Travel Questions: San Francisco Bay Area

[The anti-cheesehead]

I'm going to Santa Rosa in a couple weeks for business and I'm flying into San Fran. I've been to SoCal countless times, but I've never been to San Fran or anywhere in NorCal.

Any suggestions of where to stop on the way from SFO to Santa Rosa to get good pics of the city? I mapquested my trip to Santa Rosa, and it appears that I'm going to take the Golden Gate bridge, does that sound right?

Thanks in advance for any responses.

[Monkey]

Your fairy godmother touched you with her magic wand, anti-cheeshead!

A VERY nice time to come out here, that's really great.

Indeed you'll cross the GG Bridge as you go up 101 North. You'll pass some very nice vista points on your way through and out of the city, but taking pix will not be so easy unless you're one of those daredevil driving photographers who dwell in our midst. But don't let the dirth of stopping spots deter you because there are splendid City views to be had just north of the Bridge, views that show the entire breathtaking ensemble. In fact, there are two viewing areas, one west and one east of the bridge. The latter was made by the Park Service a number of years ago, quite nice. However, in my opinion the better views can be had from the higher and more informal viewing area on the west side.

If that gig in Santa Rosa leaves you time for excursions, you're in luck as well. Petaluma on your way up to Santa Rosa (looks frightful from the freeway) has a lovely old city core. And of course there's the wine country! Quaint Sonoma and Healdsburg are just a skip & a jump away. Have a great time & ENJOY!

[The anti-cheesehead]

Originally Posted by Whose Homepage

Your fairy godmother touched you with her magic wand, anti-cheeshead!

A VERY nice time to come out here, that's really great.

Indeed you'll cross the GG Bridge as you go up 101 North. You'll pass some very nice vista points on your way through and out of the city, but taking pix will not be so easy unless you're one of those daredevil driving photographers who dwell in our midst. But don't let the dirth of stopping spots deter you because there are splendid City views to be had just north of the Bridge, views that show the entire breathtaking ensemble. In fact, there are two viewing areas, one west and one east of the bridge. The latter was made by the Park Service a number of years ago, quite nice. However, in my opinion the better views can be had from the higher and more informal viewing area on the west side.

If that gig in Santa Rosa leaves you time for excursions, you're in luck as well. Petaluma on your way up to Santa Rosa (looks frightful from the freeway) has a lovely old city core. And of course there's the wine country! Quaint Sonoma and Healdsburg are just a skip & a jump away. Have a great time & ENJOY!

Wow, thanks.

You really mean this is a good time to go there? I was in LA this time last year and it was really foggy. They called it marine layer and "June Gloom", even though it was April. I'll be travelling with my boss, and she wants me to drive, so maybe I'll have her take pictures with my camera out the window.

Does San Fran have June Gloom?

Also, are the viewing areas north of the GG bridge marked?

One last question, what's Santa Rosa like?

I'm really excited because I've never been to that part of CA, but I'm kind of pissed because most of the time I'll be in Santa Rosa doing really boring accounting work indoors.

[Palal]

Right now it's summer one day of the week (70s), and winter the next(High: 50s, Low: 30s-40s.) It can get pretty cold in Santa Rosa, because it's far away from the bay.

This route will may you a few minutes compared to 19th Avenue during rush hours and will give you the most spectacular view of the ocean and of the Sunset and Richmond districts of San Francisco.

Well, if you have a few extra minutes, and it's daytime and it's not foggy/raining (it shouldn't be foggy, don't know about rain) then you may want to take one of the following routes from the airport:

When you get your car, take I-380 Wast to I-280. Then get off at CA-1, the exit will be called "Pacifica." If my memory serves me right, it'll be the third exit after you merge onto I280.

Then, stay on CA1 until you see a sign for CA35 North (San Francisco). This is the second exit, after the merge. When the traffic from the first exit merges, you need to change lanes, and take the exit (sounds complicated, in reality it isn't, look at the map).
Then take 35 down the hill to John Muir Drive. Pass John Muir drive, and merge into the left lane. Lake merced will be on the right. At the stop sign, turn left.
Here's the map for this leg of the trip

You'll pass the zoo on your right. The ocean will be on your left. Take the great highway all the way up to Golden Gate Park. (do not go over 35, because the lights are timed at 35). You'll see the windmill on your right in Golden Gate Park.

At this point you have two options: get out for a few minutes and stretch your legs by the ocean if the weather's nice, or continue on to your destination.

Up on the hill will be the newly-restored cliff house (overlooking the ocean). Above, will be a vista point called Point Lobos.
Map for this leg of the trip

View from Point Lobos at night:


If you want to visit the Vista point and get an overview of the Golden Gate Park and/or the Richmond/Sunset districts, park somewhere around here

After this, take Geary Blvd to 34th Avenue, where you'll make a left. map
Park there, and take a few pictures of the Golden Gate Bridge and the city.

Then continue on down to Sea Cliff, where you'll see 10+ million-dollar homes.
You'll pass Robin Williams' house on your left map

From there, keep going straight, and you'll go right into the Presidio of San Francisco. Make sure not to speed here because the Park Police are VERY VERY stingy.
Follow Lincoln Blvd as it winds up the hill, and eventually you'll come to a 4-way stop. Go straight. Right after the stop, you'll pass under the freeway that's leading up to the Golden Gate Bridge. [map=http://maps.google.com/maps?q=El+Camino+Del+Mar+and+Sea+Cliff+Ave,san+francisco,+ca+to+Lincoln+Blvd+and+Vista+Access+Road,+san+francisco,+ca&hl=en]
You have two options: If you make two lefts, you'll get right onto the freeway. If you make a left and go straight, you'll end up at the Golden Gate bridge vista point.
OR if you have a few more minutes, go straight. As you round the curve, you'll get a very spectacular view of the city. map.
If you look at the map, there's a street called 'hoffman'. You can park along there for a few minutes if you want to get out and take a few shots.

