Going to San Francisco in a few weeks

Do alcatraz as late in the day as possible as soon as you arrive on the island ask a park ranger they are doing a dungeon tour only.12 people a day get on the dungeon. Tour. They take you.right down in to the old fort

 

Best thing about Alcatraz is the boat trip out. You get brilliant views of the city and the bridge. Ride a cable car (****ing brilliant). Pier 39 for the sea lions. Walk through China Town and look at some of the **** they eat. Go to a restaurant there. Go to the pub. And another. And another. And another.

Go here:
http://melsdrive-in.com/3647
For a proper old school American diner experience.

 

Milkshakes. Get loads of milkshakes, they're out of this world.

Whenever you order a beer, also order a cocktail that you've heard of but you've no idea what it is and watch them make the **** out of it. Tip barmen, a dollar, it's the done thing and you get served quickly plus you'll get more spirits in your cocktails.

Just enjoy it. My favourite city in the world.

 

Check out the Stinking Rose restaurant too. Motto: we season our garlic with food.


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You've left it late in all honesty for Alcatraz mate - I booked several months in advance and did the night tour, which was absolutely brilliant.

 

Also, Dyson, good luck in getting tickets for a Giants game - they go like hot cakes.

 

Brother in law's brother lives out there - tickets seem pretty available still online for both Red Sox & Giants games whilst I'm there so think I'm sound. Golden State also look like they're going to be playing in the NBA finals whilst I'm there so that should be quality watching in the boozer.

 

Its 20 years since I went, but I agree with many of the other comments on here. If you have a car drive over the Golden Gate and into the Redwoods - possibly even as far as the coast. Alcatraz tickets can be booked online now it seems (https://www.nps.gov/alca/planyourvisit/fees.htm), but it might already be booked up (we had to go in person and book for 2-3 days in advance). The pier with the sealions is worth a look, as is Golden Gate park if you don't have time to drive out over the bridge. If you had longer I would recommend a drive down to Monterrey and Carmel or up to Point Reyes and Bodega Bay (where Hitchcock filmed "the Birds"). Both of those are full days in themselves though! A walking tour of the city is possible, but can be tiring.

A couple of warnings though - the approach to San Francisco airport was over water and we had a few nervous passengers on our flight, and we picked up the hire car and after about a mile on a little road turned onto a 8 lane freeway! Pretty scary after a 10 hour flight and no previous overseas driving. I also struggled finding the hotel with the one way system - I couldn't work out how to turn onto the correct road for the car park...

 

If you've an unlocked smartphone, get a Three PAYG mobile SIM. Put £20 credit on and add the Feel at Home, all you can eat addon. This gives you 12GB of data, as well as calls and texts to and from the UK for 30 days.

http://www.three.co.uk/Discover/Phones/Feel_At_Home

Perfect for your internet as well as navigation (google maps).

 

You make it sound like you're at the coal face. Graft. Remind everyone of your job again.

 

Hire a bike and cycle along the coast and over Golden Gate Bridge to Sausalito. Have your lunch there then catch the ferry back to San Fran which passes by Alcatraz.
Fantastic day out whilst getting some exercise and the cycle tracks are brilliant. The coast route is flat till you climb up to the Bridge - there's a cycle path over the bridge then its downhill to Sausolito and there's some great viewpoints for taking photos along the way.
I think there's only one company does official trips to the island but you need to book well in advance. We booked whilst still in the UK.

http://www.alcatraztickets.com/offer/18342/Alcatraz-Day-Ticket

 

Showing your age there ST

 

I've lived in the Bay Area for 20 years, and San Francisco for the last 10. I can give you a few pointers, depending on what you're looking for, and how much free time you've got.


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Sheds brother here - Try the City Bus Tour - u can see all of the city's attractions and get off and on at any stop = Coit Tower, the bridge, the pier, Grace Cathedral etc. An inexpensive way to see it all.

 

alright pop pickers, that was done by the late scott mackenzie i think.

 

I transform things...