San Fran suggestions

[Wallace]

Mrs. Wallace and I are heading to San Francisco over Memorial Day weekend to celebrate the big one-year anniversary. Since I haven't been there in oh, ten years or so, we're looking for suggestions on some fun things to do. We plan on doing the usual touristy things (Fisherman's Wharf, the Golden Gate) but I'm hoping SJ nation has some more unique suggestions on restaurants, entertainment, etc.

The Giants are out of town, and I won't pay money to watch Oakland play :)

Thanks for the help.

 

[User 1019]

Wine tour?

 

[Buck]

Casual great food - Tommy's Joynt at Van Ness and Geary
Fancy great food - Jardiniere by the opera house
East Coast-style pizza - Napoli or Victor's
Amoeba Records in the Haight

 

[Pete Incaviglia]

Eat at a place called Mo's.

Some guide book I was given as a gift before I went to San Fran rated it as the best burger in San Fran.

I didn't eat many more in the city, but I'll tell you what: That was the best damn burger I've EVER had - anywhere. And I've had Red Mill in Seattle, too.

Even my wife still raves about the burger. And milkshake.

I'll try and find the address for you.

And it's not this one: http://www.mosgrill.com/

 

[Wallace]

All,

Thanks for the suggestions. We'll be sure to check some of those places out.

Pete, thanks for the tip on Mo's. Being from the Seattle area, we're eager for the challenge to Red Mill.

 

[EStreetJoe]

For restaurants - if you like seafood, go to the Pacific Cafe for dinner. Arrive early as there's usually a line out the door by 5:30-5:45. You'll get a complementary glass of the house wine while waiting for your table.

For sightseeing, go about an hour east of the city and take a car ride up Mount Diablo. The view from the peak (or as far as they'll let you drive up) is spectacular. You can as far west as San Fran and beyond and as far west as Nevada.

 

[qtlaw]

See Golden Gate Park, on Sundays there are no cars allowed in the park. Great scene with people biking and skating.

Have lunch at the Beach Chalet at the end of the Park, food's a bit overpriced but get a table by the window and you can see the beach and the Pacific Ocean across the street. Great setting. Or Cliff House on the edge of the Ocean.

Hike Lands End. Spectacular vistas on the edge of the ocean, you can see the waves crashing and walk amongst the native trees and flora.

 

[Wallace]

Awesome. Thanks for all the suggestions. My list is filling up!

 

[Dirk Legume]

Plan a side trip to Tahoe. It's only 15 minutes.

Can't believe I was first with that.

 

[WaylonJennings]

First of all, **** Fisherman's Wharf. Why would you want to spend good money to go to a city, and then hang out with all the other tourists they've herded into a pretend San Francisco Land portion of said city? That makes no sense. There's nothing to it anyway.

That being said ... if you're into touristy, go to Alcatraz. It's one of those tourist places that are still a lot of fun.

I was very, very partial to wine country. I believe Sonoma is the cheaper of the two, and just as good. You can spend an entire morning and afternoon out there, but you might want to bring a DD or have someone cut it off at some point.

Personally, I love Berkeley. The Amoeba Records there is pretty awesome, too. And so is Telegraph Avenue. If you're a jogger, run up to the summit of the campus, and you can look down over the whole bay.

There was a great Mexican restaurant/bar I ate and drank at a couple years back, though the name escapes me. Same with the hole in the wall where my friends on the beat and I essentially collapsed in our chairs after the end of a long, long, long football season.

 

[WaylonJennings]

Best city in America, by the way.

 

[Wallace]

Waylon,

We were looking at Alcatraz, and I would like to go, but we have heard it takes up a very large portion of the day from a few people. Can you shed some light on that? Would love to go, but with only three days out there, I don't want to take up an entire day on the Rock. Thanks!

 

[EStreetJoe]

Agree with the suggestion of going to the Amoeba Records store in the Haight-Ashbury section.

