# Getting around San Francisco **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [March 25, 2012, 2:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/getting-around-san-francisco/616764 "2012-03-25T14:56:38Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 13\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![ginman999](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e495f1/32.png) [@ginman999](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ginman999)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2012, 2:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/getting-around-san-francisco/616764/1 "2012-03-25T14:56:38Z")
I’m staying at a hotel in the Fisherman’s Wharf district of San Francisco. I have a pass that’s good for the Muni and the cable cars. If I wanted to go to a beach from there, what would a good beach for sightseeing be and how would I get there cheaply? Also how much time should I allow? ---
**Author:** ![SpoilerVirgin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4491bb/32.png) [@SpoilerVirgin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SpoilerVirgin)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2012, 3:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/getting-around-san-francisco/616764/2 "2012-03-25T15:16:38Z")
If you’re talking about going to a beach on the Pacific Ocean (as opposed to just a beach area on the Bay, which you should be able to find within walking distance of your hotel), then you will need to cross the entire width of San Francisco. You’ll want to visit Ocean Beach, which is accessible by the N Judah Muni line, and various Muni buses. You can go to the website [511.org](http://511.org), put in your hotel address for the start, and Ocean Beach for the end point, and get transit directions. It will probably take at least two buses/trains and about an hour to cross the city. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2012, 4:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/getting-around-san-francisco/616764/3 "2012-03-25T16:38:56Z")
What kind of sight seeing are you thinking about in relation to a beach? Ocean Beach is the obvious choice in the city, but if you want to venture out into a more scenic local, try [Stinson Beach](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stinson_Beach) or Half Moon Bay. ---
**Author:** ![Sandra\_Battye](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sandra_battye/32/552_2.png) [@Sandra\_Battye](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sandra_Battye)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2012, 4:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/getting-around-san-francisco/616764/4 "2012-03-25T16:56:50Z")
There’s also [Baker Beach](http://www.parksconservancy.org/visit/park-sites/baker-beach.html). It has a view of the Golden Gate, which you don’t get from Ocean Beach. Or [China Beach](http://www.parksconservancy.org/visit/park-sites/china-beach.html), slightly different view. Those are all ocean-facing beaches. Do you want bay-facing views? Aquatic beach is probably the most convenient. ---
**Author:** ![Mr\_Downtown](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Mr\_Downtown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr_Downtown)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2012, 6:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/getting-around-san-francisco/616764/5 "2012-03-25T18:05:48Z")
You don’t say what kind of sightseeing you have in mind, but remember that these are not warm-water beaches. The air temperature rarely reaches 70ºF, and the water temperature is less than 60ºF. ---
**Author:** ![thelurkinghorror](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7c8e57/32.png) [@thelurkinghorror](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thelurkinghorror)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2012, 6:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/getting-around-san-francisco/616764/6 "2012-03-25T18:10:57Z")
What do you want to do at the beach? You **do not** want to go into the water. It will be freezing. Many beaches have good sightseeing. You can fish for free if its off a pier (not shore & if you have the gear) I think Pier 7 and the Municipal Pier have one. There a nice beaches in the East and North bays if you want to travel. Also down south, e.g. Half Moon Bay is pretty, but transportation is rough without a car. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2012, 6:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/getting-around-san-francisco/616764/7 "2012-03-25T18:51:47Z")
> [@thelurkinghorror](#): > > …transportation is rough without a car. Welcome to California! ---
**Author:** ![Woodenspoon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/bc79bd/32.png) [@Woodenspoon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Woodenspoon)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2012, 2:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/getting-around-san-francisco/616764/8 "2012-03-26T02:39:53Z")
Lol yea better to go shopping/china town and the rest, golden gate park, the california academy of sciences, and the exploratorium, sf beach is cold and windy and unpleasant, you go there to take a picture of the bridge and leave. ---
**Author:** ![Giles](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/giles/32/60_2.png) [@Giles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Giles)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2012, 3:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/getting-around-san-francisco/616764/9 "2012-03-26T03:00:39Z")
The closest beach to Fisherman’s Wharf is in walking distance: [here](http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&q=from:+37.807245,-122.422833), about 3 blocks away. However, I wouldn’t go swimming there, though it’s worth going just to take a quick look. ---
**Author:** ![Jeff\_Lichtman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jeff_lichtman/32/1531_2.png) [@Jeff\_Lichtman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jeff_Lichtman)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2012, 8:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/getting-around-san-francisco/616764/10 "2012-03-26T08:50:57Z")
Not only is the water cold at Ocean Beach, but there is a dangerous undertow there. I recommend against swimming there. Stinson beach is a better choice for swimming, although it’s harder to get to. Is it your goal to see a beach, or are you mainly interested in seeing the ocean? If it’s the latter you could go to Fort Point or the Sutro Baths. ---
**Author:** ![Senegoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senegoid/32/6606_2.png) [@Senegoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Senegoid)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2012, 9:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/getting-around-san-francisco/616764/11 "2012-03-26T09:55:18Z")
FYI, there is a very recent thread [here](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=644603) full of sight-seeing suggestions in and around San Francisco. ---
**Author:** ![SanDiegoTim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/85e7bf/32.png) [@SanDiegoTim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SanDiegoTim)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2012, 11:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/getting-around-san-francisco/616764/12 "2012-03-26T23:24:00Z")
The Mini won’t get you there, but one of the best is a short (1.5 mile) hike out Tennessee Valley Road. Golden Gate Transit will get you some of the way, but a car is most practical. The hike is flat and through land you wouldn’t expect so near a major city. Generally speaking, it’s between Sausalito and Mill Valley. As noted earlier, Stinson is nice, too. Especially the ride up and over Mt Tam. ---
**Author:** ![Yorikke](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yorikke/32/4335_2.png) [@Yorikke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yorikke)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2012, 1:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/getting-around-san-francisco/616764/13 "2012-03-27T01:00:59Z")
Take the N-Judah to the end of the line. Ocean Beach is directly in front of you. To the right (while looking at the ocean), up Great Highway, is the Cliff House, which has OK, but expensive, food, and great scenic ocean views. Diamond Heights offers some fantastic views of the city, but I forget what bus takes you there.