http://www.dslreports.com/forum/Re-San-Fran-Where-is-it-better-to-stay-22491949 en Fri, 10 Feb 2012 02:29:26 EDT Fri, 10 Feb 2012 02:29:26 EDT http://www.dslreports.com/forum/Re-San-Francisco-Where-is-it-better-to-stay-22572784
As you get closer to campus there are lots of one-way streets in Berkeley, but all of the main N-S roads, San Pablo, Telegraph, Shattuck are two-way for the better part.
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I am the Flying Photog, see my website accordingly named Flyingphotog.com. User known formerly as zakooldude.]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/Re-San-Francisco-Where-is-it-better-to-stay-22572784 Thu, 18 Jun 2009 14:03:54 EDT http://www.dslreports.com/forum/Re-San-Francisco-Where-is-it-better-to-stay-22572768
When you rent the car, treat yellow lights as if they are red lights. The cops in Frisco will ticket you. Try to study your route to and from Berkeley. A lot of streets are one way, lanes aren't clearly marked, etc. Also the bridge have cash only lanes, carpool only, fast track only, etc.

But maybe you shouldn't listen to my suggestions since everyone says I'm wrong :D There's hella love for Oakland on this place for some reason. ]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/Re-San-Francisco-Where-is-it-better-to-stay-22572768 Thu, 18 Jun 2009 14:00:50 EDT http://www.dslreports.com/forum/Re-San-Francisco-Where-is-it-better-to-stay-22562651 said by Goober:

...For us, though, we need to be close as possible to the main attractions. It's hard to get going with the kids and we just can't afford the transit time is what my feeling is.
Good thinking! Make it easy on yourself and the family.

Spend your time sightseeing, not commuting. :)

Hope your week here is an enjoyable one.
--
He was determined to live forever or die in the attempt.
- Joseph Heller (1923 - 1999)
]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/Re-San-Francisco-Where-is-it-better-to-stay-22562651 Tue, 16 Jun 2009 20:20:09 EDT http://www.dslreports.com/forum/Re-San-Francisco-Where-is-it-better-to-stay-22559282 --
Tough times do not last, tough people do |]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/Re-San-Francisco-Where-is-it-better-to-stay-22559282 Tue, 16 Jun 2009 10:48:02 EDT http://www.dslreports.com/forum/Re-San-Francisco-Where-is-it-better-to-stay-22551771 http://www.dslreports.com/forum/Re-San-Francisco-Where-is-it-better-to-stay-22551771 Sun, 14 Jun 2009 23:01:07 EDT http://www.dslreports.com/forum/Re-San-Francisco-Where-is-it-better-to-stay-22549501 said by PrntRhd:

RRC is a big transit guy,
Yep, I am, especially in SF, they have about the best transit system in the US, might as well take advantage of it if at all possible :) Like I said, driving and parking in the downtown area is a headache, avoid it if you can.
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You've got to stand for something, or you'll fall for anything.]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/Re-San-Francisco-Where-is-it-better-to-stay-22549501 Sun, 14 Jun 2009 13:33:35 EDT http://www.dslreports.com/forum/Re-San-Francisco-Where-is-it-better-to-stay-22549495 said by Goober:

Is there a benefit to staying outside SF? I chose downtown for the convenience of not having to drive around. We aren't going to rent a car either, so parking shouldn't be an issue.
Accomodations are cheaper, a bit less crowding and traffic. We stayed in Redwood City (I live in Redwood Valley, it's 120 miles northwest of SF up here in Mendocino County) last summer for a couple of weeks on work in the Bay, and it worked out great, we drove some, but used Caltrain, BART and MUNI a lot. No offense to the Bay Areaites, but the drivers there are, well, less than stellar ;)
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You've got to stand for something, or you'll fall for anything.]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/Re-San-Francisco-Where-is-it-better-to-stay-22549495 Sun, 14 Jun 2009 13:32:22 EDT http://www.dslreports.com/forum/Re-San-Francisco-Where-is-it-better-to-stay-22549120
It depends on how much "city life" you wish to experience. You can get there either way.

North Beach and Chinatown are unique experiences and should be experienced on foot. Same with the Golden Gate Bridge, walking on it is awesome vs looking at it from afar.
Dress in layers, the weather changes quickly.]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/Re-San-Francisco-Where-is-it-better-to-stay-22549120 Sun, 14 Jun 2009 12:01:42 EDT http://www.dslreports.com/forum/Re-San-Francisco-Where-is-it-better-to-stay-22548760 http://www.dslreports.com/forum/Re-San-Francisco-Where-is-it-better-to-stay-22548760 Sun, 14 Jun 2009 09:57:19 EDT http://www.dslreports.com/forum/Re-San-Francisco-Where-is-it-better-to-stay-22548403 --
You've got to stand for something, or you'll fall for anything.]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/Re-San-Francisco-Where-is-it-better-to-stay-22548403 Sun, 14 Jun 2009 04:39:34 EDT http://www.dslreports.com/forum/Re-San-Francisco-Where-is-it-better-to-stay-22526543 http://www.dslreports.com/forum/Re-San-Francisco-Where-is-it-better-to-stay-22526543 Wed, 10 Jun 2009 08:53:14 EDT http://www.dslreports.com/forum/Re-San-Francisco-Where-is-it-better-to-stay-22525289 »chabotspace.org/

