Life Abroad did a post on What Not to do when you visit Amsterdam. and since I love playing tour guide I started thinking of the things NOT to do when visiting SF.
So here's my list of thing not to do in San Francisco...or rather how to do them right!
1. The Cable Car: do not wait in the hours long line at Powell and Market. Walk a block up to H&M and hop on there. No lines! and don't pay $5 everytime. Buy the $11 {which is good for muni too} day pass or 3,5 or 7 day pass.
2. Go Go Carts: yes they look fun but when you're having to push them up the hills of SF...not so fun. rent a bike instead. Also segway tours. tourist trap. just say no.
3. Biking across the GG Bridge: Be aware that when you bike the bridge you have to be on the opposite side of the city, which means no amazing views of the city as you bike across. So if you want the views, walk.
4. Duck Tours: that's kind of just embarrassing
5. Pier 39: obviously Fishermans Warf is a must see tourist spot. but don't spend more than 30 min there. and Pier 39 has ridiculously expensive shops and restaurants. Grab a bowl of clam chowder from the outdoor stands instead.
6. Lombard st: don't drive down it. It will take you forever with all the tourist traffic. Park and walk down it. You get much better pictures anyways.
7. For that matter don't drive at all! Cabs, cable car, muni and walk! so much less stressful.
8. Don't get scared by the bushman. It's much more fun to watch him scare others.
9. Wearing only shorts and a t-shirt during SF summers is like wearing a big TOURIST sign. bring a jacket!!
10. Alcatraz: pretty views of the city but kinda boring. it's a lot of concrete and bars. looks exactly like the movies. {unless of course you're really interested in the history, then it's pretty cool}
11. Cheesecake Factory, Bucca di Beppo, Rainforest cafe: don't go to franchise restaurants. Find small local places. much better food and service. and you may just get a history lesson from your waiter and learn of some cool new places.
anything I missed ??
54 comments:
Oh I just love this post! You have such good tips! I grew up near Sacramento and have been to the city tons of times, but I have yet to use common sense like you share in some of your tips! Next time I go I am keeping all of this in mind!
Great post!
love this! especially your take on alcatraz! xo
This is such a great idea. I just downloaded a great guide to Paris from someone's blog - all this firsthand travel info is really the only way to go. And the Duck Tours- totally agree! Why do people think it will be cool to sit in a bus/boat that looks like a bird and annoy people with quacking whistles? Philadelphia gets a lot of these fucktards (ducktards?) in the summer. Hate it.
genius!! I fully agree on points 1-11 . especially 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10, and 11!
fantastic!!
<3,
Iva
I'm guilty of #9. I had to buy a San Francisco zip up and looked like a fool. Nice. :)
haha, hilarious post, and SO TRUE! i've been to SF many times, and everything you said is so right. SF is a city that's best enjoyed when you walk or bike around it. and there are so many cute little independent cafés and restaurants. god i miss SF!
I am going to save this. If I ever get out to SF [which I fully intend sooner than later], this is going to come in handy! :)
Nicole, you're timing is impeccable. I'm looking at tickets to SF this morning!
great tips girl! although I must admit, I did all these no-nos! hahaha
Oh my gosh, I was really hoping that duck tours was actually a tour looking at birds. This one is pretty lame too though!
I'm very guilty of a few of these. Tourist traps get me every time.
Thanks for the guide... I've never been to San Fran but this should come in handy if I ever do visit.
Great post! Thanks for sharing... I went to SF last december and I loved it! And I totally saw the Bushman! [but he didn't scare me... I saw him scare others] lol I had no idea he was famous!
I used to live in the Bay Area, but gosh I almost forget how to get around there.. I agree with you on finding local spot to dine... I miss SF!
Thanks for this post!!!
Great post. They have the Duck Tours here in NYC and I think everywhere with water... always a NO! hehe
No I am dying to go! I've never been there but it's on my list. Do you have any tips for hotels or bed and breakfasts?
hahaha. the duck tours. i always look at those people and just feel so sad.
Thanks for the tour on what NOT to do! LOL! I will try to remember that if I am ever in San Francisco! I love trying out local restaurants too....so that is cool.
good to know!
Segways creep me out. I will for sure stay clear of those!
This makes me want to come to SF now!!!
Good tips! When i went there, I totally didn't bring a jacket one time when we went out walking. Sooo cold! And yes, we didn't drive anywhere, thank goodness - parking is ridiculous! I love SF!
