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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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