- Plan a Perfect Week
- San Francisco Tours
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- Tours with more than 7
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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
What to Wear in Our Climate
San Francisco has a mild, Mediterranean climate—infrequent heat in the summer, no snow in winter. Many visitors, however, find it chilly, especially on its many windy days, and after sunset. The region as a whole (Napa, Silicon Valley, Carmel, San Jose et. al.) is a mosaic of micro-climates whose features are determined by distance from the Pacific or the Bay, by which side of a hill you're on, and how the fog chooses to entertain us.
Staying comfortable often depends on where you're headed on a given day and the types of activities you plan to enjoy. Layered clothing almost always works best: light to medium-weight, long-sleeved casual shirts and blouses, full-length pants. Bring a nice sweater, hoodie or windbreaker as well.
Our tours assume that you are a reasonably fit pedestrian, although length and difficulty of walks are up to you; in any case, well broken-in shoes are highly recommended. If your mobility is limited in some way, we will try our best to accommodate you through careful planning and a more leisurely itinerary. A collapsable umbrella, rain hat or light poncho is advisable for November through May. If you're in the habit of wearing sunglasses (or a sun visor), you'll want to bring them as well. For people particularly sensitive to cold, bring a coat to help preserve body heat in the evening, and when traveling over water or in a forest.
How to dress for an evening out? We're more informal than not: for men, a nice jacket or blazer will suffice at most upscale restaurants, the opera and symphony; for women, these same venues welcome dressier evening wear if you're looking for somewhere to show it off.
Unexpected Events
Yes, we do have earthquakes! here, but the probability of a significant trembler occurring during your visit is miniscule. In the rare case that you do feel shaking, move away from anything that might fall on you, then wait for the moment to end seconds later...what a story to tell when you get back home!.
Anyone traveling a significant distance to reach our area is advised not to commit to a major pre-paid activity within 3-4 hours of his or her scheduled arrival time…your flight may be delayed due to fog, there may be traffic congestion coming in from the airport or across a bridge…you just may be tired from all the effort of getting here. But if you've settled into your hotel or friend's home yet still have some nervous energy? Do something inexpensive and spontaneous: hop on a cable car and ride to the end of the line… take a taxi back; enjoy the sunset from the closest panoramic viewpoint; enjoy dinner, drinks and dessert in or near your hotel. Or splurge on a shiatsu massage in your room, deliciously anticipating what you've planned your vacation to be.
A Chart of Suggested Activities
These are activities for which we suggest planning and/or reservations well in advance of your visit… especially if you intend to be here on any holiday weekend, or April through November.
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 (Yosemite National Park) | most beautiful lodge in the nation—to stay or to dine there | (for lodging) a year ahead for peak season; otherwise, several months ahead | nationalparkreservations.com /yosemite.htm |
| Alcatraz Island Tour | famous prison complex/history tour | 2-3 weeks | alcatrazcruises.com |
| Boulevard | Art Nouveau-style French restaurant (San Francisco) | 2-3 weeks | boulevardrestaurant.com |
| Chez Panisse | Original "California Cuisine" restaurant (in Berkeley) | 3-4 weeks | chezpanisse.com |
| "Critical Mass" | impromptu bicycle ride through streets of San Francisco | last Friday (~5:30 pm) of each month | Meets at Justin Hermann Plaza (downtown SF)...must bring your own bike (rentable) |
| The French Laundry | top-rated haute cuisine restaurant $$$$ (Yountville, in Napa Valley) | Exactly two months prior to the date, begin dialing | (707) 944-2380 |
| San Francisco City Pass | public transit, museum fees at a discount | buy on arrival | citypass.com |
| Massage/"mud bath" in Calistoga | various spas (Napa Valley) | 2 weeks | ask us for suggestions |
| Paramount Theater Tour | spectacular Art Deco-style movie palace | 1st & 3rd Saturdays A.M., or by arrangement | paramounttheater.com |
| San Francisco Ballet | one of the nation's best troupes | 1-2 months | sfballet.org |
| San Francisco International Film Festival | first-run, first-rate, hard-to-find movies | April/May | sffs.org |
| San Francisco Opera | grand musical drama | 3-10 weeks | sfopera.com |
| San Francisco Symphony | orchestral excellence | 1-2 months | sfsymphony.org |
| The Slanted Door | Vietnamese restaurant (San Francisco) | 2-3 weeks | slanteddoor.com |
| Tactile Dome at The Exploratorium | a heightened experience of touch for ages 5-75 (San Francisco) | 3-4 weeks | exploratorium.com |
| Thep Phanom | Thai restaurant (San Francisco) | 1-2 weeks | thepphanom.com |
| Trapeze Arts | classes & just fun (summer & weekends) Oakland & Sonoma County | several weeks | trapezearts.com |
| Local/Regional Theater: Berkeley Rep, the Aurora & The Marsh | among the best in the nation for classic and new/experimental works (in Berkeley & San Francisco | 2-4 weeks | berkeleyrep.org themarsh.org auroratheatre.org |
| Yosemite: lodging in or near | indoors, or summer camping | 2-6 months | nationalparkreservations.com /yosemite |
| Yoshi's | premier jazz club (SF & Oakland) | 2-3 weeks for popular artists | yoshis.com |
| Whale-watching | San Francisco, or off the coast of the Peninsula | 2-3 weeks (during migration season) | oceanicsociety.org sanfranciscowhaletours.com sfbaywhalewatching.com |
In the Bay Area, one of the best resources for finding fascinating activities in which to participate, or to watch, is the San Francisco Chronicle's e-Guide: www.sfgate.com.. Check out our comedy clubs featuring both the well-known and the up-and-coming, people to hike, run and bicycle with, folk and flamenco dancers, Film Noir, LGBT and Silent film festivals, kinky and mainstream nightlife possibilities… Come, enjoy your vacation of a lifetime!
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