England FAQ

San Francisco Faq
Frequently Asked Questions

These are some questions and answers about my experience traveling to San Francisco

1. Where should we go?
1a. What are good day trips from San Francisco?
2. When should we visit San Francisco? What is the weather like?
3. How do we get around San Francisco?
4. What should we watch out for?
5. Can I take public transport from the airport?
6. Where is the view of San Francisco I see on T.V. where you have the Golden Gate and the City?
6a. Where is that structure that looks like a Greek Temple?
7. What should we bring?
8. Can we go swimming in San Francisco? Where can we go Swimming?
9. What books do you recommend to go to San Francisco?
10. I am a student spending the summer in San Francisco. Is there anything that doesn't involve shopping/spending money?
11. What can you tell me about the East Bay (Berkeley and Oakland)?
12. Is there a city pass that offers a discount on transit or museums?

1. Where should we see in San Francisco?

Bay side waterfront: The Ferry Building, The Embarcadero, Pier 39 and Fisherman's Wharf. Yes Pier 39 and fisherman's Warf are touristy but for a reason. San Francisco bay is beautiful on a clear day and you get an awesome view of the bay as you walk along the Embarcadero. Start at the Ferry building and walk down to Ghirardelli's Chocolate Factory. You may also want to drive to treasure island (on the bay bridge) and take a photo of the Embarcadero from treasure island. The ferry building has been renovated and has a public market inside thus making it a good place to people watch.
Victorian homes of the Castro, Haight, and Noe Valley: Some of the most beautiful homes are in these areas of San Francisco.
Golden Gate Park: Smack dab in the center of the city this plot of land is a developer's wet dream. The park has a large amount of open space to just hang out in. The aquarium, academy of sciences, botanical garden, and conservatory of flowers are all with I walking distances of each other.
Nob Hill and Grace Cathedral: The cathedral is a neogothic cathedral sitting on the top of Nob Hill. Located on the hill are also some of the most exclusive and impressive hotels in the city.
Coit Tower: Donated to the city's fire fighters the tower gives you a great view of the city and the bay
The Golden Gate Bridge. This RED bridge is shown on every card and picture of the city. The best palace to view the bridge is from the headland on the north shore. You get both the bridge and the city.
Legion of Honor: Built by a French honor society this neoclassical structure has a great view of the bay and the city. The art exhibits are free every Tuesday.

Alcatraz: Take a survey and most natives have never been out to this famous prison. However, the history provided in the audio tour of the island and the view of the city are worth a trip out. Get a reservation if you plan to travel in the summer time.
Sunset district/Cliff House/Sutro Baths for sunset. The beach is too cold to swim in but you get to watch the sun disappear over the pacific here.
Union Square and the Civic Center: Union Square has the shops and the civic center has the neo-classical buildings.
Lombard Street. Known as being the most crooked street in the world (it is not even the most crooked in the city), the top gives you a good view of Alactraz and the flowers on the street are beautiful.
Cable Cars. Find a good spot with a good backdrop to take a picture. If you want to ride one, a good place to catch it is at the start of California Street.
Palace of Fine ArtsThis structure is all that is left of the 1913 Pan-Am Expo exhibit halls. Neo-classical columns form a half circle around a pleasant lagoon. Behind the palace is the last of the exhibit halls. For the past 20 or so years this hall has housed the Exploritorium. A hands on museum of science. (Free the first Wednesday of the month) A morning can be spent touring the exhibits and then eating a packed lunch on the Green in front of the lagoon. Rich, opulent houses of the Marina surround this park.

