[Hey two weeks from today I'm going to San Francisco.
The plan is to fly in to Reno on Sunday about 12:00 noon and spend the night in Tahoe City. Then drive to San Franciso very early the next morning, spend the day and then drive back to Tahoe city late that evening. Then we'll fly back to Mississippi Thursday.
That said -- does anyone want to be a tour guide? LOL. I am so afraid I'm going to get lost in San Franciso!!! I am so not a big city gal!]
I won't be able to tour guide b/c i've cleared out the next four weeks to isolate and work on hopefully the last draft of my novel
One day in San Francisco, that's a tough one. most tourists miss the best thing about san francisco, the neighborhoods, but if it's your first time in san francisco, then there's the obligatory cable car ride, north beach area, walk to coit tower....or drive...north beach and coit tower (telegraph hill neighborhood) are walking distance, but be ready for steep hills. great people watching in north beach as well as bars. vesuvio's is a must, on kerouac alley right across from city lights book store, get that beatnik vibe...i think if i had one day in san francisco, i would avoid the cable cars b/c there's always a line..up to an hour or two... and stick to north beach, hike to coit tower before drinking, then head back down the hill and hang out at a cafe and ask locals where to eat...the bartenders @ vesuvios are cool and i know one also bartends in the mission district (which i'd say to explore if you had three days in san francisco)
fisherman's wharf and pier 39 is all tourists...if you find anyone from san francisco there it's b/c they work there or are begging for money and it's the same as any other city's tourist area, bad gift shops, tgi fridays to make the out of towners feel comfortable, etc. nobody who lives in san francisco goes there voluntarily.
parking is a bitch in north beach...coming from the east bay, i would say park your car at west oakland bart station (the local subway), and bart into san francisco, then get off at the first or second stop and grab a cab to north beach...it's also walkable and most people will give you directions if you ask...you'll be in the financial district/downtown and it's pretty safe.
washington square in north beach is a great place for a picnic or just to relax and north beach borders chinatown, which has a lot of cheap gift shops....and great chinese food and there are herbalists if you're looking for inexpensive supplements for anything health related.
if you want some bad ass illegal fireworks, chinatown is your place, just be discreet. ;)
if you end up hanging out late and want to go quirky, ask for directions to LiPo lounge or Buddha Bar, both hipster drinking establishments in chinatown that make san francisco unique.