OT- Yet another San Francisco visit thread...re hotels

[Milacron]

If you had 6 days to visit San Francisco (in a few weeks from now), and you got a pretty good deal on a flight plus 3 or 4 star hotel plus rental car, via Travelosity (or whoever), but you wanted to spend probably 3 of those days traveling around the area North of the GGBridge...like Muir Woods..maybe as far north as San Rafael..... would you...

A. Drive back into SF each night to sleep...or

B. Would you book 3 nights in SF (at not such screamin deal price) and take yer chances on lodging north of GGBridge ?

My inclination would be plan B but I have no idea what is available in lodging (and lodging prices) north of GGB.

Also, is GGB toll $6 each way or $6 one direction only ?

[Tom L.]

No bridge toll Northbound. I've stayed Stinson Beach and Bolinas (both in Marin Co.) but it was always "off-season" and it's probably very different trying to book a place to stay in the Summer.

[67Cuda]

Not sure on lodging north of SF, but if your only going to Muir woods, Point Reyes etc. you can easily do it from SF in day trips. I'm sure others will be more helpful on the lodging. San Rafael? You can spit on San Rafael from SF, it's just a little north on 101 pass the Golden Gate, which is only tolled going south into SF. What's so special about San Rafael?

To bad you you couldn't of come out earlier, the gay pride parade just happened. I'm sure you would of like that.

Tom

[Milacron]

To bad you you couldn't of come out earlier, the gay pride parade just happened. I'm sure you would of like that.

When my son was a toddler, SWMBO and I were touring a famous old hotel somewhere in FL (Flagler in St Augustine or Plant in Tampa ?) and it turned out all the guests were there for a Gay Pride event of some sort. SWMBO was mortified but I thought it was hilareous.

Heck, I even liked the movie, Priscilla, Queen of the Desert

[PatrickD]

Right, San Rafael, Stinson Beach, and almost all of Marin are an easy trip from SF. Even the wine country, Napa etc is a fairly easy day trip, but you might like to stay up there too. The Bed and Breakfasts up there are supposed to be pleasant, but I've never tried any. You can probably find a lot of them with google.

To bad you you couldn't of come out earlier, the gay pride parade just happened. I'm sure you would of like that.

Tom

Bummer to miss the parade, but you can always hang out in the bars in the Castro.

[AlfaGTA]

Me i would go for Plan "B".
If you want to put a romantic spin on it perhaps the "Pelican Inn" at Muir Beach...olde style as an English Pub, with rooms...(chicks dig it)

Or go for something further up the valley say in Sonoma or Napa...gives access to the Wine Country. (gotta visit Beuna Vista)
If you want a real storybook setting then the the hotel at "Cavallo Point", Old army base nestled at the foot of the Golden Gate Bridge on eh Marin side. Part of the Marin Headlands National Park....Can stay in the officers restored housing...Good dinning....
One of the best views on the planet!

If really up to a bit of a drive go further up the coast to Mendocino.... My personal favorite there is "Joshua Grindle Inn"

Lots of cool choices going north...
However if you want nite life..then "The City" is the place.

Cheers Ross

[mark thomas]

.. probably 3 of those days traveling around the area North of the GGBridge...like Muir Woods..maybe as far north as San Rafael..... would you...

Note that San Rafael is only 10 miles north of Muir Woods, and San Rafael is less than 15 minutes driving time from Golden Gate Bridge.

So the time spent traveling from lodging in SF to north of bridge is also determined by where in SF you stay -- it takes at least 15 minutes to get from downtown SF to the bridge itself.

So if you're OK with drive times like that, I'd stay in SF.

I'd also say San Rafael is not very interesting, though maybe there's something I don't know about it. You might think about heading further north by an hour or so into wine country.

[pofo]

Alpha has it right. While day trips from SF to the north are easy and practical, unless you want the nightlife of SF, staying at a boutique hotel/B&B will be a lot more fun/pleasant/memorable than staying in the city.

[Milacron]

Me i would go for Plan "B".
If you want to put a romantic spin on it perhaps the "Pelican Inn" at Muir Beach...olde style as an English Pub, with rooms...(chicks dig it)

Or go for something further up the valley say in Sonoma or Napa...gives access to the Wine Country. (gotta visit Beuna Vista)
If you want a real storybook setting then the the hotel at "Cavallo Point", Old army base nestled at the foot of the Golden Gate Bridge on eh Marin side. Part of the Marin Headlands National Park....Can stay in the officers restored housing...Good dinning....
One of the best views on the planet!

If really up to a bit of a drive go further up the coast to Mendocino.... My personal favorite there is "Joshua Grindle Inn"

Ah...now we're talkin...actual names and places from those with experience in the area ! I just hope I don't go into cardiac arrest when I call them and hear the prices !

(or maybe I can Priceline.com them down some )

[Bill D]

Hitchcock's "the birds' filmed around Bodega bay. Might go to Fort Ross the only Russian settlement in Mainland USA. has a small blacksmith shop and carpenters shop.
Check out sites for Highway one the coast highway. I would say Camp Taylor state park would be less crowded then muir woods.
Do not go deep into redwoods in mendocino county in the fall harvest time. You might get shot or worse by the growers.
Bill D.
I do not get it but a lot of people take the ferry to tour Alcatraz island in the middle of the bay. there is nothing to see at the Rosie the riveter museum across the bay in Richmond.

below are some links look at California state parks and "Golden gate national recreation area"

Fort Ross State Historic Park Russian Colony
Samuel P. Taylor SP

[Chris Attebery]

Keep in mind that traveling in and out of SF anywhere near commute is a real PITA. We're talking 6am to 10am and 3pm to 7pm during the week.