Treasure Island: Great view of both the east bay and San Francisco. Site of the 1936 world's fair. Another great place to watch the sun set from. The island also provides you with a great photo opps for the Bay Bridge, The Golden Gate Bridge, and the San Francisco waterfront. All that is left from the Expo is a couple of Art Deco buildings. Take a lunch and eat it while looking at the city. THe island is still being developed. To get there, take Muni.
Mission Deloris, Mission high school, and the Castro theater. All good examples of Spanish mission style buildings.
Transamerica pyramid. I may be down on it because I worked two blocks from it. AN interesting landmark.
Museum of modern art and the Metrion: The Museum of modern art has rotating exhibits. (Free first Tuesday of the month) In between the Moma and the Metrion is a pleasant park where you can see couples courting, children playing, and people relaxing. The Metrion is owned by an unnamed media outlet and shows movies and has a video game demo store on the first floor.
St. Dominic's Church. Another neo-gothic cathedral Buttresses were added after 1989 quake to give it an even greater Gothic Presence.
The Marina District:Go to Chestnut street and find a coffee shop (I like the Grove, but they do not like people to linger with out buying more coffee) and people watch. Then wander around this district and marvel at the beautiful homes. (Most were rebuilt in the 1990's after a major earthquake)
Pacific Heights:Multi million dollar homes. Great views of the bay. There is a Victorian neighborhood somewhere in Pacific Heights, but I was too distracted by the mansions.
Pacific Bell/SBC Park: Home of the Giants this ball park has helped transform this part of San Francisco. Catch A giants Day game if your a baseball fan or climb into the center field bleachers and look out at the bay when the Giants aren't playing.
Anchorsteam Brewery. Free tours and Beer Tasting each week. Call for reservations.
Bike tour around the waterfront.
A tour of Mission District Murals: Very fine artwork. Best if led by a guide.

1a. What Side Trips can we take fron San Francisco?

Santa Cruz. Small college town with beautiful beaches that you can swim in. The Board Walk is open 7 days a week in the summer.

Monterey. Boomtown from when sardines were fished off the coast of California. Old town has some charm plus has a cool aquarium. 2.5 to 3 hours one way
Winchester Mystery House. A Victorian palace that makes no sense. Built by Sarah Winchester, she kept building until her death. 30 minutes from Fan Francisco
Berkeley. College town known for its activism in the 1960's. Nice houses north of the campus and a beautiful view of San Francisco from Grizzly Peek Blvd. Boasts the telegraph shopping district as well as some neo-parisian coffee shops.
Marin Headlands. Natural headlands (thanks to the army) with a great view of the pacific.
Climb Mt. Tamaplias or Mt Diablo. Nice mountains.
Downtown Oakland/Old OaklandOld Oakland boasts restored Victorian business buildings and a park of restored Victorian homes (With info about them.) Downtown Oakland (which Old Oakland is a part of) has shiny new sky scrapers that reflect each other as well as land marks such as the tribune building's clock tower, city hall and the federal building. (Bart to 12th street. Can be done on way to or from Berkeley.
Angel Island. Rent a bike and and take a camara to take a tour of the "Ellis Island of the West". Great views of San Francisco.

2. What is the weather like in San Francisco? When should we go?

There is a quote that is attributed to Mark Twain "The coldest winter that I have ever experienced was a summer in San Francisco." Whoever said this had a point. Summer in San Francisco can be cold. Really cold. During the summer time, there is a constant marine layer floating off the California coast that seems to get sucked in more often than not. Therefore Typical summertime weather is Overcast mornings and foggy afternoons. Those that live on the pacific side of the city seldom see the sun during the summer. This can be quite beautiful to watch from the Berkeley hills. However, if you want to see San Francisco and get good pictures, it stinks. September and early October are the best months to visit San Francisco because instead of fall, the city experiences an Indian Summer. The weather is warm and the skies are clear. Late April and May are also nice. The "rainy season" is generally from the end of December to the beginning of March though you do get some showers in November too. November and December can be iffy when it comes to weather. Two days before I wrote this the skies were clear and it was a chilling 60 degrees. Today it poured rain all day long. San Francisco is in the middle of the state of California. While it does not experience sun 350 days a year, it also is not located in the Rain Forest that takes a part of northern California. San Francisco's climate is considered Mediterranean. Long "dry" summers and cool brief winters.
3. How do you get around San Francisco?

I got around San Francisco on a combination of Bart, Muni train and by car. It is possible to get around on the bus. I know a few people who do not own cars. However, Muni has been mismanaged for years and is not all that reliable. True you get 5 busses an hour, but that means you wait an hour to get 5 busses. The metro train lines are more reliable and I feel safer. They will take you near most points of interest. Driving in San Francisco takes patients and Devine intervention to find a parking space. Bart only takes you down town and to the airport.
4. What should we watch out for in San Francisco?

