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San Francisco FOR DUMmIES‰ s 4TH EDITION
by Paula Tevis 02_068625 ftoc.qxp 11/20/06 11:23 PM Page viii 01_068625 ffirs.qxp 11/20/06 11:25 PM Page i
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San Francisco FOR DUMmIES‰ s 4TH EDITION
by Paula Tevis 01_068625 ffirs.qxp 11/20/06 11:25 PM Page iv
San Francisco For Dummies®, 4th Edition Published by Wiley Publishing, Inc. 111 River St. Hoboken, NJ 07030-5774 www.wiley.com Copyright © 2007 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Indianapolis, Indiana Published simultaneously in Canada No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, scanning, or otherwise, except as permit- ted under Sections 107 or 108 of the 1976 United States Copyright Act, without either the prior written permission of the Publisher, or authorization through payment of the appropriate per-copy fee to the Copyright Clearance Center, 222 Rosewood Drive, Danvers, MA 01923, 978-750-8400, fax 978-646-8600. Requests to the Publisher for permission should be addressed to the Legal Department, Wiley Publishing, Inc., 10475 Crosspoint Blvd., Indianapolis, IN 46256, 317-572-3447, fax 317-572-4355, or online at http:// www.wiley.com/go/permissions. Trademarks: Wiley, the Wiley Publishing logo, For Dummies, the Dummies Man logo, A Reference for the Rest of Us!, The Dummies Way, Dummies Daily, The Fun and Easy Way, Dummies.com and related trade dress are trademarks or registered trademarks of John Wiley & Sons, Inc., and/or its affiliates in the United States and other countries, and may not be used without written permission. Frommer’s is a trade- mark or registered trademark of Arthur Frommer. Used under license. All other trademarks are the prop- erty of their respective owners. Wiley Publishing, Inc., is not associated with any product or vendor mentioned in this book.
LIMIT OF LIABILITY/DISCLAIMER OF WARRANTY: THE PUBLISHER AND THE AUTHOR MAKE NO REP- RESENTATIONS OR WARRANTIES WITH RESPECT TO THE ACCURACY OR COMPLETENESS OF THE CONTENTS OF THIS WORK AND SPECIFICALLY DISCLAIM ALL WARRANTIES, INCLUDING WITHOUT LIMITATION WARRANTIES OF FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. NO WARRANTY MAY BE CRE- ATED OR EXTENDED BY SALES OR PROMOTIONAL MATERIALS. THE ADVICE AND STRATEGIES CON- TAINED HEREIN MAY NOT BE SUITABLE FOR EVERY SITUATION. THIS WORK IS SOLD WITH THE UNDERSTANDING THAT THE PUBLISHER IS NOT ENGAGED IN RENDERING LEGAL, ACCOUNTING, OR OTHER PROFESSIONAL SERVICES. IF PROFESSIONAL ASSISTANCE IS REQUIRED, THE SERVICES OF A COMPETENT PROFESSIONAL PERSON SHOULD BE SOUGHT. NEITHER THE PUBLISHER NOR THE AUTHOR SHALL BE LIABLE FOR DAMAGES ARISING HEREFROM. THE FACT THAT AN ORGANIZATION OR WEBSITE IS REFERRED TO IN THIS WORK AS A CITATION AND/OR A POTENTIAL SOURCE OF FUR- THER INFORMATION DOES NOT MEAN THAT THE AUTHOR OR THE PUBLISHER ENDORSES THE INFORMATION THE ORGANIZATION OR WEB SITE MAY PROVIDE OR RECOMMENDATIONS IT MAY MAKE. FURTHER, READERS SHOULD BE AWARE THAT INTERNET WEB SITES LISTED IN THIS WORK MAY HAVE CHANGED OR DISAPPEARED BETWEEN WHEN THIS WORK WAS WRITTEN AND WHEN IT IS READ. PLEASE BE ADVISED THAT TRAVEL INFORMATION IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE AT ANY TIME AND THIS IS ESPECIALLY TRUE OF PRICES. WE THEREFORE SUGGEST THAT READERS WRITE OR CALL AHEAD FOR CONFIRMATION WHEN MAKING TRAVEL PLANS. THE AUTHOR AND THE PUBLISHER CANNOT BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR THE EXPERIENCES OF READERS WHILE TRAVELING.
