San Francisco (1 Viewer)

[belljr]

if you go to Carmel, it's silly not to go a bit further and see Big Sur. just silly.

i agree.our plan is get car.

head north a bit to catch "the start" of route 1 south.

supposedly there are state parks with redwoods and beach access, light house , and winery on the way to Santa cruz.

We were going to stop along the coast at spots not drive straight to Santa cruz.

Monterey looks like it's about 3 hours going that route.

http://www.winemag.com/Web-2012/Californias-Highway-1-The-Wine-Lovers-Route/

yep - thanks. THats where we got the idea. Saw a couple other videos.

Half Moon Bay,

Nisene State PArk

Capitola Village

Wilder Ranch

West CLiff Drive

Then Maybe Santa Cruz.

That is the early plan

 

[Quint]

re: Sept 7 - your wife does know that IT'S THE FIRST NFL SUNDAY OF THE YEAR, right?

Kezar Pub is good for games, as is Green's Sports Bar.

 

[belljr]

re: Sept 7 - your wife does know that IT'S THE FIRST NFL SUNDAY OF THE YEAR, right?

Kezar Pub is good for games, as is Green's Sports Bar.

lol - trust me I know. I had to fly out that day regardless.

 

[snitwitch]

How about trip UP Hwy 1, and then turn inland around Jenner? More of a pretty drive with some Hwy 1-esque stuff view-wise. Then head into funky wine-country as mentioned (not Napa), head back down 101.

river road. could stop at stinson / bolinas on the way.

 

[Jefferson the Caregiver]

I almost prefer sonoma / hieldsburg / russian river area to napa -- it's more mellow, less pretentious and overall a more enjoyable experience.

Completely agree with this.

 

[Hilts]

Be careful with North Beach as there are a lot of stinker tourist trap restaurants. You can do a lot better than places like The Stinking Rose despite what the tour pamphlets tell you. My recommendation there is Tony's Pizza. Also if you want to eat at an SF institution, check out any of the following:

Tadich Grill

La Taqueria

Tommy's Joint - hit or miss but still a city institution.

House of Prime Rib

Cliff House

Came in here to recommend the same thing if you're in North Beach. Their Sicilian pizza is killer imho. Exactly like I used to get growing up in Brooklyn.

It's not in a big tourist-y area, but Bi-Rite ice cream is worth killing for. The lines out the door seem to indicate I'm not alone on that one

When I have tourist friends in town, I like to take a drive up to Twin Peaks. It gives a nice lay-of-the-land of San Francisco from up high, and it's amazing views in all directions.

Another vote for Tony's. You can yelp a lot of things. Doesn't seem like a lot of other parts of the country are as yelp centric as the bay area, but in SF you could find just about anything and everything there. I'm with Eephus in loving Golden Gate Park.

 

[El Floppo]

How about trip UP Hwy 1, and then turn inland around Jenner? More of a pretty drive with some Hwy 1-esque stuff view-wise. Then head into funky wine-country as mentioned (not Napa), head back down 101.

river road. could stop at stinson / bolinas on the way.

no sign for Bolinas. tourists keep-out.

 

[bierfiend]

we have done some fun leisurely days at Tony's seafood and Nick's Cove in marshall up along highway 1 near Tomales Bay. great oysters without the hog island crowds. also dillon and doran beaches are close if you want to picnic. further south (near the GG bidge) a beach we like is rodeo beach (Ft. Cronkhite)near the Marin headlands...could do that and muir/stinson.

 

[5Rings]

Be careful with North Beach as there are a lot of stinker tourist trap restaurants. You can do a lot better than places like The Stinking Rose despite what the tour pamphlets tell you. My recommendation there is Tony's Pizza. Also if you want to eat at an SF institution, check out any of the following:

Tadich Grill

La Taqueria

Tommy's Joint - hit or miss but still a city institution.

House of Prime Rib

Cliff House

I think I ate at 4 of these for different homecoming and proms Memories....

Damn....

 

[El Floppo]

is La Cumbre still around?

 

[Eephus]

is La Cumbre still around?

Yes but it was pretty mediocre the last time we went. I think their reputation was based a lot on their location and the fact they had a grill when most other places didn't. It's not a destination anymore IMO. If I was drunk and in the neighborhood (hypothetically), I'd probably go around the corner to Pancho Villa or grab a slice from Arinell.

