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We can pick you up anywhere within 90 minutes’ drive of San Francisco — at your home, hotel, or the airport!

Planning Ahead

thethinker1What to Wear in Our Climate

A Chart of Suggested Activities

These are activities for which we suggest reservations and/or planning well in advance of your visit… especially if you intend to be here on a holiday weekend, or April through November, follows.

These time frames are approximations. A lucky visitor may find available tickets (or seating, an appointment, etc.) on the same day of a desired activity or event; but that outcome would be the exception.

Activity or Event Description (Location) Planning Time Frame Contact
Ahwahnee Hotel luxury hotel (Yosemite) a year ahead for peak season; otherwise, at least several months ahead (209) 372-1406
Alcatraz Island Tour famous prison complex (San Francisco Bay) 2+ weeks (415) 981-ROCK
Black Panther Party Legacy Tour site-seeing with historical commentary (3 hrs) (Oakland) one month: last Saturdays, or by appointment ask us for help
Boulevard Art Nouveau restaurant (San Francisco) 2 weeks (415) 543-6084
Chez Panisse Original "California Cuisine" (Berkeley) 3 weeks (510) 548-5525
Coast Starlight Amtrak line from San Diego to Oakland to Seattle 3-8 weeks (800) 872-7245
"Critical Mass" impromptu bicycle ride through streets of San Francisco n/a: last Friday (~6pm) of each month (Meets at the Ferry Building)
The French Laundry haute cuisine $$$$ restaurant (Napa Valley) Exactly two months prior to the date, begin dialing (707) 944-2380
Gingerbread House Cajun-Creole restaurant (Oakland) one week (510) 444-7373
Greystone Restaurant @ CIA (Culinary Arts Institute) Mediterranean restaurant & premier cooking school (Napa Valley) 2-4 weeks (707) 967-1010
San Francisco City Pass discounted public transit (7 days)… plus buy on arrival citypass.com
Massage/mud bath @ Calistoga various spas (Napa Valley) 2 weeks ask us for suggestions
Paramount Theater Tour top Art Deco movie palace 1st & 3rd Saturday A.M., or by arrangement (510) 893-2300
San Francisco Ballet premier troupe 1-2 months (415) 865-2000
San Francisco International Film Festival first-run, first-rate, hard-to-find movies April/May (415) 931-3456
San Francisco Opera grand musical drama 3-10 weeks (415) 864-3330
San Francisco Symphony orchestral excellence 1-2 months (415) 431-5400
The Slanted Door Vietnamese restaurant (San Francisco) 2-3 weeks (415) 861-8032
Tactile Dome @ The Exploratorium a heightened experience of touch for ages 5-95 (San Francisco) 3-4 weeks (415) 561-0362
Thep Phanom Thai Restaurant (San Francisco) 1-2 weeks (415) 431-2526
Tra Vigne haute Italian restaurant (Napa Valley) 2-3 weeks (707) 963-4444
Trapeze Arts classes & just fun (summer & weekends) Oakland & Sonoma County several weeks trapezearts.com
"West Coast Live" Radio live arts & culture variety show (San Francisco) 2-3 weeks, Saturdays (10-Noon) (415) 664-9500
wcl.org
Yosemite: lodging in or near indoors, or summer camping 2-6 months (209) 252-4848
yosemite.com
Yoshi's premier jazz club (SF & Oakland) 2-3 weeks for popular artists (510) 238-9200
Whale-watching with Oceanic Society (San Francisco Bay) or off the coast of the Peninsula 2-3 weeks (during migration season) (415) 441-1104

One of the best resources for finding fascinating activities in which to participate in the greater San Francisco Bay Area is the SF Chronicle's e-Guide.

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What to Wear in Our Climate

The compact and hilly city of San Francisco is noted for the year-round mildness of its climate; however, many visitors find it chilly, especially after dark. The entire Bay Area has myriad micro-climates whose characteristics relate to distance from the ocean, topographical features, and fog patterns.

Temperatures can vary more than 15° between breakfast and dinner. Your comfort can often depend on where exactly in the region you are headed on a given day and which activities you plan to enjoy.

Generally speaking, layered clothing usually works best, that is, light to medium-weight, long-sleeved, full-length casual wear. Bring a nice sweater or windbreaker for daytime outings and a jacket or blazer for special evenings out.

Our tours assume that you are a reasonably fit pedestrian, although length and difficulty of walks are up to you; in any case, a pair of broken-in walking shoes is highly recommended. A light poncho, umbrella and,or rain hat is advisable for November through April, and sunglasses in all seasons. For people particularly sensitive to cold, bring a light coat to help preserve body heat during cool evenings and when traveling over water or in woods.

In this highly informal region, suits, ties and dressier evening wear are welcome — though usually not required — at the opera, symphony or in most upscale restaurants.

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Unexpected Events

Yes, this is earthquake[!!] country, but the probability of a significant tremblor (even less a real quake) occurring during your visit is miniscule.

Anyone traveling a significant distance to reach our area is advised not to commit to a major pre-paid activity within four hours of his or her scheduled arrival time, as flights may be delayed due to fog, there may be traffic congestion coming in from the airport, etc.

Once you're settled into your hotel or friend's home, it's often best — if you've still got some nervous energy — to do something cheap and spontaneous: hop on a cable car with no particular destination in mind, watch the sunset from the closest panoramic viewpoint, or enjoy a light dinner in, deliciously anticipating what you've planned your vacation to be.

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