MSU Red Cedar Message Board

Do you like beer? Good beer?

I had a blast people watching in Haight/Ashbury. One of the best I've seen.

AT&T Park for a Giants game is great too. Try the garlic fries and have a Ghirardelli Sundae delivered to your seat.

I'm headed there on Wednesday for a couple of conferences. Hope I can scrounge up tickets for the Open for one of the days. Did some research at the VA hospital one summer so spent most of my time in that part of the city. Some great views of the Golden Gate bridge along El Camino Del Mar just north of the Lincoln Park golf course (just east of the VA hospital) and if you are there you should check out the Palace of the Legion of Honor which is a nice museum with a good European art collection. The Cliff House restaurant has a nice view and a nice walk along the beach although it can be pretty chilly there in the summer - Mark Twain wasn't kidding about summer in San Francisco. Golden Gate park is great with lots to see. Tiburon in Marin County is a nice unique little town with great views of the SF skyline. Friends took me to a restaurant near the Ferry docks in Tiburon with a great view but can't remember the name.

The name was Sam's (restaurant in Tiburon). If you need some help in wine country, let me know, but only if you are a customer....

Definitely go to a Giants game. Beautiful stadium and awesome views of the bay

Just got back from 2 weeks in wine country. Have been going to/through the city for over 40 years and as has been said, there's alot to do in San Francisco, especially if you only have 5 days. Depending on your tolerance for touristy things, I believe that the best are (in no particular order): Alcatraz-but you have to get tickets well in advance, and there are no rain checks for lousy weather; Golden Gate Park-lots to see and do on the cheap; Union Square-great for people watching, and if the woman likes to shop, all the high end stores are there; Coit Tower-great view; a cable car ride-get it down at Fishermans Wharf; there will probably be a big line, but it's better than trying to get on once a car leaves (no one gets off anymore; San Franciscans used to ride the cable cars for real transportation, but when they closed the line down several years ago for repairs everyone found new ways of getting around; now almost everyone who rides is a tourist; get a day pass); get off at California and take that cable car to China Town, also very touristy, but you gotta go; Fishermans wharf and Pier 39-very touristy, but if you've never been to the city you need to go once; Ghirardelli Square; Palace of Fine Arts.
For food, some random suggestions: Pier 23 on the Embarcadero for lunch if it's a nice day-nice view of the Bay and good food; Tadich Grill-oldest restaurant in the City; there's a place in Ghirardelli Square that overlooks the Bay and has good clam chowder (can't remember the name, but you can't miss it); Swan Oyster Depot-you'll have to wait in line, but it's worth it. For dinner, we've liked Absinthe, the aforementioned Stinking Rose (everything has garlic, including ice cream for dessert); off the beaten track is Plouffe-good seafood; Jardiniere (sp?) jazz and high end food. The Buena Vista for an Irish Coffe-again, touristy, but you have to go.
If you get up to wine country, as mentioned, Napa has gotten very expensive and a bit snobby (it didn't used to be that way, but money changes everything), and Sonoma is more laid back, but more spread out. In Napa, try Norman Rose for dining-downtown and not too expensive for Napa; for cheap, get a burger at Red Rock-2 locations; up Valley, Mustards has been there for long time, and the onion rings are great; for really high end, Bouchon in Yountville is really good (Thoma Kellers second place next to the French Laundry); Cindy's Back Street in St Helena; Gotts-used to be Taylors Refresher; the original in St Helena, and a newer one in downtown Napa at Oxbow.
For wineries, I like Whitehall Lane, Peju, Cosentino, and Beringer up valley; Sinskey, Steltzner and Black Stallion on Silverado Trail, and Girard (tasting room) in Yountville.
Remember, San Francisco and wine country are VERY EXPENSIVE, so be prepared for price shock. And, as was mentioned, the weather can change dramatically in minutes, so always be prepared for cool/cold weather in the city; not so much in wine country.
Have a great time!

Max's in Tiburon?

North Beach/Little Italy has some nice restaurants. As one of the above posters said, don't do too much touristy stuff. If you like Mexican food, go almost anywhere in the Mission.

