[jules17]

Originally Posted by loveajax

I am going to a conference in San Fran in early March...I can't believe I have never been there before...I have always wanted to go!

I am so envious! We go to SF at least once a year. Beautiful city - you can't go wrong. I have yet to eat anything bad in SF!

Tell us how much time you'll have and I can make better recommendations.

Seriously, though...even if you only have time to do a few things your concierge recommends - you cannot go wrong!!

[loveajax]

jules, right now I am going T - Fr. (And T will be at the Napa spa). If DD and DH come, I may extend it thru Sunday. (Maybe I will have them come Th - Sunday). I know, know, know I will fall in love with this city and not want to leave (though Beantown has its own charm!).

[Celesyee]

Originally Posted by WnnaBmom

Hi,
IIf you are without DD, a phenomenal restaurant is Restaurant Gary Danko (about $80pp before wine), Restaurant Michael Mina (which would be in your hotel and about the same price), and there are a handful of fun restaurants in an alley called Belden Place about 3 blocks away, different Ethnic foods, never had a bad meal there.

Geeze! $80pp before wine!?! Growing up I didn't spend much time in the downtown area, but if you're looking for more affordable and great ethnic restaurants (Indonesian, Thai, Chinese, Japanese, Salvadorean, etc) let me know and I can point you in the right direction.

And I agree with Supa...I'm totally homesick now and I was there for 3weeks in November and 2weeks in December.

[oceanica]

I went there a few years ago and enjoyed chinatown and fisherman's wharf. Alcatrez was neat but wouldn't be for kids. I did not like the food but we had no recommendations from anyone and I'm sure we just hit on bad places. The Indian restaurant we went to was particularly disgusting. Anyhow I hope you will have a chance to see Muir woods... that is like a sacred experience. Have a great time and update us when you get back!

[OakShannon]

Fisherman's Wharf is very touristy, but it can be fun, has some great views of the Bay and your daughter will get a kick out of the sea lions. If you live here, you never go. But it's a tourist attraction for a reason.

I second the recommendation for the California Academy of Sciences as a place to take your daughter. It's fantastic. But get there when they open! I made the mistake of showing up at 11:30 and there was a 3 hour wait to get in. The next day we showed up about 15 minutes before opening and it was not a problem. If you go, start at the rainforest exhibit. It's amazing.

The Exploratorium is another great kid place. While the CAS has interesting things to look at, the Exploratorium is huge and it's all hands-on. Your daughter will have a great time. It's a very kid centered place, so it may be less entertaining (and noisier!) for you. But it is also right at the foot of the Golden Gate Bridge, so afterward you can drive over the bridge and head into the hills overlooking the bay for some of the most beautiful views you will find anywhere. In my humble Bay-Area-Native opinion.

Alcatraz - Eh, if you've seen one old maximum security prison, you've seen them all. You can only be locked in solitary so many times, KWIM? But Angel Island - now that's worth a trip on a warm, sunny day! And you might get one in March. (The summer is always foggy, so your odds are actually better in Spring.) You can rent bicycles and ride around the perimeter of the island overlooking the Bay. It's beautiful. And the island has a really interesting history dating back to the Civil War. Your daughter will enjoy the ferry ride, too.

[loveajax]

C, I LURVE sushi and thai more than anything so any great recs there?

Shannon, thank you!!! Awesome suggestions.

I really want to take DD but DH is sort of "hesitating." We'll see.....

[Celesyee]

I haven't been to the Exploritorium in maybe 20+years, but I remember it being one of my fave places as a child.

And I do agree with Oceanica...in SF, there are A LOT of restaurants, but they are not all good. Oceanica--the best Indian restaurants in the Bay Area are in San Jose. I'd say, there are a lot more bad restaurants than there are good ones. My opinions about restaurants near where you're staying are way overpriced and not nearly as good as the ones on the outskirts of SF. My suggestion would be to look in the restaurant and see if there are any families there with their grandparents...those are the best restaurants.

As for sushi...my dad is a fisherman so I'm used to fresh fish and don't settle for anything less. My favorite sushi place Hiro's but that's in San Bruno (10miles south of SF, but is sorta near the airport). A lot of people like Ebisu: ebisu

Thai food...Khan Toke is an all wooden traditional Thai restaurant. Tables are hand wooden carved with a whole into the ground for your feet to hang, or you sit "Indian" style (so all customers must remove their shoes before being allowed into the dining area). The servers are dressed in traditional Thai outfits. This a great place for ambiance and experience though the food is a bit overpriced and not the best. A better choice for Thai food would be Marnee Thai.

BTW, if you're going to Chinatown...I wouldn't eat there. I grew up there and am Chinese, but we never eat in Chinatown (it's dirty, greasy, critter infested, usually not up to health codes). There are a few good dim sum take out places so let me know if you're interested in those.

Also, parking in SF is almost all parallel parking, garage parking, or metered parking (quarters only).

[SupaModel]

Originally Posted by Celesyee

Thai food...Khan Toke is an all wooden traditional Thai restaurant. Tables are hand wooden carved with a whole into the ground for your feet to hang, or you sit "Indian" style (so all customers must remove their shoes before being allowed into the dining area). The servers are dressed in traditional Thai outfits. This a great place for ambiance and experience though the food is a bit overpriced and not the best. A better choice for Thai food would be Marnee Thai.

Cel - I used to live close by Khan Toke and I LOOOOVED it! It was my favorite Thai place.
As far as Sushi there is a place down the street from there called Kitaro and it's cheap but really good!

Other sushi spots...

Ace Wasabi's
Sushi Rocks
Blowfish
Mas Sake

[loveajax]

Oh, yeah!!!! I love the sushi and Thai recs. Thank you, guys!!!

[oceanica]

Oh I forgot to mention that you have to try the sourdough bread... if you like breads that is. You can get it with chowder inside like a soup bowl or just plain. The bakery (I think it's called bowden's) is neat because you can see them making the bread.

[loveajax]

OMG, Oceanica, is there anything better than chowder in a bread bowl? This thread keeps making me hungry!

[JGarrick]

I loved Alcatraz, but your child may be bored. Muir Woods is only a short drive away (and you want to drive over the Golden Gate Bridge anyway, right). Someone earlier described it as a sacred experience. That's a pretty good description. It's really magnificent. If you haven't been there, Fisherman's Wharf is touristy fun.

I had to add this - pretty good stuff:
Fisherman's Wharf San Francisco California Is A Blatant Tourist Trap

[SupaModel]

Love- I just wanted to tell you this thread got me soooo homesick DH & I just got tix's to go to CA in 2 weeks!!!

Unfortunately we won't be in SF but we are visiting his family in San Diego.

Thanks for the inspiration

[loveajax]

Supa, awesome!!!! I love SD...was there last winter. We went to the Wild Animal park (?) which was really cool. And to get away from this freaking cold!!! Have a great time!!