Traveling to San Fransisco

[Rat407]

We are looking at taking one last family vacation this coming March to San Fransisco. Our one daughter will be graduating college in May and once she is out and on her own with a job it will be harder to go on one. We have a special needs daughter as well and so need to find a good location in SF that we can get around easily with a wheel chair. From what I have read SF is very handicap accessible. We like to find a place to stay that we can walk to most of the sites. I know some are not that close but was wondering if anyone has any ideas?

Would staying closer to Fisherman's Wharf be better than city center? We did see that we can get a full day of sight seeing to Napa Valley, transportation to and from which is good.

We will be flying from the east coast so a direct flight is 6hr and at least we only loose 3 with the time change so we can make the most of the first day, but will loose that coming home.

So anyone have suggestions as to what to see while we are there for a week?

Is Trip Advisor a good source?

 

[Job]

I always enjoyed going north of SF growing up. We would have a family style Italian meal in Occidental, and go to Muir Woods to look at the ancient redwoods. South of SF I don't know, by now it basically is towns full of rich people working in high tech. On the Stanford campus I always enjoyed the Asian art museum and Rodin sculpture garden. Nasa down in Moffett air field used to have tours of the wind tunnel and other things. In SF itself don't really know. The Curran theater may be fun if there is something interesting to the family.

 

[Astro14]

Trip Advisor gives reviews that allow you to make a decision on an activity - but they don't suggest activities. Use them once you've figured out what you would like to do/see.

SFO has a lot of hills and huge crowds on the sidewalks. I would stay close to the sights that you want to see, because getting around the city will be a challenge. Fisherman's Wharf has a lot of the classic tourist stuff to do. It's crowded, but Boudin Bakery, Ghirardelli, etc. are fun.

I would recommend that you peruse a couple of travel sites that make actual recommendations on itineraries and activities.

Here's one: https://hub.united.com/united-three-perfect-days-sanfrancisco-2495640984.html

Stream of consciousness - Presidio is cool. Fisherman's is classic. Union Square is a common stop (be sure to actually read the plaques on the Dewey Monument there, 99% of people are oblivious to why there is a monument). I like North Beach, great bars, great Italian food. City LIghts Book store is a SFO classic, but not really accessible. Asian Art museum is excellent and very accessible.

You should absolutely visit Chinatown, and the best Chinese food in SFO, hands down, is the House of Nanking, 919 Kearney Street. If you show any hesitation in ordering, the owner will order for you, like the Seinfeld Soup Nazi, but trust me, it will be good...

 

[spasm3]

When i was there, i took the trolley from downtown to fishermans warf. I think it was from powell street. Enjoyed that.

 

[tom slick]

Fisherman's Wharf is an easy place to stay and has a lot around it. It is also a relatively flat area, much of SF is hills.

I enjoy Golden Gate Park and the various museums. The Exploratorium is fun. Chinatown can be a challenge with a chair.

 

[Rat407]

All great idea's. Thanks. I do want to see the giant redwoods if possible.

 

[Triple_Se7en]

I agree with Astro that tons of hills exist in Frisco. You may need to build-up your upper body beforehand, pushing a wheel chair up and down those hills.

My part-time retirement job is transporting special need kids (up to the age of 24). I love it, unless I'm transporting those prone to seizures or breathing concerns. My heart bleeds when small issues arise.
Happy New Year Rat and should a green light occur, have a safe trip to a city I've always wanted to explore.

 

[Astro14]

Muir Woods is incredible. Very accessible, by the way. Not sure the best way to get there from the city but you will love it, I promise.

 

[wwillson]

Originally Posted by Astro14
Muir Woods is incredible. Very accessible, by the way. Not sure the best way to get there from the city but you will love it, I promise.

+1 I've been there a couple times and each time I'm in awe.

 

[whatnext]

Suggestion: Take the ferry from Fishermans Wharf or the Market St terminal to Oakland. This is an easy way to see the bay.

 

[WagonWheel]

Half moon bay is good to visit as well, esp. for sunset.

Be aware that car break ins are rampant in the Bay Area. Don't leave ANYTHING in your car. Lax laws, few cops & high cost of living make it normal. Also be mindful of where you step. Don't be offended if you are accosted by a homeless person, just ignore it and move on. It's part of the experience!

 

[Snagglefoot]

Congratulations for your daughter. By the way, if you can't get wheelchair access on the trolley, perhaps hail a wheelchair accessible minivan cab and have the driver drive on the trolley route. Might be a hoot!

 

[paulri]

I don't know if anyone in your family likes museums, but if so, the De Young museum is a must. I went there decades ago and still remember their incredible Asian art collection--statues, tapestries, etc. Museums tend to be good on being handicapped accessible as well. I couldn't find many asian references at their website just now, but its worth a look over.