 

[belljr]

Settled on the Tuscan

 

[Eephus]

Settled on the Tuscan

Good choice if a lot of your activities center around the Wharf

 

[belljr]

That's the plan for most of it. Lombard not too far away

 

[CurlyNight]

Coit Tower not too far away either if you want to see panoramic view of the city.

 

[El Floppo]

is La Cumbre still around?

Yes but it was pretty mediocre the last time we went. I think their reputation was based a lot on their location and the fact they had a grill when most other places didn't. It's not a destination anymore IMO. If I was drunk and in the neighborhood (hypothetically), I'd probably go around the corner to Pancho Villa or grab a slice from Arinell.

It was a destination?

I worked around the corner from there for a bit in HS (ugh... 30 years ago)... was my first jaw-droppingly good burrito. There were some spots in S Marin that were good- but that was unreal. Had no idea it ever even had a reputation.

 

[Eephus]

is La Cumbre still around?

Yes but it was pretty mediocre the last time we went. I think their reputation was based a lot on their location and the fact they had a grill when most other places didn't. It's not a destination anymore IMO. If I was drunk and in the neighborhood (hypothetically), I'd probably go around the corner to Pancho Villa or grab a slice from Arinell.

It was a destination?

I worked around the corner from there for a bit in HS (ugh... 30 years ago)... was my first jaw-droppingly good burrito. There were some spots in S Marin that were good- but that was unreal. Had no idea it ever even had a reputation.

La Cumbre was a hot spot in the 80s. It wasn't a destination like the French Laundry but it was well regarded enough to have been mentioned on a Internet Fantasy Football board had either existed at the time.

I think it's a combination of them slipping and the rest of burrito culture passing them by. I've eaten there twice in the past decade for old time's sake but neither time was very good. My burrito tastes have gotten more refined over the years but a burrito with charred meat and watery tasteless beans doesn't have much going for it.

 

[Apple Jack]

I miss Sweet Heat.

 

[El Floppo]

is La Cumbre still around?

Yes but it was pretty mediocre the last time we went. I think their reputation was based a lot on their location and the fact they had a grill when most other places didn't. It's not a destination anymore IMO. If I was drunk and in the neighborhood (hypothetically), I'd probably go around the corner to Pancho Villa or grab a slice from Arinell.

It was a destination?

I worked around the corner from there for a bit in HS (ugh... 30 years ago)... was my first jaw-droppingly good burrito. There were some spots in S Marin that were good- but that was unreal. Had no idea it ever even had a reputation.

La Cumbre was a hot spot in the 80s. It wasn't a destination like the French Laundry but it was well regarded enough to have been mentioned on a Internet Fantasy Football board had either existed at the time.

I think it's a combination of them slipping and the rest of burrito culture passing them by. I've eaten there twice in the past decade for old time's sake but neither time was very good. My burrito tastes have gotten more refined over the years but a burrito with charred meat and watery tasteless beans doesn't have much going for it.

ah- interesting. I obviously wasn't hip to dining hot-spots as a suburban teenager... just went from what I saw- which seemed kinda hole-in-the-wll at the time. and lol- I didn't have to call repeatedly for hours until I could get through exactly a month ahead of time at 8am to get a reservation there, so I had an idea it wasn't French Laundry. Plus, burritos.

sad to hear it ain't what it used to be.

the regular HS burrito spot for us was a place called Lucinda's near the Straweberry Shopping center- more of a big lop-o-#### rather than a taste each ingredient type of burrito. I haven't tried it in a number of years- but that thing happily never changed. I seriously considered trying to work with them to open a NYC location, as hte idea of a burrito didn't exist here, and then when it finally did, the people who did them got every part of them wrong for years and years.

 

[El Floppo]

I miss Sweet Heat.

Pretty sure that was a tranny hooker who worked Allen and Houston in 1993. I'm told.

 

[belljr]

Is this timing reasonable? I know if something happens we may be in trouble etc.

Anyway. Land at 11 am SFO

Alcatraz tour at 2:!0.

I figure by the time we get bags and get to Hotel. 12 to 12:30 ?

Does 2:10 mean the ferry leaves at 2:10?

Tia

 

[Aaron Rudnicki]

yeah, you can't be late for the Alcatraz tour.

that seems possible if you are staying right near the Wharf. SFO to Wharf is not a short trip though.

