Visiting San Francisco

[John Kennett]

I'll be in SF for a few days in April and wondered if anyone has suggestions for family-friendly boaty things to do or see? Alcatraz is obviously on the list, as are the sealions.

Any RIB trips or tours? Are the seaplane flights worth a go?

[Aries]

Sunday afternoon in Dolores Park, you'll be floating if you join in with the locals...

[indaba1991]

Check out the Americas Cup area and the San Francisco Yacht Cub - good burgers!!

[boristhebold]

Alcatraz is well worth visiting, also later afternoon early evening take a stroll along fishermans wharf area, good for evening food, celeb spotting and chilling out.

[jyasaki]

There are (or were) a couple of operations running RIB excursions on the bay; one out of Oakland that I know of, and rumors of at least one other based in SF.

Have not heard of any seaplane operations in SF.

If you're bringing family, the dinner cruises are pretty popular (with both locals and visitors.) You can book those out of the same marina as the Alcatraz boats.

jky

[clloyd]

Hurricane 640 available here

SF Bay Adventures: Hurricane 640 Rigid Hull Inflatables

Sausalito is a good location to leave from in the bay, very central, can rip past Alcatraz, around angel island, under the golden gate, etc.

If I had my own boat out there, would be fun to go on the outside down the Half Moon Bay, out to the Farralons or up to Bodega Bay etc. Doubt any charters will take you outside, but maybe.

[Dirk Diggler]

A tram ride, eat chowder from a bread bowl at Bistro Boudin at Fishermans Wharf, and a ferry trip to spend the day in Sausalito.

If your feeling really flush then dinner at Farallons!

[Aries]

I think Morton's Steak House on Post is worth a visit. Always reminds me of the cow in 'the restaurant at the end of the universe' - as they run through all of the cuts of meat on the trolley.

[Aries]

Oh and the Eagle Cafe up some stairs on the left as you face Pier 39 is great for breakfast.

[Dirk Diggler]

Originally Posted by Aries

Oh and the Eagle Cafe up some stairs on the left as you face Pier 39 is great for breakfast.

[spartacus]

We went onboard the WW2 submarine USS Pamantino at Fisherman's Wharf and it was fascinating. That's going back a bit (1997), but it's still there. It gets put into dry-dock every 7 years and is due in this year for a general overhaul. Wow... thought RIBs were expensive to maintain! http://www.maritime.org/pampanito2014.pdf

Didn't realise the history of this sub until I did a little more research.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Pampanito_(SS-383)

[willk]

Originally Posted by John Kennett

I'll be in SF for a few days in April and wondered if anyone has suggestions for family-friendly boaty things to do or see? Alcatraz is obviously on the list, as are the sealions.

Any RIB trips or tours? Are the seaplane flights worth a go?

headsup yankee ribnobburs! mye mageistee wil bee kasting ay long shadowe onn yer soyl sharpish.

anywun wiv ay ribmashiyn neer mi preevious addrays wot wonts to liv in peas on here shud offyr mee ay voyig of SFB FOC orn theyril bee hel two pai

churs

lankee

[John Kennett]

From the replies so far it seems that SF is all about the food and I'll be too busy eating to do anything else.

[Aries]

If you like a stogie go here

http://www.occidentalcigarclub.com

Fine cigars and rum. Had a very drunken afternoon with some clients here last year.

Probably not one for the kids ; )

[willk]

Originally Posted by Aries

If you like a stogie go here

Occidental Cigar Bar - The Legal Place to Smoke & Drink Since 2001

Fine cigars and rum. Had a very drunken afternoon with some clients here last year.

Probably not one for the kids ; )

Hmmm. Can't fault their Whisk(e)y list. Sounds like fun

[indaba1991]

Originally Posted by John Kennett

From the replies so far it seems that SF is all about the food and I'll be too busy eating to do anything else.

Correct - here is a man from San Francisco

[Peter_C]

Weather dependent, I would recommend taking one of the ferries over to Angel Island and go for a hike if the family agrees. It is pretty physical though. I don't have a RIB myself, just a small SIB that most consider uncomfortable. In the past when I owned a wakeboard boat, we offered days on the water to traveling wakeboarders often. We still often take visitors out for the Bay tour, when folks aren't afraid of the little boat.

http://www.rib.net/forum/f50/another...and-51142.html

[willk]

Originally Posted by Peter_C

We still often take visitors out for the Bay tour, when folks aren't afraid of the little boat.

That's OK, he's only got a little'un himself.

[Bigtalljv]

Irish coffee at the Buena Vista and then rollerblading through Golden Gate Park. That was my first date 15 years ago with my now wife

Bring layers. It could be 80F or 50F and damp and windy ( like home?), no way to know.

The museums in Golden Gate Park are fun. The aquarium. The exploratorium if you have kids or are one, down on waterfront. The Marin headlands have good hiking and some old WWII leftovers for a bit of history, a mostly complete Nike missile site. Don't forget to walk across the Golden Gate. The list goes on....

Be prepared to part with your money, it's a pricy place to do anything but that's no excuse not to.

Jason

[clloyd]

You mean it could be 80F one second, and 50F the next. Microclimates...you have 80, 50, Fog and Sun, Windy, No Wind all on the same day at the same time.

Personally I hate Fishermans Wharf, serious tourist trap. Would definitely not eat there, you can do a lot better very easily.

Bigtalljv advise is good.

Cabs are easy to find, so visit some Neighborhoods.

North Beach
Castro
Haight/Ashbury
Mission
Embarqadero
....

Ferry to Sausalito - good for lunch and looking at boats