San Francisco - anyone been?

[dusty]

I would love to hear recommendations for things to do in San Fran that are slightly off the normal tourist trail but good San Fran fun and experiencing the local culture.
We are also thinking of staying in Cole Valley if anyone has any recommendations.
cheers

[christy]

I love Marin county... there are some beautiful redwood forest walks there that are amazing.

What time of year are you going? I spent a lot of time in San Fran in my life and have a few spots that I HAVE to go too when I'm in town.

1) Marin county
2) Fisherman's wharf... yes its touristy but until you get some clam chowder in a sourdough bowl you haven't lived!!
3) Haight St... its the hippy/alternative street where there is heaps of hippy history...
4) There's a street that I go down (can't think of the name) which is has amazing poet nights... and I love wandering the book shops there.

**** ALSO **** You must watch "So I Married An Axe Murderer" prior to going to SF..... seriously!!! We did an Axe Murderer tour with my mates last time DH & I went and it was the most fun ever! (We made it up as we went)

[dusty]

Your ALSO has me intrigued Christy!

Thanks for the other hints.

I have also heard about Chez Panisse (Alice Waters) as an experience of fabulous food, you have to book 1 month in advance for a set course dinner. Have you been?
I love the idea of books and poets. Let me know if you remember or I can google.

[MantaRay]

I love, love, love San Fran! It has such a great vibe.

I definitely agree with the clam chowder on Fisherman's Wharf - that is a must! I also enjoyed doing a bike ride around San Fran (although it was very hard work with all the hils!!) and over the Golden Gate Bridge.

[christy]

all I can remember is that we walk there up a hill from China town HAHAHAHA.... oh dear.... I will email my best friends who live there (the 2 best friends I had in high school live there)

[Phteven]

When are you going?
Super envious here. I would love to visit SF.

[dusty]

First week of September part of 6 week trip to US

That would be great Christy! Sounds up my alley being a wanna be hippy and all

[Aussiegirl777]

I loved San Francisco too. But we did mainly all touristy things.

I would triple recommend the chowder in a sourdough bowl at Fisherman's Wharf. Yummy. I had clam chowder one day, Lobster bisque another day and Crab Chowder on yet another day. All in sourdough bowls. The Best!!

We also went over to Sausilito for lunch one day which was nice. We caught the Ferry over but you can hire a bike and ride there over the bridge if you like.

Have fun.

[Emma1979]

somehow i ended up going to something called "AUDIUM" - found it in a san fran tourist magazine at the hostel we stayed at.... i don't know how to describe it but it was probably the strangest thing i have been to.... it was a 'sound experience'..... my friend and i still laugh about it.... ummm yeah not sure if i am recommending it but if you want an extremely zany experience maybe try it!

[Elocin]

We also went over to Sausilito for lunch one day which was nice. We caught the Ferry over but you can hire a bike and ride there over the bridge if you like.

Have fun.

We had breakfast at one of the little cafes in Sausilito and it was the BEST food and coffee I've ever had.

Chinatown rocks - awesome little side streets and beautiful food.

We mainly did the 'tourist' thing, but even that is enough get whole experience and feel like you will never want to leave!!

Where else are you going??

[lauren22]

BEST CHINA TOWN!
haha and as others suggested fishermans wharf and we stayed at the mandarin which was awsome being so central
i found it a lovley city to just wonder around
seriously the best thing we did.

[smiles4u]

When i was there mind you it was about 14years ago there was a great Wax Museum there

Ran into the most amount of Aussie tourists there too

Only place that i finally after weeks on holidays there that a Yank recognised my Aussie ascent, Americans either tought i was English or German (Fluff-A-Holic mentioned i sound Kiwi which was funny as i have been told that heaps of times, LOL)

[Leemar]

Hi,

We were in San Fran in January this year and agree that it was good.
Sausilito was so pretty. Loved the Tram ride and Fishermans wharf. Did the Tourist stuff. If you want to grab some bargins go to Walmart its great. We stayed at the Clarion at the Airport.

[lauren22]

Hi,

We were in San Fran in January this year and agree that it was good.
Sausilito was so pretty. Loved the Tram ride and Fishermans wharf. Did the Tourist stuff. If you want to grab some bargins go to Walmart its great. We stayed at the Clarion at the Airport.

we were there in jan too! haha the tram ride to the wharf agreed is reallllly good
we had this gorge guy from new orleans there

[FabFiona]

I LOVE San Franciso. We went a few years ago and it was an amazing place.

I'm not sure about off the tourist track stuff, but here is what we did that I loved.

1. Wandered around the Castro - It is the centre of the San Fran gay community and a really good place to hang out and relax.
2. Alcatraz - book your tickets before you go.
3. Fishermans Pier - I loved watching the seals!
4. Bike ride - we went over the Golden Gate and around some of the suburbs.
5. Shopping - San Fran has GREAT shopping.

Totally jealous.

[FabFiona]

Oh, we also took a day tour out to Yosemite National Park. It is a very beautiful place.

[lauren22]

Oh yes fionaw alcatraz is wonderful!
we went in winter and wasnt that busy but apperntly its essential for ticket booking as fionw said im actually so excited for you

[amber]

I love the Haight/Lower Haight area.
At the end of Upper Haight is Golden Gate Park so you can start walking around it from there. And the BEST mexican food in all of San Fran is there too, Zona Rosa. It's on Haight and Cole and is amazing.
Amoeba records is on the next block and if you're a music person you'll have the time of your life. They have everything!
In Lower Haight (Haight and Fillmore) there is a fantastic art gallery, fifty24SF. It has mostly lowbrow art (my fave ) and other really good stuff too.
I'm a bit of a sneaker freaker so the Adidas store on Haight is where I spend a lot of time (and money ) when I'm there.
Bar wise Lucky 13 is very cool, it's on Market and 16th. The Castro is great, there is a deli on Castro and Market that sells the best flavored coffee, they usually have flavours like blueberry and vanilla - YUM!!
If there's anything on, try and go to the Red Vic. It's a movie theater on Upper Haight and shows some great films and has been there forever. It's a San Fran institution.
Is there anything you're wanting to do specifically?
Without a doubt SF is my favorite place in the States, it really has such a great vibe!