***THIS PAGE IS IN DESPERATE NEED OF UPDATES!! THEY WILL BE HERE IN JANUARY 2012***

My San Francisco City Guide is a list of all my favorite places to see, sit, read, watch, walk, eat, drink and be merry. I know that I am barely scraping the surface of this amazing town, but hopefully I will show you at least one or two places you didn’t already know about. This is still a work-in-progress, so many of the items listed need photos and descriptions, but if you have any questions at all, please let me know. Also, leave comments below if you have any suggestions, notice a mistake, or just want to say hi!

The Sights

1. The Golden Gate Bridge

Highway 101 North across the Bay
Muni: Bus #28 or #29
Inbound Bridge Toll: $6/vehicle
Pedestrian/Bicycle Admission: Free

If you are visiting San Francisco, you already know about this bridge. It will become the landmark you look to to figure out which way is north, and I believe that walking across is the best way to experience it. Sure driving across is cool too, but if you walk you can actually see how massive it is, and how beautiful it is. You will see seals swimming below. You will be passed by commuters on bikes. You will laugh with other tourists as you all take photos. You will see San Francisco from the outside, and she’s quite gorgeous.

2. The Bay Bridge

Highway 80 towards Oakland/BerkeleyBest seen from the Ferry Building or Treasure Island/Yerba Buena IslandNo Pedestrian or Bicycle accessInbound Bridge Toll: $5/vehicle

3. Alcatraz & Alcatraz Gardens

Ferries leave from Pier 33 on the Embarcadero
Street Car: F Line
Admission: $26/adult $16/child (5-11)
Day and Night tours are available
Garden Tours: Free every Friday and Sunday morning at 9:30

Alcatraz is more than a rock with a prison on top. The island’s history dates back to 1850 when it was fortified by the American Military. Military families lived on the island for over 40 years and are responsible for the soil, plants and many of the buildings. The cell block was not built and used as a Federal Penitentiary until 1934. And most recently, American Indians occupied the island in 1964 and again in 1969. If you visit the island, make sure that you allow plenty of time to walk through the grounds as well as taking the cell block tour. Just one word of warning: Food is not allowed on the island, so plan your trip accordingly!

4. The Sutro Baths

North of the Cliff House on Point Lobos Ave
Muni: Bus #38 outbound towards 48th Ave; 48th & Geary Stop
Admission: Free
Parking: Free

 

 

 

 

The Sutro Baths were opened by Adolph Sutro in 1896 and housed one fresh water pool as well as six salt water baths. Unfortunately, the building burned down in 1966, and has been left in a state of ruin ever since. Now it is maintained by the Golden Gate National Recreation Area, and is open to the public to walk through and around. This is a great location for bird watching, and at low tide, you can walk down to the beach and around the Cliff House to Ocean Beach. Also, it is located near the Land’s End Trailhead, which happens to be one of the best hikes in the city.

5. Lombard Street

The Best Views of the City

1. Coit Tower

2. Twin Peaks

3. Bernal Heights Park

4. Alamo Square

5. Delores Park

6. Crissy Field

7. Inspiration Point

8. Baker Beach

9. Treasure Island

10. Alcatraz

11. Fort Baker

12. Alameda

Some Favorite Events

1. The Alameda Flea Market

2. Off The Grid

3. Outside Lands Music Festival

4. Movies in the Park

5. City Guides Walking Tours

6. Architecture in the City

7. Fort Mason Book Fair

8. Fleet Week

Activities

1. Giants Baseball

2. Teatro Zanzanni

3. House of Air

Parks

1. The Presidio

2. Golden Gate Park

3. Alamo Square

4. Washington Square

5. Union Square

6. Sutro Heights Park

7. Fort Mason

8. Lincoln Park

9. Panhandle Park

10. Fort Funston

Museums

1. The De Young Museum – Golden Gate Park

2. The Academy of Science – Golden Gate Park

3. San Francisco Musuem of Modern Art – South of Market

4. The Disney Family Museum – Presidio

5. Museum of Craft and Folk Art

Monday – Friday  11a-6p (closed Wednesday)

Free: Every 1st Tuesday

Casual (aka Cheap) Dining

1. Golden Boy Pizza

542 Green St @ Columbus
Close to Washington Square
Muni: Bus #30, 20, 45, 41, 39
A square of pizza: $3-6

Walk in the door. Order a square. Pay your small bill. Grab a seat along the bar. Walk away stuffed. Easy as that. Great pizza. Good price.

