San Francisco area for 7 days: Recommendations?

[bob338]

If you're all the way out in Truckee, Yosemite or Tahoe are easy and well worth the trip. Mono Lake is also pretty amazing.

San Francisco could easily take 5 days to see, you'll wish you had more time! All of those touristy sites and activities are actually fun, even for people who have lived here for years.
A short list for me would include...
Coit Tower
Alcatraz
Golden Gate Bridge
GG Park
SF Zoo
Cal Academy of Science
SFMOMA
cross the bridge and check out...
Marin Headlands
Sausalito(gimme a call if you do, we're always home)
Muir Woods
Muir Beach(where I got married)
lunch at the Pelican Inn in Muir Beach
Stinson Beach
Mt Tamalpais
Bolinas
Pt Reyes
Angel Island
take a boat out to the Farallon Islands
Napa(not as exciting as it sounds unless you're 60)
Sonoma(as above)
Or take Highway 1 south and check out...
Big Basin NP
Santa Cruz
Monterey Bay Aquarium
Carmel
the Henry Miller library in Big Sur
and a *bit* further south to Hearst Castle.

I'll never understand how anyone can visit here and go back home. I came out here from Chicago for a vacation in 1992 and never left.

[E__WOK]

Originally Posted by agi

First of all don't say San Fran or Frisco as we'll know you're not a local .

I'm a local and say both of those terms...

[E__WOK]

Originally Posted by filmfan

So my girlfriend and I will be flying into San Fran on Friday, October 5th and departing on the 13th.

and would love to hear some foodie recommendations as well.

Thanks,

-S.

Fleet Week is the weekend of the 5th and 6th. See the planes and visit the ships.

What kind of food do you like?

[xxfellinixx]

Originally Posted by agi

First of all don't say San Fran or Frisco as we'll know you're not a local .

All kidding aside since you'll be in Truckee go straight to Mono Lake after and trek back towards the Bay to Yosemite via the Tioga Pass (Highway 120). One of the most beautiful drives you'll ever see & experience. From there you can hit Yosemite Valley if you wish. Plenty of campsites along the way. Plenty of SF/Bay folks here to give you additional recs I'm sure.

This is the Best way to go!! I agree... Checkout Yosemite and send my regards to Alex Honnold !!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SR1jwwagtaQ

[filmfan]

Originally Posted by E__WOK

Fleet Week is the weekend of the 5th and 6th. See the planes and visit the ships.

What kind of food do you like?

Nice, good to know.
I like all food, but let's just throw something out there to get things going-- Asian cuisine.

[venchka]

Things to do in San Francisco for a week...

1. Yosemite Valley
2. Tioga Road
3. Ansel Adams Wildnerness-Thousand Island Lake, etc.
Repeat 1, 2 & 3 if you have time.

Wayne

[ernstk]

Originally Posted by filmfan

Nice, good to know.
I like all food, but let's just throw something out there to get things going-- Asian cuisine.

Oriental Pearl, on Clay St does amazing dim sum at really low prices. More upscale, Betelnut on Union St ( between Webster and Buchanan) in Cow Hollow does good Asian fusion with a very lively atmosphere.

Ernst

[filmfan]

Originally Posted by ernstk

Oriental Pearl, on Clay St does amazing dim sum at really low prices. More upscale, Betelnut on Union St ( between Webster and Buchanan) in Cow Hollow does good Asian fusion with a very lively atmosphere.

Ernst

I love me some dim sum. I will check it out, thanks.

[Bingley]

Originally Posted by filmfan

I love me some dim sum. I will check it out, thanks.

Yank Sing is also good for dim sum if you're in the south of market area.

[filmfan]

Originally Posted by venchka

Things to do in San Francisco for a week...

1. Yosemite Valley
2. Tioga Road
3. Ansel Adams Wildnerness-Thousand Island Lake, etc.
Repeat 1, 2 & 3 if you have time.

Wayne

#1+2 are already planned, so I will check into #3.
Thanks.

[venchka]

Google June Lake, CA. That seems to be a good trail access for Thousand Island Lake. Mr. Adams shot in that neighborhood for his Sierra Nevada: The John Muir Trail book back in the 1930s.

I posted this in a Yosemite thread earlier today...

June Lake

Thousand Island Lake

Thousand Island Lake-M9

I own the book. Very inspirational.

http://www.amazon.com/Sierra-Nevada-.../dp/082125717X

I hope to be in this area next Labor Day. I'm already torn between taking a field camera or digital only.

