I’ll be out in San Fran in June’10 and was wondering what people out there would recommend seeing. Of course, the Golden Gate bridge, the Fisherman’s Wharf, that crooked street & Chinatown are all on my list of things to do, see & photograph but I know there’s infinitely more wonderful things to check out while I’m there-they just may not pop up on the web when i do a search. I’m wondering if you folks (especially if you’re a local) can give me suggestions to the best museums, photo op locations, markets for shopping, etc. I am sort of an artsy person who likes to see what a city has to offer as far as photography, art & architecture.. Also, any suggestion as to areas/hotels that are centrally located to a lot of these things & still reasonable would b great. Ps-lemme just add that I’m really not interested in anything sports-related and usually can find myself a good bar with a blindfold on & 2 hands tied behind my back! ha ha..
http://www.sfbayareagalleryguide.com/
Look up the Gallery Guide before you leave home. The galleries in 49 Geary are interesting and free. CameraWorks on Mission St. is $3.00 (or is it $5?) donation per visitor. You should enjoy it because of the quality of the images of the local group of photographers (some very well known) who display their photos support this gallery.
Out at Ocean Beach: Go to the Cliff House, Sutro Baths at the end of Pt. Lobos and The Great Highway. Sutro Park and Lands End area should not be missed. The camera obscura is not usually open when I’ve been there but you might be lucky. It’s on the deck behind the Cliff House Restaurant.
Go up to Twin Peaks and bring your camera for a great view overlooking the city & east bay.
Seal Rock Inn is near those places and the #38 Geary bus is a good run that will take you elsewhere (even to another bus connection). There is parking at the motel and around the area. It’s a little dated but located in a quiet residential area near the beach. Be cautious and keep an eye on your stuff - don’t leave stuff lying around that will tempt anyone. Don’t take more stuff than you can watch and hang on to (secure) when you go out on the street or on public transit. Be aware that sometimes you might need to stand and hold a bar (maybe overhead) on a crowded bus or streetcar.
Market & Powell St. for Visitor’s Information Center down the escalator and above ground, the Cable Car turnaround & MUNI kiosk to purchase any MUNI visitor’s passes — a real bargain — for the cable car, buses, or muni metro.
http://www.sfmta.com/cms/mfares/passports.htm
Chinatown, try eating at Sam Wo.
http://www.yelp.com/biz/sam-wo-restaurant-san-francisco
You might walk from the Union Square retail area along GRANT Ave. to Chinatown and at Clay, go east toward the pier and get some shots of the Transamerica Pyramid.from the outside. This is a secured building so the guard will not permit you to take any interesting photos inside the lobby.
January 16th, 2010 at 11:28 am
http://www.sfbayareagalleryguide.com/
Look up the Gallery Guide before you leave home. The galleries in 49 Geary are interesting and free. CameraWorks on Mission St. is $3.00 (or is it $5?) donation per visitor. You should enjoy it because of the quality of the images of the local group of photographers (some very well known) who display their photos support this gallery.
Out at Ocean Beach: Go to the Cliff House, Sutro Baths at the end of Pt. Lobos and The Great Highway. Sutro Park and Lands End area should not be missed. The camera obscura is not usually open when I’ve been there but you might be lucky. It’s on the deck behind the Cliff House Restaurant.
Go up to Twin Peaks and bring your camera for a great view overlooking the city & east bay.
Seal Rock Inn is near those places and the #38 Geary bus is a good run that will take you elsewhere (even to another bus connection). There is parking at the motel and around the area. It’s a little dated but located in a quiet residential area near the beach. Be cautious and keep an eye on your stuff - don’t leave stuff lying around that will tempt anyone. Don’t take more stuff than you can watch and hang on to (secure) when you go out on the street or on public transit. Be aware that sometimes you might need to stand and hold a bar (maybe overhead) on a crowded bus or streetcar.
Market & Powell St. for Visitor’s Information Center down the escalator and above ground, the Cable Car turnaround & MUNI kiosk to purchase any MUNI visitor’s passes — a real bargain — for the cable car, buses, or muni metro.
http://www.sfmta.com/cms/mfares/passports.htm
Chinatown, try eating at Sam Wo.
http://www.yelp.com/biz/sam-wo-restaurant-san-francisco
You might walk from the Union Square retail area along GRANT Ave. to Chinatown and at Clay, go east toward the pier and get some shots of the Transamerica Pyramid.from the outside. This is a secured building so the guard will not permit you to take any interesting photos inside the lobby.
References :
January 16th, 2010 at 12:16 pm
Go to Ghiradelli think it’s in Powell and Hyde st.? Look it up. But its down by the pier which is walking distance to so many little cute stores and attraction. You go through a park and just follow that one street, it’ll be pretty obvious. Also if you go uptown and find that famous tram you could find some regular downtown scene.
Oh I just remembered there’s also Macy’s which I think’s like the second largest. Around that area has a lot too I suggest this. Also a couple blocks is a center called Yerba Buena if you want to go skating, movie, and around the street.
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January 16th, 2010 at 12:54 pm
Get yourself a City Pass book for San Francisco. The discount to the attractions and museums that you need to see is well worth the savings.
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January 16th, 2010 at 1:19 pm
Sure ! Asian Art Museum downtown, Steinhart Acquarium and The Museum of Beat Culture in GG Park, The Japanese Tea Gardens also in GG Park, Coit Tower near Lombard St. (the crooked one), walking across GG Bridge to Sausalito, Mission Dolores (used in Vertigo), cable cars, for architecture the Ferry Bldg and the Transamerica Bldg. (disregard the stupid palm trees that are not native). Schaefer’s bar and restaurant, the Iron Horse bar on Maiden Lane small alley in Union Square, historic bar, the Buena Vista bar where Irish coffee was created on the Powell St. cable car line, The Fairmont and Mark Hopkins hotels on top of Nob Hill; the panhandle of Golden Gate Park where the Summer of Love began and the Haight-Ashbury, The Castro gay residential district, in North Beach the City Lights bookstore Alan Ginsburg made famous and the Vesuvio coffee house next door.
(when i remember more, i will add them)
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January 16th, 2010 at 1:57 pm
I recommend going to the Orpheum Theatre or whatever theatre you can. They’re beautiful sights. I also would say to watch Wicked the musical if you can. =)
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January 16th, 2010 at 2:10 pm
Head across the bridge to Marin, and check out the Marin Headlands, Muir Woods and Mt Tamalpais. Pt Reyes is also well worth visiting if you like the outdoors.
Berkeley is also fun to wander around…
You may also want to head south to Santa Cruz (about an hour south) or Monterey (about 2 hrs south).
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