Watch out for pickpockets in tourist areas.
Avoid deserted streets.
Give homeless people a wide birth. Most are harmless. A few are on crack and LSD. Also if you get too close they may feel threatened by you.
Commotions. Could be a distraction.
A few ATM's are a bit slow spitting your card out. Wait for it. Watch out for people looking over your shoulder.
Flashing expensive equipment. Bring your camera. Just don't leave it on your bed in your hotel room or in your car. Also don't casually walk down a street with it after dark.
Leave nothing in your car
Don't flash large sums of money.
Avoid hunters point at all costs! While you are at it avoid the Tenderloin, and the Mission District after dark. Don't stay at hotels in any of these areas. They are cheap for a reason!

5. How do you get to San Francisco from the airport?

A taxicab ride to the city will run you around 60 bucks. It is possible to take Bart down town and transfer. (Take the airports people mover to the station.) However, service is about 1 train every 20 minutes or so. (Bart announced yesterday, December 28, 2003, it would have more trains going to the airport.) Most people take an airport shuttle directly to their hotel. It should run you about 20 per person. Its safe and your driver knows where to go.
6. Where is the view of San Francisco on all of the T.V. Shows?

Every time I watch a movie or T.V. show that takes place in San Francisco, I see a view of San Francisco and the Golden Gate bridge (along with the bay.) This picture is not taken in San Francisco. It is taken at the northern end of the Golden gate bridge in Marine County in the Marine headlands. You can walk across the bridge (1.5 miles) and up the hill (1 more mile) to some nice overlooks of the bridge and the city. (Or you can drive but it bridge toll costs 5 dollars. I must say it is an awesome picture.
6a. Where is the building that looks like a Greek Temple that I saw in a movie?

That neoclassical structure is called the legion of Honor. Besides being a cool building it has great views of other parts of the city.
7. What should we bring to San Francisco?

Long pants. Long sleeved shirts.
Nice shirt to go out to nice restaurants.
Sun block and sun glasses. (There are days where it gets up to 90 degrees)
Hat for a sunny day.
Toiletries.
Good walking shoes.
Money Belt.
Camera and lots of film.

8. Can we go swimming?/Where can we go swimming.

When I got dive certified in Monterey (2 hours south of San Francisco) I wore a ¼ inch full wet suit. Everything but my exposed face was fine. My exposed face was freezing. The water of the pacific outside of San Francisco is very very cold! It is also very dangerous to swim around the golden gate. On a sunny day you could hang out at the long beaches to the west of the city but I believe there are treacherous rip tides. Stinson beach is another choice. All of this of course relies on the fact that there is SUN OUT. If you have your mind set on a sandy beach drive south to Santa Cruz for better beaches than in S.F. You could also go to a man made beach in the Berkeley hills at a place called Lake Anza.
9 Guide books

I’ve listed

suggested guide books

link

10.I'm a broke student. Is here anything that doesn't involve spending money?

Go to a coffee shop or park and people watch. If you are young go to the Marina or the Marina Green. Sit on a bench by Pier 39 and watch the antics of the street performers. Just pick a pleasant neighborhood and people watch.
Go to Golden gate park and have a day in the sun. It is a beautiful and safe park. There are lots of things to see and do (some places do cost money).
Free concerts in Stern Grove in the summertime.
A day relaxing on the Marina Green or Aquatic Park.Take a book and soak in the sun
A bike tour of the bay or hiking somewhere.
Window shop. Just go to stores to look (takes some will power). Do a psychological study. Go one day dressed up very, very nicely. Then on a different day, at a different time, dress very casual. Compare the reactions you get from sales people.
Anchorsteam Tour: Two Words Free Beer.
Museum Free Days. I was going to compile this list. However, the Authors of the book The Unemployed Guide to San Francisco did it for me.
Sample video games at the Metrion.

11.What can you tell me about the east bay?

Please see my

East Bay

12. Is there a discount pass for transit or the museums?

Yes there is. It is called the CityPassIn the summer of 2004 it cost 40 dollars, I am sure it is 45 now (spring of 2005) It is good for The California Academy of Sciences/Steinhart Aquarium, The Exploratorium, the (French) Legion of Honor, and the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art. In addition it is a 7 day pass on muni (buses and cable cars) and it includes a free boat tour (leaving from Pier 39/41) of the San Francisco bay.

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