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About the Author
A California native, Paula Tevis made many treks to San Francisco as a young girl before moving to her favorite city in 1983. After an eclectic but blessedly brief career that included stints in the com- puter and nonprofit sectors, she and her husband produced a couple of children in quick succession, and Paula happily relin- quished the 9-to-5 world for the 24/7 one that parenting brings. Upon regaining consciousness, Paula recalled a childhood ambi- tion and declared herself a writer. From her humble beginnings word-processing cookbook manuscripts for a local publisher, Paula metamorphosed into a freelance copy editor and soon received her first break as a professional writer with Parenting magazine, crafting a column on kids who cook. Over the years, she has contributed articles and essays to Family Fun magazine, the San Francisco Chronicle, Citysearch.com, Frommer’s Las Vegas, Frommer’s New Orleans, and Variety. She is the co-author of California For Dummies and author of the original Frommer’s San Francisco with Kids.
Author’s Acknowledgments
Thanks to my editor, Jennifer Anmuth, and to my dear cousins Irene Levin Dietz and Ina Levin Gyemant, who have added so much to my life in San Francisco for over 30 years. Eating in the city wouldn’t be the same without Bev Chin or the guidance of Patricia Unterman; revisiting my favorite neighborhoods is an even greater pleasure with my cadre of friends, including Marjie Graham, Vicki Pate, Cynde Ahart Wood, Helene and Charles Wright, Andrea and Jeff Tobias, and Sarah Wilcox. Thanks also to Donna Joyner for her Wine Country insights. Living, no matter where, is pretty terrific and lots of fun with my husband, Mark Katz, and our very wonderful daughters, Madeleine and Lili. 01_068625 ffirs.qxp 11/20/06 11:25 PM Page vi
Publisher’s Acknowledgments We’re proud of this book; please send us your comments through our Dummies online registration form located at www.dummies.com/register/. Some of the people who helped bring this book to market include the following:
Editorial Composition Services Editors: Jennifer Anmuth & Project Coordinator: Tim Ryan, Development Editors; Patrick Redmond Heather Wilcox, Production Editor Layout and Graphics: Copy Editor: Jennifer Connolly Stephanie D. Jumper, Cartographer: Andrew Murphy Barbara Moore, Julie Trippetti Senior Photo Editor: Richard Fox Proofreaders: David Faust, Jessica Kramer, Techbooks Cover Photos: Front: © J.A. Kraulis/Masterfile Indexer: Techbooks Back: © James Lemass/Index Stock Imagery Cartoons: Rich Tennant, www.the5thwave.com
Publishing and Editorial for Consumer Dummies Diane Graves Steele, Vice President and Publisher, Consumer Dummies Joyce Pepple, Acquisitions Director, Consumer Dummies Kristin A. Cocks, Product Development Director, Consumer Dummies Michael Spring, Vice President and Publisher, Travel Kelly Regan, Editorial Director, Travel Publishing for Technology Dummies Andy Cummings, Vice President and Publisher, Dummies Technology/ General User Composition Services Gerry Fahey, Vice President of Production Services Debbie Stailey, Director of Composition Services 02_068625 ftoc.qxp 11/20/06 11:23 PM Page vii
Contents at a Glance