Personally, I'd head north during the week and spend a weekend day or two in the city.

[pofo]

Being a local North Bay person, I don't have any recommendations for places to stay (I sleep at home), but I can recommend areas to stay. I hear that Sonoma Mission Inn is the fu-fu (expensive) resort to stay at. Never been there.

Some guy things in the area

The wharf has a liberty ship and a submarine
USS Hornet across the bay

Bring lots of layers. It can be 50, windy, and foggy on the GG bridge and 90 in Napa.

On your way north, just on the north side of the Golden Gate Bridge is Conzelman road. Take this just a short way for a spectacular view; not the cars, the bridge.



For a bigger thrill, keep going on the road and make the full loop back to the bridge. You'll see what I mean. It's a kick in the butt.

For a trendy touristy town with nice restaurants on the bay, go to Sausalito, then go to Muir woods.

After Muir woods, drive up highway 1. You will be driving right on the San Andreas fault. If your timings right, it could be fun.


Sandy flat beach - Stinson (normal type public beach) or Limatour (remote, mostly deserted, nice). Beaches tend to be cool and windy in the summer. Don't expect to picnic, but you might get lucky.
Rugged cliffs - Point Reyes

Oysters - Hog Island (a business on 1, not an Island)
You can turn back east towards -
Point Reyes Station - a small town that turns into a mecca for cyclists and motorcycles on weekends.
Then through Petaluma (American Graffiti shot here) and over to Sonoma/Napa.

Napa Valley

Anywhere along route 29 between the town of Napa and Calistoga. This is the heart of the wine country. If you really want to burn some money, have dinner at the French Laundry in Yountville, often rated the best restaurant in the country.

Sonoma County -

Town of Sonoma - plenty of trendy little places on or near the the town's center Plaza. There is some arts festival or some other activity on the town square most weekends. Several worthwhile wineries in the area on 12.

Town of Glen Ellen
Tiny town in the wine country. If you like whiskeys, drop in the Bluegrass Bar and Grill

[Bruce Griffing]

I really enjoyed walking in Muir woods - don't miss that. Also see Point Reyes. There are other places to visit that others have listed, but for me the two I mentioned were the high points. [Edit - North of SF}

[mark thomas]

If you really want to burn some money, have dinner at the French Laundry in Yountville, often rated the best restaurant in the country.

You were probably joking, but just in case not, rest assured you cannot get a reservation at the French Laundry on Milacron's schedule (" a few weeks from now".) If you want to go there, plan 6 months in advance minimum.

People are making suggestions of where/what to visit, but Milacron didn't ask for such suggestions, so we should be getting his standard stern admonition to confine our answers to the question he actually asked

But to commit the same offense myself, if I were visiting SF Area, top of the tour (in PM spirit) would be AlphaGTA's shop!

(If Milacron actually does want suggestions, I'd suggest he specify area of interest, eg: nature, art, history, food, culture, etc.)

[67Cuda]

Then through Petaluma (American Graffiti shot here)

I've always heard American Graffiti was filmed in Modesto.



Now to give some locations south of SF. Traveling along the coast you can hit Half Moon Bay, Santa Cruz, Big Sur and giving it a full day you can tour Hearst Castle in San Simeon, the ultimate art deco preserved. East, you can do a day trip to Yosemite, the have a open tram tour which hits all the highlights there.

Tom

[Bill D]

American grafitti was set in Modesto, Home town of Lucas, but most of it was filmed elsewhere. A lot had changed in 15 years. Glad to see Modesto mentioned with no mention of the latest killer
Bill D.
Modesto, Ca

[Rock Crusher]

If you do decide on a night or two in town the Fairmont is a very nice hotel on the hill with a fairly easy down hill walk to the sites. Probably no bargain but memorable and some luxuries are just worth the expense. I stayed there a couple years ago for a company seminar. It changed my entire view of San Fransisco. I'd go back in a heartbeat. Ed.

[Dave A]

Niece got married on the Muir overlook two years ago and the reception was held at the Pelican Inn. We didn't stay there, but was told it was pricy and a bit hard to get into as not very large. The offramp to Muir Woods is very close to the Golden Gate Bridge.

Mendocino is very nice, but quite a drive up and back in one day as it would not leave much time to look around. The wine country might not be too busy now, as not in harvest season yet.

As to whether you stay in SF or not, depends on how much you like the City.

[Michael Moore]

If you are going to do stuff in Marin/Napa stay in Marin/Napa. You don't want to deal with weekday GG (or Richmond) Bridge commute traffic any more than you possibly can avoid.

There should be no shortage of motels in San Rafael, Corte Madera, and the rest of that area. It isn't like it is unpopulated wilderness far from any highway.

cheers,
Michael

[Bill D]

If you are going to the wine country you might consider the Sacramento railroad museum. I have never been. In summer the heat inland will be up there. Or how about the US army camel barns in Benica?
Bill D.

1860 - 1886 Commander McAllister

California State Railroad Museum