Lived here sine 1976. I would avoid the Wharf except for a quick walk through to Pier 39 to see the Sea Lions where they have overtaken the docks. Do not eat at the Wharf - overpriced, mediocre food meant for tourists from Cleveland. Ride the Cable Cars - my favorite is the Hyde St Line down to the Wharf. I'm embarrassed to say I have never done the Alcatraz tour, but everyone says it's great. Make sure you have comfortable shoes - it is a walking town... Walk the Embarcadero from the Ferry Building to AT&T Park. Lots of great restaurants along the way. If the Giants are in town a game there is a must. You can walk Chinatown and North Beach on the same day. Walk up to Coit Tower and try to find the wild parrots on Telegraph Hill. Make sure you have Clipper Cards for MUNI and BART. Take the N Judah, get off at 9th/Irving and walk into the Park. The De Young and Cal Academy of Sciences are worth a day themselves - go up into the observatory in the De Young. The area around 9th/Irving also has great food. Marnai Thai and Ebisu (sushi) are often rated as the best in the City. Nopalito just opened on 9th between Irving/Lincoln - great authentic Mexican and very cool place. Pasion is nearby as well. Park Chow is a great place for reasonably priced food. Check out the best 100 restaurant list for places to eat http://www.sfgate.com/food/. Valencia St and the mission also is a food lovers paradise. Get up to Twin Peaks for the view overlooking the City. These neighborhoods are worth cruising; Haight St, Hayes Valley, Chestnut St in the Marina, Union St, Fillmore St., Valencia/Mission. All these places have excellent restaurants. There is no need to eat at a chain restaurant or crappy hotel food. Excellent, reasonably priced food abounds everywhere.
I also prefer Sonoma for Wine country trips. Healdsburg is awesome and near the Dry Creek Region if you like Zins.
Ferry trips to Sausalito or Tiburon are highly recommended. Walk out on the Golden Gate Bridge for one of the most celebrated views in the world.
Stern Grove Festival starts this Sunday - free music in a beautiful outdoor setting every Sunday. There is always free music happening all over the city.
Dress in layers, days may start out sunny and comfortable, but the ocean breeze picks up in the afternoon and if you venture into the sunset and the fog, you won't believe how cold it can get. 10 miles inland it will be 80-90F. Enjoy your visit!

Mexican food in the Mission.

Hippie Hill in Golden Gate Park to look at all the freaks and acid casualties.

There's some nice trails on cliffs that overlook the ocean w/stunning views of the Bridge over by Seal Rock.

Check out a few live feed stores in China Town. You'll be blown away by the weird food they sell.

This may sound really basic, but just walk around. I walked from the start of Haight down to the park. The victorian houses and park are incredible to look at. It's a visually stunning town that imo is one you sort of just have to explore.

If you like good beer lists, definitely hit up Toronado in the city. No food, but you just go next door and get a wicked brat and bring it back over.

I went there for the first time a year ago and what I learned about the city:

1. the Wharf sucked
2. the farmers market on saturday at the Ferry Building is awesome. get some cured meats and the porchetta (sp) sandwich from the Rolling Roti truck
3. apparently I have vertigo while walking up steep hills.
4. the sights are cool to see (bridge, lombard st, etc) but again...the wharf sucks.
5. cross the bridge into Sausalito for a nice light lunch.
6. 21st Amendment brewery
7. Incanto - out of the way and hard to get a cab back, but food was great and the chef (Chris Cosentino) was awesome. Talked to us for ~15 minutes where as Chiarello gave us a hi, how you doing.

Outside of the city, we did wineries and I am a huge beer geek, so up north I would recommend for beer:
1. Russian River. I went there 4 times in 3 days and shipped 2 cases of beer home.
2. Lagunitas. Best (and free-est) beer tour I have been on
3. Bear Republic - Healdsburg
4. 3rd street ale house - couple blocks from Russian River - good line up if there is a wait at RR
5. Moylans - I didnt make it there due to time, but I love their beers

Wine:
1. Allora - word of mouth only and the owner meets you in his house/cellar. Pricey, but a good experience
2. Ehler - proceeds go to the heart foundation - so it makes you feel good about drinking
3. Frog's Leap - good wine, but the best tasting experience on their patio and you get to walk through their garden/vines at your leisure
4. Cakebread. Crazy expensive, but crazy good cab.

Food:
1. Ad Hoc - amazing food - prix fixe, and only $50 for a 5* quality 5 course meal
2. Bottega - two words...short ribs.
3. Blue bottle coffee. Turned me into a coffee snob

We also went up to in Gueneville. Not as big as the ones up north, but gets you the flavor and its only ~30 minutes from the Sonoma area. Free and really cool scenery up the russian river.

Another thing to consider, the wineries and restaurants around the wine areas close early. At least they did when I was there in February. Most were all closed by 5 pm. Don't know if this is year round... I just found this to be odd.

Lots of good advice.

If you find the time, take a drive up highway 1, to Stinson Beach state park on the ocean North of San Francisco. Really pretty ride and time well spent.