San Fran or New Orleans

King Of The Kippax said:
So, punching this back up to the top.

Due to logistical reasons (As we are going Vegas and LA) we have decided on San Francisco and the outbound flight has been booked. I have a few more questions for anyone who knows or has been to San Fran:

1 - Is 2 days/nights enough? We are arriving at approx. 9:30am on the Saturday. So would have more or less all day Sat, Sat Night, all day Sunday and Sunday night with possibly looking to leave Monday. Or is 3 full days better??
2 - Things I 100% want to do are - Alcatraz, GG Bridge, SF Giants Game (Sunday) Pier 39, China Town - Are there any other recommendations? Thing I'm missing?
3- Where to stay? We've seen a Hotel called the Axiom located at Union Square which seems reasonable, what is Union Sq like? Good location? Anywhere better?
4 - Car - Is it worth getting a Car? We are in LA.

Thanks in advance!
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As others have said, must get Alcatraz tix in advance, the sooner the better. Unique experience.

Plan your GGB walk in the early afternoon -- best chance for fog burn off (and some warmth) between 1 and 4 PM. Do NOT drive to it (see below) -- you will never find parking. Uber or bus there.

AT&T Park is arguably the best baseball park in the country. Make sure to spend some time just walking around the concourse. Giants starting the season okay so you might even see a win (unlike last year).

Pier 39 (like Fisherman's Wharf) is, IMO, a tourist trap extraordinaire. Walk through the Ferry Building instead -- lots of little food places to try.

Chinatown is fun, worth some time to just wander. Really feels a world apart from the rest of the City.

I'd also recommend Golden Gate Park -- including the Japanese Tea Garden, the DeYoung, Cal Academy of the Science (get tix in advance), the Arboretum or just wander. One of the best parts of the City.

You kind of have to ride a cable car too.

Union Square is a good spot -- shopping central and pretty conveniently located. Not "close" to anything on your plans save Chinatown but a mile or three from everything. I don't know that hotel though.

As you know SF is full of hills so if you are walking around take this into account. Personally unless you are going outside the City proper I do not think you need a car. Parking is either impossible to find or expensive when you find it. Cabs and Uber are expensive too but better than a car. I do not think I have ever waited more than five minutes for an Uber ever. Buses/trams go everywhere but can be slow in coming (the timetable for Muni is probably the most worthless thing printed in the City limits). You definitely do need one in LA.

Have a great time!
 
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Just to add to the things others have advised. We did Alcatraz at night and it was going dark when they locked you in the cells. Really added to the whole experience.

Also, great way to see Golden Gate Bridge is hire bikes and bike the bridge. You can hire them around the pier area and it’s a fabulous way to spend 2 or 3 hours. Bike it over the bridge and then up to the view point looking back across the bridge at the city.
 
Has to be San Francisco. Stayed there for a week before heading on down the Big Sur to Santa Monica and then of over to Las Vegas. Loved San Francisco, brilliant place place, loads to do. Steeped in history. Don,t get caught out by the bushman ! I did. Felt a right idiot !
 
tony coleman said:
Has to be San Francisco. Stayed there for a week before heading on down the Big Sur to Santa Monica and then of over to Las Vegas. Loved San Francisco, brilliant place place, loads to do. Steeped in history. Don,t get caught out by the bushman ! I did. Felt a right idiot !
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I've been reliably informed on BM that we 'ave no 'istry
 
Spent a few days in san francisco in the summer. Expensive but fantastic city, so much to see and do. Dont expect great weather cos it'll probably be a lot like the UK. And prepare for a lot of steep inclines and declines.
 
Why not Nashville instead? It's less expensive by a long shot than SF or NO, it's cleaner, bars that have live music from 11 a.m. until 4 a.m. (it's not all country music anymore). My cousin is a chef in NYC and raves about the food scene in Nashville as well.

I was there a few weeks ago and would move there tomorrow if I could.
 
west didsblue said:
I drove from LA to SF up the Pacific Coast Highway. It's a long haul but some spectacular views. Worth breaking up the journey by staying over at Big Sur; I didn't but wished I did as 'er indoors was getting a bit bad tempered after 7 hours in the car. Worth having a car in SF to drive up and down the hills that you see in the films and to drive along Lombard Street.
Lombard-st1.jpg
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Best way to see SF is with your levitating shoes
 
All - thanks for your replies. I have booked the 3rd day in San Fran :)

Thanks for all your recommendations. I have since looked to book Alcatraz early but you cant do it until 90 days before (which is from next Monday!) so i'll be sure to get right on it
 
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