Introduction...... 1 Part I: Introducing San Francisco ...... 7 Chapter 1: Discovering the Best of San Francisco ...... 9 Chapter 2: Digging Deeper into San Francisco ...... 15 Chapter 3: Deciding When to Go ...... 22 Part II: Planning Your Trip to San Francisco...... 29 Chapter 4: Managing Your Money ...... 31 Chapter 5: Getting to San Francisco ...... 38 Chapter 6: Catering to Special Travel Needs or Interests ...... 44 Chapter 7: Taking Care of the Remaining Details ...... 51 Part III: Settling Into San Francisco...... 61 Chapter 8: Arriving and Getting Oriented ...... 63 Chapter 9: Checking In at San Francisco’s Best Hotels ...... 83 Chapter 10: Dining and Snacking in San Francisco ...... 118 Part IV: Exploring San Francisco...... 159 Chapter 11: Discovering San Francisco’s Best Attractions...... 161 Chapter 12: Shopping the Local Stores ...... 201 Chapter 13: Following an Itinerary: Four Great Options to Make Your Day...... 215 Chapter 14: Going Above and Beyond San Francisco: Three Day Trips ...... 220 Part V: Living It Up after Dark: San Francisco Nightlife...... 251 Chapter 15: Applauding the Cultural Scene ...... 253 Chapter 16: Hitting the Clubs and Bars ...... 263 Part VI: The Part of Tens...... 275 Chapter 17: The Top Ten San Francisco Views...... 277 Chapter 18: Ten Things to Do If It’s Raining (or Just Too Foggy) ...... 281 Chapter 19: Ten Ways to Avoid Looking Like a Tourist ...... 285 Chapter 20: The Top Ten Gifts for Cheapskates...... 288 Appendix: Quick Concierge...... 291 Index...... 297 02_068625 ftoc.qxp 11/20/06 11:23 PM Page viii 02_068625 ftoc.qxp 11/20/06 11:23 PM Page ix
Maps at a Glance
The Bay Area ...... 10 San Francisco Neighborhoods ...... 66 Cable Car Routes ...... 80 San Francisco Hotels ...... 84 Hotels near Union Square, SoMa, and Nob Hill...... 98 San Francisco Dining ...... 120 Dining near North Beach and Chinatown ...... 123 Dining near Union Square, SoMa, and Nob Hill...... 124 The Mission District...... 127 San Francisco’s Top Sights ...... 164 Chinatown ...... 168 Fisherman’s Wharf and Vicinity ...... 171 Golden Gate Park ...... 175 Yerba Buena Gardens...... 179 The Zoo and Lake Merced Area ...... 182 Golden Gate National Recreation Area ...... 188 San Francisco Shopping...... 202 Berkeley ...... 221 Point Reyes National Seashore ...... 225 The Wine Country ...... 228 Napa Valley ...... 233 Sonoma Valley...... 237 San Francisco Performing Arts ...... 256 The Civic Center ...... 261 San Francisco Clubs and Bars...... 264 02_068625 ftoc.qxp 11/20/06 11:23 PM Page x 02_068625 ftoc.qxp 11/20/06 11:23 PM Page xi
Table of Contents
Introduction ...... 1 About This Book...... 1 Conventions Used in This Book ...... 2 Foolish Assumptions ...... 3 How This Book Is Organized...... 4 Part I: Introducing San Francisco...... 4 Part II: Planning Your Trip to San Francisco ...... 4 Part III: Settling Into San Francisco...... 4 Part IV: Exploring San Francisco...... 4 Part V: Living It Up after Dark: San Francisco Nightlife...... 5 Part VI: The Part of Tens...... 5 Icons Used in This Book...... 5 Where to Go from Here...... 6 Part I: Introducing San Francisco...... 7 Chapter 1: Discovering the Best of San Francisco...... 9 Best San Francisco Travel Experiences ...... 11 The Best Hotels ...... 12 The Best Restaurants ...... 13 The Best Shopping...... 13 The Best Bars and Clubs ...... 14 Chapter 2: Digging Deeper into San Francisco...... 15 History 101: The Main Events...... 15 Taste of San Francisco: Local Cuisine ...... 19 Background Check: Recommended Books and Movies ...19 Chapter 3: Deciding When to Go ...... 22 Revealing the Secret of the Seasons ...... 22 Winter...... 24 Spring ...... 24 Summer ...... 24 Fall ...... 25 Marking Your Calendar...... 25 January/February ...... 25 March ...... 26 April...... 26 May ...... 26 02_068625 ftoc.qxp 11/20/06 11:23 PM Page xii
