[dark0821]

So my wife started working earlier this year...

She decided to reward our fam fam with a week long vacation in San Fran...

We will land Monday early pm Aug 18th, and leave late pm Aug 22nd.

No car rental booked yet, but I heard parking is a nightmare anyways.

It will be 2 adults + 2 kids (12 and 10)... is it just worth to uber everywhere? or something like modo/evo whats the car sharing they have there?

We never been there, does NOT need to be one of those "need to hit every spot ever".

If we did like a big spot every half day, how would you spend it?

Mon PM
Tues AM
Tues PM
Wed AM
Wed PM
Thur AM
Thur PM
Fri AM

My knowledge about San Francisco is basically Golden Gate Bridge and that windy road and that trolley and.... that's it?

Also, remember Dark is cheap af.... so dont suggest crazy places that is like $150 per person, unless its a lifetime unforgettable experience~

Thanks in advance RS, I know you wont let me down!

[sdubfid]

Try out a Waymo
Go on the uss hornet
Check out Alcatraz and that other island with the cannons
Don’t leave anything in vehicles
There’s a spot right by the bus tours near fisherman’s wharf that has cheap clothing etc if you forgot something.
Giants games were very reasonable last time I was there
Take the hop on hop off bus tour and get off at the garden place and then walk to the beach.

[Badhobz]

try not going. That place is a fucking shit show nowadays. not even safe. Too many homeless idiots everywhere

Also dont go into Oakland for any reason unless you wanna get jacked or murdered for lawls.

Dont take the BART (take the homer instead... aka rent a car or waymo)

as mentioned above:

Yes try Waymo, USS Hornet, Alcatraz (before that trump reopens it as a jail),

Drive south along the 101 and hit up Santa Cruz & Monterey where all the car museum and festivals are. aka peable beach

Drive and "inspire" your kids at Stanford. Watch a game while youre there if possible. go to the university store and buy some swag

Drive to Google HQ and Apple HQ. Apple HQ has some swag you can buy like cups and shit that are only available there. Same with Google HQ

Drive to my favourite Frank Lloyd Wright building. Just walk around and take it in how magnificent the architecture is
https://maps.app.goo.gl/XzV6WnjZWRGwZraw6

Drive north to Napa and get a wine tour on. Most of these places have free tasting, so you drive, drink, crash and die all in one go.

Sacramento is about 1-2h away, depending on traffic. it has a really neat old historic district
https://maps.app.goo.gl/aive4AbNCgtNgWKt7
great to just walk around with the family.

Closer to the city, your usual: Coit Tower, Chinatown, Take the trollys, pier 39, pier 22, the ferry building, golden gate park for photos of the bridge, the "full house" house, etc etc

Food wise, dont miss out on the house of prime rib. if you like that sort of stuff. Also becareful if you eat at fishermens wharf, those birds will FUCK YOU UP. Try El Pollo Loco. I literally ate that every day while i was living down there.

[noclue]

Second badhobz recommendations.
Summertime San franscisco = Heavy marine fog! It should dissipate late morning but it can cause flight delays + you cant see the golden gate bridge.

downtown SF is nothing to write home about, except take the photo with the trolley down the street or ride the trolley. Bart sucks + expensive might as well rent a car.
Fisherman wharf is the tourist spot, you can go to alcatraz by ferry there. I personally think its not interesting so I didnt go.
You can park in crissy field for free right south of golden gate and spend a day in the park + presidio park. Or you can rent a bike a fisherman wharf and cycle across the bridge, go to sausalito and take the ferry back to fisherman wharf. North of the golden gate bridge has a sweet viewpoint of the bridge + downtown SF.

Golden gate park is fun as well, their version of central park in NYC.
Catch a baseball game at AT&T field if you like baseball.

Rent a car and venture out of the SF bay area!
Halfmoon bay = chill beach views on a cliff
Santa Cruz = their version of Santa Monica with a pier and amusement park
Monterey/Pebble Beach = the aquarium here is actually very good and place is bougie plus laguna seca racetrack is here.

Cheapish place to eat:
In N Out burger
Philz Coffee
La taqueria = michelin recommended or won a star for burritos cant remember but it's in the hood so beware.
San Mateo has a lot of asian restaurants, Gao Viet is good.
Somewhere in SF is the world's biggest pho challenge lol

[bcrdukes]

Don't listen to any of these guys. The only place you must visit is the Tenderloin District :troll:

[supafamous]

I'd probably do (mostly a repeat of noclue and hobz.):

- Alcatraz, Fisherman's Wharf, Chinatown and the surrounding areas for a day.
- Golden Gate Bridge, Presidio, and Golden Gate Park for a day. Make it a picnic type day.
- Head north to Napa for some wine and nice sights. If you're lucky maybe there's some action at Sears Point. This could be an overnight trip.
- Go down Hwy 1 to at least Santa Cruz, preferably Monterey for some sights. This might be an overnight trip. Go to the aquarium and swing by Laguna Seca (it's not locked off so you can walk the property and may even see some track action).