And I've always been a big fan of the Oakland Museum of California:
»museumca.org/]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/Re-San-Francisco-Where-is-it-better-to-stay-22525289 Tue, 09 Jun 2009 22:44:58 EDT http://www.dslreports.com/forum/Re-San-Francisco-Where-is-it-better-to-stay-22524438
»www.oaklandzoo.org/]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/Re-San-Francisco-Where-is-it-better-to-stay-22524438 Tue, 09 Jun 2009 20:02:53 EDT http://www.dslreports.com/forum/Re-San-Francisco-Where-is-it-better-to-stay-22523248
Ninjatutle, all you're doing to Oakland is driving people away who might otherwise have a good time. There are good neighborhoods and bad neighborhoods, and many of the bad ones are actually out of the way for this poor guy.

Don't spread your infectious fear from your cushy suburb.
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I am the Flying Photog, see my website accordingly named Flyingphotog.com. User known formerly as zakooldude.]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/Re-San-Francisco-Where-is-it-better-to-stay-22523248 Tue, 09 Jun 2009 16:55:49 EDT http://www.dslreports.com/forum/Re-San-Francisco-Where-is-it-better-to-stay-22523214 http://www.dslreports.com/forum/Re-San-Francisco-Where-is-it-better-to-stay-22523214 Tue, 09 Jun 2009 16:50:41 EDT http://www.dslreports.com/forum/Re-San-Francisco-Where-is-it-better-to-stay-22523175 http://www.dslreports.com/forum/Re-San-Francisco-Where-is-it-better-to-stay-22523175 Tue, 09 Jun 2009 16:45:11 EDT http://www.dslreports.com/forum/Re-San-Francisco-Where-is-it-better-to-stay-22523082
As for Oakland (and ony other city, regardless of where we travel) I'll do a check to see where things are located and check for other safety matters. I do it regardless of where we go. Thanks.

edit: I see the Kite Festival is on for the 25th and 26th. My younger son is a huge fan of kites.]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/Re-San-Francisco-Where-is-it-better-to-stay-22523082 Tue, 09 Jun 2009 16:31:17 EDT http://www.dslreports.com/forum/Re-San-Francisco-Where-is-it-better-to-stay-22523032 www.hslordships.com/index.html
Great place to fly a kite afterwards with great views of SF. If you seen the movie The Kite Flyer, the last seen is at the Berkeley marina where they are at the hill flying the kites. They have a giant kite festival there each year. July 25th is the next one.

Oakland is not a tourist destination. They ranked in the top 5 for murders in the nation. ]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/Re-San-Francisco-Where-is-it-better-to-stay-22523032 Tue, 09 Jun 2009 16:22:00 EDT http://www.dslreports.com/forum/Re-San-Francisco-Where-is-it-better-to-stay-22522617 --
I am the Flying Photog, see my website accordingly named Flyingphotog.com. User known formerly as zakooldude.]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/Re-San-Francisco-Where-is-it-better-to-stay-22522617 Tue, 09 Jun 2009 15:06:15 EDT http://www.dslreports.com/forum/Re-San-Francisco-Where-is-it-better-to-stay-22522572
We're not really on a budget (within reason of course), so I'm willing to do whatever is most convenient, less fatiguing and most enjoyable.]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/Re-San-Francisco-Where-is-it-better-to-stay-22522572 Tue, 09 Jun 2009 14:57:30 EDT http://www.dslreports.com/forum/Re-San-Francisco-Where-is-it-better-to-stay-22522352 http://www.dslreports.com/forum/Re-San-Francisco-Where-is-it-better-to-stay-22522352 Tue, 09 Jun 2009 14:23:37 EDT http://www.dslreports.com/forum/Re-San-Francisco-Where-is-it-better-to-stay-22522162
Cabs are ridiculously expensive. Don't get into one in a high-traffic area or it ends up being faster to walk. MUNI (bus or rail) is $1.50 until July 1 when the price goes up to $2.

I agree with downtown SF being a bit hard to navigate; SF is a terrible grid except for places like the mission.