 

[belljr]

yeah, you can't be late for the Alcatraz tour.

that seems possible if you are staying right near the Wharf. SFO to Wharf is not a short trip though.

staying at tuscan/best Western looks like a 10 minute walk according to teh googles

 

[Phil Elliott]

I almost prefer sonoma / hieldsburg / russian river area to napa -- it's more mellow, less pretentious and overall a more enjoyable experience.

Completely agree with this.

Definitely this.

 

[SWC]

muir woods is really cool brohan and i always recommend national parks take that to the bank brochacho

 

[Eephus]

Is this timing reasonable? I know if something happens we may be in trouble etc.

Anyway. Land at 11 am SFO

Alcatraz tour at 2:!0.

I figure by the time we get bags and get to Hotel. 12 to 12:30 ?

Does 2:10 mean the ferry leaves at 2:10?

Tia

Figure a half hour to get bags and a half hour to make it from SFO to your hotel. You might be better off just leaving your bags with the bellhop and heading straight to the pier.

It'll be tight and your

If your flight gets delayed you're SOL.

 

[CurlyNight]

Are you taking a shuttle or taxi or? If shuttle, there could be stops before yours so it would take longer. Shuttle may not go a direct route.

 

[5Rings]

If you are going to do a day trip outside of SF on a 3-day trip there is no question in my mind that Sonoma/Napa is far superior to trekking down to Carmel. Even if they were the same distance (wine country is much closer) I would never suggest Carmel area over a day in wine country. Sonoma > Napa IMHO but to each his own.

as someone who really enjoys both, and who lived in the city for a decent % of my life... i think carmel is a nicer trip. wine country provides a slice of italy/france and wine tasting, excellent food. carmel has that as well but is much more versatile. very nice wineries down there as well as charming town, beach, golf, montery is very close.

hell, just continue down the coast to Paso / Santa Maria Valley / Santa Ynez if you want good wine.

but i'm with the comments above about spending all 3 days in SF. This thread is making me try and figure out when I can pull a weekend back home soon....GB SF.

 

[belljr]

Thanks all. I think we are going to go Alcatraz first thing Saturday morning. Hit the wharf and other stuff up on friday. We were worried about crowds but rather be crowded then for some reason miss it. Plus we will be able to hit the free wine hour at the hotel

 

[joey]

Good call. Hit Tony's Pizza in a North Beach for dinner and drinks at any of the many cool bars in north beach. They don't take reservations so out your name on the list, hit a bar, and they'll call when your table is ready. Order the Sicilian Brooklyn Style.

Go to sleep very full and very happy

 

[belljr]

Just an update:

thanks for all the info.

landed friday and got to hotel around 1130pst.

hit the wharf ate lunch, walked down to Ghirardelli and hopped on a cable car to union sq.

walked around there a bit.

Cable car back stopped at Lombard st.

Hit the wharf a little longer turned in early since we were on east coast time.

Saturday second tour of alcatraz. Great tour.

last minute we took a city bus tour. Drove over the golden gate. Got out walked onto the bridg pics etc.

then Japanese garden in the golden gate park. Followed by a trip by the Mrs Doubtfire house lol.

up to twin peaks what a view.

ended by capitol and through China town.

hit pier 39 that night, got hooked up from the hotel desk girl at some small bar on the puer.

Great view round of drinks and 20% off the bill.

Sunday

took town car to sfo, was only 10 bucks more than cab

got car drove to miramar beach at half moon bay.

ate brunch at an oceanfront restaurant. Excellent shrimp and crab omelet .

drove down route 1 towards santa cruz.

awesome drive. Stopped at pt pleasant? Lighthouse. Saw a whale. Took pics.

continue down 1 randomly stopping for pics

hit santa cruz. That was a waste.

as we are walking around we kicked around monterey or something else.

last minute decision drove on route 9 to Howell park.

walked through redwoods it was pretty cool. Not Muir woods but still pretty cool.

drove back to hotel. Was a great 2.5 days.

drove wife to airport Monday went to work

 

[El Floppo]

curious about Santa Cruz being a waste... although I've always been pretty wasted when I'm there- so is that it?

 

[belljr]

curious about Santa Cruz being a waste... although I've always been pretty wasted when I'm there- so is that it?

meh we hit so many nice places it felt like a jersey boardwalk. I should have noted we went to the wharf and boardwalk. We didn't hit downtown

 

[El Floppo]

curious about Santa Cruz being a waste... although I've always been pretty wasted when I'm there- so is that it?

meh we hit so many nice places it felt like a jersey boardwalk. I should have noted we went to the wharf and boardwalk. We didn't hit downtown

I honestly don't remember anything worthwhile there except drugs.