After that considerations would be:
- Catch a baseball game - great ballpark.
- Take a walk through the Tenderloin and realise the DTES is not THAT bad. Best times are in the evenings. Bring the kids!
- Get stabbed in Union Square
- Visit Stanford U and the surrounding areas
- Go to Fremont and see if Elon is sleeping on the factory floor. Confirm the Nazi symbols on the plant.
- Swing by the HQs of Apple, Google, Meta etc. I always visit Apple HQ when I'm down there but I'm a tech nerd.
- Gilroy is the garlic capital of the world, have a sniff of what a garlic capital smells like.
- Get picked up by ICE and check out El Salvador.

You'll definitely want a rental car and I actually wouldn't stay in SF proper as a tourist as most of the stuff worth visiting is on the fringes of SF or outside entirely. I'd probably stay just over the bridge for half the trip (Sausalito or Marin) and then stay south of the Airport after that. Even though I'm a stupid libtard I think downtown SF is a bit of shit hole - I don't really think of it as a family vacation destination.

[roastpuff]

Not going to repeat what those guys above said - all good suggestions.

Spend a day in the Presidio Park area, go north to Sausalito and feel poor when looking at waterfront property, go do a walk in Marin to check out the giant redwoods (Muir Woods National Monument).

Avoid DT except for the waterfront/Fisherman's Wharf/Pier 39 area.

Must try: the BEST EVER croissants at Arsicault Bakery

Drive down to Half Moon Bay/Santa Cruz/Monterrey, absolutely beautiful scenery and little towns.

Honestly if you have time - Yosemite. Still some of the most incredible scenery I've ever seen.

[Badhobz]

Honestly, i rather go to San Diego—way more Zoo's and amusement parks for your kids.

But if you say fuck the kids, i wanna see interesting and some gay shit (Castro district), then SF is better.

[MG1]

Try out a Waymo
Go on the uss hornet
Check out Alcatraz and that other island with the cannons
Don’t leave anything in vehicles
There’s a spot right by the bus tours near fisherman’s wharf that has cheap clothing etc if you forgot something.
Giants games were very reasonable last time I was there
Take the hop on hop off bus tour and get off at the garden place and then walk to the beach.

Giants game would be awesome. The view from the cheap seats is breathtaking. One of the most beautiful baseball fields in MLB. Also, concession stands are something to be experienced.

https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/mlb/2024/03/09/mlb-stadium-rankings-baseball-30-ballparks-2024/72873951007/


Oh, gotta drive down Lombard Street. If they still let you.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lombard_Street_(San_Francisco)

Close to Fisherman's Wharf.

[underscore]

I found the Golden Gate Bridge itself to be a bit underwhelming, I get why its existence is cool for the locals but the structure itself isn't anything special and the toll to cross it isn't cheap. I wouldn't bother actually driving across it unless you wanna go to Sausalito, which is gorgeous. If you do go to the north side view points on the one-way road, don't bother stopping at the first few, just go right to Battery Ridge or go to Horseshoe Bay on the east side.

The Oakland Bay bridge is cooler but I don't think there's much reason to go to Oakland? Driving around the end of the bridge in downtown SF is neat though. If you are on that side Alameda is nice but don't stop in San Leandro for any reason, go out by the Oakland Airport at least if you desperately need something. I had two coworkers get stuff stolen from their cars in San Leandro but at my hotel near the airport I saw women jogging at night so it seems safer lol.

Driving down the coast to Santa Cruz is really nice. I did it near sunset and it was gorgeous. In land of there is very pretty as well, Big Basin Redwoods State Park is a nice area and the back road down to Santa Cruz is great. If you're going down there I'd take Skyline Blvd and the road through Boulder Creek on the way down and then drive back up the coast in the evening. I could spend ages poking around all the backroads there. Saratoga was also very pretty at night.

I won't repeat everything I posted before but there's some pics and good suggestions from other people in this thread:

https://www.revscene.net/forums/717752-san-francisco.html

[mikemhg]

Some restaurant recommendations:

Tony's Pizza Napoletana - Iconic pizza spot
House of Prime Rib - If you like Prime Rib, it's worth a visit, iconic as well.
Tommy's Joynt - Old school shitty diner
Brenda's French Soul Food - If you like southern soul food, delicious.
Marufuku Ramen - We have good ramen here in Vancouver, but if you're itching for it.

