Call,

My favorite Mac and cheese in Bay Area I've had so far is in SF @ mission cheese.

I've been to cafe du monde in new orleans and I swear the beignets at angelines are better.

the fried chicken is also outstanding.

Any suggestions on this one?

Also, trying to decide which of two hotel reservations to cancel. Don't plan on having a car while in SF, so ease of access to public transportation is probably an important consideration:

Cow Hollow Motor Inn (~$550 for 3 nights)
Marriott Marquis (~$620 + 40,000 points for 3 nights)

Reviews seem very similar between the two hotels, so mostly looking for information on which area is better to stay in.

If the weather is forecast to be decent+

http://www.theramprestaurant.com/

SL,

how long are you in SF and what else are you hoping to do?

Marriott way more central and gives you very easy walking or transit access to lots of areas (soma,, union square, Hayes valley, mission, ballpark, etc). I'd absolutely choose that if the game is your primary focus for the trip.

Pre-game you could walk to someplace at/near the ferry building for some excellent brunch/lunch/drinks, then stroll along the embarcadero to the ballpark, stopping in at a couple bars for a beer.

Or you could jump on Bart (subway) to the mission, explore around there and have a burrito for lunch, then head back to the ballpark.

Or really whatever else. Tons of great eating and drinking options from diners and dive bars to fancy restaurants and wine bars in the area between the marquis and the ballpark.

Just Friday evening through Monday morning. I wouldn't say the game is the main focus. Just doing general touristy stuff and thought a game would be fun. Chinatown, Fisherman's Wharf, Ferry Building on Saturday morning during the farmers market. Maybe Haight-Ashbury and Golden Gate Park. Excessive good food and drink. Most of the rest of the trip is outdoorsy and activity filled.

We finish our two-week vacation in Sonoma so we're planning on doing the Marin Headlands, Sausalito and the bridge on the way back into town.

That sounds perfect. Sold.

Sl,


Looks like you're sold already, but 100% Marriott given that. The things I was going to mention as pros for cow hollow were Golden Gate Bridge, Sausalito, Marin, etc, the stuff you'll already have done.

Chinatown, fisherman's wharf, ferry building, ballpark are all walkable from Marriott. Haight accessible via walking or public transit, depending on how much you like walking. GGP and ocean beach easily accessible via muni streetcar.

And you can of course uber or lyft all around SF easily.

Thanks!

Anyone have opinions on Galleria Park or an alternate recommendation? Will be in town with my wife the 21st-24th of this month. Have tickets for a Giants game as our only plans so far so staying close to the stadium might be a plus?

Walter,

I'm not familiar with that hotel, but the location is good. Convenient to get to the ballpark and most other places you'd likely want to go on a quick SF trip.

Kayak shows that at like $280/nt, is that the price you're looking at? I'd prob go with Intercontinental for $239. Other solid choices in that range:

Clift $283
Palomar $266
Sir Francis drake $252
Hotel nikko $266
Parc 55 $261
Hotel Monaco $275

Last time I was in SF I stayed at the Mystic Hotel. It's a couple of blocks away from Union Square, so it's close to all the action. A 30 minute walk to the ballpark but other attractions are fairly close. The rooms are on the small side but very modern and clean. At ~$250/nt I thought it was great value.

Galleria Park is a nice hotel in a good location and JDV provides a very similar experience as the Kimptons El D mentioned.

Walter,

What JL said. Any JDV hotel will be totally cool, all their properties are great. Just like he said, JDV v much like kimpton.

Unsure if this is the right place for it, but I'll give it a shot. Maybe a thread in Travel sub forum or something will be more appropriate.

I'm trying to plan a California (mostly) road trip with the wife.
Background - Both early 30's, not from the US.
Last year we did a two weeks roadtrip starting from NYC through New England and back to NYC. Looking to do something similar. We're trying to mix big cities with some nature/parks. No sleeping outdoors or anything, but defiantly fine with a motel in the middle of nowhere.

The rules are - Starting in San Diego early August. Must be in Portland (Oregon) 14 days later. Would like to spend at least 3 nights in SF. Pretty open to any other suggestions. We'll be renting a car of course.

Also more specifically thread related - is there anything to see between SF and POR to take 2-3 days for that drive, or just leave the car in SF and fly to Portland?

Yuv,

If you like outdoors/nature-y stuff you'll prob love the drive from SF to Portland. If not, you'll probably be bored.

I think there are some posts itt about driving up the coast.

If your time is limited, I'd prob skip that drive. I'd rather have a couple extra days in SF and Portland.

For the drive between SF and Portland I would suggest Crater Lake, its a little out of the way but worth it.

If you guys are interested in Vegas, Vegas > Tahoe (and then SF) is a beautiful drive (once you hit Mono Lake). Could also work Yosemite in there (in addition to or in place of other sites).

So many great options whatever your interests, California is a diverse country all unto itself.

I will be in San Francisco for the dead shows and am trying to find hotels for Thursday and Friday in S.F. The rooms listed above are up to double those prices I assume because of the dead shows and the gay pride weekend going on too. There are hotels by the airport that are cheaper and I've just started browsing airbnb. Is it a pain to go from airport area into city or would that work?

*In the summer when the Tioga Pass is open.

I highly recommend the drive down 395 as well - one of my favorite parts of the world.

Highlights include Mono Lake, Mammoth (the the shuttle, get off and hike from Rainbow Falls to Devil's Postpile), Tioga Pass/East end of Yosemite, Bristlecone pine forest (oldest living things), Mt Whitney portal, Galen Rowell landscape photography gallery in Bishop, Death Valley/Panamint Valley to the west.

+1 - also the Redwood National and State Parks near Arcadia.

My wife and I are doing a little bit of this in a couple weeks after spending 2 days in Yosemite. It sounds like we're missing a lot of the good stuff though. We're doing:

Mariposa -> Groveland -> 120 through Yosemite -> Mono Lake -> 395 North -> 89 -> Lake Tahoe.

The trip is in August. Will the weather be suitable? I have no idea how hot it gets.

This route means that we'll miss out on Big Sur and the route 1 scenery, no?

Crater Lake looks amazing in the 2 minute google I just did.

Prana,

If you want to leave in the morning and be out all day, it's easy to get into the city for like $9 on the train, 30 minute ride.

But there's nothing around the airport to do. SF generally has great airbnb options, but that might be really expensive too during Pride.

It's also very easy to get to SF from anywhere in Oakland or Berkeley near a BART station, and there's lots to do over there. I'd especially check out Berkeley options since you're some sort of dead-loving hippie.

I assume you are aware the shows are nowhere near SF.

Yuv,

NorCal weather is generally awesome w/ moderate temps in August.

ElD,
If we end up doing the drive from SF to Portland, what should I do with the rental car for the 3 nights in SF? Is it even feasible to have a car with us in SF or just return it when I get to town and rent again when I leave?