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I've been all over this land, from the mountains to the prairies to the oceans white with foam, yet I've never been to San Francisco for more than a couple of hours layover between flights.

All of that is about to change. The fair and feisty female I've recently started dating is taking me to San Francisco for the weekend for my birthday in July.

So tell me; what are some of the things I am absolutely must not miss?

Fisherman's wharf

Rent a moped and see the whole city


Bush guy








Get some crabs there



Lot pf cool boats




If you have time go to Napa valley








Also see the bridge
the jail
ride on a cable car

IFEMaster wrote:So tell me; what are some of the things I am absolutely must not miss?

The beggar with the 'Need money for beer and weed' sign used to be a San Fransisco highlight, which isn't saying a lot. I never made it across to Alcatraz, which I regret. There's also an interesting airport there, or so I believe

Stinson beach area is pretty. Bayfront park if the lady tolerates it. I always make a run to Tahoe, but I'm outdoorsy.

You should walk down on Market St. near Taylor St after dark. Loads of people sleeping in storefront doorways. If you're lucky, you'll get mugged.

Beach Blanket Babylon.

South Beach.

Alcatraz.

Tenderloin.

Airfoilsguy wrote: Fisherman's wharf

Airfoilsguy wrote:If you have time go to Napa Sonoma valley.

Napa is for auto parts, sonoma is for wine.

Airfoilsguy wrote:Also see walk the bridge
the jail
ride on a cable car

And: Lombard Street (yes, it's tacky), Golden Gate Park - including the De Young Museum, Academy of Sciences (CAS is one of the largest natural history museums in the world, and also houses the Steinhart Aquarium and the Morrison Planetarium), and the Japanese Tea Garden.

Stay the F away from Market street, unless you like being accosted by foul-smelling street people.

Castro district would be a great place to lose your SF virginity.

When are you going to be in town? Depending on the weekend, I can show you and your lady around for a few hours.

-Jeff

halls120 wrote:

Airfoilsguy wrote: Fisherman's wharf

Airfoilsguy wrote:If you have time go to Napa Sonoma valley.

Napa is for auto parts, sonoma is for wine.
.

Hell yes, Napa is nothing but fluff. Sonoma is where it's at

[resident of Sonoma County]

It depends on all what you want to do.

Check out the Muir Woods (some redwoods near SF)
Go to Half Moon Bay, Santa Cruz boardwalk, I could go on for hours. Lots to do.

When in July will you be here?

Lived in the gay bay for a few years and I love SF. If I had the job, I would live there.

I always liked China Town. No other city has one as extensive.

Definitely check out the sea lions at Fisherman's Wharf. Get out as soon as possible though. It's a tourist trap (with the exception of seaplane rides).

One thing that is commonly missed by many is Golden Gate Park. They have all types of cool musicians, museaums, reptile houses, etc.

Are you driving up the 1?

From LA, you have to drive to SF on the 1 at least once during your life. If its on a weekend at least drive the last portion on the 1 with the rest on the 5.

I spend an awful lot of time up there. I can offer you a few pointers.

Go to Golden Gate Park. It's a beautiful place. If you are staying downtown, I recommend using the Muni train out there, the N-Judah line. Plus, you can hit Haight-Ashbury as well, which is pretty cool.

North Beach is great. Caffe Trieste, where Coppola wrote the Godfather in the back room, is right there, and my favorite coffee house in the city. The Molinari Deli across the street is good too.

There's a lot to see there. It's pretty cool, though I wouldn't want to live there.

Thanks for all the info, everyone. There's plenty there to chew on...

Airfoilsguy wrote:Bush guy

Clear he's a local legend, thus I'll definitely go and watch him petrify nubile young reprobates as they walk by.

Lucas wrote:Bayfront park if the lady tolerates it.

Sounds intriguing. Why would she have to 'tolerate' it?

ANCFlyer wrote:Alcatraz.

That's on the 'priority' list. The history of that place fascinates me.

halls120 wrote:Stay the F away from Market street, unless you like being accosted by foul-smelling street people.

Thanks for the heads up. A quick look on the map shows it's not a huge distance from my hotel though (Westin St. Francis on Powell St.).

JeffSFO wrote:When are you going to be in town? Depending on the weekend, I can show you and your lady around for a few hours.

July 17th - July 19th.

AA61hvy wrote:When in July will you be here?

See above.

Fumanchewd wrote:Golden Gate Park

Lots of people have recommended this. We'll be sure to check it out.

Fumanchewd wrote:Are you driving up the 1?

From LA, you have to drive to SF on the 1 at least once during your life.

Not on this occasion; we're flying AA out of LAX. I've driven up the 1 halfway to SF and it's a great drive up as far as that, and I've heard it only gets better from there. I'll make a point of scheduling the road trip, perhaps later this year.

IFEMaster wrote:

Fumanchewd wrote:Are you driving up the 1?

From LA, you have to drive to SF on the 1 at least once during your life.

Not on this occasion; we're flying AA out of LAX. I've driven up the 1 halfway to SF and it's a great drive up as far as that, and I've heard it only gets better from there. I'll make a point of scheduling the road trip, perhaps later this year.

It is a beautiful drive but there are a few things to think about.

Driving the 1 on holidays and weekends suck. It gets pretty sinuous at times. With only two lanes and tourists gawking (you may be one) it can get pretty backed up. If you go on a weekend, expect a very slow but beatuiful drive.

Early morning and evening in the summer get alot of the advection fog rolling inland and anyone whose driven in Cali knows that it can make driving hell.

Nice hotel. When I was there I stayed up the street (Powell St.) a block at the Sir Francis Drake. Hearing the Cable Cars in the morning is a great way to wake up.

And yes, Market street has alot of great little shops, great architecture, etc etc, but the number of bums (well...street people I suppose) was rather surprising. Of course...we were walking back from a Giants game on a Sunday late afternoon...so maybe that had something to do with it.

Walk from Pier 39 to Golden Gate Park. Great exercise. I did that with a group of Star Trek friends from around the world during New Year's week in 1999-2000. Ah! Y2K in SF. What a blast.

I've always wanted to tour Star Fleet Acad.....oh, yeah, right.

The Bums aren't that bad. Just tell them "Hey, McDonald's is hiring." and they'll leave. I never get bothered by them, though.

Forgot to add


There is a cool spy shop in fisherman's wharf if you are into that kind of stuff.

International Spy Shop of San Francisco

Be sure to check out Alameda. You know...where they keep the nukweeah wessels.

I go to Bayfront to watch the planes land and relax. Sometimes there are pilots there that will do the same that strike up a conversation with you. Really nice DL one always goes there when he has a chance and they're staying over. Forget his name though.

Hey Everyone,

Got back last night from an amazing weekend in San Francisco. Had an absolute blast. I really like that city.

Thanks all for your suggestions. We took in a few of them and also did a couple of things on impulse. Two things happened that will stick out as special memories:

1. I set a new record for most money ever spent on dinner. Michael Mina restaurant is amazing food, incredibly expensive, and worth every penny. Go there, but expect to spend at least $150 per head.

2. I saw the world's worst Michael Jackson impersonator on Market Street.

Cheers all!

Glad we treated you right.
Come back and visit anytime.