Sights, Hotels, Transportation, and Weather

San Francisco Bay Area

Golden Gate Bridge & Surrounding Area
Choose to walk, bike, or drive to the Golden Gate Bridge, Palace of Fine Arts, Crissy Field and Marina District. We recommend dressing in layers and walking or renting a bicycle (www.adventurebike.com) along the water (The Embarcadero) to explore this beautiful part of San Francisco. This world famous landmark is one of the world’s largest single-span bridges. (www.goldengate.org)

Fisherman Wharf's Sea Lions
You'll find the famous San Francisco sea lions that have taken over the docks near Pier 39 on Fisherman's Wharf. This is a fun experience worth a quick look and some pictures.

Alcatraz Tour
Once home to some of America's most notorious criminals, the federal penitentiary that operated here from 1934 to 1963 brought a dark mystique to the Rock. The presence of infamous inmates like Al "Scarface" Capone, and the "Birdman" Robert Stroud helped to establish the island's notoriety. To this day, Alcatraz is best known as one of the world's most legendary prisons. It is one of the city’s biggest tourist attractions and part of the Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy. Ferries can be taken from Pier 33 in Fisherman's Wharf. The cellhouse audio tour is highly recommended (2+ hours long). Be sure to reserve tickets online with plenty of time as they usually sell out. (www.alcatrazcruises.com)

Golden Gate Park
With over 1,017 acres Golden Gate Park is the largest man-made park in the world. It includes countless trees, 7,000 kinds of plants, Stow Lake (rowboats, canoes), California Academy of Sciences, Conservatory of Flowers, Japanese Tea Garden, Strybing Arboretum and Botanical Gardens, deYoung Museum, Morrison Planetarium and Steinhart Aquarium. (www.sfgate.com/traveler/guide/sf/neighborhoods/ggpark.shtml)

Highway 1 Drive
State Route 1, often called “Highway 1,” runs along a large length of the Pacific coast. It is famous for some of the most beautiful coastlines in the world.

Muir Woods
This redwood forest is home to the tallest trees in the world and just 12 miles north of the Golden Gate Bridge. (www.nps.gov/muwo/)

San Francisco Neighborhoods to Visit

• North Beach is San Francisco’s Italian district. Recently ranked one of the best neighborhood’s in the United States, it is vibrant with dozens of cafes, restaurants and jazz clubs.
• Chinatown is the largest and oldest Chinatown outside of Asia. (located adjacent to North Beach)
• Marina District is a charming local neighborhood near the Golden Gate Bridge with great shopping and restaurants.
• Sausalito is a hillside artsy peninsula across the Bay. Ferry boats to/from run daily from Fisherman’s Wharf.
• Union Square is San Francisco’s main shopping district, located adjacent to financial district.
• Mission District is San Francisco’s Mexican neighborhood know for its murals, culture and good food.

Hotel Recommendations

Radisson Hotel Fisherman's Wharf
250 Beach St
San Francisco, CA 94133
Reservations: (888) 201-1718
http://www.radisson.com/sanfranciscoca_wharf
Neighborhood: Fisherman's Wharf

La Luna Inn
2599 Lombard Street
San Francisco, California 94123
Tele: 866.900.0157
Tele: 415.346.4664
http://www.lalunainn.com/
Neighborhood: Marina (Near Golden Gate Bridge)

Travelodge
2230 Lombard Street
Lombard (Hwy 101)@ Steiner St
San Francisco, CA 94123 US
Phone: 415-922-3900
http://www.travelodge.com/
Neighborhood: Marina (Near Golden Gate Bridge)

Heritage Marina Hotel
2550 Van Ness Avenue
San Francisco, California 94109
Phone: (415) 776-7500
http://www.heritagemarinahotel.com/
Neighborhood: Marina (Near Golden Gate Bridge)

Travelodge Presidio
2755 Lombard Street
Lombard & Lyon Street
San Francisco, CA 94123 US
Phone: 415-931-8581
http://www.travelodge.com/
Neighborhood: Marina/Presidio (Near Golden Gate Bridge)

Travelodge Fisherman's Wharf
1201 Columbus Avenue
San Francisco, CA 94133 US
Phone: 415-776-7070
http://www.travelodge.com/
Neighborhood: Fisherman's Wharf

Comfort Inn by the Bay
2775 Van Ness Ave.
San Francisco, CA, US, 94109-1497
Phone: (415) 928-5000
http://www.choicehotels.com
Neighborhood: Fisherman's Wharf

Cathedral Hill Hotel
1101 Van Ness Ave
San Francisco, CA 94109
800-622-0855
http://www.cathedralhillhotel.com/
Neighborhood: Lower Pacific Heights/Japanatown

Getting Around Town
San Francisco has a good public transportation system including buses, trains, ferries, and its famous trolleys. Commonly known as “MUNI” (San Francisco Municipal Railway) and "BART" (Bay Area Rapid Transit), please visit their websites for schedule and routes. Taxis are also safe and readily available.

(www.sfmuni.com)
(www.bart.gov)

Weather
Fall in San Francisco is truly the best time of the year for weather. Days are warm and sunny and nights are mild and clear. September, October and early November are the three best months to visit San Francisco. Jackets and layers are recommended, as temperatures tend to fluctuate throughout the day and night.

Average November Temperatures
High: 63 (F)/ 17 (C)
Low: 50 (F)/ 10 (C)

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