But we had to do Alcatraz, my friend that was with us is all into history, so we did the tour, and I loved it!
fabulous post! it's really cool to see my idea applied to other cities, especially san francisco, which i've always wanted to visit (i'm sure it stems from my obsession with Full House as a child...) i'm going to save this and use it for when i visit! thanks for posting this!
Loved your list! It had me crackin up! Too bad I totally missed the Bush man..hmm. haha
the duck thing made me giggle!
This is kind of the most fabulous post I've ever read about San Francisco. A true insider's guide as to what not to do. Love it! :)
agree with everything, except....I loved Alcatraz! haha...guess it's only for some people!
what about the dude near the mall on market that yells that having sex is a sin and we are all devils? avoid him!! :p
Love this! Hilarious BUT helpful. "Duck Tours" ha not so much. But bringing a jacket is a good tip for me!!
Hey hey hey...I'm going to that huge music festival at Golden Gate in August! Hmmmm.....
fabulous idea!
Great post! I wish I could have seen this before I went to SF 2 years ago!
liliesandgrapes.blogspot.com
Mark down Duck Tours for things not to do in Tampa too!
Haha I feel like Duck Tours are something not to do - ever, in any city.
I love this list - I absolutely love San Francisco, and can say that I am very glad my family didn't fall into any tourist traps while we were there! (It helps that my dad lived there for a few years, I guess!).
a great list of don't. Thanks xoxo
This is a great idea! I may have to replicate it for Vancouver :)
Well, we walked Lombard St, and you're right, it was so much better. And we found a parked trolley and took pictures hanging off like we'd do if we were in a movie. Free and no lines. Better pics too. Seriously, you should be a city ambassador or something.
This excites me so much I can't tell you how much I want to go here! x
I will be in SF in a few weeks, so I really appreciate this post! Any tips on restaurants with great wine?
from one golden gate girl to another, here is my addition to your spot-on list:
#12. faux cable car tour bus: while waiting in the endless queue for the authentic cable car is maddening,falling victim to the motorized trolley tour is one of the biggest tourist crimes...don't do it :)
cheers!
s
Hello from Seattle.
whoaa.. i wanna go there as well! i wanna go to SF!!!
xx
This is great! I LOVE SF. The thought of someone going to a franchise restaurant in SF hurts my heart!
Hi Nicole! I can definitely help with the Central Park request! I try and picnic every weekend. I'll put something together for you as well. I am also going to Prospect Park in Brooklyn this Sunday for a birthday, so I can compare both parks!
I did a post about Memorial Day and took a lot of photos in central park too. Check them out here if you'd like:
http://behold-themetatron.blogspot.com/2009/06/memorial-day-weekend-in-nyc.html
Caio!
I love this list. You are totally inspiring me to do a NYC version...
I love SF. I haven't been there in 10 years but I loved it so much when I was there...Love this list!
Good tips! I heard the same thing about the cable car and that is exactly what we did. Walk up one block and hop on! I'll hit you up for more tips next time Nick and I head down there!
i love sf
be there aug 6th to see my sister.
xox
Contrary to popular opinion, we don't have much good seafood here. At least not fish. That said, if you want to eat something from the ocean, go to Swann's Oyster Bar on Polk Street or to Tadich Grill for sandabs.
hahah great post about SF! i stayed there for 5 months so i absolute adore that city!!
ooo i was there for the first time about a month ago!! i loved it. we spent a long time at pier 39 tho :X and i didn't see/know of the bushman! it was too short of a trip (only a weekend.. would have loved to walk down lombard. great idea..!
The Bushman still exists!!! Yeah!!! I lived in SF for a year and miss the city daily.
It's funny though, I gave a similar "what-not-to-do list" to my friends when they visited last year and I think it sure helped them a lot...
I'm so jealous you live in such an awesome city!!! :D
Honestly best post ever! Glad to hear about the go go carts instead of dealing with the trouble!
LOL - love this.
These are great tips, but there's one I've got to disagree with... Alcatraz! As a native, it seems silly, but I love heading out there every once in a while. The boat ride is fun (and has a bar), and the toor is spooky, especially in the evening. The biggest must, though, is splurging on the headset. Otherwise, yes, it can be boring - just an old empty jail with out the juicy soundtrack/stories!
I just read this and had fun reminiscing about SF. I'm from San Jose, and whenever I take family into San Francisco, they want to do most of the things on this list. I like to take them to less touristy spots. Although there are tourists everywhere in San Francisco.
This is a great list! I'm a new follower, and also new to the SF bay area - looking forward to sitting down and reading all your San Francisco info!
http://www.lapetitelulu.com/
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