Comments on: What to do in SF on Thanksgiving Day

Question: What to do in SF on Thanksgiving Day

jenfullmoon — Mon, 12 Nov 2007 20:50:38 -0800

We're going to be in San Francisco on Thanksgiving Day. Got a restaurant booked, but we're wondering what else there is to do that's uh...open. Or where to wander around looking if nothing is. Anyone know?

By: wuzandfuzz

wuzandfuzz — Mon, 12 Nov 2007 20:53:26 -0800

The San Francisco Botanical Garden is open 365 days a week for a post-meal slow walk.

http://www.sfbotanicalgarden.org/

By: Quietgal

Quietgal — Mon, 12 Nov 2007 21:04:22 -0800

Climb the Greenwich Steps to Telegraph Hill for a great view of the bay, then go down the Filbert Steps and admire the hidden garden.

I don't know how messed up the beaches are due to the recent oil spill, but Ocean Beach is always open, Crissy Field has some great birdwatching, you can walk across the Golden Gate Bridge, or check out the sea lions at Pier 39.

By: mto

mto — Mon, 12 Nov 2007 21:07:04 -0800

Golden Gate Bridge, Alcatraz, Golden Gate Park (which includes the Botanical Gardens), Lombard St. (the twisty road), Telegraph Hill, Ocean Beach, the Marin Headlands, Baker Beach, Chrissy Field, The Painted Ladies, Twin Peaks, Palace of Fine Arts (the outside grounds, anyway), Fisherman's Wharf (the outside grounds, most of the stores are likely to be closed I'd bet).

In fact, most of the canonical touristy stuff to do in San Francisco is outside and free. The only things above that cost money are: ferry to Alcatraz, and driving across the Golden Gate (into the city).

The Alcatraz ferry will be running on Thanksgiving day, though. And the Golden Gate Bridge will certainly be open. Beyond that, I have no idea what specific stores or restaurants will be open. I imagine you'll have no problem finding a bite to eat though, especially in Chinatown or Japantown (both which I bet will something open).

By: gingerbeer

gingerbeer — Mon, 12 Nov 2007 21:24:10 -0800

As of right now, most beaches except for Ocean Beach are closed, and Ocean Beach doesn't sound like it's much fun. I am hopeful that by Thanksgiving more of them may be open, less toxic, and less full of dead and dying birds.

Golden Gate Park and the Presidio both have nice trails unaffected by toxic goo, and are good for a post-meal stroll. If you have a car, driving up to Twin Peaks or over to the Marin Headlands are both great. Heck, drive the 49 mile scenic drive.

Movie theaters are often still open on Thanksgiving. Enjoy your visit!

By: freshwater_pr0n

freshwater_pr0n — Mon, 12 Nov 2007 21:24:33 -0800

Spend some time at Golden Gate Park, and then hang out on Clement St. There will be plenty of interesting markets to peruse.

Bars will open for the evening, and you can hang out with other folks who didn't leave the city.

If you have bikes, or can rent them, one of the coolest things you can do is to ride around downtown and in the financial district. It will be deserted and ghostly, and you can have lots of fun roaring down streets that are usually clogged with traffic and exploring weird, itsy-bitys alleyways.

By: mmascolino

mmascolino — Mon, 12 Nov 2007 21:47:09 -0800

I spent one Thanksgiving in SF and out of all my trips there that was the trip were seemingly parking everyone was a snap. Not sure if that advice holds up 5 years removed so take it with a grain of salt.

By: mto

mto — Mon, 12 Nov 2007 21:50:36 -0800

Oh right, the oil spill has affected many of the beaches. As gingerbeer said, many of them are closed. Normally they're open. Sorry :/

There's also the Sutro Bath house ruins, which may or may not be affected by the recent spill. It's also free and neat to wander around.

By: miss lynnster

miss lynnster — Mon, 12 Nov 2007 22:40:19 -0800

Fort Funston is still open, I took my dog for her weekly run on the beach yesterday. There are little tar bubbles on the sand here & there, but it was pretty clean compared to what I was expecting, frankly.

By: autojack

autojack — Tue, 13 Nov 2007 09:41:34 -0800

I always tell people to check out Rodeo Beach, over in Marin, if they have a car. It's right on the other side of the Golden Gate, and the cliffs and hiking trails, not so much the beach itself, are spectacular.

By: fishfucker

fishfucker — Tue, 13 Nov 2007 10:50:19 -0800

Many food and entertainment venues will be open, albeit more empty than usual -- as others have said, it can be a good day to bike-ride.

We'd probably be able to give more useful advice if you let us know:

1) where in the city you're based at.
2) what restaurant are you going to
3) what sort of stuff do you want to do? (see a movie, see tourist sights, go to a show, go to a bar?)

By: jenfullmoon

jenfullmoon — Tue, 13 Nov 2007 10:57:57 -0800

Thanks! Looks like a good list :)

By: mudpuppie

mudpuppie — Tue, 13 Nov 2007 11:23:32 -0800

SF's touristy things are actually really crowded on Thanksgiving. Lots of European tourists are in town then. I went to Alcatraz one year on T'Day. If you choose to go that route, make sure you make reservations.

By: gingerbeer

gingerbeer — Tue, 13 Nov 2007 17:26:35 -0800

I hate to spill oil on everyone's lovely beach suggestions, but Rodeo Beach and Rodeo Lagoon are pretty miserable right now, what with the guys in the tyvek suits and the oiled birds. It may be nice again by next week - certainly it will be better than it was this past weekend - but it's going to be years and years before it (and its inhabitants) are back to what they used to be.

If you do want to go to Alcatraz, there's a sunrise ceremony held there by a Native American group. It's open to anyone who wants to attend. I keep saying I'll go some year, but have yet to make it. They run special ferries for it, I think.

By: gingerbeer

gingerbeer — Sun, 18 Nov 2007 10:46:36 -0800

Just an update, in case anyone is still reading -- most of the beaches are now open.