[Jason00S2000]

Go to the Tenderloin and hang out there... see if it is better/worse than the DTES!

[pastarocket]

-highly recommend a drive from San Fran to visit Pebble Beach. -about a two hour drive from San Fran.

First, visiting the beach is free. Parking is free near the beach. Beautiful view of cypress trees near the beach.

-visited San Fran and Pebble Beach first in 2013.

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20250713/babc70df86feeca6278ea6a86f509850.jpg

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20250713/a1791e2cdf6abd768db05be34925870f.jpg


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[nabs]

Alcatraz is worth it IMO, but make sure you book before hand, day of tickets are rare, you would have to get it from a bike tour company combo with their services, more expensive this route, however in a bind you can just skip out on the bike tour all together.

[!LittleDragon]

House of Prime Rib... other than that, the place is meh... maybe because half my family lives in Silicon Valley and I spent a lot of time in the bay in my 20's...

Umm... take a drive down to Monterey... too bad you'll be a week late for Monterey Car Week... lol

[Badhobz]

That’s probably a good thing. Car week is a friggin zoo.

[bcrdukes]

Head to Laguna Seca and do a few laps. :troll:

[noclue]

Maybe dark should drive down (only 15hrs) while the fam takes the flights and then drive up together to vancouver via pacific coast highway oregon coast. One of the most scenic drives IMO

[Badhobz]

love that drive... used to do it every year, but i missed out this year due to Australia. You gotta go relatively early in the year, like March or April. Anything later and California becomes an unbearable oven.

[bcuzracecarz]

Great timing for a thread so thanks for the input so far peeps. I’m down there with the wife on the 12th until the 16th of August. It’s my wife’s 40th and she’s always wanted to go to Napa so doing that for most of the time (have the wine train booked which looks awesome), but upon arriving we are hitting up the evening giants game, then Alcatraz the next morning and Golden Gate drive up to Napa in the afternoon.

Our research has definitely shown that tenderloin/union is great for an injectable dinner and getting rid of unwanted items quickly.

[noclue]

French laundry is in napa if you can get a reservation.

[6793026]

2 things.
Bring a jacket, it does get cold. #1 souvenirs people buy in SF - jackets.
DO keep all your belongs. Don't leave it in your car.

[6793026]

Great timing for a thread so thanks for the input so far peeps. I’m down there with the wife on the 12th until the 16th of August. It’s my wife’s 40th and she’s always wanted to go to Napa so doing that for most of the time (have the wine train booked which looks awesome), but upon arriving we are hitting up the evening giants game, then Alcatraz the next morning and Golden Gate drive up to Napa in the afternoon.

Our research has definitely shown that tenderloin/union is great for an injectable dinner and getting rid of unwanted items quickly.

It's not cheap to eat in napa, the pros to that = there are not college kids. Everyone is nice, educated and there to enjoy themeselves. Very safe. I chose siting at the patio and it was just great weather all along.

[dark0821]

So far jacket, jacket, jacket...... and deck the whole family out in kirkland, no brand names, no bling, no nothing... got cha...

and looks like I should start reserving things~~

[CivicBlues]

lol so much for Elbows Up eh?

Drive down to Big Sur and back on Hwy 1. All the way down to Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park. I believe after that the road is closed due to landslides.

It's worth it even though it'll take an entire day. Better if you can stay overnight. One of the world's best scenic coastal drives IMO.

[Hondaracer]

In terms of Napa, what’s Hobz mentioned above I’ve never heard one person who went to Napa and got free tastings at wineries. They are typically $100+ for almost nothing, a basic tour and 2-3 wines max

Even the worst wineries in the Okanagan are charging $10-$15 minimum. So I wouldn’t expect anything being cheap in Napa

[bcrdukes]

I think a drive down could be cost effective and also a great way to go on adventure with your family. The kids will likely appreciate it later in life.

It's been too long since I've been to NorCal so I don't have anything of value to offer. I was serious about going to the Tenderloin District to scare your kids, then take them to the universities to show them how important it is to stay in school. Tough life lesson right there.

[CivicBlues]

People suggesting going to places like Apple and GOogle HQ, why? As a 10-12 year old I'd be bored to fuck and pissed off as hell at my parents for bringing me to a fucking office park. It's like your parents bringing you to the IBM headquarters back in the day.

Same with universities, why? Unless it's a uber famous or historic one like Oxford, Cambridge, Harvard. Or unless the child himself has shown interest in attending, why waste their time going there? It's going to bore them to tears. Just take them to visit UBC or SFU and stop wasting their vacation time.

But yeah go to Big Sur, trust me.

[bcrdukes]

But yeah go to Big Sur, trust me.

Why would they want to go to Big Sur? Why waste their vacation time to see the ocean when Coal Harbour or Steveston will do?

