundry staff is indeed emporarily working there (some of those guys have been with Keller since day one and he doesn't want them to leave after a 10 month hiatus, this the PPP up), the food won't be French Laundry by any means, I assure you of that. They are calling it "country club cooking" since its at the Silverado. I'm sure it's good food, but I passed on it twice for Bouchon. If you're lucky, the French Laundry temporary kitchen in converted rail cars will be ready but even then a reservation will still be hard to get...because it's French Laundry afterall.

One thing I enjoyed doing was getting a really good bottle of champagne and ordering every appetizer on the Redd menu (it helps that there were 4 of us that night).

The Thomas in downtown Napa is good for bruch too. Sit on the patio overlooking the river (if it's not too hot outside). Nighttime would be cool there but I've never ordered off the dinner menu so I can't promise anything (although I'd be willing to give it a shot based on my brunch experience).
BSD
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Sons and Daughters in Union Square was a really good tasting menu for about $100 before drinks. It is Michelin starred as well.
monarch
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The food at Lil's is above average, but the beer list leaves a lot to be desired. No matter, enjoy.
rondis23
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I recently cancelled a res at Sons & Daughter's. The menu didn't look too inviting. What would you recommend there?
BSD
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It's a tasting menu. The chef cooks for you and you eat. You end up with about 8 courses. It's probably one of the least expensive quality tasting menus in the city.
rondis23
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Thank you...great advice! Have you ever been to Boulevard?
Stew
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Wife and I went to SF last year. Got a really good deal at the Fairmont - Nob Hill. Awesome hotel and location. NOPA was our favorite restaurant. Also recommend Frances and Scoma in Sausalito.
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