San Francisco Vacation

[jams]

Question for all vacationers or Bay area folks.

I am planning to travel to San Fran for a few days with wife and 2 year old. Hotels in the heart of it all are quite pricey. Is it worth spending the extra money and get a hotel in the heart of the action?

Would it be better to get a cheaper hotel and drive a few miles each day to area attractions? Pay for parking etc.

I know in certain cities driving by car is a pain in the neck-like Boston & NYC.

I appreciate your input.

[trularin]

Hang in there.

Hotel 480 Union square is okay. Not a five star kiss your butt type hotel, but not bad. Then there is the Fransis Drake. I think they shot a TV series there. It is nice.

These are basically down town. If you are there, eat down at the wharf and walk around the mission district, but do not take any money and only during the day.

Walk down market street.

How long??

[jshel1]

Jams,

The wife and I visited the bay area in December '06.

http://www.staysf.com/nobhill/

I highly recommend this place as a motor hotel. It is right in the thick of things without parking fees, in and out all you want. I booked through expedia at $85 a night + tax... a really unbelievable deal for Downtown San Francisco. I have to qualify that it is a motor hotel, basic room, basic amenities, like a Ramada or Holiday Inn, walking distance to the piers, grocery, everything. The owner is a bit no nonsense, and the parking is tight, but it would be a challenge to find equal for double or triple the price in that locale.

Their number is 800.343.6900 or 415.775.8160

Address is 1630 Pacific, San Francisco, CA, 94109... do a goggle earth

[jams]

Thanks for the info. It is very helpful. We are planning to head out in July for 3-4 nights and then head over to Yosemite for a few nights.

[imagine2frolic]

Jams,

S.F. is cold in the summer time. The wind is howling, and the fog is thick. Be sure to be able to dress in layers. The city has multiple micro climates. As Mark Twain said....the coldest winter I ever spent was a summer in S.F......, Or something like that.

I lived in the city for 15 years, and owned a business there. When you take the cable car from Fisherman's wharf to downtown again. They will stop at the top of Jones & Washington. I lived three buildings to the left on the top floor. You will be staring right into the Pyramid building, and then drop down. EVERYBODY goes WHEEEEEEEEE as the cable car rushes down!

If you ever thought about sailing you can take Adventure Cat out of Peir 39. It is a most fantastic view of the city from under the Golden Gate Bridge, and then you will see what kind of sailing I do on Imagine. Enjoy your trip, S.F. is truly one of the most beautiful, and diverse cities in the world. You may not be the kind of person that would want to live there, but you will leave with some lovely images in your heart........

[4RE KLR]

My Wife and I stayed at The Inn at Union Square". We loved it so much we went back three times since then. We stayed in The Penthouse on our Honeymoon in a two day layiver going to Hawaii. We have since stayed in two of the graded rooms and they are very nice as well.

Depending on when you are going you may not get a room. If I remember right we had to book well in advance.

I have told many people about his place over the last twenty years and no one has come back and said they were not more than pleased with the prices, rroms and service. It is a small quaint place just off the Square.

http://www.unionsquare.com/

[Roscoe]

Last time I was in SF I dropped my car keys and had to kick them three blocks before I felt safe bending over and picking them up......

Roscoe

[terry251]

Roscoe...three blocks? Were you trolling?

Terry

[Ron61]

Jams,

If you have the time a trip out to Alcatraz is interesting. I don't know how much of it they still have open to the public now though. And if you don't want everyone staring at you, do NOT act normal.

Ron

[imagine2frolic]

HEY....People in S.F. are normal....A.B.Normal

[trularin]

No, act like Ron.

[427 S/O]

Head out to the wineries, interesting no limp wrist.

[Ron61]

Tru,

I never did have any problem in San Francisco other than I don't like any big city.

Ron

[cobra de capell]

Depending on your interests, the Castro district has some really cheap hotels and it's really lively 24/7.

[jams]

You guys are always informative and entertaining!

[Ron61]

Jams,

There are a lot of interesting things to be seen and done in San Francisco. The Mission district is kind of rough now, but it used to be an interesting place to visit. North Beach area is now mostly dopers and other low life. A walk down Market Street will give you a real look at diversity.
In one of the Star Trek movies they shot some of it in downtown Frisco and Leonard Nemoy said he had been all over the world and never seen anything like there. They never even edited that part as the people never blinked an eye at them running around in all of their space uniforms and strange make up and they asked a lot of them questions about where things were. He said the normal people did a much better job than any actor could. What scares me is I seem to fit right in when I go down there and no one pays any attention to me.

Ron

[Slick61]

I LOVE San Francisco!!! Lots to see & do... has a really neat energy.

I wouldn't plan on DRIVING anywhere. You'll spend more time looking (or PAYING) for parking than it's worth.

It's a very walk-able city... only about 7 miles square. Buses are frequent, & I think they're the BEST way to get around.

Buy CityPasses. They cost about $50 each & will get you in to lots of the major attractions & unlimited use of of the transit system.

