Visit China » Tour China » WHAT IS THERE TO SEE IN SAN FRANCISCO?
WHAT IS THERE TO SEE IN SAN FRANCISCO?
Question:
>I live in NY, and the homeless panhandlers in downtown SF outnumber those >in Manhattan 2 to 1! There was literally one on EVERY corner and in >between. Be aware. That was my biggest disappointment about SF.
Bah. If there are going to be homeless people, I’m proud to live in a city that offers them something of a welcome (admittedly less of one with each passing day and law). A great many of them are fascinating and very nice people. miguel
Response:
There were a lot of homeless in SF a month ago, but a lot less than two years ago and even fewer than four years ago. In certain areas, Union Square for one, you could hardly walk without stepping on them in 1990. BCriswell
Response:
>for a day. If your stopping over at S.F.O airport, grab a bus to the >nearest BART station, then ride all the way to the Powell Street Station.
Just to help a little more, that would be the 3X bus to Daly City BART. It’s $1 and they welcome luggage. It takes about 20 minutes to the BART station, then it’s another $1.50 or so downtown which also takes 20 minutes. Or you can wait until 1999 when there will apparently be a BART link straight to some new International Terminal I’ve never heard of. miguel
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there’s lot’s to see in San Francisco. You can take a bus to the Daly City BART station or take a Bus to Down town SF from The Airport. It’s one of the SAMTRANS busses, I think. There are bus stops at each terminal Fisherman’s Wharf, Federal Reserve, Embarcadero Center, Golden Gate park, Cable Cars, Berkeley, Cliff house, Golden Gate Bridge… I love SF
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I live in NY, and the homeless panhandlers in downtown SF outnumber those in Manhattan 2 to 1! There was literally one on EVERY corner and in between. Be aware. That was my biggest disappointment about SF.
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Tell me what you want to see in the City. I know it well. If you haven’t been there before you probably want to get dropped off at Powell and Market and hoof it. S.F. is a terrible city to drive around or park in. Rather take the cable past Union Square, up and over the hill to Fisherman’s Wharf. On your way back stop on California and take the cable up to Nob hill, then reverse and drop down into China town. Skip the city tourist office. Probably too much junk mail, unless your a tour package lover. There’s a ton more to do than this, but this will keep you busy for a day. If your stopping over at S.F.O airport, grab a bus to the nearest BART station, then ride all the way to the Powell Street Station. Alan – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – > We’re planning a trip to S.F.O. later this summer, who can give us info. on > sights to see? Is the City tourist office on-line?
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We’re planning a trip to S.F.O. later this summer, who can give us info. on sights to see? Is the City tourist office on-line?
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>We’re planning a trip to S.F.O. later this summer, who can give us info. on >sights to see?
As for what to see, that depends an awful lot on your interests and how much time you’ll be spending in the area. _My_ favorite places to visit tend to involve food, and there’s seemingly no end of possibilities here. Something for just about every taste and every budget, and California restaurants are pleasantly smoke-free. > Is the City tourist office on-line?
Try: http://www.terminus.com/geni/USA/CA/San_Francisco/travel/ After you arrive, stop by the San Francisco Convention and Visitors Bureau’s Visitor Information Center at Hallidie Plaza–that’s on the west side of the Powell Street BART/MUNI station, and just down the escalators from the Powell Street cable car turntable. They have all sorts of information (and maybe even some valuable discount coupons). Their quarterly tourist guide, _The San Francisco Book_, is free if you pick it up in person, or they’ll gladly mail a copy for a small fee. They also have a lodging guide. Details should be on the WWW (see above). Their telephone number is +1 415 391 2000. They also have recorded events information in five languages. Tip 1: there’s some wonderful information in the front of the San Francisco Pacific Bell SMART Yellow Pages(R) A-L volume– it’s well worth looking at once you arrive. If your local library collects out-of-area telephone directories, see if they have this. If not, you might bring a set back for them. :-) Tip 2: some major airlines publish vacation or tourist guides for California. Check with city ticket offices and/or travel agents. Tip 3: at San Francisco International Airport, stop by information booths (generally located near baggage claim areas), and/or Travelers Aid. Car Rental desks will also have some very useful information, but: If you’re going to be in San Francisco proper, you’re best off *not* renting a car. Many parts of The City are walkable (wear comfortable shoes!). If it weren’t for our famous hills, probably all of it would be. Street parking is hard to find, private lots are expensive, gasoline stations are few and far between, and automobiles (expecially rentals) attract thieves. Southern California is the driving capital of the U.S.–not here. Fortunately, San Francisco has excellent public transportation. The San Francisco Municipal Railway (a/k/a MUNI) operates motor coaches, trolley coaches, light rail vehicles, and cable cars. Adult bus and LRV cash fares are $1. You can get a free transfer valid for at least 90 minutes for two additional rides in any direction. Cable car cash fares at $2, and no transfers are issued or accepted. There are discounts for children and seniors. One of the best city maps to have is MUNI’s; many bookstores and newspaper vendors sell copies for around $2.50. This will show all the transit lines and tell you their approximate frequencies; the exact schedules are published separately. Those are available free of charge on buses and from MUNI Metro (LRV) station agents. There are several ways to save money (and some inconvenience): 1) $8 will buy ten MUNI tokens, each usable as one adult cash fare. These don’t have expiration dates, and one package can be divided between several people. 2) If you’re only going to be here a few days, and are primarily interested in playing tourist, consider buying MUNI Passports. These allow unlimited use of all MUNI vehicles (including cable cars), and give you admission discounts at several museums and attractions. 1 day=$6, 3 consecutive days=$10, 7 consecutive days=$15. The downside: they’re a dead giveaway that you’re not from around here. 3) If you’re going to be here for an extended visit, monthly ($35) passes are available. I don’t know if weekly passes still exist. The last information I have says they sold for $9, covered a Monday-Sunday period, and were valid on all MUNI vehicles except cable cars, where a $1 additional fare was required. Note: prices subject to change July 1, 1995. San Francisco has two separate and independently operated subway systems: the MUNI Metro and BART. Four stations in downtown San Francisco are common to both: Embarcadero, Montgomery, Powell, and Civic Center. There are separate fare gates for each system, and the tracks are on different levels, so you can’t confuse them. MUNI’s five lines travel to different parts of San Francisco. The three BART lines that pass through San Francisco continue south to Daly City, and east to Alameda and Contra Costa counties. Fares depend on the distance traveled. "All About BART" brochures with fare and schedule information are available at all BART stations. While there is no free transfer between the two systems, if you’re coming from BART, you can purchase a two part "transfer" for $1 (the same as one regular adult MUNI fare). The "from BART" half, which you have to use almost immediately, acts as an adult cash fare (i.e. you can trade it for a ride and a two-use MUNI transfer). The "to BART" half is good for a second adult cash fare in the opposite direction, and should be valid for about three days. If you can take advantage of this, you have a "buy one, get one free" or 50% discount deal. More info on Bay Area public transportation: http://server.berkeley.edu/Transit/ When should you consider renting a car? If you plan on traveling north of The City (e.g. to the "wine country"), or if you’ll be staying outside of San Francisco. BTW, California is *big*. The San Francisco Bay Area only covers nine of California’s 58 counties. Everywhere else is flying distance. Don’t plan on seeing "everything" in one trip. -=EPS=- — "When in CyberSpace, be sure to visit" The Exploratorium http://www.exploratorium.edu/ California Academy of Sciences http://www.calacademy.org/ SF Museum of Modern Art http://www.sfmoma.sf.ca.us:1995/