[CivicBlues]

lol @ Steveston

Sea-to-Sky is comparable.

[Badhobz]

People suggesting going to places like Apple and GOogle HQ, why? As a 10-12 year old I'd be bored to fuck and pissed off as hell at my parents for bringing me to a fucking office park. It's like your parents bringing you to the IBM headquarters back in the day.

Same with universities, why? Unless it's a uber famous or historic one like Oxford, Cambridge, Harvard. Or unless the child himself has shown interest in attending, why waste their time going there? It's going to bore them to tears. Just take them to visit UBC or SFU and stop wasting their vacation time.

But yeah go to Big Sur, trust me.

Universities to INSPIRE the kids.... what kind of a fucking chinese are you? youre suppose to guilt trip the little shits into becoming better

same with the corporate HQ's. YOU TOO CAN BE WORKING HERE, if you werent such a dickbag fuckup.

[CivicBlues]

Read dark's OP

His kids are fucking 10 and 12. AI's coming for whatever potential jobs by the time they get out of HS. Better to show them the Tenderloin district and scare them straight. But then E Hastings back home is a fair substitute I would think.

[bcrdukes]

You could just be more direct and suggest to him that his kids have no future.

[Badhobz]

Hilariously Dark! (Pun intended)

[noclue]

He only has 4 days, I retract my suggestion for him driving down.

I actually had someone tell me with a straight face why bother traveling when you can see it on youtube while you can use the money saved and buy a handbag which lasts longer than a vacation. I was flabbergasted that someone can be that materialistic

[bcrdukes]

He only has 4 days, I retract my suggestion for him driving down.

Likewise.

Save that money and buy an LV bag for the wife instead and tell your kids to get bent. :woot2:

[Badhobz]

Punch that cunt in the face

[bcrdukes]

Punch that cunt in the face

Are you talking about dark0821's wife? Or the cunt face that wanted the bag? :confused:

[CivicBlues]

You could just be more direct and suggest to him that his kids have no future.

Nah they'll be plenty blue collar work, we'll be last generation of aspirational Ivy League degrees and desk jobs.

[bcrdukes]

Nah they'll be plenty blue collar work, we'll be last generation of aspirational Ivy League degrees and desk jobs.

Did you see what happened to Badhobz car in the other thread? These blue collar jobs nearly killed him!

[CivicBlues]

lol not every blue collar job involves jumping in front of freight trains

[bcrdukes]

lol not every blue collar job involves jumping in front of freight trains

https://www.revscene.net/forums/653341-official-no-need-start-new-thread-thread-1076.html#post9185256

[murd0c]

San Fran used to be incredible but sadly it turned into Portland a total shit hole. I had so much fun there in the past but its not worth to go what so ever.

[Badhobz]

Plus Stanford does kinda suck. I should know. I dropped out of there.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6YpYcxm56Zk

[Manic!]

Go to Alcatraz before it becomes an active jail again.

[CivicBlues]

If you do go to Alcatraz try for the night tour. I've done both.

Not sure if it's still the case but the night tour actually gives you a NPS tour guide. Whereas the day tour they just hook you up with an audio guide.

[Badhobz]

Nps is what ? Not prison safe experience ?

[CivicBlues]

National Park Service

[Badhobz]

I like mine better.

[sonick]

Maybe I'm jaded having gone to SF multiple times previously for work but I agree with a lot of the sentiment here that San Francisco proper is is kind shitty. And this was before covid, and I've heard it's gotten worse.

Every time I've gone even in the summer the weather has been freezing cold at certain parts of the day and especially near the water.

Tenderloin is not as bad as main and Hastings but it's not far off and it's a bigger area. Not uncommon to come across human shit.

Restaurants and food used to be big but it seems like it's not a foodie destination as it once was.

If going with kids I would suggest LA or San Diego instead.

[Hondaracer]

The amount of money this trip is going to cost you could rent a house on the lake in the Okanagan and a boat for a week

[68style]

Yah man take your kiddos to Kelowna... SF is a fucking pain in the ass to do anything in even as an adult let alone with complaining kids

[mikemhg]

Take em to Penticton or Osoyoos, way better for kids, like others have said, rent a pontoon for a few days and have a blast.

[BIC_BAWS]

Idk about Kelowna, but this past weekend I drove past somewhere that I went for a school trip (I was 12?) and remember how my friends and I used to say that we should find this road again when we're older - I found the road. Someone else on the trip with me also reminisced about the same thing and it dawned on us how valuable childhood memories like these are.

Strathcona Park Lodge and Outdoor Education Center (https://strathconaparklodge.com/). 4 days, 3 nights with lodging, meals, activities and a guide, will run you about $4500 tho (2 kids + 2 adults).