I always stay in the Marina district- a little quieter, a little more laid back... (Hotel del Sol is my fave- unique decor, friendly atmosphere, & free parking too!). Close to the exploratorium, Crissy field, the Wharf (HUGE tourist trap), the Golden Gate, & Golden Gate Park. Can rent bikes & ride along the bay & over the Golden Gate to Sausalito... then take the ferry back.

By all means, spend some time in North Beach (Little Italy)... excellent food at reasonable prices. Chinatown is right down the street as well. Coit tower is fun... close to Lombard Street & a good cardio workout.

Don't know if Alcatraz tour is running this time of year or not, but is probably better than the bay cruise... depends on what you want. Just go get lost!

Don't forget to check out Beach Blanket Babylon... it's a riot.

Have fun!

[Jamo]

I've done this town a lot for business and pleasure for the past 40 years...with and without small kids. Taking a two year old is going to dictate a bit of what you do. Personally, when I took the kids anywhere, I paid a bit more for the convenience, and it paid off everytime (like staying at THE Disneyland Hotel so you could go back to it several times a day from the park). Personally, I'd stay somewhere near Union Square as the kid's gonna get tired quick (and so will you) walking around downtown. Also, you'll have direct access to the cable cars to get to 90% of where you want to go.

I'd also go full service...you're not going to want to go out for a meal every time. To me, the St. Francis is worth the price of admission all things considered. Stay in the modern tower to save a few bucks. Rental car agencies in the lobby. To me, the grand old hotels are what Frisco is all about. Take a lightweight stroller that's easy to carry when the kid gets tired of it.

Make sure you make time for Golden Gate Park...let the kid have some runaround time. Always stuff going on...kites, model yachts, the aquarium is great. The Exploratorium down near the Marina is perfect for kids...but check times, etc. and see if large groups (schools) are coming through.

Watch out staying off Union Square too far...Theater District is a mixture of coolness and scum, and the China Town side ain't much better. Hyatt at the Embarcadero Center is a good area...local shopping and the bay is right there for evening strolls.

As someone else said...it gets cold in the summer. Mark Twain said it best..."the coldest winter I ever saw was the summer I spent in San Francisco." [EDIT...just saw Imagine quoted him first, so there shouldn't be any question about it. ]The wind comes off the cold waters of the bay and whips around the glass and steel canyons of downtown. Be ready to layer.

North Beach...go during the day.

Union Street...good shopping for the wifey.

Screw the buses...take taxis. Quick and it'll give you a taste of Bullitt if you have them take you up California from the Financial District to Nob Hill.

Get a car for a day and head over the Golden Gate to Sausilito and further on to Muir Woods in Marin County. Wine Country? Bypass the town of Napa and hit Yountville, Rutherford and St. Helena. Sonoma in Sonoma Valley is even closer and a nice walk around town center.

If you head east to Yosemite through the East Bay...try to hit the Blackhawk Museum off 680...one of the great car collections on this or any other planet.

Now Yosemite...my backyard. Try to find time to go out on Glacier Point...overlooks Yosemite Valley and the spot from which the Half Dome views you see in magazines are taken from. Enjoy the Valley, but unless you score a room at the Awanhee (try...cancellations do happen), get out of there after a day...way too crowded. Worth every cent for the views and service. Sit in the meadow below El Capitan and watch the rock climbers. Wawona is away from the Valley on the southern edge of the park, has a great historical hotel, and neat stuff for the kid (wagon rides, etc.)...easy walking to a some damn big Sequoias.

You wanna see the REAL Yosemite, go up on 120 (Tioga Pass) to Tuolumne Meadows around 8500 feet and hopefully stay in the cabins or the resort up there. That's where I grew up backpacking and it is the most sublime place on earth.

Are you flying back out of San Francisco? Might be easier to see if you can fly back out of Fresno...Delta and American fly east out of here.

Heading from San Franciso to Yosemite, do NOT go in on 140...lots of road construction going on with the road falling into the river. Take 120 out of Manteca (straight shot from Frisco), the old route, but an easier drive. Also...check out Gold Rush towns en route...Angels Camp, Sonora, etc.

[jams]

What a wealth of information. Sounds like I need to stay for an extra week!

Some of you paint a dark picture about parts of San Fran. I grew up in Jersey City, NJ- breading ground for terrorists. and have spent plenty of time in NYC. I am sure San Fran is more on the weird side but could it be worse? I guess I will have to find my Urban game face again!

I can't imagine it is worse than going to a Yankee game!

Airfare booked- Yosemite lodge booked- booking a Hotel in San Fran tomorrow.

Thanks for all of your valuable input.

[trularin]

Jamo, I think he was looking be a bit budget minded. I agree, I liked being shuttled around town and taking the trolleys. I stayed at the Drake and took a taxi or limo all over, but, as I remember, it was a bit pricey.

AND, if I painted anything dark, I did not wish to do so, but there are areas I would be more reserved about walking about and I think it is a good point by Jamo to let you know about these.

Hope you have a great trip!