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June...... 27 July...... 27 August ...... 27 September...... 27 October ...... 28 November ...... 28 December...... 28 Part II: Planning Your Trip to San Francisco ...... 29 Chapter 4: Managing Your Money...... 31 Planning Your Budget...... 31 Transportation ...... 31 Lodging...... 32 Dining ...... 33 Sightseeing...... 33 Shopping ...... 33 Nightlife...... 33 Taxing your wallet ...... 33 Cutting Costs — but Not the Fun ...... 33 Handling Money ...... 35 Using ATMs and carrying cash...... 36 Charging ahead with credit cards...... 36 Toting traveler’s checks...... 36 Dealing with a Lost or Stolen Wallet...... 37 Chapter 5: Getting to San Francisco ...... 38 Flying to San Francisco...... 38 Finding out which airlines fly to San Francisco ...... 39 Getting the best deal on your airfare ...... 39 Booking your flight online ...... 40 Driving to San Francisco ...... 41 Arriving by Other Means...... 41 Joining an Escorted Tour ...... 41 Choosing a Package Tour...... 43 Chapter 6: Catering to Special Travel Needs or Interests ...... 44 Focusing on the Family...... 44 Looking at the trip from a kid’s point of view ...... 44 Finding kid-friendly sleeps, eats, and entertainment...... 45 Locating a baby sitter...... 45 Seeing San Francisco as a Senior ...... 46 02_068625 ftoc.qxp 11/20/06 11:23 PM Page xiii
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Accessing San Francisco: Advice for Travelers with Disabilities...... 47 Touring on wheels ...... 48 Staying accessible...... 48 Getting to the sights ...... 49 Traveling Tips for Gay and Lesbian Visitors ...... 49 Chapter 7: Taking Care of the Remaining Details...... 51 Renting a Car (Or Six Reasons Why You Shouldn’t!)...... 51 Day-tripping: The one reason you should rent a car...... 52 If you must rent: Getting the best rate...... 52 Comparing rates on the Web...... 52 Taking care of insurance, gas, and other charges...... 53 Playing It Safe with Travel and Medical Insurance ...... 53 Trip-cancellation insurance...... 53 Medical insurance...... 54 Lost-luggage insurance ...... 54 Staying Healthy When You Travel...... 54 Staying Connected by Cellphone or E-Mail...... 55 Using a cellphone across the United States ...... 55 Accessing the Internet away from home ...... 56 Keeping Up with Airline Security Measures ...... 57 Part III: Settling Into San Francisco...... 61 Chapter 8: Arriving and Getting Oriented...... 63 The Ins, but Especially the Outs, of Bay Area Airports....63 Arriving by Train or Car ...... 65 By train...... 65 By automobile ...... 65 Figuring Out the Neighborhoods ...... 65 Union Square ...... 68 Nob Hill ...... 69 SoMa ...... 69 The Embarcadero ...... 70 North Beach/Fisherman’s Wharf ...... 71 The Marina/Cow Hollow ...... 72 Other ’hoods to discover...... 73 Finding Information After You Arrive ...... 76 Getting Around San Francisco...... 76 Heading Out on Foot...... 77 Traveling by Streetcar ...... 77 02_068625 ftoc.qxp 11/20/06 11:23 PM Page xiv
xiv San Francisco For Dummies, 4th Edition
Trekking by Bus...... 78 Befriending BART...... 79 Getting Around by Cable Car...... 79 Catching a Taxi ...... 79 Motoring Around on Your Own...... 80 Dealing with rush hour ...... 80 Driving by the rules ...... 81 Being cautious with red lights...... 81 Parking the car ...... 81 Improving your parking karma ...... 82 Chapter 9: Checking In at San Francisco’s Best Hotels ...... 83 Getting to Know Your Options ...... 86 Choosing between chain hotels and independent hotels...... 86 Do I really get breakfast in bed? Unpacking in a B&B...... 87 Family ties: Choosing a kid-friendly hotel ...... 87 Finding the Best Room at the Best Rate...... 88 Getting the Best Room at the Best Rate...... 89 Finding the best rate ...... 90 Surfing the Web for hotel deals...... 91 Reserving the best room...... 93 Arriving without Reservations ...... 94 Getting the Most for Your Money...... 95 San Francisco’s Best Hotels...... 96 Index of Accommodations by Neighborhood...... 115 Index of Accommodations by Price...... 116 Chapter 10: Dining and Snacking in San Francisco...... 118 Getting the Dish on the Local Scene...... 118 Finding the trendiest tables...... 119 Cooking up San Francisco cuisine ...... 119 Making reservations ...... 122 Exploring the dining zones ...... 122 Discovering off-the-beaten-track restaurants...... 126 Sampling San Francisco’s ethnic eats ...... 126 Trimming the Fat from Your Budget...... 128 San Francisco’s Best Restaurants ...... 130 Dining and Snacking on the Go...... 146 Have food, will travel...... 147 The Ferry wonderful Building ...... 147 Down on the farm — farmers’ market, that is...... 148 Snacking at the wharf...... 148 02_068625 ftoc.qxp 11/20/06 11:23 PM Page xv
