San Francisco.....

n57602000

I am off for 2 week break in San Francisco with my partner 27th March and just wanted to get some tips, information, guides to make the trip amazing. Like some information on following and more

• Best cheap shopping
• Attractions to see in San Fran and surrounding arounds
• Any restaurants/bars recommend.
• Most romantic thing could i do while out there
• Is LA too far to go and see

neilbond007

• Best cheap shopping

Not sure about in the city. But there are 4 outlets close by -
http://www.premiumoutlets.com/centers/

• Attractions to see in San Fran and surrounding arounds

Alcatraz is a must see.
My and the wife did a 1/2 day bus tour of the city. takes you to all the major sites (golden gate bridge) and areas of the city. Great way of seeing where you want to go back to / explore in more detail
Napa valley - never done it myself but would love to
Yosemite - a couple of hours away but well worth doing
Big Sur region - amazing coastline

• Any restaurants/bars recommend.

Pass. Can't remember any we went to!

• Most romantic thing could i do while out there

Romance? I'm the wrong person to ask there.

• Is LA too far to go and see

It's a good 6 hour drive each way. And san francisco is far prettier!

blindman

n57602000 wrote: »

I am off for 2 week break in San Francisco with my partner 27th March and just wanted to get some tips, information, guides to make the trip amazing. Like some information on following and more

• Best cheap shopping What's your idea of cheap
  
• Attractions to see in San Fran and surrounding arounds Alcatraz
• Any restaurants/bars recommend.
• Most romantic thing could i do while out there Get married?
• Is LA too far to go and see By how? Train\Car walk?

Spend some time doing a search on here or Tripadvisor.

Google maps is a good resource!

non_believer_2

You should definately visit Alcatraz and do the guided tour which is really atmospheric. You often need to book in advance so you should look into this before you go. There was a thread on here a few weeks ago about it which gave the web address, but if you can't find that, if you do an internet search for 'alcatraz tours' you should find it no problem as there's just the one company that runs them. Taking the tram is good fun, and Lombard Street is interesting to see. Fisherman's Wharf is great to look around and you can see sea lions up close. Pier 39 has loads of intersting shops, restaurants etc.

mistyarthur

alcatraz definitely, GG Bridge and Coit tower is nice for a view of the city. Just generally explore the city as it is a really pretty place.
Theres a big mall down by the bay not particularly cheap its got all the major brand names in it though.

matthew74

Take the ferry to Sausalito and/or Tiburon - lovely little seaside towns in Marin County.

Walk round the embarcadero and then keep going along the coast as far as you want, walk across the GG bridge if you have the energy and walk back to the city via the Chestnut Street area and Lombard Street.

ScarletBea

2 weeks is a lot to stay there, so make sure you have other excursions, for example Muir Woods (stopping at Sausalito).

Don't bother with the city tour, you'll see everything much better if you buy a normal public transport travel card (not the tourist ones) and then use the trams and buses everywhere.

Go up to Twin Peaks (normal bus), amazing views!

n57602000

Thank you for all the advice so far its great many thanks.

I have 2 weeks to spent there and local area that is why i am asking about other areas around to see as it doesnt have to be all spent in San Fran.

Will want to visit some of the coast def, golden gate, the prison.

Just to come back to the shopping wanting to get some Abercrombie, Ralph Lauren and Tommy and good prices any outlets stocking all of them?

Keeps the information coming thanks

WolfSong2000

It's been a few years since I was there, but I remember some decent stores in the centre of town...brilliant discount shoe store with designer shoes ridiculously cheap, and some nice clothes shops, etc.

I stayed at the Taylor Hotel, which I *loved* as it was really old and had a "pull-to" elevator (had to pull the door across to close and operate the lift). Rooms were basic, but clean and cheap and were smack bang in the centre of town, only a few blocks away from the more expensive "posh" hotels.

Yosemite National Park is a *definite* must see...for me it was the highlight of my San Francisco trip....it's absolutely breathtaking...like nothing I've ever seen . I got a guided tour there, which was excellent...one of the best days I spent in the USA

Blakespops

• Best cheap shopping

Coming from Belmont just outside San Francisco I would say not too many cheap shopping places however you could try Target would be a cheap shop though you get some great deals there.

• Attractions to see in San Fran and surrounding arounds

My husband says you should do as the americans do and go to at least one baseball game. he was bitten by the bug and we went all the time when we lived there now were in UK he misses baseball most about America.

maybe you should ride the street cars too, look for the ones that came all the way from Blackpool.

• Any restaurants/bars recommend.

If you like cakes and fruit pies like keylime pie etc Hidie's pies on el camino in Belmont is renowned and supplies most local hotels and businesses with their products.

• Most romantic thing could i do while out there

Also you should go to Woodside and see the redwood trees including one named "Mathusular" the trees are like 300 feet tall. Great place for peacefull walk hand in hand and look out from mountainside over the bay

• Is LA too far to go and see

yes

albalad

WolfSong2000 wrote: »

Yosemite National Park is a *definite* must see...for me it was the highlight of my San Francisco trip....it's absolutely breathtaking...like nothing I've ever seen . I got a guided tour there, which was excellent...one of the best days I spent in the USA

did you do a one day trip or an overnight , staying in/near the park ?

We are planning on a trip out to yosemite , but can't decide on whether or not to stay overnight

have seen a few tours for both options