Why not Oakland? There are several museums here and plenty for kids to do. MANY people say they find the atmosphere of the Oakland/Berkeley area much more "home-like" and welcoming than SF.
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I am the Flying Photog, see my website accordingly named Flyingphotog.com. User known formerly as zakooldude.]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/Re-San-Francisco-Where-is-it-better-to-stay-22522162 Tue, 09 Jun 2009 13:56:58 EDT http://www.dslreports.com/forum/Re-San-Francisco-Where-is-it-better-to-stay-22521991
Downtown SF is a little hard to navigate, you have these bus only lanes, hills, pedestrians, one way streets, nuts on bikes to swerve around, etc.

No need to venture into Oakland like someone suggested. You don't want to go there. I would do 3 days in Frisco. The last few days would be nice to take a road trip on The Pacific Coast Highway 1 on a rental car. Either north or south and fly out from an airport at a the end of the road trip.

I would skip Napa because your kids would be bored to death. ]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/Re-San-Francisco-Where-is-it-better-to-stay-22521991 Tue, 09 Jun 2009 13:30:40 EDT http://www.dslreports.com/forum/Re-San-Fran-Where-is-it-better-to-stay-22519296
»silverlionservice.com/

Where parking isn't a hassle, we'll try to rent a car on those trips.]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/Re-San-Fran-Where-is-it-better-to-stay-22519296 Tue, 09 Jun 2009 00:08:46 EDT http://www.dslreports.com/forum/Re-San-Fran-Where-is-it-better-to-stay-22519119 http://www.dslreports.com/forum/Re-San-Fran-Where-is-it-better-to-stay-22519119 Mon, 08 Jun 2009 23:24:49 EDT http://www.dslreports.com/forum/Re-San-Fran-Where-is-it-better-to-stay-22519013 http://www.dslreports.com/forum/Re-San-Fran-Where-is-it-better-to-stay-22519013 Mon, 08 Jun 2009 23:01:24 EDT http://www.dslreports.com/forum/Re-San-Fran-Where-is-it-better-to-stay-22518559 http://www.dslreports.com/forum/Re-San-Fran-Where-is-it-better-to-stay-22518559 Mon, 08 Jun 2009 21:26:05 EDT http://www.dslreports.com/forum/Re-San-Fran-Where-is-it-better-to-stay-22518507 http://www.dslreports.com/forum/Re-San-Fran-Where-is-it-better-to-stay-22518507 Mon, 08 Jun 2009 21:14:52 EDT http://www.dslreports.com/forum/Re-San-Francisco-Where-is-it-better-to-stay-22508412
»www.calacademy.org/
»www.exploratorium.edu/]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/Re-San-Francisco-Where-is-it-better-to-stay-22508412 Sat, 06 Jun 2009 19:26:27 EDT http://www.dslreports.com/forum/Re-San-Fran-Where-is-it-better-to-stay-22502653 http://www.dslreports.com/forum/Re-San-Fran-Where-is-it-better-to-stay-22502653 Fri, 05 Jun 2009 15:29:49 EDT http://www.dslreports.com/forum/Re-San-Fran-Where-is-it-better-to-stay-22502639 said by Goober:

Thanks. Another question. Is seven days too long to spend there?
One Day is too long.]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/Re-San-Fran-Where-is-it-better-to-stay-22502639 Fri, 05 Jun 2009 15:26:02 EDT http://www.dslreports.com/forum/Re-San-Francisco-Where-is-it-better-to-stay-22502239 http://www.dslreports.com/forum/Re-San-Francisco-Where-is-it-better-to-stay-22502239 Fri, 05 Jun 2009 14:35:48 EDT http://www.dslreports.com/forum/Re-San-Francisco-Where-is-it-better-to-stay-22502215
Do yourself a favor and don't stay at Fisherman's Wharf. It's a pretty good hike to get to the Embarcadero BART station and traffic sucks on Embarcadero Street.

I'd check the Yelp reviews for those hotels and see what suits your family best.
--
I am the Flying Photog, see my website accordingly named Flyingphotog.com. User known formerly as zakooldude.]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/Re-San-Francisco-Where-is-it-better-to-stay-22502215 Fri, 05 Jun 2009 14:30:28 EDT http://www.dslreports.com/forum/Re-San-Francisco-Where-is-it-better-to-stay-22502158
I've narrowed down my hotel choices to the following, but could use some help deciding:

Ritz Carlton
Parc Fifty-Five
Prescott
Intercontinental
Westin St. Francis
Grand Hyatt

and maybe

White Swan (no A/C)
Argonaut (Fisherman's Wharf)

Any opinions?]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/Re-San-Francisco-Where-is-it-better-to-stay-22502158 Fri, 05 Jun 2009 14:21:20 EDT http://www.dslreports.com/forum/Re-San-Fran-Where-is-it-better-to-stay-22500194
But, I'd rather live in Naperville than San Francisco. That's why I'm only visiting that place and not moving there.]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/Re-San-Fran-Where-is-it-better-to-stay-22500194 Fri, 05 Jun 2009 08:48:05 EDT http://www.dslreports.com/forum/Re-San-Fran-Where-is-it-better-to-stay-22499598 said by DavisPhotog:

Agreed. Nor do we ever call California "Cali." That drives me NUTS!
"Cali" is a city in Columbia.

