sgvdomer

"She did not mention that she's renting a car"

Nitpicking are we?

janisj

>>Nitpicking are we?unless one has a car . . .

sgvdomer

"Not really. Sort of hard to do the 49 mile drive (which is basically what you described) unless one has a car"

Or she can sit at Embarcadero all day and people watch.

sf7307

At night, you can ride the cable car from Ghirardelli Square back to Union Square or Embarcadero

Nitpicking again - No cable car goes from Ghirardelli Sq to the Embarcadero.

The OP would really have to decide what they want to see and do. Personally, of all the things mentioned, I would want to see Alcatraz, walk along the Embarcadero, climb some steps up to Coit Tower and see the murals on the main floor, walk through Chinatown on Stockton Street and North Beach on Columbus Avenue and Upper Grant, maybe go up to Twin Peaks and to see the Painted Ladies (if I had a car). If I were going to stroll around neighborhoods, my choices would be 24th St. in Noe Valley, and Valencia Street in the Mission. I would not spend one of my two days at Pier 39, Fisherman's Wharf and Ghirardelli Square, although I think it's fine to take a walk through if you're on the Embarcadero or in the Chinatown/North Beach area.

sgvdomer

"Nitpicking again - No cable car goes from Ghirardelli Sq to the Embarcadero"

Oh I'm sorry. I meant to say cable car(s).

StuDudley

Nitpicking again. The group of Victorians across the street from Alamo Square on the east side, isn't really called "Painted Ladies". It's really called "Postcard Row" by Victorian Alliance, City Guides, and my wife. Painted Lady is the term for any historical house painted 5 or more different colors. There are thousands of painted ladies in San Francisco. Walk 2 blocks north of Postcard Row, and on the corner of Mc Allister & Steiner, there's Chateau Tivoli which was painted in 23 different colors a few years ago, but was recently repainted. Don't know if it is still 23 colors. On October 18, Victorian Alliance is having their annual house tour. This year it is "Storied Houses of Alamo Square", and features a house on Postcard Row and several of the "grandest" Victorian houses in The City.
https://www.victorianalliance.org/

Stu Dudley

janisj

>>Or she can sit at Embarcadero all day and people watch.except that drive.

sgvdomer

"There are tons of places she can see/do w/o a car (and nothing yet posted suggests they will have one). Everything Alison asked about can be done car-less, as can everything else recommended in the thread . . . except that drive."

True. But all I'm suggesting is renting a car and see as many places as possible in a short period of time. Walking around won't get her anywhere fast nor is waiting for bus after bus.

StuDudley

sgv - make some suggestions as to where she can park the car to visit North Beach, Chinatown, Union Sq, Embarcadero, SOMO, her hotel on Sutter - and then explore these areas on foot!!! These areas are where most first-time tourists want to spend their time. She only has about 2 1/4 days here. A car would be fine if she was here for 4-5 days - but not 2.


Stu Dudley

sgvdomer

"I would do Union Sq, CC to Lombard, North Beach Lunch, Coit Tower, and painted ladies on your first full day."

Stu, care to be more specific about which of the thousands of painted ladies you are referring to?

sgvdomer

"make some suggestions as to where she can park the car to visit North Beach, Chinatown, Union Sq, Embarcadero, SOMO, her hotel on Sutter - and then explore these areas on foot!!! These areas are where most first-time tourists want to spend their time."

I stayed at the Hyatt Regency next to the ferry building and was able to park my car in the lot (Embarcadero #4?) next to the hotel for 2 nights. Parking was $34 per night or $12 per hour. I also stayed at Westin on 3rd St back in 2013 and was able to find a big parking lot right next to it. I believe parking fee was less than $30 per night. I parked my car there for the 3 nights I was there.

While walking from Hyatt to Pier 33 (approximately 1 mile), I believe I saw at least 2 good-sized parking lots (along The Embarcadero) that were a lot closer to Pier 33 than the one I parked next to the hotel.

You can nitpick my opinions all you want. I'm here merely to offer helpful suggestions as a fellow tourist and I do believe it is a necessity to have a car even in a city like San Francisco. I was able to see many things in S.F. in a short period of time because I had a car. I found the cable cars to be very time-consuming (and not cheap either) and the busses to be very inconvenient.

StuDudley

>>which of the thousands of painted ladies you are referring to?> and I do believe it is a necessity to have a car even in a city like San Francisco

traveldawg

Just a warning. There was an article in the SF Chronicle within the last week that Sausalito is swamped with bicycles as all tourists have figured out they want to bike the GG bridge and ferry back. Problem is: The ferry boats only hold so many bikes so there can be a wait to get on to go back to SF.

Check out the Ferry Building instead of Pier 39, especially if you do Fisherman's Wharf. Your agenda is aggressive.....and I used to live across the street from the Ferry Building. The traffic in SF is heavy. You go nowhere quickly.