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Flour power ...... 149 Chinese bakeries...... 149 Coffee and tea, if you please...... 150 Breakfast of champions...... 151 Pizza and other cheap eats...... 152 The real dill...... 153 Index of Establishments by Neighborhood ...... 153 Index of Establishments by Cuisine...... 155 Index of Establishments by Price...... 157 Part IV: Exploring San Francisco...... 159 Chapter 11: Discovering San Francisco’s Best Attractions...... 161 San Francisco’s Top Attractions ...... 162 Finding More Cool Things to See and Do...... 180 Especially for kids...... 181 Especially for teens ...... 183 Especially for history buffs...... 184 Especially for art lovers...... 185 Especially for architecture lovers...... 186 Especially for bicyclists ...... 187 Especially for hikers ...... 187 Especially for sports fans ...... 191 Seeking Some Spiritual Pursuits...... 192 Going for Garden and Park Respites...... 193 Seeing San Francisco by Guided Tour ...... 194 The bus stops here: Touring on wheels...... 194 Doing it yourself (and saving money) on Muni.....196 Two if by sea: Touring by boat...... 197 Taking a walk on the wild side: Walking tours ...... 198 Eating your way through San Francisco ...... 199 Seeking out special-interest tours ...... 199 Chapter 12: Shopping the Local Stores ...... 201 Surveying the Scene ...... 201 Checking Out the Big Names ...... 204 Going to Market...... 205 Discovering the Best Shopping Neighborhoods ...... 206 Union Square ...... 206 Chinatown...... 207 Haight Street...... 208 North Beach...... 208 Union and Chestnut streets...... 209 Pacific Heights...... 210 Polk Street...... 210 02_068625 ftoc.qxp 11/20/06 11:23 PM Page xvi
xvi San Francisco For Dummies, 4th Edition
Sacramento Street...... 210 Hayes Street...... 211 Valencia Street...... 211 Hunting for bargains in SoMa and beyond ...... 212 Index of Stores by Merchandise...... 212 Chapter 13: Following an Itinerary: Four Great Options to Make Your Day...... 215 San Francisco in Three Days ...... 215 San Francisco in Five Days...... 217 San Francisco for Families with Kids...... 218 San Francisco for Foodies...... 218 Chapter 14: Going Above and Beyond San Francisco: Three Day Trips...... 220 Day Trip #1: Berkeley ...... 220 Getting there...... 220 Seeing the sights ...... 222 Shopping delights ...... 223 Dining locally...... 223 Day Trip #2: Point Reyes and Inverness...... 224 Deciding when to visit...... 224 Getting to the Point ...... 224 Seeing the sights ...... 226 Dining locally...... 226 Spending the night...... 227 Day Trip #3: The Wine Country...... 227 Planning a visit to the Wine Country...... 227 Getting to the Wine Country ...... 228 Taking an escorted Wine Country tour...... 229 Mapping out your winery journey...... 231 Touring the wineries on your own...... 231 Taking advantage of other fun stuff in the valleys...... 239 Spending the night...... 241 Dining in the valleys ...... 245 Part V: Living It Up after Dark: San Francisco Nightlife ...... 251 Chapter 15: Applauding the Cultural Scene ...... 253 Getting the Inside Scoop ...... 253 Finding Out What’s Playing and Getting Tickets...... 254 Raising the Curtain on the Performing Arts ...... 255 02_068625 ftoc.qxp 11/20/06 11:23 PM Page xvii
