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From Bridge To Bridge

Description:

Travel along San Francisco's waterfront, from the Bay Bridge to the Golden Gate, for spectacular views, great shopping, and one heck of a banana split.

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Author: Jennifer

Day 1 - San Francisco

Start your day at the foot of the Bay Bridge (Harrison Street and Embarcadero), and walk along the waterfront, past the sweeping views of the Bay, to the Ferry Building, which sits at the foot of Market Street. With its renovation completed in 2003, the Ferry Building is now home to an array of food and retail establishments. Tuck into high-priced dabs of caviar at the Tsar Nicoulai Caviar Café or a juicy burger and fries for about $10 at Taylor’s Automatic Refresher. When you’re done eating, start browsing: bookstores, specialty gardening and cooking shops, and one of the city’s most delectable farmers markets await. The Ferry Building is also a great jumping off point for shopping in the city's downtown. Hop aboard any of the westbound vintage streetcars that amble up and down the F-Line. Get off at Powell Street and find yourself within a moment's walk of every imaginable retailer — from Bloomingdale's to Urban Outfitters to Betsey Johnson. Laden with shopping bags, settle in for the night at Hotel Griffon, which is conveniently located next to the cable cars, BART station, Ferry Building, and F-Line.

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San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge

Location:

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Embarcadero and Highway 80
San Francisco, CA 94105

Phone:

(510) 286-4444 / (510) 286-6444

Ferry Building Marketplace & Farmer's Market

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Location:

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Ferry Building Marketplace
One Ferry Building
San Francisco, CA 94111

Phone:

(415) 693-0996

The Hotel Griffon

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Location:

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155 Steuart St
Between Mission and Howard Sts
San Francisco, CA 94105

Phone:

800/321-2201

Day 2 - San Francisco

After all that walking the day before, let a Segway do some of the legwork so you can hit up all Fisherman’s Wharf hot spots without burning out your feet. Come lunchtime, relax over wood-fired pizza and linguine with Manila clams at Café Pescatore. Once you’re checked into the Argonaut Hotel, check out a steam-powered tugboat, an 1895 schooner, and an1890 ferryboat at the San Francisco Maritime Museum. That evening, settle in under the big top for an evening of cabaret.

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Segway San Francisco Electric Tour

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Location:

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757 Beach St
Rear Parking Lot
San Francisco, CA 94109

Phone:

(415) 474-3130 / (877) 474-3130

Cafe Pescatore

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Location:

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2455 Mason St
At North Point St., adjoining the Tuscan Inn
San Francisco, CA 94133

Phone:

415/561-1111

National Maritime Museum

Location:

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P.O. Box 470310
Maritime Park Association
San Francisco, CA 94147

Phone:

(415) 561-6662

Teatro ZinZanni

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Location:

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Pier 29, The Embarcadero
(At Battery Street)
San Francisco, CA 94111-1900

Phone:

(415) 438-2668

Day 3 - San Francisco

Avoid the long lines at the Alcatraz Island Tour ticket booth and buy your tickets online. As one of San Francisco’s biggest attractions, these tours sell out fast, so it’s best to purchase as soon as possible, especially if you plan on taking a trip to The Rock during the summer or fall, when tourist season is at its peak. And don’t write this adventure off as a tourist trap – only one ferry company serves the island, so major crowding on the island is never an issue. What you’ll discover when you arrive, is a gorgeous location with unbeatable views and a provocative, well-produced audio tour that’s worth every cent. Celebrate your release from prison with dinner at Gary Danko. Like the Alcatraz ferry, seats are very limited at this highly lauded restaurant, so make your reservation well in advance.

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Alcatraz Island

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Location:

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Embarcadero and Powell St
(Pier 39)
San Francisco, CA 94133

Phone:

(415) 705-5555

Gary Danko

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Location:

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800 North Point Street
(at the corner of Hyde Street)
San Francisco, CA 94133

Phone:

(415) 749-2060

Day 4 - San Francisco

Say hello to some very vocal sea lions (about 900 of them gather during the winter months), join the throngs of tourists at Fisherman's Wharf, get your picture taken with Sly Stallone and Julia Roberts, and then let the rest of the day melt away as you enjoy a glorious and gooey banana split at one of the city's sweetest spots, Ghirardelli Square.

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Sea Lions at Pier 39

Location:

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Beach Street & The Embarcadero
San Francisco, CA 94133

Phone:

(415) 705-5500 / (415) 289-7325

Fisherman's Wharf

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Location:

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The Embarcadero
Fisherman's Wharf
San Francisco, CA 94133

Phone:

(415) 956-3493

Wax Museum at Fisherman's Wharf

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Location:

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145 Jefferson Street, Suite 500
Fisherman's Wharf
San Francisco, CA 94133

Phone:

(415) 202-0400 / (800) 439-4305

Ghirardelli Square

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Location:

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900 North Point St
Between Polk and Larkin Sts
San Francisco, CA 94133

Phone:

(415) 775-5500

Day 5 - San Francisco

Tag along on a docent- or ranger-led tour, roam 11 miles of trails, and, depending on the time of year, soak up the sun or cut through the fog at Baker Beach (FYI: A section of the sand is clothing-optional). Suddenly, it's cocktail hour, and what better place to enjoy a Martini then at the Presidio Social Club. Aim for Sunday evening, when the evening special is roasted whole pig.

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The Presidio Trust

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Location:

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34 Graham St
San Francisco, CA 94129

Phone:

(415) 561-5500

Presidio Social Club

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Location:

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563 Ruger St., Bldg. 563
(Lombard St.)
San Francisco, CA 94129

Phone:

415-885-1888

Day 6 - San Francisco

Brunch it up with coffee and crepes (the rosemary-garlic potatoes are heavenly), and head to the city's Big Daddy of tourist spots, the Golden Gate Bridge. Parking can be next to impossible, so try catching a Golden Gate Transit Bus from near Pier 41 (corner of Stockton and North Point streets; fare is $3.15) to the southern end of the bridge. From there it's 1.7 miles from one end to the other. Then it's time for a delectable vegetarian dinner at Greens, which serves savory curries, pastas, and pizza.

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