Been lurking again for a while, but in the need for some opinions
I am taking 2 weeks off work in early October and I’m thinking about a trip to San Francisco and Vancouver. I was thinking of the 2 centre thing because they are both cities I’ve wanted to see for some time but can’t really hop over the Atlantic more than every few years - thought I could tick 2 boxes in one trip.
I was thinking of leaving the UK on the 2nd, and then flying to Vancouver on the 7th, and then leaving Vancouver on the 14th - so I’d get 4 full days in San Francisco and 6 full days in Vancouver.
Should I get a good overview of each place in this time? Or should I split up my time differently? Equally as importantly, could you please suggest things I could do when I get there?
In San Francisco I will definately be checking out the Golden Gate Bridge, Alcatraz and Fisherman’s Wharf but not quite sure how much more I would fit into my time there, what shouldn’t I miss?
In Vancouver I would like to see Grouse Mountain and walk the Capilano Suspension Bridge. I have also seen day trips to Victoria to go whale watching.
I will be travelling with my parents, we all like similar things really. I really love sight seeing, and I am a big fan of good Zoos/Aquariums. We all like shopping (low to medium price range - not really high end designer clothes). We also quite like museums, but not looking to spend the whole of the time indoors. The only thing my Dad needs to enjoy a holiday is a good Jazz Club, but they can be quite hard to find sometimes, so particularly with this one if you had any suggestions I’d be really grateful.
You are visiting two of the best cities in the world for food. Make sure to visit a Korean BBQ in Vancouver and keep an eye out for a Japadog cart. Dim Sum in SF is the best! And don’t pass up a visit to the Castro District. As a straight male I have to say this is the best place for shopping and eating in SF if you’re a guy. Check out the hardware/vintage toy store and the hot cookie shop next to the Castro Theater. Women’s shoe, clothing, and jewelry stores are wonderfully absent.
Whale watching is something you don’t need to leave the mainland to do, unless you’d like to see Victoria anyhow.
The Capilano Suspension bridge is an overpriced tourist trap, especially considering the Lynn Valley Suspension Bridge is the same thing and free. The lonely shots of one or two people on the Capilano bridge that are always on pamphlets are incredibly rare. Generally, there are dozens and dozens of people on the bridge at any given time. You usually must elbow your way through a crowd to cross it, especially if the weather is nice.
Japadog now has a permanent location inside a building as well as the roving carts. Makes it a lot easier to find. As well, the link lists the last location of the carts along with the address of the store. I highly recommend Japadog. They aren’t just hot dogs.
See Stanley Park, especially if you don’t make it over to the island. You’ll get your fill of giant trees, manicured gardens, tangled rainforest and some of the best views of downtown Vancouver and North Vancouver. There’s a lot to do inside the park - concerts, tours, cultural attractions (like the totem poles), historical attractions (like the 9 o’clock gun) and the Vancouver Aquarium (which I cannot talk up enough).
Grouse Mountain is pretty amazing, although I’m not sure what the weather is like up there in early October. Although, you could warm up pretty easily doing the Grouse Grind. The gondola ride back down will offer some pretty epic views, especially in the evening.
Six days should be more than enough to get over your jet lag and get a feel for the city.
I used to live in Victoria and I’ve been whale watching a few times.
While seeing dozens of whales in their natural habitat is undoubtedly amazing, the boat ride out to their location can be hellish. The boats are built-up zodiacs that just fly across the water and you will bounce around like a ping-pong ball, sometimes for an hour or more, each way. Also, with the speed of the boat, the spray, and the open ocean there is a good chance you will freeze your butt off, even in summer, despite the survival suits. So, watching whales: very cool. Boat ride to whales: taxing.
When in Vancouver you should drive up to Whistler if you have time. The drive along the coast is stunning, and when in Whistler you can take the Peak to Peak gondola. Totally amazing.
If it is not raining, there is a restaurant on the top of Grouse mountain that is great and has a stunning view. (can’t think of the name right now). The other cool thing is the gondola ride is free if you have restaurant reservations.
There are more fantastic restaurants in Vancouver than you can shake a stick at.
If you visit Gas Town or China Town after dark, be careful of where you park and walk. The main tourist areas are safe, but that is a rough end of town.
Visit Grandville Island. Come before lunch and buy fresh food at the market. Or hit one of the restaurants on the island.
You should check out the past threads about what to see in San Francisco, we’ve had one about every 6 months.
To address some of your specifics, if you are limited to staying in San Francisco then theCalifornia Academy of Science and the DeYoung Museum are across the concourse from each other in Golden Gate Park. CAS is a science museum/aquarium and the DeYoung is an art museum. However, if you can get down to Monterey, the Monterey Aquarium is considered better by many people. Also, there are other large museums in SF like the Legion of Honor and the Asian Art museum.
I always advise visitors to get out of the touristy areas for at least an afternoon. Go to North Beach or the Castro or the Mission or Noe Valley or Cow Hallow or SOMA or… The tourist attractions are fun, but don’t give you a feel for the REAL city. Also, ditch the car (or don’t rent one for the days you are actually staying in SF) and walk/MUNI/cab all over the place. It’s hilly, but only seven miles on side (49 sq.miles in area) so you can go every where without the expense and hassle of a car.
Be sure to visit the Ferry Building. Food everywhere and they have a farmers market 2 days a week.
Personally, I would budget 6 days in SF, and spend 3 days in the city and the other 3 depends on your interests. If you are interested in wine, then head to the wine country (Napa/Sonoma). If you are more a coastal person, then head for Monterey/Big Sur/Hearst Castle. If you are a big nature fan, then go southeast to Yosemite or north to the redwoods.
