Trip report - long!

We recently returned from SF and want to report to this forum since it was helpful to us. We had a thoroughly enjoyable stay in SF! From the walk across GG Bridge to our trips (3!)up Filbert steps to Coit Tower to the wonderful weather to watching people do Tai Chi in Washington Square, it was a grand trip. I also have to put in a big plug for the Washington Square Inn. It is a wonderful B%26amp;B right off Washington Square. We can%26#39;t imagine staying anywhere else! One thing I had not read (though it could have been mentioned) is to bring sunscreen. I am not usuallly one to wear sunscreen but on our walk around Crissy Field and then across the GG Bridge, my face got extremely burned. The sun was not visible through the fog but it was there along with the wind! As was suggested, we didn%26#39;t even bring a pair of shorts. We could have worn them at different points of the day but we were generally glad to have on long pants and sweatshirts tied around our waists or wearing them! One place we enjoyed eating was Tomasso%26#39;s in North Beach. The food is good but we generally enjoyed their hospitality. We talked to two different groups of people who had been going there for 12 and 20 years respectively. We don%26#39;t usually do this, but we went two nights in a row and the person seating us remembered our name from the previous night! Of course if you like going to bookstores, you have to go to City Lights Bookstore. There is so much history there and independent bookstores are so rare these days. We also took this forum%26#39;s advice and took a town car (Town Car Express, Allan Chan) from the airport and Lorrie%26#39;s Shuttle ($28 plus tip) on our return from the airport. This worked great after a long day of travel. We just called Allan when we arrived and he picked us up right outside of baggage claim. The cost was more ($45 plus tip) but well worth it. We also experienced some of the culture of the city and saw Kiki and Herb (hilarious) at American Conservatory Theater and also volunteered at the AIDS Walk which was at beautiful Golden Gate Park. There is SO much we missed and look forward to a return visit in the future. Oh, one more thing. We stayed glued to our map to navigate and take cable cars and the Muni and did pretty well navigating. However, one day on our trip out to the Cliff House (there was fog there upon our arrival [:~( ], we were confused about which bus to take. In my research I saw that you can call 511 and tell them where you are and they will help. I was standing on a corner near Chinatown and did just that. The person was very helpful and gave us the bus numbers and also told us we could call back if we needed to know what time the return buses will run. This is a great help if you need it! Additionally, some of you may remember someone mentioning having a broken toe and worrying about footwear. Luckily, I put on tennis shoes the night before we left and I could wear them! I also wore open-toed shoes and was fine during the day. Thanks to the many locals who are willing to help visitors have a more enjoyable stay in their beautiful city.

Trip report - long!

Thank you for your detailed trip report! I was glad to read your favorable review of Tomasso%26#39;s as we plan to eat there next week! I also appreciate the transport info. I had read about the 511 but had forgotten all about it and I have a pretty good (bad) feeling we may need it. Thanks again!

Trip report - long!

Lovely trip report! Thank you so much for taking the time to do this! Sounds like you had a wonderful vacation in SF!

Thanks for telling us about your trip. glad you liked our town. Aids walk huh, that%26#39;s certainly not typical tourist fare...

Glad to hear your toe wasn%26#39;t an impediment. Sounds like you covered a lot of ground.

drummerliz,

No, the AIDS walk would not be considered ';typical'; but then again we don%26#39;t like to do typical tourist things anyway. However, I was on a work-related/fun trip and I chose to do this since it relates to my job (I am a college counselor). My husband ended up volunteering with me and we felt like we helped in a small way and got a great deal out of it for ourselves. If we were in SF again during the AIDS walk, I would do it again!

Nowisthetime «my face got extremely burned. The sun was not visible through the fog»

I don%26#39;t know if it%26#39;s good science, but anecdotally it%26#39;s said that clouds and/or fog intensifies our Sun%26#39;s burning rays.

«As was suggested, we didn%26#39;t even bring a pair of shorts.»

THANK you!!!

«One place we enjoyed eating was Tomasso%26#39;s»

Excellent!

«you have to go to City Lights Bookstore.»

You%26#39;re doing great!

«volunteered at the AIDS Walk»

You%26#39;re doing better%26#39;n great!

«can call 511 and tell them where you are and they will help.»

I don%26#39;t trust %26#39;em. You were lucky. Better t%26#39;call ORdway 3-MUNI.

You done good! Thank you for telling us! We could use more travellers of your caliber.

Thank you for taking the time to write! Now I know to pack sunscreen--we have our bags ready and waiting for our 9:30

AM flight tomorrow morning. I wanted to try Tommasos, so thank you for that great review! And it was really nice of your Mr. Bonds to hit those two homers yesterday - my sons packed their baseball mitt in preparation of catching his record ball Tuesday night!!

San Francisco, here we come!

PRMOM

Swingcha,

Now if we could only get PAID for traveling! Thanks for your kind comments. I%26#39;m glad we lucked out on the 511 directions! Good to know there is another option for next time . . .