My wife and I are going to San Francisco. What are some neat things to do while we are there?

Question

We will be there from thursday night until monday night. We are both interested in art, culinary experiences, and other cultures. We also like to travel off the beaten path to experience things only the locals know about so we can get the true flavor of a city. Thanks for your time everyone.

Answer 1

http://www.baychef.com/about_restaurants_catering.asp
http://local.yahoo.com/details;_ylt=Anv5L3AgkAdaunZtJqcgZveHNcIF?id=21330460&state=CA&city=San+Francisco&stx=culinary+academy&csz=San+Francisco%2C+CA&fr=dd-local-more&ed=itlDna131Dxn85.5aPra4au2nB4Im8avsrhBlHTEs9XKcFRDUI1wurA-&lcscb=l8pMtZQNoRQ

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED: Located few blocks from Civic Center: Be sure to go to the Culinary Academy buffet open only on Thurs or Fri. Show up when they are open so you will get in and also get to the tables among the first.

I just read a negative review -- I've eaten at many different buffets and never have packed food out, so maybe that's why I had a positive experience. Also, I recommend you go at lunchtime because the school is in a borderline seedy area. (It's OK during the day: Boalt Hall law school, state building, Federal Building, City Hall is in area and open until 5 pm)

Then I always select the fancy dessert and set it on my table early (to make sure that I get one before they are all taken).

I think they open for lunch buffet at 11 or 11:30 am. Call the school and show up early.

You will love it. I first went there with my coworkers and we had a great time. Then we invited my sister and niece. They enjoyed it very much. You can park in Civic Center Garage across from City Hall. Entrance is on McAllister between Larkin & Dr. Carlton B. Goodlett Pl..

After eating, go into CITY HALL (beautifully renovated) and take some pictures to prove you've been there. Then go across Civic Center Plaza to the ASIAN ART MUSEUM. If you have your muni ticket stub or a valid muni pass, you get a discount.

Be sure to buy a MUNI pass for at least one day. From Powell & Market St. cable car turnaround: Catch the Cable Car to Fisherman's Wharf, Pier 39, catch a Muni car on the Embarcadero back to the FERRY BUILDING from there (tell the driver where you need to go), Walk through the Ferry Bldg. There is a good cookware store inside. Then go out again on Market St. and catch a vintage car going west. Get off at the Castro district and pick a coffee house for a cup of coffee or something to eat. Go to the underground Muni Castro station and catch a metro back to Powell St. Westfield Mall, Nordstroms, or walk down Powell or Geary St.to Macy's Dept. Store and Union Square. across the street.

On Geary St. near Powell, catch the #38 bus to New Chinatown on Clement St. Get off the #38 at 6th Ave. and walk one block over to Clement. There is a small middle eastern grocery & little cafe called Haigs -- one of the few original stores. Can buy spices and many varieties of tea, etc. I found my little jar of chai marsala there and can make my own chai tea now.

Also on Clement: Many restaurants, asian food outlets and produce stands, bakerys. Schuberts is pricey but produces excellent European pastries. Green Apple book store on 6th Ave, Goodwill (for the urban anthropologist) is between 10th & 11th Ave. There is a large restaurant supply store. You will see the large display of plastic good (and brooms) all out on the sidewalk. It's near the Bank discount Store (formerly a Wells Fargo Bank).

I know it's too much for 2 days. But it depends on what you want to do.

Answer 2

For an only-in-SF experience: go to Coit Tower on Telegraph Hill (best to take a cab or bus). You will see that there are some parking spaces on the right. Also on the right, if you look carefully, you will find two stairways leading down the hill. Take either one for a truly extraordinary experience; this is where you might see the famous wild parrots of Telegraph Hill. You'll also see charming houses nestled in magical gardens and lush greenery. You can walk down one stairway and back up the other. Unforgettable. Also, if you have a car, drive across the GG Bridge and take the first right, then curve around and head up the hill for breathtaking views of the city by the Bay. While over there, you could have lunch in Sausalito or Tiburon, both charming. If you like art, all of the city's museums are worth a visit. The Japanese tea garden in GG Park is also very special. Best to avoid the downtown touristy places; too many homeless. But the city is still a jewel. Enjoy.