I don't think my school trip came to that much money, but it was definitely an unforgettable experience.

https://i.imgur.com/TlpkYNp.jpeg

This was a 5 min "hike" LOL

https://i.imgur.com/PXd5RCu.jpeg

https://i.imgur.com/KBEW0VS.jpeg

Here's a shitty pic of the lodge from the other side of the lake.. insane full circle moment

https://i.imgur.com/tyEhZw0.jpeg

[murd0c]

I did the night tour when they first started them about 9 years ago and it was fantstic. Man I used to really love SF such a great place to walk around and bar hop day and night. LA is starting to turn into the same shit hole, the only thing thats saving that from happening is Hollywood.

[CivicBlues]

Same I can't believe people here are suggesting going to car dependent hellscapes like LA, San Diego over SF. Sure I guess if you want to just hop from beach to theme park to hotel if that's your jam. SF along with NYC, Chicago and New Orleans are basically the only true cities in America that can hold it's own against European cities as destinations in their own right.

I hope his kids are old/mature enough to appreciate that, even if they're part of the iPad generation.

[bcrdukes]

I hope his kids are old/mature enough to appreciate that, even if they're part of the iPad generation.

Of the times dark0821 came out to meets, his kids were on their iPads or phones most of the time. :accepted:

[Traum]

I actually had someone tell me with a straight face why bother traveling when you can see it on youtube while you can use the money saved and buy a handbag which lasts longer than a vacation. I was flabbergasted that someone can be that materialistic
This is exactly what we have subtituted vacation travel with. Except that we didn't use the money saved to buy any handbags. Or bought anything, really.
:fuckyea:

[Hondaracer]

Biggest detractor to me in US travel is the exchange rate, there’s no value in these destinations.

SF isn’t like a Switzerland where you willingly get fucked in the ass because the upsides are worth it. SF seems like you’re just visiting any other North American city, checking out their version of the DTES, and paying $18 a beer and $60 for a burger

With such a weak dollar stuff adds up fast. And I can’t say how certain people travel but imo there’s typically two types. There’s the type who don’t think about how much things cost and you just do what you would normally do and accept the bills later

Then there’s people who go to places like these and are intentionally frugal. Imo if you’re this latter type of traveller, I don’t even know why you’d consider destinations like these. There’s no value in them. You cannot step outside of your accommodation without spending literally hundreds of dollars a day in basic expenses.

Not sure where the OP falls but given the current exchange rate and all other circumstances SF just doesn’t seem like an attractive destination unless you’re such an experienced traveller that you’re just ticking off specific experiences imo

[CivicBlues]

lol
I know you're obsessed with harping on about homeless drug addicts in this city and others but pretending that the Tenderloin is the entirety of SF or that it should be only for experienced travellers is insane.

Recent troubles aside, it's still an iconic city with great sights, lovely views, and just a fun overall city. It's one of the most visited cities in the US by domestic and international tourists, probably 2nd only to NYC. And also if it wasn't, there wouldn't be a huge list of suggestions on page 1 and 2 of this thread from RS members.

I will give this to you, it's not a good time to do leisure travel to the US in general right now given the exchange rate and uhh...political climate. But otherwise once these things subside, it will still be on the top of my recommends list.

[bcrdukes]

Not sure where the OP falls but given the current exchange rate and all other circumstances SF just doesn’t seem like an attractive destination unless you’re such an experienced traveller that you’re just ticking off specific experiences imo

To answer your question, directly from the OP.

Also, remember Dark is cheap af.... so dont suggest crazy places that is like $150 per person, unless its a lifetime unforgettable experience~

[Hondaracer]

lol
I know you're obsessed with harping on about homeless drug addicts in this city and others but pretending that the Tenderloin is the entirety of SF or that it should be only for experienced travellers is insane.

Recent troubles aside, it's still an iconic city with great sights, lovely views, and just a fun overall city. It's one of the most visited cities in the US by domestic and international tourists, probably 2nd only to NYC. And also if it wasn't, there wouldn't be a huge list of suggestions on page 1 and 2 of this thread from RS members.

I will give this to you, it's not a good time to do leisure travel to the US in general right now given the exchange rate and uhh...political climate. But otherwise once these things subside, it will still be on the top of my recommends list.

Why do you need to get on a plane to see homeless? We’ve got our own homeless at home! :lol

I dunno SF has never really been up there for me. Would love to go to Napa one day but SF has never been a destination that I considered other than “if I was in the area”

Edit* just as an example costs with the CAD/USD exchange

2 adults and 2 kids for the Alcatraz day tour will be over $250 CAD for a 2.5 hour tour

[mikemhg]

I do agree with Honda on the value proposition.