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Symphony and Opera ...... 260 Dance ...... 261 Chapter 16: Hitting the Clubs and Bars...... 263 Livin’ It Up with Live Music ...... 263 Finding some cool jazz...... 263 Feelin’ blue: Blues bars ...... 266 Catching the big-name acts ...... 266 Shakin’ Your Groove Thang: Dance Clubs...... 267 Drinking in the Atmosphere: The Best Places to Have a Drink and Mingle...... 268 Joining the singles scene ...... 268 Mixing with the sophisticates ...... 269 Heading to the local for a pint...... 270 Bringing the kids along ...... 270 Laughing It Up: Comedy Clubs ...... 271 Defying Categorization: Unique Bars...... 271 Stepping Out: The Gay and Lesbian Scene ...... 272 Part VI: The Part of Tens ...... 275 Chapter 17: The Top Ten San Francisco Views ...... 277 From Twin Peaks ...... 277 From Bernal Heights Park ...... 278 From Lincoln Park...... 278 From the Beach Chalet Restaurant...... 278 Above Dolores Park ...... 279 From the Top of the Mark ...... 279 From the Cheesecake Factory ...... 279 From Fisherman’s Wharf ...... 279 From Fort Point ...... 280 From UC Berkeley Botanical Gardens ...... 280 Chapter 18: Ten Things to Do If It’s Raining (or Just Too Foggy)...... 281 Taking Afternoon Tea...... 281 Checking Out Japantown ...... 281 Luxuriating at Kabuki Springs ...... 282 Rock Climbing (Or Working Out) at the Touchstone Mission Cliffs Gym...... 282 Watching the Weather from the Cliff House...... 282 Finding Activities for Everyone at the Metreon and Yerba Buena Gardens ...... 283 Defying the Weather at the California Academy of Sciences ...... 283 02_068625 ftoc.qxp 11/20/06 11:23 PM Page xviii
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Sightseeing and Staying Dry on the F-Market Streetcar ...... 283 Babying Yourself at Nordstrom...... 284 Doing Business on a Rainy Day ...... 284 Chapter 19: Ten Ways to Avoid Looking Like a Tourist...... 285 Dress for the Weather...... 285 Don’t Trust Your Map...... 286 Don’t Gawk at Tall Buildings...... 286 Don’t Eat or Shop Like a Tourist ...... 286 Wait ’til You Get Back to the Airport to Buy That Delicious San Francisco Sourdough ...... 286 Cross the Bridge before or after — but Not during — Rush Hour...... 286 Don’t Stare at the Locals ...... 287 Don’t Shout at People You Suspect Don’t Speak English ...... 287 Do the Farmers’ Market Thing...... 287 Remove Any Incriminating Evidence...... 287 Chapter 20: The Top Ten Gifts for Cheapskates...... 288 Playing Bridge...... 288 Riding High...... 288 Smelling Salts...... 289 Bringing Good Fortune ...... 289 Lighting the Way...... 289 Writing Clearly...... 289 Spilling the Beans...... 289 Ringing Your Bell...... 290 Nibbling Bliss...... 290 Spreading the Love ...... 290 Appendix: Quick Concierge ...... 291 Fast Facts ...... 291 Toll-Free Numbers and Web Sites ...... 294 Where to Get More Information ...... 295 Index ...... 297 03_068625 intro.qxp 11/20/06 11:24 PM Page 1
Introduction
any years ago, long before mandatory seatbelt laws, my mother Mwould occasionally squeeze my sister Patience and me into her little red sports car and literally zoom up Highway 101 for a weekend in San Francisco. We lived 350 miles south, in Santa Barbara, but due to my mom’s lead foot, we’d be cruising along the bay in no time, past a hill filled with rows of boxy pastel-colored houses, then onto the boulevard that led to our cousin Mildred’s beautiful home. My desire to live in a big city (and drive really fast) no doubt developed during these trips, and many subsequent ones in my teens, but my ties to San Francisco actu- ally extend back farther. My grandmother, Sarah, and her sister, Lottie, grew up here. At 18 and 20 years of age, they camped in Golden Gate Park after the 1906 earthquake, and in later years they lived in a series of houses in the Richmond District.
