I have to admit San Francisco wasn't on my list of top favorite travel destinations - probably because we didn't pack jackets, it got unbelievably cold and I was freezing the entire time.
I'll say one thingL San Francisco is a place of great diverrsity.
We stayed at the Sir Francis Drake hotel, now called Beacon Grand
and been completely remodeled
Hi, I'm Pat and welcome to my blog, Life's A Trip!
I love traveling, food and getting a great deal on anything - which is what this blog is about.
I'll share not only my travel destinations including accommodations, dining hot spots, and top (and weird!) travel attractions with you - but how to make any trip more budget friendly.
We had a Grand King room at $342 per night but once you add on the 6 different SF and CA fees and taxes to that, you're at $401 per night.
That included breakfast each morning served in the Post Room.
The Post Room
Union Square is the heart of San Francisco and the Beacon Grand is in Union Square so its location is in the heart of everything at 450 Powell St.
Bring good walking shoes because most of the walking you'll be doing is up and down rather steep hilly streets.
what to see & do
You can't visit SF without riding the infamous cable cars.
A quick cable car ride from the doorstep of the Beacon Grand ascends to Nob Hill. Former home to the railroad barons who built much of the city, today it is the location of the majestic Grace Cathedral, the Cable Car Museum, and Masonic Auditorium, where music and comedy headliners regularly play.
The neighborhood offers upscale shopping experiences along streets like Polk Street and Union Street, where luxury boutiques and fine dining restaurants cater to discerning tastes. Be sure to check out Le Beau Market, a family-owned neighborhood market with a full-service deli and excellent customer service. It's SF's biggest little grocery store and interesting just to browse through even if you're not buying anything. It's rare to see these small, family owned neighborhood grocery stores anymore.
Nob Hill is a foodie's paradise. Just a block or so from Grace Cathedral is the beloved Nob Hill Cafe, a cozy Italian restaurant known for its big bowls of pasta and Tuscan-style cuisine. If it's no-frills seafood you're after, don't miss the counter at Swan Oyster Depot on Polk Street — serving patrons for over a century. Located on the ground-floor of the Huntington Hotel, the iconic Big 4 restaurant exudes class with its green booths, white tablecloths, and endless California memorabilia, not to mention hearty entrees like braised boneless short ribs and chicken pot pie. There's a piano player nightly, but you can also belt out some tunes of your own at the neighborhood's Encore Karaoke Lounge.
Riding the cable cars isn't that difficult as there are 3 lines that service the city:
Two start at Powell and Market and continue to the Fisherman's Wharf area; one starts at California and Market and continues to Van Ness Avenue. Board at the cable car turntables (the beginning or end of each route) or look for the brown-and-white cable car sign post.
Find maps and schedules below or download MuniMobile® to plan your trip:
To avoid long lines, prepay utilizing MuniMobile® or Clipper® Card
To board cable cars at Powell & Market, Bay & Taylor and Hyde & Beach Streets, you must purchase your fare in advance (applies 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily).
Pricing details for cable car single trips can be found here. For all-day travel, you may want to purchase a visitor Passport.
CHINATOWN
For me, Chinatown was one of the most interesting and enjoyable parts of SF.
The best way to see Chinatown is to just walk through it. The culture and colors are amazing. Be sure to visit Chinatown Market for clothing and other goods, the prices are really reasonable and it's expected you'll bargain with shopkeepers for the price you end up paying. You can also bargain for goods on Grant Avenue.
VISIT THE GOLDEN GATE FORTUNE COOKIE FACTORY
This factory tour was far more interesting than I thought it would be!
They hand make 10,000 fortune cookies per day and these aren't your run-of-the-mill fortune cookies.
They make chocolate, green tea, strawberry...even dipped fortune cookies with sprinkles!
At the time we took this tour it was free.
I don't see any admission price on their website so I'm assuming it's still a free tour?
The factory is located at 56 Ross Alley in Chinatown.
CHINALIVE RESTAURANT
If you want to try a really unique restaurant in Chinatown, then check out, featuring fare by world-renowned chef, George Chen at ChinaLive.
This the most successful independent Chinese restaurant in the United States!
The menu changes regularly but the restaurant features eight specialized stations that merge traditional Chinese and modern culinary preparations so you can eat a variety of foods.
The main dining area overlooks the 8 station kitchens so you can see the chefs at work.
The eight stations feature dishes like:
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Stone Oven Roasted Duck Peking Style with Seasonal Fruit Glazes
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Sheng Jian Bao Dumplings “SJB” – Pan Fried Pork Dumplings.
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Taipei Braised Beef Noodle Soup – Brisket/Tendon, Red Broth
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Three Treasure Bao Zai Fan (Claypot Rice) Lap Cheong, La Rou, Cured Duck (AKA La We Fan)
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Chrysanthemum Salad with Starfruit Vinegar
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Sesame Soft Serve, Mango Shaved Ice
The main dining hall at China Live is a must-visit destination for anyone looking for an exciting and delicious dining experience. With its open concept, multiple stations, and lively atmosphere, it’s the perfect place to gather with friends and family and enjoy some of the best Chinese cuisine around.