The exchange rate right now sucks, you really aren't getting your dollar value IMHO in the US right now, Europe isn't cheap now either, but with kids it's not like you have a ton of options.

[bcrdukes]

Kids ruin everything! :derp:

[Gumby]

There's always Asia (i.e. South Korea, Japan)... :D

A few years ago when I went on vacations with my kids (with my intention of escaping from chores and showing them new places/cultures) I was always wary of spending a bunch of money and planning the itinerary around them, only to hear them complain and want to go back to the hotel. After 2 weeks, we'd come back home to a ton of work and I would wonder was that even worth it?

Now that they are older (currently 17 and 11), I think the last 2 years they have finally started to appreciate going places. Last year we went to Japan and this year HK and they actually have good things to say about the trips.

[CivicBlues]

Why do you need to get on a plane to see homeless? We’ve got our own homeless at home! :lol

I dunno SF has never really been up there for me. Would love to go to Napa one day but SF has never been a destination that I considered other than “if I was in the area”

Edit* just as an example costs with the CAD/USD exchange

2 adults and 2 kids for the Alcatraz day tour will be over $250 CAD for a 2.5 hour tour

A great city is more than it's sum of it's homeless people and tourist traps :lol. Just get over it with the whole homeless thing dude, it's causing you mental stress I can tell.

Like I said, the relatively recent effects of inflation and exchange rate changes doesn't negate the fact it's still one of America's premier cities. So what if you spend a couple grand more than you intended if you can afford? You don't have to live there.

We went to NYC, DC, Boston, Philly last year around this time when the exchange rate was the same and spent about $2000 more than I intended (I usually budget pretty accurately to the closest $200) Still had a great time everywhere despite how "dirty" these places seem on the surface. Not everyone needs to vacation in perfectly curated resorts or first world countries (insert joke here about the US being the world's richest 3rd world country)

[Hondaracer]

Yea I never budget :shrug: maybe that’s my issue lol

[Gumby]

Also, remember Dark is cheap af.... so dont suggest crazy places that is like $150 per person, unless its a lifetime unforgettable experience~
This will appeal to your cheapness:

If you are planning on visiting any museums, check to see if it's part of the ASTC program: https://www.astc.org/membership/find-an-astc-member/passport/

Assuming yes, you can buy an annual family membership (2 adults, 2 kids up to age 18) at Science World for $264.60 with promo code "summer20" (expires Aug 31) for 20% off the regular price of $315.

With the Science World membership, you can visit all of the museums that participate in the ASTC program for free (excluding any special exhibits/presentations/etc.).

[Great68]

We went to San Francisco in 2013, and had a pretty good time. I was being sent on a 3 day trip for work, so we just paid for my wife's airfare and a few additional days of hotel (we stayed at the JW Mariott in union square) to stretch it out into an extended vacation. The food was amazing, we got a bit of the VIP treatment with the restaurants the hosts took us on the work nights.

I agree that I don't think downtown SF really has all that much that I think kids would find overly interesting.

The walkability is pretty amazing, we walked everywhere from the hotel:
- Coit Tower
- House of Prime Rib
- Lombard St
- The full 10km from the ferry building to the Golden gate Bridge along the waterfront/beaches and back....

The most memorable night was our last night, we were sitting on the hotel's 21st floor outdoor patio having some wine when we could see a building across the way that with flashing lights and looked like people dancing. I said to my wife "we have to find that place", and out we went, turns out it was a nightclub called the "Starlight Room" on the 21st floor of the Beacon Grand. Had a great time there for the rest of the night. Then we almost missed our flight out the next morning lol.

[!LittleDragon]

I was just there because grandma gave up the ghost... 2 burger combos at Smashburger came to almost $60 CAD... just FYI... lol... oh and I didn't step foot into San Fran... spent most of my time in San Jose/Silicon Valley, it's much warmer... lol


If you want House of Prime Rib, make your reservations now.

[bcrdukes]

I'm sorry for your loss, but happy you enjoyed some expensive burgers? :badpokerface:

[Great68]

You know, House of Prime Rib was allright. It was neat from a "old timey Restaurant" perspective for the experience, but the prime rib itself was just allright, nothing that "knocked my socks off". I've cooked it better at home. The way they salt bake it doesn't give it any Maillard crust, which I like to have on mine.

IMO it's one of those "one and done" restaurants.

[Badhobz]

I just like seeing the meat blimp and the fresh made sides. Oh and If you get the Louis the xiiiiiv or whatever cut, you can ask for another slice when you’re finished. They will also top up your sides.

[!LittleDragon]

Yeah, it's not the best prime rib I've had. That's gotta go to Duke's in Waikiki for me... you go to a place like that for the experience, table side salad, etc...