I'm surprised nobody's mentioned Coit Tower yet or driving the section of Lombard Street on Russian Hill (near Coit Tower). This is the section of Lombard that is a 27% downhill grade with eight sharp turns (cutbacks) in the 1/4 mile between Hyde and Leavenworth streets.

 

[Captain_Kirk]

Do Alcatraz. It's maybe a 4 hour deal; certainly not the whole day. The problem might be getting tickets--I think you generally need to order them in advance--could be wrong on that, but something you might want to inquire about.

There's a bar next to Ghiradelli's that is famous for its Irish coffee. Can't recall the name of it, but was a very enjoyable experience.

if you do Napa Valley, V. Sattui was a very nice winery. Has a deli in the store in front where you can grab some cheese, sandwiches and the like and sit outdoors for a little al fresco lunch con vino.

 

[buckweaver]

Wallace, I don't know about a full day. I took the 4:30 p.m. ferry over to the Rock, walked around the whole island on the guided tour, did some souvenir shopping and was back on the ferry by 7:30. I suppose you could take longer if you wanted, but the island ain't that big. (And yes, Kirk's right: Order tickets on the Internet in advance.)

As far as San Fran suggestions, let me highly, highly recommend going up Coit Tower to check out the views of the city and the bay. Criminally underrated as a tourist attraction. Also hit the ice cream shop at Ghiradelli Square -- best chocolate in the world.

One more thing -- and y'all knew this was coming from me :D -- if you're in the Union Square area, stop by <a href="http://www.leftyodouls.biz/">Lefty O'Doul's restaurant</a> and have lunch. I came in out of the rain one day and had a hot open-faced turkey sandwich that was just phenomenal. Atmosphere is top-notch. You can just imagine Larry Ritter interviewing the owner in the kitchen for "The Glory of Their Times". Really, really cool place.

 

[Wallace]

Buck,

Thanks, we will check out Lefty's. We are staying at the King George hotel in Union Square, so we'll be close.

 

[Wallace]

Eat at a place called Mo's.

Some guide book I was given as a gift before I went to San Fran rated it as the best burger in San Fran.

I didn't eat many more in the city, but I'll tell you what: That was the best damn burger I've EVER had - anywhere. And I've had Red Mill in Seattle, too.

Even my wife still raves about the burger. And milkshake.

I'll try and find the address for you.

And it's not this one: http://www.mosgrill.com/

Pete,
Was just informed that Mo's is literally RIGHT NEXT to our hotel. Looks like we'll be eating their burgers after all.

 

[Pete Incaviglia]

Oh, by the way. I second Alcatraz.

Still one of my - and even my wife's - favorite "tourist attraction" ever.

Oh, one other thing about Alcatraz, TAKE THE FIRST POSSIBLE TOUR.

It's early, but it's worth it. No one on the island except you and a few other die hards/early birds.

Thing is, once you're on the island, you leave when you want, so by midday the place is packed with stragglers who haven't left and more boatloads arriving.

 

[SoCalDude]

Lefty's is/was the hangout for visiting writers for teams that stayed at the Hilton.
One time, our guy filed his story, called to confirm and the kid answering the phone said it was there (this was before the cell phone rage). A little while later, one of the deskers looked at the story and it was the wrong one, the story from the previous day. Calls to his hotel room went unanswered.
I said, I know where he is.
I called Lefty's. The bartender answered and I told him I was trying to reach for a writer from L.A.
He said, "Which one, Gordo or TJ?"
I told him. He said, "He's not here now but I expect him shortly." He called back 10 minutes later.

 

[Wallace]

Lefty's is/was the hangout for visiting writers for teams that stayed at the Hilton.
One time, our guy filed his story, called to confirm and the kid answering the phone said it was there (this was before the cell phone rage). A little while later, one of the deskers looked at the story and it was the wrong one, the story from the previous day. Calls to his hotel room went unanswered.
I said, I know where he is.
I called Lefty's. The bartender answered and I told him I was trying to reach for a writer from L.A.
He said, "Which one, Gordo or TJ?"
I told him. He said, "He's not here now but I expect him shortly." He called back 10 minutes later.

That is tremendous.