San Francisco

[bugster]

I am currently arranging a short business trip from the UK to San Francisco. Due to the availability of cheaper flights when you stay over a saturday night (never did understand the reasoning behind that!) I will hopefully get a couple of free days before the conference starts on the Tues.

I know next to nothing about this area so am looking for suggestions as to the best sightseeing agenda for 2 days.

Any one from or knows this area care to help with suggestions?

BTW, I doubt we will be allowed to get a hire car on company expenses as the conference is right by the airport, so public transport will almost certainly be used if and where available.

[teegee420]

BTW, I doubt we will be allowed to get a hire car on company expenses as the conference is right by the airport, so public transport will almost certainly be used if and where available.

You're in luck. San Francisco probably has the best public transportation system in all of California.

[Capmaster]

Although it's too late to change your plans now, I usually try to fly into Oakland and avoid the horrible traffic from SFI airport and SF proper. You may not have a choice with a trans-pond flight.

[redwudz]

Yes, you don't want to drive yourself around SF if you can possibliy avoid it. I would do the 'tourist' thing and do a web search for 'SF tours', or 'SF sites of interest', etc. There should be excellent sources for information on the city online.

[pacmania_2001]

Try and go on the night tour of Alcatraz. I'm not sure if its a regular tour they do or only on certain occasions but it is a must see and doing it at night just adds to the experience.

I think they might have even re-opened more of the prison such as the bits you see in the movie The Rock. The tour guides are really good as well.

Apart from that, check out that street, the really windy one. Can't remember its name but its worth a gander at. Also catch the old style tram (only one old one that operates for the tourists).

Just trying to think what was good in San Fran when we went there. Definitely avoid the city centre with the homeless people living their as it stinks seeing they just urinate and crap on the street as the public toilets are pay toilets and the bums sell their free tokens to buy food and drinks.

[makntraks]

Try and go on the night tour of Alcatraz. I'm not sure if its a regular tour they do or only on certain occasions but it is a must see and doing it at night just adds to the experience.

I think they might have even re-opened more of the prison such as the bits you see in the movie The Rock. The tour guides are really good as well.

Apart from that, check out that street, the really windy one. Can't remember its name but its worth a gander at. Also catch the old style tram (only one old one that operates for the tourists).

Just trying to think what was good in San Fran when we went there. Definitely avoid the city centre with the homeless people living their as it stinks seeing they just urinate and crap on the street as the public toilets are pay toilets and the bums sell their free tokens to buy food and drinks.

If you've never been there before, I hope you find it as much a wonderful, beautiful and fasinating city as I did... The first time I went I was captivated by all the city is!
Go and do as much as you can. One of my favorite things to do is rent a bike and traverse the Golden Gate into Sausalito, with all it's wonderful little shops and beautiful scenery... when your day is done just take the ferry back to the Wharf to return your bike, or continue onto the Embarcadero and then ride back along the water to the Wharf. Go downtown at night and watch all the chess games being played, do walk down Lombard Street (the crookedest street in the world) and imagine how it would be to be able to live there and have such wonderful views of the Bay and the city proper... Hit one of the largest Gap and Old Navy stores as well as the 5 floor Nike store... the great restaurants, etc... Most everything you would want to do is in THAT city and most all of it can be walked, albeit you better be prepared for walking uphill/downhill
as some of the streets can be a challenge if you aren't ready. You will be sore if you plan on walking while sightseeing...

I am jealous..... and as funny as it sounds, the first time I went I honestly did leave my heart in San Francisco.....

makntraks

p.s Depending on your tastes they also have some great adult theaters / shows 8)
p.s.s People tend to stay away from the Tenderloin area which is pretty run down if you get my drift... I walked by and around it and did not experience anything that would prevent me from doing it again.. just be aware and play it safe if you do go...

[Guest]

!. Definately stay out of the TL. That place is shady.
2. Take a tour of Alcatraz. Doesnt tkae long and the boat ride is cool.
3. Fisherman's warf is ok as well. Definately touristy.

[pacmania_2001]

I'm not sure exactly where we stayed (were in a motorhome) but we were on the other side of the Golden Gate bridge (might have been Sausalito the more I think of it) and we took a ferry across the bay under the bridge and that was a fairly awesome sight to take in.

Friendly locals in the area we stayed at as well.

[bugster]

Thanks Guys. Looks like I will have quite a bit to squeeze in to two days.
Have to find out what my colleagues are interested in seeing too but you have given me some great ideas. Alcatraz def sounds cool.

[indolikaa]

How about a baseball game?


Always a great excuse to cut a conference short in any city.

[Guest]

Thanks Guys. Looks like I will have quite a bit to squeeze in to two days.
Have to find out what my colleagues are interested in seeing too but you have given me some great ideas. Alcatraz def sounds cool.

I really liked it. The ferry leaves from Fish wharf so u can kill two birds if youre so inclined

[edsmith77]

Bugster,
I would include a trip down Lombard Street (aka the crookedest street in the world :grin). But would use a Tour Bus or guide facility.
The Wharf is just to touristy for my likes but.....
A trip up to Muir woods could be in order if you like the outdoorsy things and of course the Bridge is in order as well.

Ed

[bugster]

How about a baseball game?


Always a great excuse to cut a conference short in any city.

Could be interesting. Which day of the week are games mostly played on (i will have Sunday and Monday to myself)

[Guest]

How about a baseball game?


Always a great excuse to cut a conference short in any city.

