Corny, I know, but oh so true and for those of you who have been there, ya know what I mean. From the minute you lay your eyes on that Golden Gate Bridge you know you are in a special place. Then you see the houses, the hills, Fisherman's Wharf, Chinatown, Alamo Square with it's painted ladies, and it is confirmed.
The first time I saw San Francisco, one of my friends from the Navy that I was stationed with up in Vallejo, asked me to go with her into the city. I grew up in a small, very small town. This would be the first time I had been in a city, unchaperoned, and as an adult. I fell in love. Not just with San Francisco, but with the whole city scene. The people, the buildings, the traffic. Wow, it was just like in the movies. I vowed then that I would return to this city and live someday. That day has yet to come, but I have plans.
San Francisco will be the third stop on my train trip and I will be here for 4 days. Enough time to see the major sites, do a little wine country side trip and enjoy some of the delicious food this city has to offer.
In regards to the train, it does not go into San Francisco, it stops in Emeryville. but there is bus service over to San Francisco, with stops at The Ferry Building, Financial District, Fisherman's Wharf, Convention Center, Caltrain Station and the Shopping Center on Market Street. So depending on where your hotel is located, decide the closest stop and add this to your train reservation. It will cost a little more but not much. You could also catch BART from the Ashby Street Station, that would be less than $5 but you would need to take a taxi to the BART station, too far to walk with suitcases and such.
Hotel selection is very important. Although the city has great transportation, if you are close to many of the areas you wish to visit, walking in this city is always fun. Some of the unique, practical and reasonable hotels I have found are the San Remo with rooms from $80/night, The Fitzgerald Hotel Union Square with rooms from $99 and the Edward II Inn and Suites with rooms from $109. These are just a few and the links I have listed for San Francisco will help you in your pursuit of the perfect room for you.
If you are going to stay for 5 days or more, why not rent an apartment. http://www.vrbo.com/ list several places you can rent for a week and get the most out of "living" in the city. Make sure you read reviews of the neighborhoods, though, so that you are sure you want to stay there. Every neighborhood in San Francisco is unique and has it's pluses and minuses, research is your best ally in your search.
