San Francisco from Dec1-4

Hi this is our first time to the city.. We are planning on a 4 day trip.. We have heard that the weather might be quite cold to venture out near the state parks and beach ? Is that true ? Any outdoor activities that can be suggested which is within couple of hours drive from the city.

San Francisco from Dec1-4

dude - During that time we may have rain (this year has been an early rainy season) which would limit outdoor activities. If not raining the weather can be quite mild and pleasant. Still the beach here is always cold, not like in Southern Cal. The Bay Area is full of great parks, but there is also a lot of open space in the City limits, and the whole beach on both sides of the Golden Gate is part of a national park. Golden Gate Park, Land%26#39;s End and the Presidio are all large wooded parks with the City.

San Francisco from Dec1-4

If it is not raining, hiking at Angel Island in the midday-afternoon is nice and accessible by ferry which will give you views of the surrounding Alcatraz, GG Bridge, skyline, http://www.angelislandferry.com/

Muir Woods is nearby so, again, if weather is permitting, you%26#39;d be able to hike and enjoy the woods if you dress for high 40s-50s, could still be warm as 60 then: http://www.nps.gov/muwo/

thanks latina and snow for your comments. is it recommended to rent a car and drive arnd, or be on lookout for public transportation

If you%26#39;re used to Chicago winter weather, I doubt the S.F. winter will hurt you much.

Within the City, public transit will get you just about everywhere. For many places, a car is more of a headache than an advantage because of traffic, parking costs, and just the difficulty of finding parking spaces. Also, most hotels charge for parking, from $30 up on Union Square or Fisherman%26#39;s Wharf.

For Golden Gate Park and the beaches, parking is not so bad, and a car will get you there quicker.

For Muir Woods, Point Reyes, or the redwood parks in San Mateo County, a car is necessary.

For a 4-day stay, if you plan to take public transit a lot, the Visitor Passport sold by Muni (Municipal Railway) is a big bargain. You pay a flat rate and have unlimited rides on all S.F. city buses, metro trains, and best of all, cable cars and historic streetcars.

http://www.sfmta.com/cms/mfares/passports.htm

A February heat wave is not rare!

Monterey is a 芦within couple of hours禄

Driving Directions with links to relevant maps and URLs of places passed through: San Francisco to Pacifica-Half Moon Bay-Santa Cruz-Monterey/Carmel geocities.com/touringsfo/鈥riveDir.html

I%26#39;m a Muir Woods fan. It%26#39;s an easy day trip across the Golden Gate north of the city. Also check out Point Reyes, a bit more to the north. Last year, I did Muir Woods in the morning, then drove up the coast to Bodega, cutting inland to Sebastopol, and then made a dash back to the city on Highway 101.

I don%26#39;t think you%26#39;ll need a car in the city at all.

If you do drive north, consider picking up a rental at one of the places near Fisherman%26#39;s Wharf. That%26#39;s reasonably convenient to the Golden Gate. (There is a ';Scenic Outlook'; immediately after the northern end of the bridge that offers postcard views of the city.)

There is also a small Hertz operation in Sausalito, close to the ferry landing. That avoids all city driving, but you do need to be back in time to catch the last ferry back to the city.

Compared to Chicago%26#39;s early Dec, it should feel relatively balmy. Rain might be the only spoiler, but even that usually last but a few hours at best. I remember many pleasant December days. Definitely rely on public transport within the city. Get a Visitor Passport for unlimited rides (you can buy them when you get here). You could rent a car by the day for any trips outside the city. You might visit Muir Woods, Stinson Beach, Point Reyes, Mt Tamalpais, or the Wine Country of Sonoma or Napa. These are all within an hour or so of SF, and you could turn the car back without the parking hassles. It should be mild enough for you to enjoy the outdoors, plus the Christmas decorations will be up in Union Square and downtown.

http://www.sfmta.com/cms/mfares/passports.htm

I want to add that I%26#39;ve been there during the first week of December and the weather compared favorably with what I found during visits in spring and fall. Depends on what you think is ';cold';, but I found daytime temps in the 50%26#39;s, with a drop of several degrees soon after sunset, which will happen soon after 5pm. It can be windy, especially near or on the bay. I%26#39;ll be there a few days after you and plan on taking a leather jacket and a couple of sweaters. Always check the forecast online just before you pack in case the weather is pulling a surprise.