Welcome to the Internet San Francisco/Bay Area Guide! This file contains
travel information about the City of San Francisco and the East Bay
(Berkeley & Oakland). It was made possible by generous contributions of
various net persons who have volunteered what they know about the Bay Area.
(This file was originally written by Darren Overby and was recently
updated by Kate Blood.)
Special thanks to the following contributors:
Andy Csabai -- andyc@toraix2.torolab.ibm.com (Aug 94)
Bob Herlien -- hebo@bozo.mbari.org (Aug 94)
cobarruvias@asd2.jsc.nasa.gov (Jul 92)
David Herberg -- Herberg_David@tandem.com (Dec 91)
Debra -- hrcoord@igc.org (Jul 92)
Ed Suranyi -- ed@wente.llnl.gov (Jul 92)
Gary L. Dare -- gld@cunixb.cc.columbia.edu (Dec 91)
Hans P. Lorange -- lorange@spot.Colorado.EDU (Jul 92)
Icono Clast -- Icono.Clast@f219.n914.z8.rbbs-net.ORG (Aug 94)
Ilana Stern -- ilana@kiowa.scd.ucar.edu (Jul 93)
jameison@orion.sybase.com
James D. Jones -- jimj@cleanplate.EBay.Sun.COM (Jul 92)
Jan Penovich -- jpenovic@wizard.Berkeley.EDU (Jul 92)
Jane Opie -- jopie@news.weeg.uiowa.edu (Jul 92)
Joe Ehrlich -- static@iat.holonet.net (Aug 94)
John Danenhower --- jdanenhower@delphi.com (Aug 94)
John Reece -- jreece@sousa.intel.com (Jul 93)
Kate Blood -- kate@ced.berkeley.edu (Aug 94)
Ken Taylor -- Ken.J.Taylor@cray.com (Apr 93)
Kim Dahowski -- kim.dahowski@sfnet.com (Aug 94)
L. Julien -- ljulien@aol.com (Aug 94)
Mark Nowak -- markn@comm.mot.com
Nancy L. Eiesland -- neiesla@cc.emory.edu (Aug 94)
Nicky Lum -- Nicky_Lum@mindlink.bc.ca (Aug 94)
Rasmus Lerdorf -- rlerdorf@netcom.com (Jul 92)
Rick To -- rickt@Newbridge.COM (Aug 94)
Ruth Radetsky -- vpmath1@sfsuvax1.sfsu.edu (Jan 93)
Steve Jeck -- sjeck@isi.com (Apr 93)
Steve Scharf -- scharf@mirage.nsc.com (Aug 94)
Tomas Felner -- tomas@adnovum.ch (Jun 92)
Wayne Hathaway -- wayne@ultra.com
Please send comments and corrections to Kate Blood (kate@ced.berkeley.edu).
When I get a enough input to warrant a revision I will send a new file to
Brian Lucas, lucas@travel-library.com.
This file is divided into the following categories:
General Information for Tourists
Sights & Attractions in San Francisco:
Alamo Square, Alcatraz Island, Ocean Beaches, The Zoo, Castro,
Chinatown, Civic Center, Coit Tower/Telegraph Hill, Cow Hollow/
Union Street, Union Square, Financial District, Fisherman's Wharf,
Golden Gate Bridge, Golden Gate Park, Haight-Ashbury, Japantown,
Marina, Mission District, Nob Hill, North Beach, Pacific Heights,
Palace of Fine Arts, Presidio Heights, Russian Hill, South of Market,
Treasure Island, Twin Peaks, Van Ness, Polk Gulch/Tenderloin,
Clement Street
Shopping / Restaurants / Night Life / View Bars / Accommodations
East Bay (Oakland & Berkeley) Information
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GENERAL INFORMATION FOR TOURISTS
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The San Francisco tourist information center is located at Hallidie Plaza.
From Powell and Market Street take the stairs or elevator down to the center
which is below street level. The staff here speaks just about every language
from Japanese to Portuguese and if that wasn't enough they are very helpful
too. Coupons for discounted hotel rooms and brochures are available in
the Center during business hours (9am-5:30pm M-F; 9-3 Sat.; 10-2 Sun.).
If you want to have information about San Francisco, Oakland or Berkeley
sent to you at your home write:
San Francisco Visitors & Convention Bureau
P.O. Box 429097
San Francisco, CA 94142-9097 phone 415/391-2000
City of Oakland Metropolitan Chamber of Commerece
475 14th Street
Oakland CA 94612 phone 510/874-4800
City of Berkeley Convention & Visitors Bureau
phone 510/549-7040
University of California at Berkeley Visitor's Information Center
101 University Hall (corner of University and Oxford)
Berkeley CA 94720 phone 510/642-5215
EVENT INFORMATION IN OTHER LANGUAGES
To find out what's happening in San Francisco during your visit, call one
of the following recorded messages.
English 415/391-2001 French 415/391-2003
German 415/391-2004 Spanish 415/391-2122
Japanese 415/391-2101
CURRENT EVENTS
Several free publications are available at newstands throughout the
Bay Area. Most are published on Wednesday or Thursday and contain
up-to-date schedules for concerts, films, lectures, exhibits and
nightclubs, and restaurant reviews.
In San Francisco: The San Francisco Bay Guardian, BAM, Cups,
Downtown, The Nob Hill Gazette
In the East Bay: The Berkeley Monthly, The Daily Californian
The East Bay Express
SHOULD I DRIVE?
If you can possibly avoid it, don't drive in San Francisco! Parking is
difficult to find and the hills can be quite a challenge. Public
transportation is very good within the City and much less expensive than
parking a car. If you do drive, try to stay clear of Chinatown, North Beach,
Fishermen's Wharf, and the Financial District where parking and traffic are
the worst. Pay attention to parking restriction signs and put money in the
meter -- or you *will* be ticketed!