CATCH A SHOW AT THE GREAT STAR THEATER
Catch a show at the historic Great Star Theater dating back to 1925, when it was built as a venue for Chinese opera performances.
These days it’s the only remaining theater in Chinatown, presenting everything from movies to fashion shows.
Location: 636 Jackson St.
VISIT ALCATRAZ
Having once been a Corrections Officer my fave attraction in SF. Alcatraz reveals stories of American incarceration, justice, and our common humanity. This small island was once a fort, a military prison, and a maximum security federal penitentiary reputed to be "inescapable".
That didn't exactly turn out to be true, in that 3 inmates apparently successfully escaped Alcatraz in June, 1962.
On Alcatraz, visitors can hear the voices of its former residents, touch its concrete walls and experience the isolation of the island. Is it haunted? Speaking as a psychic medium? Absolutely!
What I found most interesting were the differences between federal maximum security detention centers back then vs. modern maximum security detention centers. Especially what prisoners were fed back then as compared to now!
Alcatraz may have been no picnic (no pun intended) but the inmates sure ate well compared to prison meals today!
Alcatraz has some great stories to tell given the "problem child" inmates typically housed there - for example, 22 year old inmate James "Tex" Lucas attempting to stab gangster, Al Capone to death in the shower.
In his defense, Lucas only said "Well...he threatened to kill me."
Using half of a pair of scissors, he slashed the Chicago gangster several times. Capone suffered a minor chest wound and superficial cuts to his hands.
Lucas lost all "good time served".
Almost two years later, he took part in a violent escape attempt. While at work in the Model Industries building on May 23 1938, Lucas, Thomas Limerick, and Rufus “Whitey” Franklin overpowered Officer Royal C. Cline and beat him to death with a claw hammer. Once on the roof, they assaulted the guard tower. From the tower, Officer Harold P. Stites shot and killed Limerick and wounded Franklin.
Lucas surrendered without incident.
Franklin and Lucas received life sentences for the murder. Both men spent long terms in isolation. Lucas was returned to the general population after six years; Franklin after 14.
Eventually, Lucas married and raised four children. He worked in the oil business and remained a law-abiding citizen for the rest of his life, but is remembered as the man who stabbed Al Capone. Lucas died on November 28 1998.
Visiting Alcatraz is partially a self-guided experience which you can do at your own pace. National Park Service staff and volunteers offer free interpretive programs throughout the day.
Once on the island, you can stay as long as you wish. Ferries about every half hour and you can return to San Francisco on any ferry. I recommend at least two to three hours to fully visit the island.
There are numerous videos and exhibits on the island, as well as the cellhouse audio tour which is included in the price of the ferry ticket.
On arriving at the Alcatraz dock you will be greeted by a National Park Service representative who will give you a brief orientation, including information on any special activities available that day.
The evening tour differs from daytime visits in several ways. The evening ferry ride to Alcatraz circles the island with live narration about Alcatraz’s history. Upon arrival on the dock, visitors receive a guided tour from the dock to the cellhouse level and also have the opportunity to participate in a number of other special tours, activities, and cell door demonstrations offered throughout the evening. Some areas of the island open during the day are not open in the evening due to safety concerns.
Generally, if you prefer to be on your own to explore you might prefer the day visit; if you prefer a more guided experience, you might prefer the evening program (available Tuesday through Saturday).
YOU DEFINITELY WANT TO MAKE RESERVATIONS WELL IN ADVANCE OF VISITING ALCATRAZ!
Alcatraz tickets are all inclusive. The ticket price includes the ferry transportation service provided by Alcatraz City Cruises, the cellhouse audio tour provided by the Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy, and the Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act fee. For additional information on schedules, prices, and to purchase tickets in advance (tickets are made available about 90 days in advance) please visit the Alcatraz City Cruises.
FISHERMAN'S WHARF
I had both good and bad experiences at Fisherman's Wharf.
Don't bother eating there. We ate at Alioto's and when someone in our party began feeling unwell and nearly passed out, the waiter just dumped the food on the table and left even though we indicated our friend was sick.
The waiter was just RUDE overall and you felt rushed to eat and get out of there so they could turn your table over.
However, if you want to do something fun for under $22 consider doing this Scavenger Hunt on the Wharf. The activity combines an "Amazing Race" challenge with a city walking tour: You'll solve clues and navigate the city streets while visiting top attractions such as Ghirardelli Square and Fisheman's Wharf. Pricing is per individual, but teams must book together to participate in the same adventure.
This is a smartphone-guided scavenger hunt.
While at Fisherman's Wharf ride the Skystar Ferris Wheel. Standing over 150 feet tall along the Barbary Coast Trail in Fisherman’s Wharf, SkyStar offers spectacular views of San Francisco and its Bay Harbor.
