PrincessInOz
Thanks for my avatar, Mary Jo!
- Joined
- Feb 8, 2010
I've been posting about sightseeing downtown SF in various locations. Here's the summary. I'll add some shopping areas and outside of SF later.
Getting around San Francisco
Purchase a MUNI Visitor Pass/passport. They are about US$20 per person for the 3 day pass or $26 for a 7 day pass. All MUNI transport including the Cable Cars are included in the price. A 90 minute ticket on the MUNI is about $1.50 - $2.00 (can't remember the exact price) and a one-way ride on the Cable Car is $5 per person. The MUNI transport will get you to most places. You can buy this pass at the Cable Car turnaround at Market and Powell.
http://www.sfmta.com/cms/mfares/passports.htm
Fisherman's Whart and Lombard Street
Take a Cable car ride to Fisherman's Wharf. You can get off at Lombard Street to check out the crookedest street.
Should be pretty in the summer/autumn months, when the hydrangeas are blooming. Either get back on the Cable Car or if you are a good walker, walk down to the Wharf and Check out shops and Giradelli Square - towards Pier 39. Check out the outdoor food/chowder places. Spend some time at Pier 39.
You catch the ferry to Alcatraz at Pier 41.
Make sure you get the headsets at Alcatraz. They are worth the money in my opinion.
I also like going to Sausalito. Either drive there when you're across the bridge or catch a ferry from Pier 41.
F-line Street Car (Tram)
The F-line tram runs along Market to Fisherman's Wharf in one direction. In this direction, it passes the Ferry Building. The Farmer's Market is out on Tuesday and Saturday.
Growers will have stalls opened in front of the Ferry Building. If you take the F line in the opposite direction, you'll end up at the Castro. I went by myself mid-week and it was pretty quiet. Might be different at the weekend...and if you decide to go, make sure you go after 10 am in the morning; or you might feel a little bit uncomfortable walking around a near deserted street.
Yerba Buena Gardens and SFMOMA
Walk South of Market towards Yerba Buena Gardens. I normally pick the streets that are either side of the Westfield to walk down towards YBG; but you need to get to the corner of 4th and Mission for YBG. It's pretty nice there and your child might like to run around the gardens. Check out the Martin Luther King water feature.
There's also a carousel and a children's centre there. SF MOMA is located in this direction as well.
If you walk down Mission, there is a diner on the opposite side of the Westfield...a real american diner. I can't remember what it was called but they served a mean burger and fries there. The cherry pie wasn't bad either. It was quieter than heading to the diner in the tourist part of downtown.
Chinatown
Spend some time walking down Chinatown - Grant Street. You can walk to the top of Grant Street if in DownTown SF, near Union Square.
If you want to head a little further down Grant Street, you could catch the No 9, 30 or 45 down Stockton and walk the block over to Grant.
Grant will eventually cross over at Columbus, where Little Italy is. It is a long walk but I've done it with my then 6 year old son (with lots of stops).
Little Italy/North Beach
Go to Washington Square and visit the church there (St Peter and Paul).
I love looking at leadlight windows, so this may not be to everyone's taste.
Explore Columbus Street (between Grant and Washington Square). You'll find City Light Bookshops at 261 Columbus Ave.
If you're around North Beach, walk down Grant Street from Columbus towards Coit Tower area. There are about 2 or 3 small streets parallel with Grant that have cute shops.
If you feel inclined to, I really love walking down/up Filbert Steps.
From the church, walk up Filbert Street towards Coit Tower. I think it is worth paying the money to visit the top of the tower; but others might disagree.
At the very least, go inside the tower and check out the frescos.
I also like walking down the otherside of Coit Tower towards Levi plaza.
If you walk down this way you'll end up at Sansome St (one way street). The no 10 MUNI takes you towards North Pointe and Fisherman's Wharf. Go across Levi Plaza towards Battery St (one way street) to catch the No 10 back into the downtown area.
Getting to Haight Ashbury
The 6, 7 or 71 will take you to Haight Ashbury.
You catch these from Market (check the top of the bus stops for the numbers). I really enjoy spending an afternoon here and checking out all the shops.
Alamo Square
The 21 will take you to Alamo Square where the Painted Ladies are. Again you can catch this from Market.
A bit of this and that
I LOVE Golden Gate Park. You can catch the 5 down Market/McCalister. There's a Japanese Garden, conservatory, de Young museum, tulip garden...the list is endless.