2. Gordo’s (Richmond)

3. Sai’s Vietnamese (China Town)

4. Boxed Foods (Financial District)

5. Acme Breads (Ferry Building)

Moderate (not cheap, but not fancy either) Dining

1. Wexler’s (Financial District)

2. Pizzetta (Richmond)

3. Burma Superstar (Inner Richmond)

4. Gott’s (Ferry Building)

5. Brick House Cafe (Mission)

6. Little Thai Restaurant (Russian Hill)

7. Pacific Cafe (Outer Richmond)

8. Ploy II Thai Cafe (Haight Ashbury)

9. Outerlands (Sunset)

Special Occasion (kind of fancy) Dining

1. Foreign Cinema

2. Francis

3. Slanted Door

4. Aziza

Food Carts (locations vary daily)

1. Chairman Bao

2. Kung Fu Tacos

3. Curry Up Now

Coffee/Pastries

1. The Warming Hut

The Western edge of Crissy Air Field in the Presidio
Muni: Bus #28
Coffee: $2-$5
Sandwich: $8
Michael Schwab Postcards: 50¢

This is one of my absolute favorite spots for coffee. I love the building, I love the bookstore, I love the view, I love the jo and I love the people. It’s located in Crissy Field, so there are people and their dogs everywhere. Also, after you have your coffee, you can walk down the road a little ways and see surfers out at Fort Point. I know most people wouldn’t, but I make special trips just to have a hot beverage here.

2. Blue Bottle Coffee

3 Locations:
1 Kiosk – 315 Linden Street @ Gough
Muni: Bus #21, 38
2 Ferry Building – Shop #7
Muni: F Line, Bus #6, 21, 31
3 Mint Plaza – 66 Mint Street @ Jessie near 5th St & Mission
Muni: Any line that stops near Market & 5th
Coffee: $3-$7

Portland has Stumptown, San Francisco has BlueBottle. Each location is different, but all are cool and hipster-styled. The drip coffees do take forever because each one is brewed on the spot, so if you’re in a rush, order an Americano. (they probably think a fine cup of joe cannot be rushed, but sometimes we just are) I think the Mint Plaza location is the most unique and is also the best one to sit around and talk beans.

3. Coffee Bar (Mission)

4. Angelina’s (Richmond)

5. One Jackson Place (Financial District)

6. La Boulengerie (Multiple Locations)

Sleeping

1. Grosvenor Suites – Nob Hill

899 Pine St @ Mason St
Streetcar: Powell & California Lines
Bart: Powell St. Station
Muni: Bus #4
Double Room: $103/night

From the outside, the Grosvenor doesn’t seem like anything special, but the north facing rooms on the upper levels are amazing! They have small balconies that provide 180˚ views of downtown that you can’t stop staring at. Also, the rooms are quite nice. The beds are big and comfy, and each room has a fully equipped kitchenette.

2. Inn 1890 – Haight Ashbury (CLOSED)

Unfortunately, this B&B closed in the summer of 2010. It was an amazing place, and I wish that I could recommend it to you, but it is now apartments. Fortunately, we have met a wonderful couple that occupies one of those apartments, so we still have a connection to this place that helpted me fall in love with San Francisco!

3. Fort Mason Hostel

4. Hotel Kabuki (Japantown)

Just outside of Town

1. Point Montara Lighthouse & Youth Hostel

25 Miles South of San Francisco
16th Street just off Highway 1
Montara, CA
Private Room: $60-100 (depending on # of occupants)
Dorm Room: $23/adult, $11.50/child (12 + under)

This is the hostel of all hostels!!! The 4 private rooms are situated with views looking down the coast and are close enough to the ocean that you can hear it all night long. The staff is super helpful, and they even have their own private beach. It’s a great weekend escape and would be perfect for individuals, couples or groups.

2. Pigeon Point Lighthouse & Youth Hostel

50 Miles South of San Francisco
210 Pigeon Point Rd just off Highway 1
Pescadero, CA
Private Room: $60 – 120 (depending on # of occupants)
Dorm Room: $23/adult, $11.50/child (12 + under)

We have not stayed at the hostel here, but it looks like it could be as nice as Point Montara. We did visit the grounds, which are beautiful, and they provide binoculars for you search for whales along the horizon!!

3. Fort Kronkhite – Marin Headlands

4. Sausilito

5. Tiburon

6. Napa/Sanoma Counties

7. Berkeley