San Francisco in the Spring, 2016

[riverdees05]

We are going to San Francisco in the early Spring, 2016. Any recommendations on what we should not miss? We are staying at the Inn at the Opera. Any good resources on Public Transportation?

 

[presley]

My favorite things when I visited there last time were Golden Gate Park (especially the Japanese Tea Garden) and a tour of Muir Woods. Our Muir Woods tour picked us up and dropped us off at our timeshare (powell place). It was very convenient, but I wish we got to spend more time in the woods than we did.

We bought a transportation pass at Walgreen's. It gives unlimited bus and trolley rides. We mostly used that to get around, but took a taxi a couple of times. We literally just stepped into taxis when we saw other passengers getting out.

 

[puppymommo]

If you want to go to Alcatraz, the tickets sell out early. Found that out several years ago when we went to San Francisco. I think I tried a few weeks in advance and they were all sold out.

I second Golden Gate Park.

Enjoy your trip!

 

[tashamen]

I also recommend the weekly Muni pass that includes unlimited trolley and cable car rides (otherwise $7 a pop now). I stayed at the Suites at Fisherman's Wharf and was right by the end of one of the cable car lines and took at least two of them or trolleys every day.

The Ferry Building Marketplace is fabulous for eating and picking up specialty foods. They also had a farmers' market outside of it several days a week, and even in January there was a great variety of produce.

I also recommend a ferry trip to Sausalito or another of the towns in the bay.

 

[1Kflyerguy]

Agree with most of the posts so far.. Book a tour of Alcatraz well in advance..., also check out the Ferry Building, Union Square if you like shopping.. The Presidio is nice, particularly the Walt Disney museum.

The Exploratorium is fantastic science museum, very hands on and great for kids.. or adults that still act like kids sometimes...

 

[Neesie]

When I took my kids we were on a budget. We got the trolley pass and rode it for pure enjoyment. We all liked Chinatown (a lot) especially the more of the beaten path you can get there. We ate all of our breakfasts there at little diners which were surprisingly affordable. You can also see dozens of people practicing Tai Chi in the parks in the morning (at least in China Town). We also popped in to the Original Wells Fargo Bank in the Financial district where they have a beautiful display of Gold coins (California was the last to accept paper money) and an antique carriage in the lobby. Coit Tower, high on a hill with observation Windows up high and Diego Rivera murals below was one of my favorites but then it does combine scenery with art. We enjoyed Dungeness crab and Clam chowder down at the wharf and did lots of people watching. But the trolley rides were the highlight!

 

[riverdees05]

Thanks for all the suggestions, keep them coming.

 

[klpca]

The free walking tours facilitated by the San Francisco public library are amazing. We've done the Chinatown tour, the Fairmont, the Ferry Building, the Palace Hotel and the Financial District, among others. (The Fairmont tour was amazing - lots of behind the scenes viewing). http://www.sfcityguides.org/descriptions_table.html

They are free but the guides do ask for donations to the library and pass an envelope. No pressure.