2. Trolly ride.
3. Walk up and down Lombard Street. The trolly goes right by the high end of it.
4. Waterfront, around the pier 39 area.
5. Alcatraz Island.
I think Chinatown is overrated and wouldn't make that a priority.
You might consider renting a bicycle for half a day. It will be very convenient for hitting lots of things. If you do, add Golden Gate Park to the list.
I would add to the rest of the ideas to get some good food but walk around and see what is availabloe. I have rarely seen so many places I would have liked to eat. And like a trip to Vegas, have some sort of plan before you go or you will waste half the day deciding what to see and do.
I took the BART in from some suburb. When you come out of the tunnel it feels like you entered another dimension. Homeless selling newspapers written by them, city busses running like stretcars off overhead electric power, all sorts of things.
And be prepared to be panhandled at least every 5-10 minutes.
If you have elementary school aged kids, there is a Ripley's Believe It Or Not museum near Fisherman's Wharf. Total tourist trap, but a lot of fun if you have never seen one before. Check the lobby of your accomodations for discount coupons.
There are several outfits offering "San Francisco Duck Tours" where they drive an amphibious landing craft around town pointing out sites, then drive staight into the water and cruise around the harbor. There are several companies, so shop around. Check one out here.
Don't forget a jacket, as it can get very chilly and breezy near the water in the evenings (and sometimes in the daytime!) Have fun!
Three questions:
1)Isn't Alcatraz more of an all-day thing? The reason I ask is we only have 3 days and 2 nights. We could save that for the last day if we could be sure to get back in time for the flight.
2) Are those duck tours hokey? I am not opposed to doing a tour because it might give us a better sample, but I don't typically like the kind of tours that last all day and where they hold your hand.
3) Can you ride bikes across the Golden Gate bridge? Separate lane?
Quote: nyuhoosierThanks for all the advice. I will definitely add Lombard Street and Fisherman's Wharf to the list. (Cable cars are a given.) It's just me and my girlfriend going, so we'll be able to do just about anything. Plus, we like to walk a lot.
Three questions:
1)Isn't Alcatraz more of an all-day thing? The reason I ask is we only have 3 days and 2 nights. We could save that for the last day if we could be sure to get back in time for the flight.
2) Are those duck tours hokey? I am not opposed to doing a tour because it might give us a better sample, but I don't typically like the kind of tours that last all day and where they hold your hand.
3) Can you ride bikes across the Golden Gate bridge? Separate lane?
1. No, not all day but allow 3 hours or so. Buy the recorded tour. If you have seen "Escape From Alctraz" you will be amazed how much smaller it is in real life than it looks in the movie.
2. Ducky tours are take it or leave it. They do them here in PIT, some people like themn some do not.
3. No idea.
I love the gardens in Golden Gate Park (centering on the Japanese Tea Gardens). I would also add a trip to Haight-Ashbury and Fisherman's Wharf. The Exploratorium is a neat science centre. Go see a Giants game too while you're there.
Quote: nyuhoosier3) Can you ride bikes across the Golden Gate bridge? Separate lane?
Leading up to the Golden Gate, the Presidio offers mighty fine walking and biking along the waterfront.
Quote: nyuhoosierCan you ride bikes across the Golden Gate bridge? Separate lane?
Yes. I've done that, and it is a great idea. You have to share the pedestrian lane, as I recall.
I stand corrected on the cable cars.
Quote: nyuhoosier2) Are those duck tours hokey? I am not opposed to doing a tour because it might give us a better sample, but I don't typically like the kind of tours that last all day and where they hold your hand.
Yes, it is hokey, but for many, that is part of the appeal. The driver/pilot tries to be entertaining. The one I know about, did not include any stops. You go for the ride as the guide points out various sites, and shares interesting tidbits, then you drive right off the launch into the water. The tour will take a couple of hours (one website says, "90 minutes, 25 of which is on the water).
Quote: nyuhoosier3) Can you ride bikes across the Golden Gate bridge? Separate lane?
Yes, bikes and pedestrians share the same path. There is always construction and maintenance going on, so be careful. Also, the side of the bridge open to foot and bike traffic changes depending on the time of day/night. For details, check out the bridge website here: GG Bridge
Have fun!