Trip to San Francisco?

Question

I'm taking my boyfriend's 16 year old cousin (from Ohio) out to San Francisco. But I'm tight on money, so we're taking a train up there. I need help on the best ways to get around by foot. I plan on taking her down Embarcadero...(Fisherman's Wharf, Pier 39, Musee Mechanique, Ghirardelli Square, etc.) what else is nearby that we can show her? And the best way to get there? Maybe Haight St. or the Metreon...Japantown?

Answer 1

http://www.sfmta.com/cms/mfares/fareinfo.htm
http://www.sfmta.com/cms/mfares/fareinfo.htm#passports
http://transit.511.org/schedules/allroutes.asp?cid=SF

Purchase a one day MUNI Passport for $11 each person.

You can see more of the city that way by transferring to the different lines. HANG ON TO YOUR MUNI PASSPORT.

Then you can hop on Muni rail lines, stand in line at Powell turnaround @ Market St. and catch Cable car to Fisherman's Wharf and back if you like, from Market St. ride a vintage streetcar outbound to the Castro neighborhood, get off and get on to return back downtown, or for a faster ride go to the underground Castro station and catch any MUNI metro train (Passport is for Muni, not BART) inbound and get off at the Embarcadero stop for the Ferry Building, ride the streetcar that runs along the Embarcadero. Inbound means the MUNI is headed East (direction of downtown and Ferry Bldg) and Outbound is if MUNI is headed westward (toward the Pacific Ocean or various residential neighborhoods.

At the Powell turnaround, near the Muni kiosk, there are stairs and escalators which you can ride down and the SF tourist center would be right in front of you if you walk past the Cable Car coffee stand. They have maps. Some of their little booklets have discount coupons inside for various establishments. At least they did several years ago.

Generally, you can hop on and off any Muni vehicle going your way and go just about anywhere in the city. Ask the driver if you have questions. Many times other citizens are friendly and helpful. This is a town where we are used to visitors.

Ask the cousin what she is interested in seeing. Usually people have something in mind. Maybe you can fit that into your itinerary. The Ferry Building is a good choice to visit. It's filled with interesting upscale businesses including coffee shops and eating places. If you packed a lunch, you can probably find a place at the picnic-type tables inside or small tables outside overlooking the bay, sit and eat there. The ferrys actually dock there and many office workers regularly use that as a mode of transportation to and from work. There are places to sit inside the Metreon and if it's a nice day there is a park outside where you can sit.

Food is expensive in SF unless we prepare it ourselves at home. So if you are on a limited budget, do as I have and pack some nice sandwiches, fruit, etc. That way, you'll only have to supplement it with cheaper snacks or drinks. There are drugstores (RiteAid and Walgreens) on Market (near Stockton St.) where you can buy refrigerated water, etc. cheaper.

Allow yourself enough time to get back to the train depot at the end of the day. Hope you have a good time.

Answer 2

Downtown bus/tram fares are $1.50 (except for cable cars, which are $5.00).

The F-Line historic trams runs along the Embarcadero from the Ferry Building to Fisherman's Wharf.

Besides the usual Wharf carnival attractions, I recommend the Maritime Museum and Historic Park, which is pretty authentic 'old' San Francisco.

The N-Line is also very useful for tourists. It goes from the Embarcadero subway station to the beach. Here are the stops of interest:

Powell Street = Museum of Modern Art, Metreon, Moscone Convention Center (there's a bowling alley and ice rink), Union Square.

Civic Center = Asian Art Museum, Main Library, Supreme Court, City Hall.

Carl and Cole = Haight-Ashbury district.

Judah and 9th Avenue = Golden Gate Park (including the Botanical Gardens, Japanese Tea Garden, and De Young Museum)

Ocean Beach = Quiet end of Golden Gate Park, the Beach

If you're feeling adventurous, you can take BART from Embarcadero station to 24th Street station (Latin Quarter, Fare: $1.40), the cemetery town of Colma (where the dead outnumber the living by 1500 to 1, Fare: $2.90), or the UC Berkeley campus (Fare: $3.25).

Or you can hop on a ferry headed to Alcatraz, Angel Island, Sausalito, Tiburon, Alameda, or Oakland's Jack london Square. Fare: $6.25 - $21.75

Answer 3

Fishermans wharf, Pier 39, Ghiradelli Square, Lombard Street(the crookedest street) all all within easy walking distance. The trolleys also take you quite a distance for around $3.00 each way. It might be a bit more since I haven't been there in a couple of years. There is also buses and BART(bay area rapid transit). I am from a very small town(pop. 2500) and found S.F. very easy to get around. Transportation is about the only cheap thing in San Francisco.

Answer 4

Your best bet is North! Marin Headlands, if you want to hike. Nice up there. Sausalito is nice but a little pricey. Same for Napa and Sonoma, but if you like wine, that's where you'll want to be. The winery tours are often free and include tastings. Petaluma is a nice older 'small' town- American Graffiti was filmed there. Go to Hopland (breweries-- only a couple hours north) or Pt. Reyes Station (small town with a cool old bar and nice restaurants) which is even closer than that! If you like driving, you can make it up to Ft. Bragg but that's a good four hours. If you go there, you have to go to Smoky's BBQ and check out some of the antique stores! If you want to head in the other direction (North is my favorite though!) down South is Santa Cruz, a college town with rolling hills and a bit of a hippie vibe- downtown SC is pretty hip. Nice used clothing stores, sushi places, etc. Of course there's always Monterey, a bit farther South than Santa Cruz... the Monterey Bay Aquarium is like nothing you've ever seen before. It's really awesome there, too. The weather is nice and you're right on the water.

Answer 5

Chinatown is much closer to walk to , if you are going to Embarcadero Square,, then the Ferry Building towards the Wharf,, have good walking shoes.. NorthBeach is near Chinatown and also nr Northbeach is Coit Tower..
here is the web page to print up maps
http://www.onlyinsanfrancisco.com/maps/
(official web site for visitors coming to SF)

Answer 6

You can take her to nob hill, or get in the trains that go around, you can take her to alcatraz (trust me its fun!!!) and walk the Golden Gate Bridge and just walk around. Have fun, and good luck.

Answer 7

Not sure but have bunches of fun!

-♥