Have fun!

[canetsbe]

+1 for all of the Eastern Sierra / Yosemite suggestions.

As for SF... if you're in the Mission district, stop by pizzeria delfina on 18th st. SO GOOD. Go to the BiRite creamery afterward and walk across the street to Dolores park and relax (with a beer or twelve if you want). You won't be disappointed! And don't forget to order a side of sauce with that pizza!

If you like deep dish, Little Star is also a good choice. A few different locations. And for something different, check out Limon- it's amazing Peruvian rotisserie.

If you're interested in alternative/vintage process photography, check out Photobooth on Valencia st. They do tintype portraits on-site and have a wide array of Impossible film on hand. Photoworks on Market st. is also a really cool lab/shop with some interesting film choices.

Enjoy SF and if you're like me, you'll never want to leave...

[filmfan]

I don't want to go because I know I'll never leave...

[Teuthida]

Don't forget to visit City Lights bookstore. It's where Allen Ginsberg and the Beats used to hang out. They published Ginsberg's great work HOWL. Pick up the recent.y issued THE BEAT GENERATION, a compilation of Ginsberg's photos of the period. The forward is a wonderful intro to the Beat era, and Ginsberg had a great eye. Wonderful stuff.

[porktaco]

point reyes is great.

in the city, really, don't worry about where you are. just get out and walk. anywhere there are people. castro, pacific heights, haight, mission, embarcadero, presidio, south of market... you really can't go wrong. it's a fantastic city.

[agi]

FYI this weekend is going to be crazy as it's Fleet Week, Hardly Strickly Bluegrass, the Italian Heritage Parade, the Castro Street Festival, Giants playoff game and a slew of other things. If you plan to drive into or around the City forget about it and do yourself a favor and use public transportation. .

My recommendation for those East Coasters is to get a Mission style burrito (in the Mission District of course - El Toro, El Faralito, Paplote or La Taqueria - can't go wrong with any of these). Also grab a taco at Tacolicious or better yet get a cheap but excellent taco from Vallarta on 24th St. also in the Mission.

Another good place and a must try is to grab a Rosamunde sausage in Lower Haight, take it to Toronado next door for a few craft beers and enjoy.

There's plenty of places to eat as we have an embarrassment of riches here for every budget.

[filmfan]

Just so you guys know, I'm going to move to the San Francisco area.
Is anyone in a position to hire me? I will work my a55 off.

[semordnilap]

What, and leave this beautiful Boston weather behind?

[Bingley]

Originally Posted by filmfan

Just so you guys know, I'm going to move to the San Francisco area.
Is anyone in a position to hire me? I will work my a55 off.

LOL! Who can blame you? BTW, Oakland is a pretty happin' place these days, w/ great restaurants in Temescal, Rockridge, and near Lake Merritt.

[agi]

As my landlord said to me recently, it's easier to find a job in SF than an apartment

I agree on Oakland Steve, it's also happening. I just never manage to get off the island to find out as much as I should.

[PMCC]

Originally Posted by filmfan

Nice, good to know.
I like all food, but let's just throw something out there to get things going-- Asian cuisine.

Check out Mission Chinese Food, located at Lung Shan on Mission between 18th and 19th Streets, in deepest Frisco. 21st century Chinese-American eats in a hipster-dive. Tiger salad*, chicken wings with explosive chilis, kung pao pastrami. Really. Then walk it off through the heart of the Mission to Humphry Slocombe at Harrison and 24th, and have a scoop of their Secret Breakfast ice cream (bourbon and corn flakes, no kidding). Call 911.

*made with real tigers, just like girl scout cookies are made with real girl scouts.

[Bingley]

Originally Posted by PMCC

Check out Mission Chinese Food, located at Lung Shan on Mission between 18th and 19th Streets, in deepest Frisco. 21st century Chinese-American eats in a hipster-dive. Tiger salad*, chicken wings with explosive chilis, kung pao pastrami. Really. Then walk it off through the heart of the Mission to Humphry Slocombe at Harrison and 24th, and have a scoop of their Secret Breakfast ice cream (bourbon and corn flakes, no kidding). Call 911.

*made with real tigers, just like girl scout cookies are made with real girl scouts.

This man knows whereof he speaks.

[filmfan]

Hire me. I have a decent resume (not that this even matters these days).

[CameraQuest]

rent Hitchcock's Vertigo

visit the locations.

Stephen

[MikeL]

Sam, to make friends here in SF, just say the following, as often as you can:

BeatLA