When I had the chance to move to San Francisco in 1982, I didn’t think twice. My future husband and I first lived near Haight Street, then moved to a neighborhood near the Mission District and Bernal Heights. Eventually, I found myself working at one time or another around the Richmond District, Civic Center, Potrero Hill, and South of Market. I loved getting acquainted with different areas of the city, and in hindsight I realize my early, admittedly dilettantish, professional life helped pre- pare me for the greatest (and perhaps longest) job I’ve ever held — writing about San Francisco.
The San Francisco of my grandmother’s day was elegant enough to attract the most famous people of its time yet still wild enough to garner an exciting reputation. The multicultural, expansive, and liberal city of today continues in that tradition, and even improves upon it. After more than 25 years of familiarity, I still continue to marvel at everything San Francisco has to offer, and I bet that after a day or two spent here, you’ll do the same.
About This Book San Francisco For Dummies, 4th Edition, is foremost a reference guide for people who intend to vacation in San Francisco and need basic, clear-cut information on how to plan and execute the best possible trip. If you like, you can begin reading from Chapter 1 and head straight through to the appendix. But if you turn directly to the restaurant chapter or to the pages on Wine Country because that’s the piece that interests you at the moment, the book works just as well. I haven’t included absolutely everything San Francisco has to offer in the way of attractions, hotels, restaurants, or diversions — a book that size would be too heavy to 03_068625 intro.qxp 11/20/06 11:24 PM Page 2
2 San Francisco For Dummies, 4th Edition
Dummies Post-it® Flags As you’re reading this book, you’ll find information that you’ll want to reference as you plan or enjoy your trip — whether it be a new hotel, a must-see attraction, or a must- try walking tour. Mark these pages with the handy Post-it® Flags included in this book to help make your trip planning easier!
pack and probably too bothersome to read. What I’ve done is picked and chosen what I believe to be worth your time and your money while still offering enough variety to please a range of tastes, budgets, and family configurations.
Let me underscore that travel information is subject to change at any time — and in San Francisco this is especially true of restaurants as well as prices. Therefore, I suggest that you write or call ahead for confirma- tion when making your travel plans. The authors, editors, and publisher cannot be held responsible for the experiences of readers while travel- ing. Your safety is important to us, however, so we encourage you to stay alert and be aware of your surroundings. Keep a close eye on cam- eras, purses, and wallets, all favorite targets of thieves and pickpockets.
Conventions Used in This Book So, San Francisco, here you come! You’ve picked a stunner of a destina- tion, with a wide variety of wonderful sites to see, fabulous foods to sample, and interesting places to visit. But don’t be overwhelmed. You’ve made a smart decision in buying San Francisco For Dummies, 4th Edition. This book walks you through all the nitty-gritty details to make sure that planning your trip goes smoothly and that the trip itself is memorable.
In this book, I include lists of hotels, restaurants, and attractions. As I describe each, I often include abbreviations for commonly accepted credit cards. Take a look at the following list for an explanation of each:
AE: American Express CB: Carte Blanche DC: Diners Club DISC: Discover JCB: Japan Credit Bank MC: MasterCard V: Visa 03_068625 intro.qxp 11/20/06 11:24 PM Page 3
Introduction 3
I’ve divided the hotels into two categories — my personal favorites and those that don’t quite make my preferred list but still get my hearty seal of approval. Don’t hesitate to consider these “runner-up” hotels if you’re unable to get a room at one of my favorites or if your preferences differ from mine — the amenities that the runners-up offer and the services that each provides make all these accommodations good choices to con- sider as you determine where to rest your head at night.
I also include some general pricing information to help you as you decide where to unpack your bags or dine on the local cuisine. I use a system of dollar signs to show a range of costs for one night in a hotel or a meal at a restaurant (including appetizer, main course, dessert, one drink, tax, and tip). Check out the following table to decipher the dollar signs:
Cost SF and Wine SF and Wine Country Country Hotels Restaurants $ $125 or less $25 or less $$ $126–$175 $26–$50 $$$ $176–$300 $51–$80 $$$$ $301 or more $81 or more
Foolish Assumptions As I wrote this book, I made some assumptions about you and what your needs may be as a traveler: