A day in San Francisco

[abike2many]

let's see. Arriving 8 am and you want to rent a car? given the time to rent and return at SFO, you'll be better off taking bart up to the city, Take it to embarcadero. Get off head east to the ferry building. There's food, shops, interesting things there (as well as some history), wander up along the piers, crab is still in season, so there's a snack there. Jump on the F market train (they are old, reconditioned trains) ride that up to church (about 30 minutes). At this point you're a short distance from the toronado (pliney is on tap) or you can walk up haight to magnolia. It's about an 15 minute walk. Magnolia's in upper haight. Eat, have samplers. At this point you are a short (15 minute) walk to golden gate park or just leave magnolia and grab the bus (#43) to union street/marina. wander around that area and take the 42 bus down van ness to the train station. 21A is about a 10 minute walk from the train station - check out pacbell park. Red's Java Hut is close by as well as some art on the embarcadero. After 21A walk north on 2nd street and you are back at the montgomery bart station. Take bart back to the airport and all is good.

total cost on bart/muni probably $13 per person. Parking in SF can suck if you don't know where to park. Traffic between the airport and the city can really suck. California drivers suck. But money isn't everything. You are tight on time, and if you know which bus/train/subway to take, you can jet through the city pretty effectively.

Ohh.. if you really feel ambitious, you can check out SF brewcraft on clement. it's a classic HB shop.

[BeerPal]

My wife and I will be taking a quick day trip on Jan 27th. We'll be in town for about 10 hours. Other than visitng ShawnO at 21A, what are some good things to take in?

I went to SF once when I was 13. I was from a small town and SF was very "odd" to me. Here's what I would take in:

1) Be sure to look for the bums at the trolley stops. They will sing songs (poorly) and then pass the hat around.

2) Look for cross-dressers. You get a point for everyone you spot.

3) Go down to the wharf, but watch out for mimes. They are obnoxious.

Then go visit mfischer2 in whatever podunk village he's from. Keep an eye out for rednecks fucking sheep. You get a point for evey one you see and a bonus if they're wearing a dirty trucker's cap with the Confederate flag on it.

[Geistbier]

yeah thats the Jack bar . I think.. if you stroll down the Warf area look out for the guy with the bush that springs out to scare people.

I noticed I missed the bushman when was around when I was there last May, it's fun to watch how many people fall for his act.

Jack's bar, yeah that's it, great place, have cash they don't accept plastic.

[Motor]

Warning- Long Detailed Text

OK, grab the car and head for the Golden Gate Bridge. Go in to the City on I-280 and follow the Embarcadero around the bay edge of the City. Keep following the signs for the Golden Gate Bridge past Fort Mason and the Marina Green. Then instead of getting onto the highway leading to the bridge, go into the Presidio and Chrissy Field. Look at the bridge from below. Find Fort Point (Civil War era fort under bridge). Get out and look around. Then drive up and across the bridge.

Come back into City and exit right after toll plaza and follow ocean coastline around to the Cliff House and then down along the beach to the Beach Chalet. Too bad they probably aren't open at that hour. Drive up into Golden Gate Park and when you pop out you'll be in the Haight. Go to Magnolia. They're open for brunch on the weekends and have a really good brunch. Some really cute servers, too.

You can wander down Haight afterwards and check out the shops and "street life". Then you can hop in the car and head up to Twin Peaks for the big overview of the City. Come back down and you can hit Toronado. JP won't be there, as he hates the place. Most beers are $2.50 before 6pm everyday.

From Toronado, head into downtown, park near Union Square (Sutter-Stockton garage is good) and check out Chinatown and the shopping around Union Square. Then grab the car again and go see the Ferry Building.

After the Ferry Building, drive over to 21A and finish your time there. I think there's a cardboard cut-out of Shaun in the brewery, and his picutre is on the beer cans, sorta like the missing children on milk cartons. Perfect spot for the return to SFO, as it's got good food and it's freeway close.

Enjoy the trip.

-Motor

PS: Fisherman's Wharf can be skipped unless you're into really old ships, the rest is bad t-shirt shops.

[NumbSkull]

Then go visit mfischer2 in whatever podunk village he's from. Keep an eye out for rednecks fucking sheep. You get a point for evey one you see and a bonus if they're wearing a dirty trucker's cap with the Confederate flag on it.

You sound bitter. Say you are not a crossdresser are you?

Mort

[mfischer2]

My wife and I will be taking a quick day trip on Jan 27th. We'll be in town for about 10 hours. Other than visitng ShawnO at 21A, what are some good things to take in?

I went to SF once when I was 13. I was from a small town and SF was very "odd" to me. Here's what I would take in:

1) Be sure to look for the bums at the trolley stops. They will sing songs (poorly) and then pass the hat around.

2) Look for cross-dressers. You get a point for everyone you spot.

3) Go down to the wharf, but watch out for mimes. They are obnoxious.

Then go visit mfischer2 in whatever podunk village he's from. Keep an eye out for rednecks fucking sheep. You get a point for evey one you see and a bonus if they're wearing a dirty trucker's cap with the Confederate flag on it.

That's one bitter mime.

[Husker267]

Thanks for the feedback guys!
abike2many - Is traffic/parking as large of an issue on a Saturday?
motor - Keep in mind, you're talking to a Colorado man. We tend to use directions - where I am, the mountains are always to the west. I've been able to follow most of your directions. In short, follow the bay north, all the way around from the airport until I reach the pacific (golden gate park area) and then cut back across toward downtown? Also, I looked at both the Beach Chalet and Magnolia and they're both open for brunch - is either better than the other?
Thanks again

[malenbrau]

Both the beach chalet and magnolia's have great beer. As for food, the Beach Chalet has a great view and the price is reflected in the food.

Parking is always an issue in San Francisco for people who are not used to it. Meter's usually run on Saturday which means you will more likely be able to find a spot at a meter. You won't have a problem finding parking at the Beach Chalet.

I would also recommend the Rogue Public House at
673 Union St, San Francisco, CA
http://www.rogue.com/locations-sanfran.html

while it isn't a San Francisco brew pub they have over 40 beers on tap, most of which are Rogue beers.

As for touristy things, I would recommend (adding to the great suggestions that others have said)
Go over the Golden Gate Bridge, go to one of the scenic overlooks on the first or second exit on the other side of the bridge. There is a road that goes up the hill at ends up right above the bridge. I believe it is the second exit (the first being a parking lot), take a left after this exit and go under the the freeway and go up the hill to an overlook. My directions may be slightly wrong as I am trying to remember from memory.

The other place I would try to hit is the top of twin peaks. This is one of the largest hills in town and you have a good view of downtown from up there.