I have some friends visiting San Francisco. Nit sure what they want to do yet, including young kids.

I familiar with the geography but haven’t been to SF in 5 years.

What’s the risk level these days? Can I drive my truck, take them around and stay overnight? Or should i rent a car and get full insurance?

Any districts in particular to avoid absolutely? Risky? Okay?

Friend's daughter lives there

if you park your car with out of state plates in the city overnight, it will get broken into. Just a fact.

that's your biggest risk.

stay off the streets at night (everywhere) and know what areas to avoid.

purchase your Alcatrez tickets well in advance. https://www.cityexperiences.co...catraz/tour-options/

My son lives there.

People leave their cars unlocked in the street.

If they don't, the windows will be smashed, and anything that resembles something of value is gone.

I walked around the city in the daytime.

I also Ubered around. We were never bothered.

Lots of homeless people everywhere.

My son had his motorcycle stolen a couple of times. While locked and chained.

It seems theft and property crimes are an accepted way of life.

It seemed like people were safe and left alone.

Just my statistic of one.

Son and daughter in law live on Yorba Buena island in SF Bay. When we visit we take UBER/Lyft everywhere - parking can be difficult (although we have found a few decent gated parking garages). Alcatraz tickets beforehand, avoid Market Street, Nob Hill and the Italian section are still 'ok'. Don't plan on walking around at night. Chinatown is interesting to wander through - just have your head on a swivel everywhere you go.

Avoid the Tenderloin. There’s no reason for you to go to Hunter’s Point. The Mission is a mix of well off tech people and people selling shit on blankets on the sidewalk. Great food but perhaps questionable surroundings depending on your comfort with urban life. I’d skip with little kids because they don’t really care about great food and don’t need to be exposed to crazy. Just like any other large city you’ll find trouble if you go looking. Pay attention to your surroundings. Don’t wander around looking like a mark.

Leave nothing in your vehicle. Not an empty bag, not a gym bag or chips, and nothing in the trunk.

I’m here five days a week. Friends just visited for a week with no issues.

quote:

It seems theft and property crimes are an accepted way of life.
It seemed like people were safe and left alone.

That's my understanding as well. People will be safe, in most areas, at least during the day.
Don't park a car with out of state plates in the city.

All good advice, parking isn't only difficult but if you do get to a garage the cost is expensive.

We rented a car in the city when staying downtown, that way no parking issues, just return it to the rental company.

Uber/Lyft would be good, you can also use cable cars to get around which is part of the charm.

Ghirardelli Square area, when you exit the cable car the Buena Vista is right there, the home of the Irish Coffee, and a must visit. Plus if it's foggy and chilly it will warm you up

https://www.thebuenavista.com/home/home.html

Dungeness Crab at the Fishermans Wharf is a must, Scomas was the defacto tourist restaurant on the Wharf for Crab...

https://scomas.com/

You should plan to hit it after a trip to Alcatraz.

A trip to the Golden Gate is fun, drive over, hit Sausalito down town and hit Hamburgers Seven Three Seven Sausalito it's been there forever and you won't be able to walk past without wanting to go in..

https://www.oursausalito.com/r...gers-restaurant.html



While there you can head out the Marin Headlands, great views of the bay and city, also plenty of Military WW2 history as the battery's are still there where they had big guns to keep the Japanese out... It's a good place to get a great picture of the bay, golden gate bridge, city..

quote:

Originally posted by konata88:
I have some friends visiting San Francisco. Nit sure what they want to do yet, including young kids.

I familiar with the geography but haven’t been to SF in 5 years.

What’s the risk level these days? Can I drive my truck, take them around and stay overnight? Or should i rent a car and get full insurance?

Any districts in particular to avoid absolutely? Risky? Okay?

When I did some work with some partners downtown at the Federal Building a couple years ago it was a cesspool. Tons of homeless near any government assistance facility. Trash everywhere, styrofoam food containers and food the homeless didnt want all over the streets.

Rental car company made us sign that we wouldn't leave valuables in the car or leave the windows up. As they would certainly be broken.

We worked out escorts and parking within the Agency fences at one point.

Not everywhere was this bad. But last I saw the Piers were nothing like they used to be 10-12 years ago when I visited them. Most businesses were closed. Admittedly I didn't make it there on my most recent trip so that may be overexaggerated reporting.

I would never voluntarily go there.

Watch where you walk - it ain't dog shit.

For souvenirs, bring back a jar of San Francisco diamonds and their special nutella.

quote:

Originally posted by konata88:

Can I drive my truck?

Is it a Tesla CyberTruck?

I usually take people on the 49 scenic mile drive loop. It includes twin peaks, lombard street, presidio, base of Golden Gate bridge, Sutro baths, Golden Gate park.

The Gay Bay?

If you accidentally drop your wallet your best move is to kick your wallet all the way to the Nevada state line, then you can bend over and pick up your wallet.

(with all apologies to our members who live there)
.

Sounds like a dream vacation.

Ugh. So, sounds like I'm not taking my truck. Not worth the risk. And I'm not leaving the doors unlocked / windows down even if it's empty. BTW, that advice is oddly counter-intuitive but reasonable. Still won't like to do it w/ a personal car. So, if I go, it'll be w/ a rental.

I've never used uber/lyft. Hopefully if it's needed, they have it. But doubtful.


I'm not sure what they would like to do in SF; I can't think of anything I'd want to do / place to go. I think crabs would be nice. Scomas? I don't think they would be interested in Alcatraz. Or shop walking around (pier 39).

How about amusement park? Is Six Flags / Marine World still around? The kids may be interested.

Maybe DeYoung Museum?

Stay away from: tenderloin, union square, financial, soma, mission, haight. Not much to do in north beach or nob hill or fillmore (esp for kids). Maybe Chrissy Field Beach?

They'll be here multiple days but I can only occupy them for a half day (chrissy field, deyoung museum). After that, SF is a bust. Not sure why they want to visit. It might be work related and tacking on a vacation.

Maybe encourage them to go elsewhere. Tahoe or something.

The whole place sucks. That being said, I am going there next week to a particular store, buy what I wanted and GTFO.

what could you possibly need to buy that requires you to go into hell?

I don't know how to talk my friends out of visiting SF. At the least, I probably need to offer an alternative. But for them, I wouldn't go. And now I want to avoid even more. Definitely not taking my car.

quote:

Originally posted by konata88:
what could you possibly need to buy that requires you to go into hell?

I don't know how to talk my friends out of visiting SF. At the least, I probably need to offer an alternative. But for them, I wouldn't go. And now I want to avoid even more. Definitely not taking my car.

Theres a Dainese flagship store (motorcycle gear) that I want to go get fitted at. After that I skip town

quote:

Originally posted by OKCGene:
The Gay Bay?

If you accidentally drop your wallet your best move is to kick your wallet all the way to the Nevada state line, then you can bend over and pick up your wallet.

(with all apologies to our members who live there)
.

Gay dudes are the least of your worries in SF.

quote:

Originally posted by Rey HRH:
I usually take people on the 49 scenic mile drive loop. It includes twin peaks, lombard street, presidio, base of Golden Gate bridge, Sutro baths, Golden Gate park.

That is the best suggestion for folks who want to see San Francisco.

I lived in S.F. through high school and that is what we did when folks visited and wanted to "see The City"

It's a easy drive, very safe, and hits all the highlights of the city.