Know of interesting things to do that are not the usual tourist stuff?

Question

I've been to San Francisco many times (at least 20 times) and have done all the usual major and minor touristy stuff...Golden Gate Park, Presidio Park, walked over the Golden Gate Bridge, Chinatown, crooked street, embassy area, Coit Tower (back when you use to be able to walk up the stairs), cable cars, North Beach, Ghiradelli Square, Fisherman's Wharf, Union Square, Alcatraz, Berkeley, Candlestick, touring the historic cathedrals, etc.

My ex-husband's family all live in the east bay area, so I know all that stuff too (hiking Mt. Diablo, etc.) Have also been all over Napa and Sonoma and Muir Woods and Mt. Tam etc.

I will be using public transit only as not planning to rent a car.

I'll be in town Nov 28 thru Dec 3 with my boyfriend while he's playing in a bridge tournament. Until he looses, I'll be on my own, touring during the day.

Any ideas for something new to see or check into? I am not all that interested in shopping.

Answer 1

The graffiti murals in the Mission are quite rad... You don't really need to take a tour... just walk through the neighborhood and check it out. The neighborhood itself is kinda cool... great thrift stores, very Hispanic. Also, 826 Valencia is a wonderful McSweeney's bookstore with their own publications (which are odd... even stream of conscious novels written by little kids) and is decorated/set up like a pirate ship.

Various churches, such as Peter & Paul in North Beach and Mission Dolores in the Mission.

The Richmond, around Geary and 15th through 30th Ave or so, is absolutely fantastic... many Russian markets, Russian toy stores, Orthodox church, as well as many other little neighborhood but very unique and cultural shops and stores. You can buy giant boxes of candy for $5, and see stores with childrens books right next to porn. And the best Pizza ever at Gaspare's at 20th and Geary. Also, along Clement St starting at Arguello (particularly through about Funston) is the local's "Chinatown"... absolutely anti-touristy, cheap dim-sum and other food (that's actually better than Chinatown), and stores and restaurants targeted more toward actual Chinese people than tourists wanting a "Chinese experience".

Land's End in the NW end of the city is gorgeous... walking East (ie: away from Sutro Baths) you'll gradually get out of the range of the average tourist (and thus off a paved road and onto a dirt road), and enter a densely wooded area with foxes, coyotes, and amazing views of the Bay/Marin Headlands/Golden Gate Bridge that most tourists aren't adventurous enough to see. If you hike down the hill, there are ruins of old military bunkers now covered in graffiti, and a beach which is only there at low-tide, and thus has a tide pool full of starfish, crabs, etc... (however, since it's only there at low tide, it's usually not accessible).

The Castro is fantastic and very *clean*. You could eat off the sidewalk. Lots of boutiques... I never buy anything, but it's nice watching everyone there.

The Upper Haight is such a scene... but it's fun watching the half-assed nostalgia and artificiality. Also the best record store ever, Amoeba. And if you wanna buy pot, it's the easiest place to go. The Lower Haight is less touristy and has many great restaurants, weird boutiques that wreak of pot (and pot clubs), and Cafe International, which is lovely and has a really great open mic on Fridays with acts ranging from standard singer/songwriters to a fat tranny prostitute reading poems about her johns' ***** and a dude doing what can best be described as turntablism on a didgeridoo.

The Tenderloin and Market (esp around 6th St) is cool, especially as the day progresses... late in the afternoon through late night is amazing. Tranny prostitutes and crack addicts galore. They're very interesting, and usually nice (or at least benign) should you talk to them. You can also laugh at creepy guys hanging around outside sex shops and walking in and out of "massage parlors".

Crissy Field is lovely, as is all of the Presidio... dense forest, coyotes, the only cemetery in San Francisco, horse stables, old military bunkers, abandoned buildings, etc...

As for museums that the typical tourist doesn't go to (ie: SFMOMA, Legion of Honor, de Young, etc...)... The Cartoon Art Museum, Exploratorium (I think it's *technically* for little kids, but the majority of the people playing with the **** there are teens/20 somethings), Antique Vibrator Museum, etc...

More, but... that's enough!

Answer 2

Some of the mural tours in the Mission and Bernal Heights are pretty interesting.

Check out some of the shows at Fort Mason Center (I recommend BATS Improv).

For complete goofiness, go to Fort Mason Center and join a group of people renting Segas, then travel down alongside the water to the bridge.

Go to the Legion of Honor in Lincoln Park (the bus goes right there) for an interesting museum and a fabulous 180 degree view of the Bay.

Answer 3

I went to New York earlier in the year and apart from the usual tourist hotspots, I really enjoyed: Going to a Broadway show then going to 'Ellen's Stardust Diner' with their singing waiting staff. They dance for you too and all whilst taking your orders and bringing your meal! The staff are generally waiting for their big break in the shows. The Farmers' Market on Union Square. Lots of homemade food and drink (great for picnics) and art/jewellery from made by locals (I assume!). Going to little Italy in the Bronx. We sat in a small pizza cafe and people watched the locals! Walking around Cental Park. Going to Radio City Music Hall. The tour there is excellent and you even get to meet a Rockette! We were able to go on stage and see behind the scenes. The tour guide also really brought it all to life. It is right by the Rockefeller Centre, so you could easily fit this in if visiting the 'Top of the Rock'.

Answer 4

Take the Golden Gate Transit bus to the end on the line in Olema. Hike out the Bear Valley Trail in the Point Reyes National Seashore. See white deer, whales, tons of birdlife, and just get chilly with nature.

Answer 5

You have SF well covered....

My favorite spot in SF is Crissy Field. Eat brunch in the Marina (Judy's Cafe). Walk to the Marina toward Crissy Field, then wander around the Palace of Fine Arts.

Land's End hiking trail by Baker Beach is beautiful too. Visit the Legion of Honor Museum at the end of the trail.

Walk down Fillmore Street - eat at Fresca (Peruvian cuisine) and grab dessert crepes (Sophie's) in Japantown.

Visit the De Young museum in Golden Gate Park and walk around the lake and gardens there.

Go to farmer's market at the Ferry Building Saturday morning and then eat at Taylor's Refresher (sweet potato fries!).

Have fun!

Answer 6

Try visiting the Sony Metreon, driving along Mission St. (the good/ safe half only) and up & down Haight-Ashbury for more artistic endeavors. Oakland is supposed to have so new gallery exhibits so check that out too (it's right off the BART)

Answer 7

The exploratorium has a new exhibit called "mind" that sounds interesting and i second the rec to visit the metreon.
if it were me, i'd start at either the wharf, or union square, take a nice coat and book and just walk until you find a place to stop and just absorb your surroundings, at a cafe, park, anywhere--people watching can be quite the entertainment

Answer 8

Union Square Haight-Aushbury even the Castro district is cool (take the 33 bus from ashbury to Castro) chestnut street is cool also

Answer 9

Only public transit, you don't have many choose, try angle island ( ferry)or victoria house walking tour( muni #1, 2, 21).

Answer 10

Go kick Gavin Newsom in the nuts, if he has any.