It's like Tojo's... it's good but not great, you wouldn't go there normally unless you're on vacation or trying to impress someone.

Go with the English cut, a thick slab of prime rib takes a while to eat and dries out while eating it... 2-3 thinner slices work better... and don't be shy when they ask if you've had enough. They don't want you to leave hungry, they'll happily give you another slice, no charge..

[underscore]

Same I can't believe people here are suggesting going to car dependent hellscapes like LA, San Diego over SF.

I don't really get the appeal of LA. I personally hate it because their terrible traffic turned a 30 minute drive into a 2 hour drive and I missed a flight out of their dump of an airport once lol.

[bcrdukes]

Missing flights out of LAX - Oh man. Happened to me way too many times.

[noclue]

I don't really get the appeal of LA. I personally hate it because their terrible traffic turned a 30 minute drive into a 2 hour drive and I missed a flight out of their dump of an airport once lol.

Don't like LA but orange county/malibu/san diego is quite nice. Also California utility rates make you thankful for BC hydro.

Missing flights out of LAX - Oh man. Happened to me way too many times.

Worst thing about LAX is the horseshoe design for traffic, clogs up so bad that it's faster to get out and run across. Any day now for the LAX mover to finish

[CivicBlues]

Shit, I gotta fly out of LAX again next month (flying into OC airport but in order to get home on the same day I need to fly back via LAX)

[bcrdukes]

Oh yeah, that horseshoes design is the absolute worst! Even when you have cops and security shoe’ing people away, it’s just chaos all day every day!

Hit traffic on the 405? Man, you are cooked.

[noclue]

It sucks but LAX is the other way during afternoon rush hour from OC so not as bad.
The freeways in LA are bipolar, it's either bumper to bumper or at least 80MPH+

[underscore]

Worst thing about LAX is the horseshoe design for traffic, clogs up so bad that it's faster to get out and run across. Any day now for the LAX mover to finish

I tried that once and they had it blocked off for construction with no signage. So then I had to haul all my stuff around the long way. Taking those buses to/from the rental car place was bad enough but that was worse lol. You have to leave so much extra time in case of traffic just to spend even more time experiencing the joy of paying $7 for a bottle of water and having nowhere to sit because it's actually a tiny airport.

Meanwhile SFO you hop on that train and get right to your terminal in the exact same amount of time every single time.

[Hondaracer]

I always laugh at anyone who talks shit about YVR, they must have never been to a single other airport lol.

As far as I’m concerned YVR is the pinnacle of access and ease of security. I don’t recall going to a better airport anywhere else

[Badhobz]

i think dark killed himself already after reading all these neg posts about SF.

[bcrdukes]

RIP dark0821

Died before he could even get shanked in the Tenderloin District.

[Badhobz]

suicide is still better than going to SF proper.

[mikemhg]

Reading you guys talk about SF like it's some hellscape reminds me of a cop buddy of mine who came on a trip with us to Portland last year.

Buddy watched so many rightwing "Portland is burning" type videos on YouTube that he fully expected we were going to get stabbed the minute we arrived downtown. He literally wouldn't even drink with us the first day and a half because he wanted to be "ready".

All in all it was an uneventful trip with some beach, strippers, and food. By the end he was acknowledging that he was being a silly scaredy cat, and that Portland wasn't half as bad as the videos he was watching.

[Badhobz]

Dats no fun... You should have donned a hoodie and jump him for lawls

[Hondaracer]

I dunno when I was in Portland in 2017 the entire city Center where you spend time was like one giant DTES, I’m sure it’s even worse now.

It’s not that I’m scared of being there or fear for my safety but it’s just unpleasant to go around where there’s homeless people literally laying across the sidewalk almost everywhere you go

[Jason00S2000]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TZt-pOc3moc

Everyone should have a hipster phase for at least a couple years!

[bcrdukes]

dark0821 is alive. :suspicious:

[unit]

i went every year for 5 years straight one time, but havent been back in over a decade.

things that i liked were the scenic drive down, tacos in the mission district, house of prime rib when it was still reasonably priced, napa/sonoma, yosemite, taking pictures around chinatown, renting bikes..

nowadays everything prob costs twice as much with inflation and exchange... wouldn't go back, but if it's your first time then it's worth seeing at least once.

things i dont care for: pier 39, alcatraz, cable cars

[dark0821]

hahaha, yes i am alive, i am just trying to salvage whats already a done deal at this point and you know... buying lube~~

[underscore]

I always laugh at anyone who talks shit about YVR, they must have never been to a single other airport lol.