You can see North Beach, Russian Hill and the Telegraph Hill neighborhoods, to Coit Tower, the Golden Gate Bridge, the Bay Bridge, Sausalito and the notorious Alcatraz Island.
$19 per adult, Seniors and children up to age 12, $13. Children 2 and under free.
GET TO KNOW THE WAVE ORGAN IN SAN FRANCISCO BAY
This is one of the weirdest attractions I've ever seen - and heard.
The Wave Organ is a wave-activated acoustic sculpture located on a jetty in the San Francisco Bay. The concept was developed by Peter Richards and was installed in collaboration with sculptor and master stone mason George Gonzalez. Inspiration for the piece came from artist Bill Fontana’s recordings made of sounds emanating from a vent pipe of a floating concrete dock in Sydney, Australia.
The jetty itself was constructed with material taken from a demolished cemetery, providing a wonderful assortment of carved granite and marble, which was used in the construction of this piece. The installation includes 25 organ pipes made of PVC and concrete located at various elevations within the site, allowing for the rise and fall of the tides. Sound is created by the impact of waves against the pipe ends and the subsequent movement of the water in and out of the pipes. The sound heard at the site is subtle, requiring visitors to become sensitized to its music, and at the same time to the music of the environment.
It's one of those things you just need to hear...
FEEL WHAT IT'S LIKE TO BE IN AN EARTHQUAKE
If you want to feel what it's like to be in an Earthquake, make sure to stop by the California Academy of Sciences.
Inside the "Shake House," you will get to feel the shaking similar to two of our largest earthquakes. The most famous is the 7.9 earthquake from 1906. The second is the 1989 Loma Prieta Earthquake (also known as the World Series Earthquake) that was a 6.9.
As a safety precaution, this exhibit is for those 4 years of age and older.
CRUISE AROUND THE CHURCH OF 8 WHEELS
What is the best thing to do with an old church? Why not turn it into a skating rink?
That's what you will find at the Church of 8 Wheels. This restored Catholic Church now has a large open space for skating. The new owners added a touch of color, a spinning disco ball and a state-of-the-art sound system.
The cool part is that you will also see remnants of this buildings past including its religious inspired stained-glass windows, some of the old pews and other religious symbols.
Church of 8 Wheels welcomes everyone to their skating floor. They have specific times set aside for families and times just for adults. Check out their website for the best times to go skating.
VISIT MUSEE MECHANIQUE
I could've spent all day at Musee Mechanique.
One of the last remaining links to San Francisco's oceanside Playland at the Beach amusement park, the Musée Mécanique is a unique hands-on arcade of vintage coin-operated contraptions of all kinds.
The collection began when Zelinsky was just 11, and he's been amassing and trading machines ever since.
Zelinsky's remarkable collection consists of over 300 mechanical entertainment devices, ranging from full mechanical orchestras in which the instruments play themselves to antique slot machines. Vintage peep shows titillate with flipbooks of hula dancers and other exotic treats, fortune tellers read tarot, and old-school photo booths still produce terrific black-and-white photo strips. In the center of the room, a huge diorama of a traveling carnival with a Ferris wheel and other rides has over 100 individual moving parts. A red, steam-powered motorcycle from 1912, built in Sacramento and possibly the only one in the world, is on display nearby.
The museum is open 365 days a year and admission is free. It's located at Pier 45 at the end of Taylor Street - Fisherman's Wharf.
VISIT THE 826 VALENCIA PIRATE STORE
Truly one of the weirder things to do in SF. Become a pirate at the 826 Valencia Pirate store.
826 is a nonprofit literacy program started by author Dave Eggers. They teach kids creative writing. They are also outlaws who run their own pirate store. You can visit the store and pick up all of the garb and gear that you’ll need to take to the high seas.
826 Valencia is located (unsurprisingly) at 826 Valencia in the Mission.
Depending on the length of your stay in SF consider getting a City Pass.
You can save up to 46% at 4 major attractions. Passes are good for 1 year and are valid for 9 consecutive days once activated.
The My CityPASS® app has all of the details you need for a great
experience, including reservation and entry information, attraction details, maps, and extra offers and discounts from its partners.
I don't know that I'd rent a car in SF due to traffic and parking hassles and expense.
You can ride the cable cars, buses and trains with Muni Pass. MuniMobile lets you buy tickets instantly through a credit or debit card, PayPal, Apple Pay, or Google Pay. Tickets are valid for 180 days after purchase, so you can buy in advance, then activate your tickets when you’re ready to ride. Or, you can pay as you go! You can even buy tickets for the whole family from one smartphone. With MuniMobile, your phone is your fare.
Find options and pricing for everything from single-ride purchases to a 7-day Visitor Passport here.
That about wraps up San Francisco. It's a weird and offbeat place to visit. Just remember to bring your warm jacket!