Could be interesting. Which day of the week are games mostly played on (i will have Sunday and Monday to myself)

http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/teams/sfo/schedule

[Will Hay]

I/we did the usual shit...

tour bus inc. lombard, went to some park (nice) and 'the' bridge, alcatraz was superb, tonnes of seals around, union sq. (shopping, great ) I think we stayed in the radison, pier 43 I think it was.
Seems like an age ago now, and it was only four das s(one of four places we went to over that way).
Great place, can't recommend it highly enough.
Will


Oh, and make sure you use a tram, you shouldn't be going to San Fran without trying it

[makntraks]

I/we did the usual shit...

tour bus inc. lombard, went to some park (nice) and 'the' bridge, alcatraz was superb, tonnes of seals around, union sq. (shopping, great ) I think we stayed in the radison, pier 43 I think it was.
Seems like an age ago now, and it was only four das s(one of four places we went to over that way).
Great place, can't recommend it highly enough.
Will


Oh, and make sure you use a Cable Car, you shouldn't be going to San Fran without trying it

Fixed that for ya'

makntraks

[Capmaster]

I/we did the usual shit...

tour bus inc. lombard, went to some park (nice) and 'the' bridge, alcatraz was superb, tonnes of seals around, union sq. (shopping, great ) I think we stayed in the radison, pier 43 I think it was.
Seems like an age ago now, and it was only four das s(one of four places we went to over that way).
Great place, can't recommend it highly enough.
Will


Oh, and make sure you use a tram, you shouldn't be going to San Fran without trying it

Congrats on your 5,000th post Will!

[stiltman]

BTW, I doubt we will be allowed to get a hire car on company expenses as the conference is right by the airport, so public transport will almost certainly be used if and where available.

What's the conference?

[SLK001]

It's the World Conference on Solutions to the AIDS Epidemic in Africa.

[Capmaster]

It's the World Conference on Solutions to the AIDS Epidemic in Africa.

Appropriate place to be holding it

[makntraks]

It's the World Conference on Solutions to the AIDS Epidemic in Africa.

Appropriate place to be holding it

OOooooooooooohhhhhhhhhhhhhh......... sounds like a form of "profiling" to me.....

makntraks

[indolikaa]

It's the World Conference on Solutions to the AIDS Epidemic in Africa.

Well if that's the case, I wish you good luck, Bugster. That's a political powderkeg I wouldn't go near myself...

[budz]

Wish I knew you were going to SF earlier. I would have sent you some cable car passes. My dad retired from cable car barn and I got these passes I give to friends or whoever goes there. If you get a chance take the cable car from downtown to fishermans wharf. You can walk the length of fishermans wharf down to Pier 39. Pier 39 has shops and a aquarium. There is so much to see in SF and never enough time to see it all. If you want to take the alcatraz tour you can book it online.

I would recommend the "CHEESECAKE FACTORY" restaurant that is in downtown atop the MACY'S Dept. store bldg. They have great food and huge portions. If you want some dim sum go to this small take out shop located in chinatown on Jackson Street between Grant St. & Stockton. I think the shop is called TUNG HEE, it's on the right hand side of Jackson St. The awning is worn out and the sign on the window is faded a bit. Lots of chinese restaurants and take out places. On Sacramento St. and Kearny St. there's a little restaurant called, "YOUNG'S CAFE". They have great salt and pepper pork chops and they deliver in the downtown area.

Have a great time in SF.

[bugster]

What's the conference?

It's the World Conference on Solutions to the AIDS Epidemic in Africa.

Nope. I'm afraid its a boring technical conference regarding mobile phone technology. The organisation is called MIPI (Mobile Industry Processor Interface) alliance.

Nothing so exciting as suggested.

A bunch of geeks holed up in a hotel for 3 days discussing the finer points of low level device API's and methods of reducing the power consumption of LCD's !

[Capmaster]

It's the World Conference on Solutions to the AIDS Epidemic in Africa.

Appropriate place to be holding it

OOooooooooooohhhhhhhhhhhhhh......... sounds like a form of "profiling" to me.....

makntraks

Not really. Statistics back up my statement. I didn't mention any groups here. SF was one of the first cities in the US to show aids cases on a larger scale - NYC being the other one. SF was notorious for the disease spreading in the bathhouses, circa 1980 - 1981.

A bunch of geeks holed up in a hotel for 3 days discussing the finer points of low level device API's and methods of reducing the power consumption of LCD's !

Can you guys party or what? Of course, SF has a reputation for abundant outcall services, and there's always the Tenderloin District for a budget ho, if the mood strikes Just wear a galvanized steel condom

[bugster]

Can you guys party or what? Of course, SF has a reputation for abundant outcall services, and there's always the Tenderloin District for a budget ho, if the mood strikes Just wear a galvanized steel condom

Hmmm, and what to declare it as on my expenses claim?

Do you think I will be able to get a receipt?

[Capmaster]

Can you guys party or what? Of course, SF has a reputation for abundant outcall services, and there's always the Tenderloin District for a budget ho, if the mood strikes Just wear a galvanized steel condom

Hmmm, and what to declare it as on my expenses claim?

Do you think I will be able to get a receipt?

Try "Low-level meeting expenses". Being under the sheets is "low-level"

[makntraks]

Can you guys party or what? Of course, SF has a reputation for abundant outcall services, and there's always the Tenderloin District for a budget ho, if the mood strikes Just wear a galvanized steel condom

Hmmm, and what to declare it as on my expenses claim?

Do you think I will be able to get a receipt?

Probably not, but you'll be leaving her one 8)

makntraks

[babyboo]

Do you think I will be able to get a receipt?

Probably not...but they do have slots to insert your credit card (among other things)

[Guest]

Do you think I will be able to get a receipt?

Probably not...but they do have slots to insert your credit card (among other things)

Like on family guy when Quagmire swipes his card down the buttcrack of the stripper