I also like the Presidio. You can catch the 30 down Stockton which ends at the Exploratorium.
If you have a car, its worth driving to Golden Gate Park and then across the Golden Gate Bridge. Make sure you stop off at both the Fort Point end (my preferred end of the bridge)
and the Marin County side.
Otherwise, you could walk the Bridge.
I also prefer to catch the Cable Car down California Street - less hectic and you're guaranteed of a seat - than the Hyde/Powell route. The turnaround is at California and Market; near the Ferry Building (walkable from the Ferry Building).
If you decide to catch this cable car, at the other end keep walking one block towards Franklin Street. There is a WholeFoods Market there. You'll get a value for money meal (we love the soups, salads and pizza/pasta) and also get to look at produce/groceries.
If you are planning to go shopping for non-chain stores, check out Union Street (yes, street; not square), Hayes Valley and Haight Ashbury.
You'll see the bridge from the Cable Car, Fisherman's Wharf and up the Coit Tower; from the Ferry, the Presidio and if you walk it. I like seeing the bridge from Fort Point.
Food and Restaurants
Here are some favourite places that I've visited within the last 2 years:
http://www.ferrybuildingmarketplace.com/slanted_door.php
Pan Pacific asian style, predominantly mixed with South East Asian cooking style. We love this place.
http://www.cafegratitude.com/
For something really alternative. This is a no/low-cook vegan restaurant. Most foods are served raw. I'm totally omnivorous but DH is vegetarian. This has got to be the BEST vegetarian restaurant I've ever eaten in any where in the world. We use the Muni bus to get out here.
Tommaso's for Italian in the North Beach area.
Cafe Trieste for coffee.
Cafe Corbas in Hayes Valley make the best coffee I've had in SF.
If you are in Pier 39, pick one of the restaurants that has a view as well as the menu that suits your $$. I don't particularly think anything is "outstanding" at the Pier - but the view cannot be beat.
I still haven't found a great chinese restaurant in Chinatown - but I was born in Malaysia and am particular about my Chinese/asian food.
I like going to Sausalito. When you get off the ferry, head to the right hand side. About 3 - 7 shops up on the opposite side of the road, there is hamburger flame grill shop. If you like burgers, these are pretty great.
For something quick, at the basement of Macy's in Union square is a Wolfgang Puck Express. Always good when you want something of quality.
Have FUN!
Getting around San Francisco
Purchase a MUNI Visitor Pass/passport. They are about US$20 per person for the 3 day pass or $26 for a 7 day pass. All MUNI transport including the Cable Cars are included in the price. A 90 minute ticket on the MUNI is about $1.50 - $2.00 (can't remember the exact price) and a one-way ride on the Cable Car is $5 per person. The MUNI transport will get you to most places. You can buy this pass at the Cable Car turnaround at Market and Powell.
http://www.sfmta.com/cms/mfares/passports.htm
Fisherman's Whart and Lombard Street
Take a Cable car ride to Fisherman's Wharf. You can get off at Lombard Street to check out the crookedest street.
Should be pretty in the summer/autumn months, when the hydrangeas are blooming. Either get back on the Cable Car or if you are a good walker, walk down to the Wharf and Check out shops and Giradelli Square - towards Pier 39. Check out the outdoor food/chowder places. Spend some time at Pier 39.
You catch the ferry to Alcatraz at Pier 41.
Make sure you get the headsets at Alcatraz. They are worth the money in my opinion.
I also like going to Sausalito. Either drive there when you're across the bridge or catch a ferry from Pier 41.
F-line Street Car (Tram)
The F-line tram runs along Market to Fisherman's Wharf in one direction. In this direction, it passes the Ferry Building. The Farmer's Market is out on Tuesday and Saturday.
Growers will have stalls opened in front of the Ferry Building. If you take the F line in the opposite direction, you'll end up at the Castro. I went by myself mid-week and it was pretty quiet. Might be different at the weekend...and if you decide to go, make sure you go after 10 am in the morning; or you might feel a little bit uncomfortable walking around a near deserted street.
Yerba Buena Gardens and SFMOMA
Walk South of Market towards Yerba Buena Gardens. I normally pick the streets that are either side of the Westfield to walk down towards YBG; but you need to get to the corner of 4th and Mission for YBG. It's pretty nice there and your child might like to run around the gardens. Check out the Martin Luther King water feature.
There's also a carousel and a children's centre there. SF MOMA is located in this direction as well.
