What should a young couple do on a first-time visit to San Francisco, July 4th weekend?

June 10, 2009 2:11 PM

What should a young couple do on a first-time visit to San Francisco, July 4th weekend?

I'm taking my soon to be 23 year old girlfriend to San Francisco for her upcoming birthday. I've already booked the Hotel Drisco after reading the reviews on TripAdvisor as I think it's more her style (older building with history, but not rundown). We'll be driving from Southern California so we'll have a car but from what I've read it doesn't seem like we'll need it.

I'm looking for some suggestions on places to go during our stay that first-time visitors should absolutely check out, preferably with some info on public transportation options to get there. They don't have to be family/kid friendly.

Also, since its July 4th weekend is there anything specialI should check out (I read on fireworks at Fisherman's Wharf) or places to avoid given the time? Any San Franciscan veteran tips?

posted by whtthehecker to travel & transportation (14 comments total)

Previously
posted by sanko at 2:27 PM on June 10

Don't count on watching fireworks being enjoyable. If it's foggy, you'll just see the clouds change color along with some booming noises. Also, Fisherman's Wharf becomes even more of a zoo than it usually is.
posted by zsazsa at 2:33 PM on June 10

Yeah, don't bother with the fireworks. Or at least go to Oakland or something for them.
posted by rkent at 2:39 PM on June 10

Take the J-Church train up to the top of Mission Dolores Park. It's very beautiful, and not very touristy.

You'll be on Church St. You can walk back to Market, all downhill and it's a groovy little street with some nice eating places.

OR you can start at the bottom of Mission Dolores Park (the view of downtown is breathtaking from the top) and go west on 18th for a few blocks and end up in the middle of the Castro, which has it's own charms, including beautifully restored houses, the Castro Theater, a sorta shrine to Harvey Milk, and some interesting street life.

Then you can walk North on Castro and pick up the Muni trains at the station under Harvey Milk Square.

Lots of bars in the Castro. Very few coffee places. Always wondered about that.
posted by Danf at 2:40 PM on June 10 [1 favorite]

Bring a jacket and a scarf. I'm not kidding. Last year's 4th was so foggy that the fireworks barely changed the fog's color. You might have better luck with visible fireworks if you go to Sausalito or Jack London Square.

Things to do: Alcatraz (take the ferry - it's your only option). Stroll through North Beach - go to City Lights bookstore and have a drink after at Vesuvio (next door) or Specs (across the street).
posted by rtha at 2:47 PM on June 10

john muir woods - check out the redwoods
posted by Flood at 2:54 PM on June 10

More an Oakland tip but if you want, drive up to the Oakland or Berkeley hills to watch the fireworks. In San Francisco you're lucky if you can see 2 sets of fireworks, in general you will only see one. From the hills over in the easy bay you can see all the way south past San Leandro, all the way north to Marin and Richmond, out to San Francisco across the bay, as well as more locally Berkeley and Oakland marina fireworks. Usually you can see and hear 5 different shows at once. If it's foggy, maybe less exciting, still cool though. I usually park around here: http://www.lhs.berkeley.edu/visit/info
posted by doteatop at 3:06 PM on June 10

If you are book lovers in any way, Green Apple Books on Clement is worth a stop. The only problem is that you need to drive there (but you have a car) or take a bus.

Green Apple is tons more charming than City Lights, if not as well-known.
posted by Danf at 3:24 PM on June 10 [1 favorite]

nthing the advice for having some warmer clothes available. SF's microclimate can be super weird. Also Alcatraz (and its audio tour) was far more interesting that I expected. I hope you are driving along the coast for at least part of the trip. I thought north of Santa Cruz was epically spectacular driving.
posted by mmascolino at 3:58 PM on June 10

I'd say go to upper Haight to Magnolia's (they brew their own beer) and then up to Cole Valley, basically straight up Cole from Haight. They have a super cute French cafe called Zazi. Also, try to catch a Giant's game, if you like baseball. If it's a clear day, and you sit way up high, you get great views of the bay.
posted by anniek at 4:03 PM on June 10

The Fillmore Street Jazz Festival (street fair booths + live music) is on Fourth of July Weekend, if you're into that.
posted by clair-de-lune at 7:05 PM on June 10

If it is foggy, driving up to the East Bay hills to try to see fireworks will be a useless endeavor. Better to be someplace where you will be under the fireworks, not above them (and above the fog, or just higher up in the fog). The pier 39 fireworks are pretty good, we can usually see them from where we go in Oakland. I would recommend a 4th of July boat cruise- they are pricy but fun. I think all the local ferries do them.

Agree with everyone to bring warm clothes. It's been crazy cold and foggy so far this year everywhere, not just the usual SF summer cold and fog.

Your hotel is in sort of a quiet part of the world, especially as far as getting to other parts of the City. You're by the Presidio, which is nice for strolling in the woods, (and visiting the Exploratorium) but you'll have to ride the bus awhile to get to the Mission , which is where the most interesting and accessible food and shops are, in a general way. There are great shops and food all over, but in the Mission you can just stroll down Valencia and it's all right there. Don't waste your few days in the Haight, unless it is for very specific food or drink, like the Toronado or Magnolia. Otherwise it's mostly annoying there, unless panhandlers are your particular joy.

If you are a coffee devotee, I think it's worth going to the other Blue Bottle Coffee in the Mint Plaza to experience the siphon bar. It's sort of out of the way unless you feel like hanging out at Yerba Buena Gardens lounging on the grass. I second Green Apple books, and also enjoy Genki on Clement street, as well as browsing all the little import stores if I'm up there.
posted by oneirodynia at 7:42 PM on June 10

If the weather's clear (crapshoot), your best view for fireworks in the City itself will be the Bernal Heights summit. Definitely bring warm layers of clothing.
posted by trip and a half at 12:57 AM on June 11

A very nice touristy walk: Climb the Filbert Steps up to the Coit Tower, then go down Telegraph Hill and up Russian Hill to the switchbacky block of Lombard (between Leavenworth and Hyde). Then over to Hyde to catch a streetcar (hanging on the rails, of course), which you can ride to Union Square. You'll be able to see Alcatraz and the Golden Gate Bridge as you walk.
posted by troywestfield at 8:06 AM on June 11