The Escapists of San Fransisco

[Redlin5_v1legacy]

Hey guys. I have always had a thing for San Fransisco since playing Midtown Madness 2 on my computer when I was a kid. I really want to visit the city. It's on my bucketlist before I kick the bucket.

I was just wondering what locals of San Fransisco think are the best places to explore the best of the city. I like to find out first hand accounts about attractions more than I like reading endless flowery tourism blurbs.

Now to get the money to make the trip possible...

Thanks.

 

[thesilentman]

Aw man. I wish I could be living there to better tell you as I love San Francisco too. I've been there once on vacation and it is one place I don't mind visiting again.

I guess I have no real contribution to the thread then. Just visit the recommended, like Golden Gate, Lombard Street, and Ghiradelli. Visiting the wharfs there certainly wouldn't hurt, but I can't really recommend anything specific as I've never eaten anything there.

I'll just turn on lurk mode and stay on here too...

*Lurk mode initiated.*

 

[Ldude893]

I barely go into SF from Oakland except for college art projects or some weekends, so sorry if this sounds flowery.

There's plenty of art museums here, I can tell you that. In fact, most of them have free admission on one day of each first week of the month, and if you're into art the stuff there is worth the visit. One big one is in the middle of Golden Gate park, which has a beautiful Japanese garden and is also pretty nice.

Pier 39 and Alcatraz are touristy places, but they're still worth visiting. Union Square's got tons of shops and restaurants, so long as you don't stray too far to the West. Civic Center's where you can see the City hall, and while there's not much the dome is a piece of art in itself. Plus, there's a large patch of grass in the square right in front of the building where I spent some time chill out on.

Avoid the Tenderloin district if you can during the day, but especially during the night. What is the Tenderloin? Imagine a miniature Gotham City restricted to several city blocks west of Union Square, and east of Civic Center north of Market Street; except that there's not a single Batman in sight. The same goes with the Mission district. The city's also got a large homeless population, and while most of them are friendly just be cautious who you come across in these parts.

There's a nature trail at 'land's end' on the west of SF, and it runs along a cliffside with a very sweet view of the Golden Gate Bridge and the opening into the Bay. It's also right near the Legion of Honor art museum.

Right across the bridge, there's also a small neighborhood called Sausalito. I had lunch there once, and it's worth a walk around.

Also, if you're ever going to visit SF, wear a jacket because it's VERY windy. I didn't think it could be so chilly in California in the middle of summer, but San Francisco proved me wrong.

SF's a great city; definitely worth at least one visit.

 

[Treeinthewoods]

Cioppino's on the wharf, where San Francisco seafood stew was invented. Alta Vista where Irish Coffee was invented. Golden Gate Park where lying around being a hippy was invented. Roy's on Mission is a fantastic place to eat if you have plenty of money. Mission Chinese is the best Chinese food ever, the bacon is transcendent and the chicken is covered in a mountain of peppers you should only eat if you are a true spicy food fanatic. Be aware the Mission Chinese will have a long line at dinner and looks like a total dive, the sign doesn't even say Mission Chinese, it's from the previous restaurant. If you set foot in a major chain restaurant in San Francisco you don't deserve to eat.

Stay the hell out of the Mission District at night though, unless you want drugs or to get robbed, or if you like watching homeless people screw in back alleys.

Gaslight District is fun at night but you want a group with you, it can get kind of violent with tons of drunk people wandering around. It's nice but I live in a place where last call never happens so it didn't please me when I couldn't get a late night beer except at a store.

If you have never seen the Golden Gate you should rent a bike, ride across and take the ferry back.

If you have never seen Alcatraz the audio tour is pretty interesting, it's one of those things you only do once though.

San Francisco is all right, filled with weird hippies and a few pretentious pricks but that's pretty standard for a city that size.

Vegas is better though...

 

[Redlin5_v1legacy]

Any reastaurant suggestions? Iconic places to eat that won't break the bank? I do plan on treating myself to a ritzy meal once but I'd like to check out great food for reasonable rates too.

 

[mysecondlife]

Any reastaurant suggestions? Iconic places to eat that won't break the bank? I do plan on treating myself to a ritzy meal once but I'd like to check out great food for reasonable rates too.

For lunch, I recommend a sandwich from Ike's Place. Finding parking is a pain but its sandwich is a delight.

http://www.yelp.com/biz/ikes-place-san-francisco

 

[mysecondlife]

I thought you'd like some other tourist's perspective as well.

I visited San Francisco last summer. Visited Golden Gate park and Fisher's Wharf.

People say visit Alcatraz. My recommendation is try to book the trip months ahead. I was pretty disappointed I couldn't go because all the spots were full. I settled with boat ride where you circle around the Golden Gate bridge, and Alcatraz. That was pretty fun though.

Golden Gate Park is pretty gorgeous. Loved the shit out of Japanese Tea Garden. I remember a squirrel stole one of my rice cakes and people working there were very kind to give me another.

Definitely bring a jacket with you.

?The coldest winter I ever spent was a summer in San Francisco.? -- Mark Twain (apparently)

 

[an annoyed writer]

Any reastaurant suggestions? Iconic places to eat that won't break the bank? I do plan on treating myself to a ritzy meal once but I'd like to check out great food for reasonable rates too.

If you swing by the wharf, you, as a fellow film geek, might appreciate a little place called Bubba Gump's. Yes, it's named after that shrimp place that was planned in the movie. I ate there when I was over that way about five years ago. Great place. I'd love to return there again, especially since I've got a few friends there now.

 

[Joccaren]

Any reastaurant suggestions? Iconic places to eat that won't break the bank? I do plan on treating myself to a ritzy meal once but I'd like to check out great food for reasonable rates too.

If you swing by the wharf, you, as a fellow film geek, might appreciate a little place called Bubba Gump's. Yes, it's named after that shrimp place that was planned in the movie. I ate there when I was over that way about five years ago. Great place. I'd love to return there again, especially since I've got a few friends there now.

I second this. That place was amazing. Great atmosphere based off the movie, and some of what they took from the movie actually helped the restaurant run better [I.E; Run Forest Run signs to tell waiters to keep going and ignore your table, Stop Forest Stop or something signs to tell them you need service]. Still have the cups from that place too. Was a lot younger when I went, so they're not as big as I remember them, but first seeing them I thought they were freaking huge. Food's not bad there either, dependent on what you like I guess.

 

[Bonham79]

Go to ikes, i know it was mentioned in an earlier post, but you need to go to ikes. No sandwich has ever been the same, everything has gotten darker as i know that there is nothing in life to please me beyond that magical place...