If you walk down Mission, there is a diner on the opposite side of the Westfield...a real american diner. I can't remember what it was called but they served a mean burger and fries there. The cherry pie wasn't bad either. It was quieter than heading to the diner in the tourist part of downtown.
Chinatown
Spend some time walking down Chinatown - Grant Street. You can walk to the top of Grant Street if in DownTown SF, near Union Square.
If you want to head a little further down Grant Street, you could catch the No 9, 30 or 45 down Stockton and walk the block over to Grant.
Grant will eventually cross over at Columbus, where Little Italy is. It is a long walk but I've done it with my then 6 year old son (with lots of stops).
Little Italy/North Beach
Go to Washington Square and visit the church there (St Peter and Paul).
I love looking at leadlight windows, so this may not be to everyone's taste.
Explore Columbus Street (between Grant and Washington Square). You'll find City Light Bookshops at 261 Columbus Ave.
If you're around North Beach, walk down Grant Street from Columbus towards Coit Tower area. There are about 2 or 3 small streets parallel with Grant that have cute shops.
If you feel inclined to, I really love walking down/up Filbert Steps.
From the church, walk up Filbert Street towards Coit Tower. I think it is worth paying the money to visit the top of the tower; but others might disagree.
At the very least, go inside the tower and check out the frescos.
I also like walking down the otherside of Coit Tower towards Levi plaza.
If you walk down this way you'll end up at Sansome St (one way street). The no 10 MUNI takes you towards North Pointe and Fisherman's Wharf. Go across Levi Plaza towards Battery St (one way street) to catch the No 10 back into the downtown area.
Getting to Haight Ashbury
The 6, 7 or 71 will take you to Haight Ashbury.
You catch these from Market (check the top of the bus stops for the numbers). I really enjoy spending an afternoon here and checking out all the shops.
Alamo Square
The 21 will take you to Alamo Square where the Painted Ladies are. Again you can catch this from Market.
A bit of this and that
I LOVE Golden Gate Park. You can catch the 5 down Market/McCalister. There's a Japanese Garden, conservatory, de Young museum, tulip garden...the list is endless.
I also like the Presidio. You can catch the 30 down Stockton which ends at the Exploratorium.
If you have a car, its worth driving to Golden Gate Park and then across the Golden Gate Bridge. Make sure you stop off at both the Fort Point end (my preferred end of the bridge)
and the Marin County side.
Otherwise, you could walk the Bridge.
I also prefer to catch the Cable Car down California Street - less hectic and you're guaranteed of a seat - than the Hyde/Powell route. The turnaround is at California and Market; near the Ferry Building (walkable from the Ferry Building).
If you decide to catch this cable car, at the other end keep walking one block towards Franklin Street. There is a WholeFoods Market there. You'll get a value for money meal (we love the soups, salads and pizza/pasta) and also get to look at produce/groceries.
If you are planning to go shopping for non-chain stores, check out Union Street (yes, street; not square), Hayes Valley and Haight Ashbury.
You'll see the bridge from the Cable Car, Fisherman's Wharf and up the Coit Tower; from the Ferry, the Presidio and if you walk it. I like seeing the bridge from Fort Point.
Food and Restaurants
Here are some favourite places that I've visited within the last 2 years:
http://www.ferrybuildingmarketplace.com/slanted_door.php
Pan Pacific asian style, predominantly mixed with South East Asian cooking style. We love this place.
http://www.cafegratitude.com/
For something really alternative. This is a no/low-cook vegan restaurant. Most foods are served raw. I'm totally omnivorous but DH is vegetarian. This has got to be the BEST vegetarian restaurant I've ever eaten in any where in the world. We use the Muni bus to get out here.
Tommaso's for Italian in the North Beach area.
Cafe Trieste for coffee.
Cafe Corbas in Hayes Valley make the best coffee I've had in SF.
If you are in Pier 39, pick one of the restaurants that has a view as well as the menu that suits your $$. I don't particularly think anything is "outstanding" at the Pier - but the view cannot be beat.
I still haven't found a great chinese restaurant in Chinatown - but I was born in Malaysia and am particular about my Chinese/asian food.
I like going to Sausalito. When you get off the ferry, head to the right hand side. About 3 - 7 shops up on the opposite side of the road, there is hamburger flame grill shop. If you like burgers, these are pretty great.
For something quick, at the basement of Macy's in Union square is a Wolfgang Puck Express. Always good when you want something of quality.
Have FUN!