There are some drug cartels there.

'Nuff said???

;)
--
Hopefully the Ministry Of Truth and Thought Police can sort this whole thing out.
»www.otadigitaltv.com
Frank Shoemaker would call this noise
GO Cubs GO!!!]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/Re-San-Fran-Where-is-it-better-to-stay-22499598 Fri, 05 Jun 2009 02:25:02 EDT http://www.dslreports.com/forum/Re-San-Fran-Where-is-it-better-to-stay-22499591 http://www.dslreports.com/forum/Re-San-Fran-Where-is-it-better-to-stay-22499591 Fri, 05 Jun 2009 02:23:14 EDT http://www.dslreports.com/forum/Re-San-Fran-Where-is-it-better-to-stay-22499536
It's San Francisco, "The City" or "Baghdad by the bay", it is NOT 'Frisco or San Fran!!!

Damn FIB!

;)

maybe you should stay in Naperthrill *yawn*???
--
Hopefully the Ministry Of Truth and Thought Police can sort this whole thing out.
»www.otadigitaltv.com
Frank Shoemaker would call this noise
GO Cubs GO!!!]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/Re-San-Fran-Where-is-it-better-to-stay-22499536 Fri, 05 Jun 2009 02:00:52 EDT http://www.dslreports.com/forum/Re-San-Fran-Where-is-it-better-to-stay-22499189
I still have to figure out where we're going to stay.]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/Re-San-Fran-Where-is-it-better-to-stay-22499189 Fri, 05 Jun 2009 00:08:55 EDT http://www.dslreports.com/forum/Re-San-Fran-Where-is-it-better-to-stay-22498560
Do you have an iPhone by any chance? I've gotten by in the city a number of times recently on MUNI using the "public transit" feature on the Maps application.
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I am the Flying Photog, see my website accordingly named Flyingphotog.com. User known formerly as zakooldude.]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/Re-San-Fran-Where-is-it-better-to-stay-22498560 Thu, 04 Jun 2009 21:55:41 EDT http://www.dslreports.com/forum/Re-San-Fran-Where-is-it-better-to-stay-22498487 http://www.dslreports.com/forum/Re-San-Fran-Where-is-it-better-to-stay-22498487 Thu, 04 Jun 2009 21:42:07 EDT http://www.dslreports.com/forum/Re-San-Fran-Where-is-it-better-to-stay-22497419 http://www.dslreports.com/forum/Re-San-Fran-Where-is-it-better-to-stay-22497419 Thu, 04 Jun 2009 17:58:52 EDT http://www.dslreports.com/forum/Re-San-Fran-Where-is-it-better-to-stay-22494448 http://www.dslreports.com/forum/Re-San-Fran-Where-is-it-better-to-stay-22494448 Thu, 04 Jun 2009 08:45:14 EDT http://www.dslreports.com/forum/Re-San-Fran-Where-is-it-better-to-stay-22494028 said by RR Conductor:

you don't have to fight the traffic and horrible Bay Area drivers ;)
HEY!

I RESEMBLE that remark!

But, I was also a Chicago-Area cab driver so...

;)
--
Hopefully the Ministry Of Truth and Thought Police can sort this whole thing out.
»www.otadigitaltv.com
Frank Shoemaker would call this noise
GO Cubs GO!!!]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/Re-San-Fran-Where-is-it-better-to-stay-22494028 Thu, 04 Jun 2009 03:43:22 EDT http://www.dslreports.com/forum/Re-San-Fran-Where-is-it-better-to-stay-22493839 said by Goober:

Thanks. Another question. Is seven days too long to spend there?
Nope I think it's more than enough. Wife and I took public as well as the trolley to get to the usual sites. ]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/Re-San-Fran-Where-is-it-better-to-stay-22493839 Thu, 04 Jun 2009 01:40:39 EDT http://www.dslreports.com/forum/Re-San-Fran-Where-is-it-better-to-stay-22493754
If we have the time, we'll certainly do some of the other things mentioned here. We'll have to spend a day with my cousin, so in reality we'll have 5 full days open. It doesn't seem like that much really.

Sticker shock is okay. So far this is only about 60% of the cost (air and hotel) we were expecting to incur for summer vacation since we were originally going to go to Hawaii. We got too worried, though, about the long flight and how our 7 year old would do. So, we've pushed HI off for a year or so. We figured we still wanted to come out this way though.]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/Re-San-Fran-Where-is-it-better-to-stay-22493754 Thu, 04 Jun 2009 01:16:53 EDT