In the East Bay, parking and traffic are much easier to cope with, but
remember: rush-hour traffic in any part of the Bay Area can be a nightmare.
Avoid freeways and major intersections between 7 to 9am and 3 to 7pm if at
all possible.
PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION
--In San Francisco--
A convenient public transportation system is comprised of Muni buses,
Metro trains, BART (Bay Area Rapid Transit subway trains) and the City's
famous cable cars. Muni maps are available for sale, however, copies of
'BART & BUSES: A guide to Public Transportation from BART' are available
free of charge at Visitor's Information Centers and BART stations. The map
and/or the guide both outline the location and frequency of buses, metro
trains, cable cars, and BART. (Also free: 'All About BART', full of weekend
train schedules and quick directions to points of interest such as Golden
Gate Park, Jack London Square and Fisherman's Wharf; and 'Cable Car
Guide', featuring a map of the different lines, historical background and
riding guidelines.)
TICKETS: Muni Passports are available for unlimited travel on the buses,
metro, and cable cars within San Francisco. The cost of the passports is:
1 day=$6, 3 days=$10, 7 days=$15. These passports are not available for
purchase on the bus (the Powell & Market Street Muni Kiosk is one location
where they may be purchased). Regular Adult bus and Metro fare is $1 and
you will get a transfer good for 2 more trips within 90 minutes. Pay when
you board at the front of the bus. Cable Cars cost $2 one-way and there are
no transfers. Cable Car fares can be purchased on the car or at
designated vending machines. **DO NOT** purchase tickets or transfers from
strangers as they are often sold with expired fares. BART fares range from
$.85 to $2.65 one-way depending of the distance traveled. Discount transfers
to bus lines are available from white vending machines-- get one before exiting.
--In the East Bay--
Free AC Transit Street & Route maps are available at most East Bay BART
stations and on some bus lines. The one-way adult fare is $1.10 ($1.35
will get you a transfer good for 1.5 hours of travel). Drivers will not
make change. Discount transfers are available when exiting most BART
stations.
--The Ferry--
The Alameda/Oakland Ferry is another Bay transit option. Free parking
is available in some locations. Phone 510/522-3300 for current information.
Terminals are located at 2990 Main Street in Alameda; the Port of Oakland
at Jack London Square; and in SF at the Ferry Building and Pier 39. Round
trip tickets are approximately $7.00 --the view is amazing and food
and drinks are available on some trips.
THE WEATHER
The warmest months in the Bay Area tend to be September and October.
November to April or May are considered the rainy season. It can (but
seldom actually does) freeze for around 10 days at Christmas time.
The average annual temperature is 62.5F (16.9C). San Francisco can be
very cold; often misty and windy-- bring a coat or heavy jacket. Shorts
and bare legs are seldom seen on city streets here -- due to the weather,
and to the customs of the City's residents.
ARRIVING BY AIR
SFO/SAN FRANCISCO INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT is located 14 miles south of
the City. The telephone number for general airport information is
415/876-7809.
OAKLAND INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT is located in the East Bay, approximately
22 miles from downtown San Francisco. 510/577-4000 is the number to call
for general airport information.
HOW DO I GET TO THE CITY?
BY TAXI: Taxi fare to San Francisco from SFO will run from $30-40 dollars
US. Taxi meters will charge approximately $1.90 for the first mile and
$1.50 for each additional mile. From Oakland International to downtown
San Francisco, the fare will run approximately $50.
BY SHUTTLE: Airport Shuttles cost from $10-16 and will take you directly to
the door of your destination. The ride is shared with others going to the
same area. At SFO, use the white phones near the baggage claim area to
arrange a shuttle pickup. At Oakland International, go to the bus stand
just outside the terminal. Several companies have regular pickups at this
location (every 20-30 minutes). SFO Airporter Buses cost $8 ($14 round
trip) and have frequent service to a number of the larger hotels in San
Francisco (you don't need to stay at one of these hotels to use the service).
The Airporter buses are located just outside the baggage claim area and
leave every 20-30 minutes. Some services will accept credit cards.
BEST DEALS FOR LIGHT TRAVELERS: From SFO, the San Mateo Transit Agency
(SAMTRAMS) operates a bus which runs approximately every 20 minutes
throughout the day to the Transbay Terminal located at First and Mission
streets in San Francisco. The fare for the local bus (7B) is $.85 and
takes 50 minutes. The express bus (7F) costs $1.75 (a 30 minute ride) and
does not allow luggage on-board. SAMTRAMS Bus 3B to Daly City BART
will take you to any of BART's locations in San Francisco and the
East Bay. Luggage *is* allowed on this line. From Oakland International,
take the Air-Bart Shuttle to BART for $1.00 (board in front of the
terminal, leaves every ten minutes).
COMMERICAL BUS LINES: The Transbay Terminal is located at First and
Mission streets in downtown San Francisco. Greyhound (1-800-321-2222) buses
arrive here as do AC Transit buses from the East Bay.
AMTRAK: Amtrak trains stop in Oakland, not San Francisco. If your final
destination is San Francisco you will be immediately placed on a bus that
will take you to the Ferry Building at the foot of Market Street (near
the Hyatt Regency). The telephone number for Amtrak is 1-800-872-7245.
In the East Bay, AMTRAK now stops in Emeryville, Richmond and Berkeley.
CALTRAIN: Caltrain serves cities South of San Francisco as far as San Jose
and Gilroy. The station is located in San Francisco at Fourth and Townsend
Streets. Caltrain's telephone number is 1-800-660-4287 within Northern
California.
BUS TOUR GROUPS: There are a number of tour companies in San Francisco
that will take you to see popular sights. |
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| Copyright © - "Kate Blood" |
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