 

[JustinH]

Subscribing to this thread, I am going to the Vmware conference this summer in SF, have never been. Not sure of what we are going to do outside of the conference and the parties.

 

[Rat407]

Thanks, I did get on Trip Advisor. Some good information on there as well. Not so much for disabled access but good info on places to stay and why.

 

[TmanP]

We took our second trip there last spring and really enjoyed it. It's a fantastic city. We did take a harbor cruise which was quite good. I liked Muir Woods as well! Definitely check the Golden Gate park out as well; it's a splendid view - you can even walk out on the bridge! (Though it is quite noisy.) We stayed a few blocks off of Fisherman's Wharf and had an easy time walking to the water. We also enjoyed Alcatraz. Also I wouldn't worry about the "poop" complaints - we found the city pretty clean in general, and the views can't be beaten. Don't let people scare you - I'm sure it'll be a great trip!

 

[Mad_Hatter]

The Presidio, GG Park, Alcatraz Island, China Town, Fisherman's Wharf and Pier 39, Monterey Bay Aquarium is a short drive and world class (it's also where Steinbeck wrote many of his novels), Alameda Naval Museum across the Bay, Moffet Field is a short drive away, various tech campuses in the Bay Area have tours, the crookedest street in the world - Lombard St., take a drive up north into wine country Sonoma and Napa. Take a drive down the coast into Carmel.. where Jack London lived and if there was one absolute thing I'd say to see is Hearst Castle in San Simeon. It's a few hours drive but worth it IMO. It's W. Randolph Heart's masterpiece.. utterly priceless. (probably a billion dollar build by today's dollar$ - no joke!) The drive up/down PCH/Hwy 1 alone is worth it. Go north from SFO or south, doesn't matter. It's a beautiful drive.

I lived in in the S. Bay for 20yrs..tons of stuff to do in and around the Bay Area, it just depends on how much time, money and desire you have to do them. Call a travel agency in SFO and tell them you're planning a trip out there. They'll make recommendations based on your time, money and wheelchair accessibility needs and help you plan an itinerary.

 

[vavavroom]

All MUNI city buses are of the kneeling type with easy wheelchair access. Get a MUNI pass for everyone in your group because otherwise you have to pay $3 cash for a ride, which includes unlimited transfers within 2 hours from time of purchase. MUNI buses also work on street cars and trolleys. Public transportation gets very crowded during commute hours and when kids go home from school. Uber has wheelchair-accessible vehicles available.As already pointed out, SF has many hills. Golden Gate Park is great with its Arboretum, lakes, and the de Young museum is there across from the California Academy of Science. Both are highly recommended. I especially like the science museum with its living roof. If you go to Fisherman's Wharf and Pier 39, also check the nearby Exploratorium right at the waterfront. The Ferry Building with its indoor food venues is a good destination. A sunset Cruise under the Golden Gate Bridge, a Bay Cruise, or a visit to Alcatraz Island are also recommended. You can also sail all the way to Tiburon for a good view of SF Bay. Stay away from South of Market Street and the Tenderloin to avoid bad future memories. North Beach is worth a few hours and a meal or two and it's easier to navigate the sidewalks than it is in Chinatown. Napa and Sonoma, and a drive up or down HWY 1 are all recommended. If you decide to go to Muir Woods, take HWY 1 and stop at Muir Beach overlook and go to Muir Beach before driving to Muir Woods. For Muir woods parking you must make a reservation in advance. There is no other parking available any longer. In SF, go up to the Sutro Tower/Twin Peaks overlook in the evening. On a clear evening you have a great view of the city and the whole Bay Area. For a good view of the sunset, take Geary Blvd and continue on to Cliff House. From there you can see Ocean Beach stretching south, the Golden Gate to the north, and you can watch ships sailing out of or into the sunset.

 

[JeffKeryk]

Many great suggestions here. A few other suggestions, depending on what you like:
Get Hamilton tickets at the Orpheum theater. You will never forget it. Very pricey...
By all means go south to the Big Sur on the Monterrey coast. One of the most beautiful places on earth. Take the coast highway all the way...
Cross the GG to the wine country. The town of Petaluma is so charming. You might never leave. Best Mexican food anywhere.
While in the North Bay, see the rugged coast. Breathtaking.
I would also take some time in the South Bay where I live. My town of Los Gatos (and Campbell and Saratoga) are wonderful.
Check out the Mitrosoft Computer History Museum.
By all means check out Palo Alto: Stanford Campus, Shopping Center and downtown.
Maybe even tour the Tesla factory in Fremont. Take one home...

Have fun.

 

[JustN89]

If you like to try new foods, I highly recommend El Mansour. Really good Moroccan food with traditional belly dancing at 7:30 and 9 PM, if stuff like that is of interest.