Planning a vacation to San Francisco, thoughts on things to do?

[Mark Howard]

Planning our family vacation, San Fran Pelicans, can you help out a Southern boy and give me some ideas on what to do? Bringing the family, wife and 2 girls, ages 15 and 8. Staying ay fisherman's wharf hyatt...Alcatraz is a definite. I'll have wheels so day trips are possible. We'll be there for a week.

[mikester]

Thanh Long for dinner one night. Order the roast crab and garlic noodles.

An Family - From our Restaurants to your Home

Thank me later.

[JavaBrewer]

Alcatraz - book it early. It sells out about a week in advance++. Use their website. I best tour is the last one of the day/evening. That sells out weeks in advance. We did the tour this year with my kids (14 and 11) and they LOVED it.

Dinner (heck its' San Francisco). You have to eat at Scoma's on Fishermans Warf. Have to. Plan on big bucks but wow it's incredible. I have lived in SoCal all my life and never ate seafood that good.

Drive over the GGB and park at the overlook (North end of bridge). Then walk back to half span or so. Amazing views (dolphins, surfers, garbage, waves, winds, city) lots of fun. Then drive into the Golden Gate National Recreational area and check out the Nike Missle site and old battery gun emplacements. Great views North and South.

Drive into Sausalito and have lunch. Spend an hour or so driving through all the cool neighborhoods on the hill there.

Plan to spend 1 full day in wine country. Your kids won't be amused but it is incredible.

Cable cars are fun (must ride at least once) but beware trying to get on at the terminal station at Fishermans wharf can take an hour or more.

[steve185]

You need to book your tickets online for Alcatraz ASAP, definitely worth it.
Steve

[cantdrv55]

Bring good shoes and walk. North Beach, Chinatown, Union Square, GG Park, Haight and, if adventurous, see the Castro. Don't forget to have Dim Sum. Also, have some sundaes at Ghirardelli Sq which is just up North Point from the Hyatt.

[syncroid]

+ 1 on eating at Scoma's. The San Francisco zoo is pretty cool too.

[Noah930]

The new Steinhardt aquarium.

There's plenty of touristy stuff to do in the city, itself. If you're at Fisherman's Wharf, Pier 39 and Ghiradelli Square are right there. You can catch the cable car at that end of town, ride it to its end by Union Square, and walk back through Union Square and Chinatown. Go first thing in the morning and it's not as crowded. Stop off in Chinatown for lunch. There's a Ferrari store (amongst other shopping) in Union Square.

There's also Lombard Street (also go early, for a shorter line if you're in a car), Coit Tower, Golden Gate Park, and the Presidio (Chrissy Field). The Presidio has a gorgeous view of Golden Gate Bridge, San Francisco Bay, and Alcatraz.

On the way to the Presidio you can drive through Pacific Heights, which has some gorgeous homes. My sister used to rent an apartment there. Multi-million dollar homes mixed in with the occasional foreign embassy.

Drive across the Golden Gate for a day trip to Sausalito.

You're a car guy, so see if Sears Point in Sonoma or Laguna Seca in Monterey have anything going on. They're an hour and a half away.

[Mark Howard]

Excellent guys, thank you. Just what I was looking for.

[techweenie]

I used to live in SF. It's a city you can wander in -- especially the North Beach area.

JavaBrewer did an excellent rundown on all the high points to hit with the family. I would add that if it's clear, drive up to twin peaks to enjoy the view.

[Rick Lee]

Drive up the 101 into Marin Co. and take Lucas Valley Rd. just for the hell of it. Eat at Fish in Sausalito. They are cash only.

[A930Rocket]

I've been to SF twice ('79 and '89)and missed Alcatrez because it was booked solid.

[mikester]

Scoma's is excellent - I would certainly eat there as well. On the Wharf Alioto's is very good as well.

[rcooled]

Don't miss the Alcatraz tour...and yes, get your tickets early. You might want to consider staying in another area of the City and just visit Fisherman's Wharf to catch the ferry for the Alcatraz tour, visit the Musee Mecanique or tour the WWII submarine USS Pampanito...all of which are well worth doing. The area around the Wharf is very congested and chock-full of tacky shops and other tourist traps. I'd recommend someplace like the Parc 55 near Union Square. Try riding the Cable Cars too...the POWELL-HYDE line has the best views and the CALIFORNIA line is the least crowded. The Cable Car Museum is really interesting too. Head up to Twin Peaks for a fantastic 360 degree view of the City. Have a drink at The Top of the Mark on Nob Hill. Napa Valley is nice if you're into fine dining and wine tasting...not much else to do beyond that. Expect traffic jams and big crowds on the weekends. If you go, skirt around the city of Napa itself and head up to the smaller towns further up the valley...much nicer there. The Disney Family Museum in the Presideo is a real treat. It's not just about Disneyland but more about Walt's life, career and the pursuit of his vision. The Exploritorium is big fun for kids of all ages. Take in a GIANTS game at PacBell Park. Rent some bikes and ride around Golden Gate Park on a Sunday morning...many of the Park's roads are closed to cars on Sundays. Walk (or bike) across the Golden Gate Bridge.
Driving around SF is a total PITA and trying to park a car is nearly impossible...use public transit if you can. And bring some warm clothes...summer in SF can be quite chilly. This spring has been much cooler than usual too.

[Tobra]

All the above, Fort Point is cool, right under the GG bridge, view from the top of Twin Peaks is stellar if the weather is clear. Rent bicycles and ride around GG park on Sunday when they close off the streets. Be careful about going to the Haight, I would not take my children there.

If you have kids, go to the Exploratorium

it will take a while, they will be fascinated for hours, well, the two year old, not so much

[pwd72s]

Follow the Bullitt chase route? Here's a map

http://www.ponysite.de/bullitt.htm

[Embraer]

....just don't lose 7 hubcaps.

[tabs]

I thought Ivers in Seattle (inside) and Joe Muirs in Detroit were better fish joints than Scoma's.

[kanadary]

not a norcal pelican but was there in feb. our girls are younger, 11 and 7 but they really enjoyed the monterey bay aquarium, its abit of a drive but doable. also we got the city pass and used the unlimited muni/street car and cable car pass alot. if you're staying down by fisherman's, you're right in front of the starting points for one of the lines. you also have a choice with the city pass to do alcatraz instead of the harbour tour. we ended up doing both.

[widebody911]

If you're going to San Francisco, be sure to wear some flowers in your hair.

[vash]

Scoma's is alright..ok, it blows.

food is acceptable, but why the hell would someone want to come to a city and eat with everyone that is not from the city? the view is fantastic, and the kids would probably enjoy watching the seals (sea lions?) sun themselves nearby.

if seafood is the key, go where the locals go. Pacific Cafe in the sunset district. simple #38 GEARY bus ride will drop you off. you will arrive at a local restaurant, frequented by locals, and travel like a local. WIN!

the wait can be long-ish..but who cares? they will give you a wine glass and keep you merrily topped off until your table is ready. talk the the people outside standing with you. they are as interested in a southern man, as much as you are with them.

bring a jacket EVERYWHERE you go. it is cold at random.

if you really want to show the kids an EYE-OPENER, and you have a fun opened mind..reserve a table at ASIA-SF for dinner.