Sounds like the rest of the trip turned out well, though- the wife enjoy it?

And Howell Park- never been- how was it different or lesser than Muir Woods?

 

[belljr]

curious about Santa Cruz being a waste... although I've always been pretty wasted when I'm there- so is that it?

meh we hit so many nice places it felt like a jersey boardwalk. I should have noted we went to the wharf and boardwalk. We didn't hit downtown

I honestly don't remember anything worthwhile there except drugs.

Sounds like the rest of the trip turned out well, though- the wife enjoy it?

And Howell Park- never been- how was it different or lesser than Muir Woods?

wife loved it.I can't compare to Muir woods but that is supposedly better but there was some big ### trees on Howell

if we had more time we would have kept going south.

the drive to santa cruz was awesome

highly recommend the miramar beach restaurant

 

[El Floppo]

curious about Santa Cruz being a waste... although I've always been pretty wasted when I'm there- so is that it?

meh we hit so many nice places it felt like a jersey boardwalk. I should have noted we went to the wharf and boardwalk. We didn't hit downtown

I honestly don't remember anything worthwhile there except drugs.

Sounds like the rest of the trip turned out well, though- the wife enjoy it?

And Howell Park- never been- how was it different or lesser than Muir Woods?

wife loved it.I can't compare to Muir woods but that is supposedly better but there was some big ### trees on Howell

Think she'd do a return trip- maybe head up to Napa or down to Monterrey?

re: Muir Woods... I grew up right there- always loved it, regardless of how many times I went... and loved taking visiting friends to see it. Those trees in that valley- just incredible.

That said- the last couple of times I've gone there were SO many people, and so many of them who just seemed to be checking a box off a list of things to see- not really appreciating or enjoying that place. Kinda sorta started to make me pissed off being there. In my mind, Howell and other slightly more out of the way redwood forests are more quiet and solitary... although I've never been to any of them.

 

[belljr]

There were 4 cars at Howell lol.

we were t prepared for full hiking but the main .8 mile walk was cool.

I'm still here till friday.

she will most likely want to come back and monterey and Napa are next. I know we scratched the surface with sf didn't get in too much nightlife but did hit a lot of the touristy things

 

[El Floppo]

There were 4 cars at Howell lol.

we were t prepared for full hiking but the main .8 mile walk was cool.

I'm still here till friday.

she will most likely want to come back and monterey and Napa are next. I know we scratched the surface with sf didn't get in too much nightlife but did hit a lot of the touristy things

It's been a LONG time since I've spent time in SF- but even when I was growing up, we avoided the touristy spots like Fishy Wharf and Pier 39 (except for the video game arcade there- the best around). I have a feeling you guys are going to go ape-#### with all the restaurants, bars, etc out there... let alone the places outside the city. Hell- Yosemite is only a few hours away and absolutely worth a day trip.

 

[Eephus]

Glad you had a good time. Hope you spent a lot of money. September is a really good time of the year to come out.

Actually, it's San Francisco so anytime is a good time to come out but that's not what I meant.

 

[belljr]

Meals aren't cheap

 

[CurlyNight]

Next time you come you may not be able to flush the toilet and take a shower at the rate this drought is going....

 

[belljr]

Next time you come you may not be able to flush the toilet and take a shower at the rate this drought is going....

tried to convince the wife due to the water shortage it was mandatory we shower together

 

[CurlyNight]

Next time you come you may not be able to flush the toilet and take a shower at the rate this drought is going....

tried to convince the wife due to the water shortage it was mandatory we shower together

 

[Officer Pete Malloy]

There were 4 cars at Howell lol.

we were t prepared for full hiking but the main .8 mile walk was cool.

I'm still here till friday.

she will most likely want to come back and monterey and Napa are next. I know we scratched the surface with sf didn't get in too much nightlife but did hit a lot of the touristy things

It's been a LONG time since I've spent time in SF- but even when I was growing up, we avoided the touristy spots like Fishy Wharf and Pier 39 (except for the video game arcade there- the best around).

There was a pizza place at Pier 39 back in the early-mid 80s that made some awesome pie. No idea what the name of it was though.