What to do and what not to do in San Francisco

[mueron]

I'm pretty excited I just booked a trip to San Francisco (staying in Palo Alto). It will be my first ever trip to California so I'm pretty pumped. Anything I should know that's not on your typical "top 10 things to do in San Francisco" lists? Thanks all!

[Dr. Blackheart]

I'm pretty excited I just booked a trip to San Francisco (staying in Palo Alto). It will be my first ever trip to California so I'm pretty pumped. Anything I should know that's not on your typical "top 10 things to do in San Francisco" lists? Thanks all!

Two questions:  Expense account or not?  Are you traveling with JayBee or not?  I await your answers

[4everwarriors]

Do not stand in any buffet lines. Only do sit down dinners, aina?

[mueron]

Haha I forgot to mention its a personal trip and I'll be toting around a 8 year old and a 2 year old. No jaybee don't know who that is. No buffets? I love buffets.

[Dr. Blackheart]

So with an 8 year old...Monterey Bay Aquarium (also some humpbacks may still be running to Baja yet), Muir Woods over the Golden Gate to see Redwoods, Salceledo on the return for dinner. Alcatraz for sure...think there are tours from Salceledo if can fit it in. Since it is your first time, do Fishermen's Wharf/Ghiradelli Square. Also since it is your first time, the Gray Line tour is worthy if just to see the sites. You can pick it up at the Wharf. Golden Gate Park is really nice if sunny.

Buffets are for dentists!  In terms of JayBee, avoid the Friday night rush hour bike ride downtown and by The Wharf with the 8 year old.

[rocket surgeon]

"buffets are for dentists"?  interesting-never heard this before, but i would like to delve in to the mind of  DOCTOR blackheart on this one if i may

i do like your other suggestions however-s.f. is a great city to brouse! donges bay crab, clam chowda in sour dough bread bowl on the wharf but not at buffets though?   alcatraz a can't miss-use it as a teaching moment...next time ya talk back to mommy or daddy-cha-chink(my version of cell doors closing)

[swoopem]

Check out a show at Terrapin Crossroads. It's Phil Lesh's restaurant/music venue. If you're lucky you might catch Phil sitting in with his son's band, The Terrapin Family Band.

[Dr. Blackheart]

Check out a show at Terrapin Crossroads. It's Phil Lesh's restaurant/music venue. If you're lucky you might catch Phil sitting in with his son's band, The Terrapin Family Band.

Awesome...we should add in the grown up recos to this thread.  My list would be totally different.  One more "kinda" hidden gem for a young kid:

http://www.waltdisney.org/sp/

[lurch91]

Plan ahead for Alcatraz, when I was there back in 2008 all the day trips to the island were sold out.  The only thing they had available were night trips, can't remember how late they run.  Book online a month or two in advance for Alcatraz.   Other than that Lombard Street, Fisherman's Wharf, Scoma's, Ghirardelli Square, Chinatown,  etc.

[Benny B]

Is the "Occupy Google Shuttle" movement still alive?  I can't think of anything more educational for the kids than a good old fashion hippie protest of capitalism and innovation.

"Look kids... see the people on the bus going to work?  They make lots of money and live a comfortable life because they went to college, worked hard, and majored in something that is actually useful.  Now see those screaming maniacs with signs?  Even if they did go to college, they majored in something stupid like Obsolete Languages and their mommies and daddies taught them that the only way to get what you want is to whine a lot.  Now guess where the maniacs got the money they used to buy their posterboard and markers to make their signs.... no they didn't steal it.  Try again.  That's right!  The people on the bus are very generous tippers and frequent the restaurants and bars where all the maniacs work.  So in life you have to decide whether you want to be a whiner and a moocher, a hard worker and an enabler, or to live someplace other than California."

[21Jumpstreet]

With kids I'd say Humphry Slocombe for great ice cream, Ferry Building, China Town, walk down the piers, Coit Tower, cable car, the wharf, awesome parks, bike across the bridge.  If you can find some time for a little nip hit Toronado for a beer, Comstock Saloon, Alembec, or Absinthe for a craft cocktail, and just because an Irish coffee at Buena Vista Cafe.  Awesome food options all around.  Great city, enjoy!

[brandx]

Two questions:  Expense account or not?  Are you traveling with JayBee or not?  I await your answers

I got it. Making a bath house reference.

[WI inferiority Complexes]

Is the "Occupy Google Shuttle" movement still alive?  I can't think of anything more educational for the kids than a good old fashion hippie protest of capitalism and innovation.

"Look kids... see the people on the bus going to work?  They make lots of money and live a comfortable life because they went to college, worked hard, and majored in something that is actually useful.  Now see those screaming maniacs with signs?  Even if they did go to college, they majored in something stupid like Obsolete Languages and their mommies and daddies taught them that the only way to get what you want is to whine a lot.  Now guess where the maniacs got the money they used to buy their posterboard and markers to make their signs.... no they didn't steal it.  Try again.  That's right!  The people on the bus are very generous tippers and frequent the restaurants and bars where all the maniacs work.  So in life you have to decide whether you want to be a whiner and a moocher, a hard worker and an enabler, or to live someplace other than California."

You sound like a really fun guy.

[rocket surgeon]

Is the "Occupy Google Shuttle" movement still alive?  I can't think of anything more educational for the kids than a good old fashion hippie protest of capitalism and innovation.

"Look kids... see the people on the bus going to work?  They make lots of money and live a comfortable life because they went to college, worked hard, and majored in something that is actually useful.  Now see those screaming maniacs with signs?  Even if they did go to college, they majored in something stupid like Obsolete Languages and their mommies and daddies taught them that the only way to get what you want is to whine a lot.  Now guess where the maniacs got the money they used to buy their posterboard and markers to make their signs.... no they didn't steal it.  Try again.  That's right!  The people on the bus are very generous tippers and frequent the restaurants and bars where all the maniacs work.  So in life you have to decide whether you want to be a whiner and a moocher, a hard worker and an enabler, or to live someplace other than California."

one thing i noticed about the "maniacs" they actually get p!ssed off when you don't donate to the cause(their cause).  they don't always ask, they expect and/or demand-that was my experience anyway, more than twice.  chinatown was a little strange.  they openly sold porno out of boxes sitting right on sidewalk and some of it looked a little adolescent shall we say-yikes, but the food was great-tastes like chicken

[GooooMarquette]

Ride the streetcars.

[WellsstreetWanderer]

Take the Powell St. Cablecar down to the wharf and walk over to the BuenaVista for an Irish Coffee. This is supposed to be the place it was invented.

  Get your drink and sit at any table with seats available. Great conversations with fellow drinkers can ensue.

[mueron]

Thanks for all the insight folks! Mmmmm irish coffee

[hairy worthen]

Be prepared to explain to your kids "why that guy is dressed like a girl and walking down the street singing to himself" (Not that there's anything wrong with that.)

[mueron]

Be prepared to explain to your kids "why that guy is dressed like a girl and walking down the street singing to himself" (Not that there's anything wrong with that.)

lol

[keefe]

The kids would love a walk around of Castro and Market

[Spotcheck Billy]

gotta see Haight-Ashbury!

[reinko]

nm

[Henry Sugar]

Awesome...we should add in the grown up recos to this thread.  My list would be totally different.  One more "kinda" hidden gem for a young kid:

http://www.waltdisney.org/sp/

I would be interested in this. Mrs. Sugar and I are headed to SF in early Sept.