Answer 3

It is a big state.

In the South, go to San Diego zoo/Tijuana maybe
Disneyland/California Adventure
San Francisco for scenic city and great food
Yosemite to Hike and be awed by Nature
Wine Tasting in Sonoma/Napa
Lake Tahoe to Ski
Monterey for sea otters & aquarium
Santa Barbara for spanish charm and beaches






Going to Montery ,
Yosemite/The Sierra Nevada and beautiful beaches

it also depends where you are going :)

San Francisco is also fun, ride a cable car , shop, and all that stuff.Try going to San Diego too. Its really sunny and friendly!

Look up this place called Hidden villa. It is a beautiful ranch in Palo Alto i think. You can take hikes and help take care of the animals. you can also stay overnight there.It is so peaceful & calm !

Also Lake Tahoe is sooooooooOoOOoO beautiful all year round!




No matter what part of California you are in, there will be a wine region not far away. There are wineries located throughout California from the Napa Valley to the coastal areas to the Central Valley.....even San Diego has great wineries.

It's fun to discover to wines while wine tasting at wine tasting rooms where you can often sample wines for free. You will find lots of other fun activities to enjoy in the various wine countries of California as well. (i.e. hiking, water sports, cave exploration, skiing, golfing, hot air baloons, and more).

Plan a trip to the California Wine Country!

Answer 4

We love San Francisco. Here are some places we enjoyed.
Fisherman's Wharf
Coit Tower
Pier 39
Union Square (shopper's paradise)
Lombard Street (crookedest street in the world)
Cable car Museum
Nob Hill
Gheradelli Square (sp?)
Alcatraz
Golden Gate Bridge
Chinatown
That will keep you busy for 4 days.
Enjoy, it's a great city.

Happy travels

Answer 5

see if the ballet is performing. they are great. Drive up to wine country and do some tasting. Ferry to Angel Island... not many people go there.. thye all go to alcatraz. I would deffinelty see Sausalito. charming little town. Of course shop in China Town and ride the trolleys. Roam the back streets up on the hills. Th little chinese laudrys and stuff. pretty cool if you have good legs.

I belive the farmer's market is on Saturdays. At the ferry building. great. don't miss it. The ferry building has the best food around. must see.

Answer 6

The Trans-usa Tower's commentary deck was open to the standard public, yet in view that 9-11 it is strictly off limits for protection motives (there is likewise a clean site visitors barrier that forestalls drivers from scuffling with next to the development). the suited you may get to seeing the dazzling of the pyramid up close is the close by financial employer of usa center's 52nd floor bar. At any value, what's down under 'super pointy' is exciting and incredibly properly worth a walk. North sea coast and Telegraph Hill is a energetic area with bookshops, Italian eating places, captivating catholic church homes, wild parrots, and Coit Tower...which promises between the few glimpses of social-realist artwork (debatable by using fact of its affiliation with communism) in the U.S.

Answer 7

ya,, stella39 listed the places right there. However you must check out a few good Jazz clubs downtown, especially if its cold. nothing like nesting yourself in a cozy atmosphere with your love and a trio or quartet playing beats to your content. If its not too cold, rent bicycles and ride out to Golden Gate and across the bridge- its a great alternative to check out one of the greates bridges constructed in the western hemisphere

Answer 8

Kicking the bums is always fun...once u get tired of that go to fisherman's wharf and check out the sea lions/seals. Rent a Mustang Cobra GT-500 and do the Bullit (Steve McQueen) car chase scene on the hilly streets...haha...

Answer 9

go check out this web site, it has what you seek-
it is an entertainment guide off the net, with your choose to see, Art, Music,Perfomance, Nightlife,etc...
http://sfgate.com/eguide/

Answer 10

frisco is kind of scummy but it is nice in some places. anyhoo you should go and tour alcatraz if you like to fidh there are also some good places to fish at the fidhermans wharf but that is probably something to do with your buds not your wife.i cant really think of anything to do but definetely see alcatraz