As far as I’m concerned YVR is the pinnacle of access and ease of security. I don’t recall going to a better airport anywhere else

YVR is okay but it's not that great. Having to walk a kilometer (I measured lol) to clear Canadian customs and having the two options for a connection so far apart is a pain when they randomly decide to change how they work. The US security checkpoint isn't set up very well either. I hate to say it but Calgary is a better airport overall.

[bcrdukes]

While I agree with your points on Calgary Airport, I personally dislike Calgary airport. I would rather walk a kilometre at YVR. The waiting areas are not great and food / beverage options are very limited.

Saskatoon Airport is my favourite.

[Hondaracer]

A kilometre from where?

That must be like the furthest possible jet bridge on the international side because I’ve never once de-planed at a gate that was more than 5 minutes from that escalator down to customs?

Comparatively just at LHR last month, which is by far the worst airport I’ve ever been to, it took literally 45 minutes+ of continuous walking to get to the uber area

[underscore]

From a US flight through customs to the domestic terminal if you have a connection. Since you guys are local I'm guessing you've never made a connection through YVR and that's where it gets really long.

I've always landed in the same place, down at the end where the US flights get off. Then go along that raised walkway thing with the scenic junk to where it splits whether your bag has been connected or not. If you're leaving and go down to customs it's not too far, but if you have a connection through the upstairs customs you're going a lot way to get through it and then back to the domestic terminal and that's where it added up to a kilometer.

If they've decided to make you go get your bag and go check in again that adds up to a long walk too when you have to go to baggage claim then back to check in and through security again. Calgary the two types of customs are side by side, and the baggage claims are immediately outside of customs, so it's a lot more consistent because if they make you pick up your bag you're only about 20 feet from where you need to be.

My one beef with Calgary is that the best food options are in the US terminal, which I can't get to when I have a domestic connection. I've never found anything that special at YVR either though. I think Edmonton has better stuff on the domestic side.

[Hondaracer]

Oh yea never made a connection, never thought about that hmm

[noclue]

Calgary airport is hit or miss, one part of it is super modern cause they built it during the oil boom but they ran out of money and didnt rebuild the rest so it's stuck in the sixties. The stupid shuttle they got rid of and replaced with golf carts cause they have no money, yet they charge one of the highest airport improvement fees.

Any airport in Canada is better than Toronto Pearson or Hondaracer's favorite politician named airport, Montreal Trudeau.

[Badhobz]

Fuck YUL and fuck Pearson. God every time in stinking YUL these frenchy fucks all crowd the gate and it’s already such a small gate area. Loathe that place.

[underscore]

Pearson has fucked me over 3 of the 7 times I've been there. They misplaced my bags twice which wasted 2 days of my life, and then they had that plane fall over and mess up my trip.

Even then all the Canadian airports I've been to have been a lot better than the American ones, with the exception of San Fran. Salt Lake is pretty nice but it's puny. I have no clue how they managed to run an Olympics through there.

Oh yea never made a connection, never thought about that hmm

I just realized I'm the opposite, I've only made connections through there. The one time I had to get my bag from baggage claim and bring it to the check in counter was the closest I came to actually leaving the airport so I have no idea what the outside is like lol. It looks like it's in a decent spot on a map at least.

[Hondaracer]

At YVR from walking into the airport to stepping on the plane you could theoretically get there in under 20 minutes

[BIC_BAWS]

My brother made it from drop off zone to past security in 5 minutes... I'm shook, cause his plane would have left in less than an hour (to NJ).

[Hondaracer]

YVR security is the best/fastest I’ve ever dealt with. Even using priority security in places like Pearson, the regular international security at YVR is quicker

[AstulzerRZD]

My thoughts on SF:

1) Family friendly hike at Lands End
2) Mexican food and bars in Mission
3) MoMA is a must, it's better curated and presented than the one in NY

[whitev70r]

YVR security is the best/fastest I’ve ever dealt with. Even using priority security in places like Pearson, the regular international security at YVR is quicker

I always laugh at anyone who talks shit about YVR, they must have never been to a single other airport lol.

As far as I’m concerned YVR is the pinnacle of access and ease of security. I don’t recall going to a better airport anywhere else

Wait ... did someone hack into Honda's account? He is actually praising something from Canada/Vancouver ??!! Guess becuz no homeless people hang out at YVR ... :lol

[Hondaracer]

About the only thing we can get right and it’s moreso on the designer than anything lol

After being through so many nightmarish airports as well, I can always appreciate efficiency

[westopher]

I loved Alcatraz. Tourist trap? Sure. I was a tourist and enjoyed it immensely.
Market at China live was a dope restaurant.
Media noche has amazing cubanos.
Don’t stay in the tenderloin lol.

[6793026]

^ best to watch The Rock w/ sean C and Nic cage to really appreciate it.