Trip was fantastic TarfHead, thanks. San Francisco is a wonderful city with so much to see and do. Though if you think Dublin has a homelessness problem it is dwarfed by the situation in San Fran. I've been there before but I think it is worse now. From the areas I saw, it was very noticeable down Market Street and around Union Square. It was appalling around the Civic Centre and in the Tenderloin district (which you are best off steering clear of anyway). I didn't encounter much by way of aggression and I saw very little that made me feel unsafe or threatened but it is not pleasant or comfortable to witness such appalling destitution and mental health issues playing out in public. It is cheek by jowl with the hotels down town so I would suggest booking a place to stay out of the city. Try finding somewhere along one of the
MUNI lines so you have good access to the city. There are also the cable cars, the street trams, an extensive bus network and the BART available (though that can be a bit rough across on the East Bay). The local travel card is the Clipper card, an adult card is $3 for the card itself and you top up like the Leap card. The cable cars are much more expensive than the other options (though definitely a must do!). If you are there before April 1st head over the Golden Gate Bridge to Sausalito,
there is a tall ship under construction there and it is free to wander in and have a look (though they are happy to receive donations!). The very friendly volunteers that are building it are happy to give you a personal tour and it is fascinating to watch the work in progress. Another freebie is the
Cable Car Museum, you can wander in and watch the cables being driven around the city and find out about the history and workings of the cars. There are three cable car lines and they are not quite the same (a different style of car runs on the California line). The Powell Hyde and Powell Mason lines are usually busier but it is fun to do both - especially downhill! A trip on the cable cars is of course a must (though it is quite a pricey one!) but do the F-Market street car too. Visit the
Boudin Bakery down on Pier 39 to see the iconic SF bread being made. It is delicious and you have to try a chowder in a bread bowl for a real SF experience. Pier 39 is a bit touristy and can be very packed in summer but it is still worth visiting and the ferry to
Alcatraz leaves from nearby - remember to book that one well in advance as it books out. Stop by the
Ferry Building and wander the fantastic food market they have there - you'll find no shortage of places to eat in San Francisco. Chinatown is a must visit for the sights, sounds and smells of the largest Chinatown outside of Asia and stop off at
Old St Mary's - one of the few buildings left standing after the 1906 earthquake. Also visit North Beach, especially for the Italian restaurants. Of course there is also the Presido, Golden Gate Park, Golden Gate Bridge, Angel Island, Coit Tower (erected in tribute to the fire fighters), Lombard Street, Nob Hill, MOMA, Twin Peaks, the Castro, Haight-Ashbury... and so many others without even leaving the city!
Oh and the pre-order meal on the return flight was certainly pleasant and I think worth it