From here, backtrack to the Golden Gate Bridge Vista Point and stop there if you wish. Otherwise, proceed onto the freeway map.

Proceed north on the Golden Gate Bridge. You can take the first exit after the bridge called 'vista point'. If you do, I still recomend visiting the following site:

Take the second exit (Alexander Ave), make a left at the stop sign, go under the bridge. After this, keep right. Go up the hill. At southern-most place, where you see many parked cars (sharp turn), do the same thing, and hike up to be as close to the GGB as you can. map.
This is the view you should get (looking south):
[img=http://www.hoffmann.caltech.edu/PlacesVisited/html0001/images/Golden%20Gate%20Bridge%20&%20SF%208-03.jpg]

A good part of the city will be visible.

After you're done, backtrack and go under the bridge. Get onto the freeway (101 North) and go your merry way to Santa Rosa. Petaluma does have a nice historic downtown, but there's not much to see there, IMO.



A few general notes:

I wouldn't attempt to go into downtown during PM peak hour because the traffic is slow trying to get onto the Bay Bridge. That's why I'd recomend using the route that I provided. If you are traveling at other times, you may want to visit downtown. Be forwarned, parking is scarse.

traffic on 101N is usually heaviest during PM peak hour. We have carpool lanes for 2+ occupants on 101N in some places, so be aware of that.

Traffic especially bogs down around Central San Rafael.

For traffic reports every 10 minutes on the 8s turn to KCBS, 740AM.

Sorry for the very long post.

Let me know if you have questions.

[The anti-cheesehead]

Wow! Thanks a lot!

[Apoc]

If you have time (and the courage..jk) to come to Oakland, do it! and ask where is the mormon church, you could take some awesome pics from there! IMO that is the best view you could ever get of the Bay
Have fun while you are here!

[Gladys8it]

Hi Anticheese, Palal gave you a good lowdown on places to go. :whisper:

I hope you have a great time in my city. Do give us the 411 when you get back.

Cheers!!

[612bv3]

Originally Posted by Masher

If you have time (and the courage..jk) to come to Oakland, do it! and ask where is the mormon church, you could take some awesome pics from there! IMO that is the best view you could ever get of the Bay
Have fun while you are here!

You really can't miss that church, you can see it from miles away when you're on 880. If you do go to the east bay, visit Berkeley. Plus you'll have a great view crossing the bridge back to SF.

Cheesehead, just going on Van Ness and Lombard will be satisfying, you'll be able to see the City Hall, Palace of Fine Arts and have a great view of the Golden Gate Bridge before you cross it. It really depends on how much time you have to go around. Drive down the Embarcadero, it's beautiful there.

[The anti-cheesehead]

Originally Posted by 612bv3

You really can't miss that church, you can see it from miles away when you're on 880. If you do go to the east bay, visit Berkeley. Plus you'll have a great view crossing the bridge back to SF.

Cheesehead, just going on Van Ness and Lombard will be satisfying, you'll be able to see the City Hall, Palace of Fine Arts and have a great view of the Golden Gate Bridge before you cross it. It really depends on how much time you have to go around. Drive down the Embarcadero, it's beautiful there.

I really don't think I'll have much time to drive around in the city. Basically, I know for sure that I'll see whatever is on the way from the airport to Santa Rosa. Looking at the mapquest map, it looks like I'll be driving through the city on the freeway.

I'll be happy if I can see a great view of the city from north of the GG bridge and eat an In & Burger. I always eat In & Burgers at least a couple times each visit to SoCal, so I'll be on the lookout, hopefully there will be one on the way. My co-worker who's already been out there had a chance to explore the city a little and said they saw quite a few interesting individuals. He saw some guy walking a hairless rat on a leash. That'd be great if I could get a pic of something like that. I'm going on the 25th and I'll share whatever pics I do get.

[sequoias]

Anti-cheesehead,

I lived in Santa Rosa for many years. That city is nice, it's more of a bedroom city than a stand alone city like SF, LA, San Jose, etc. Santa Rosa's tallest building is the retirement apartment highrise east of the city. There's not much height in the downtown buildings in Santa Rosa.

There are lots of coniferous forests in Northeast parts of the city. They have lot of cultivated redwoods growing all over the city, too. There are lot of hills in the east part of Santa Rosa. The summers in Santa Rosa can get real hot and get a bit cold at night sometimes. There's lot of grape vineyards (winery) mostly in north part of Santa Rosa all the way to Windsor region. US 101 swells to 6 lanes in South Santa Rosa going to junction of CA-12.

The population in Santa Rosa in 2004 is about nearly 160,000, largest city in Sonoma county.

Hope all those info help!

[612bv3]

Originally Posted by The anti-cheesehead

I really don't think I'll have much time to drive around in the city. Basically, I know for sure that I'll see whatever is on the way from the airport to Santa Rosa. Looking at the mapquest map, it looks like I'll be driving through the city on the freeway.

You wont be traveling on a freeway the whole trip cheesehead, there's no freeway south of the Golden Gate Bridge. You'll be forced to drive on Park Persidio (CA-1) or Van Ness Ave. /Lombard (US-101). That's what happens when people revolt against freeways. Go look on mapquest again.

[612bv3]

Here's a map for you to look at, the red lines are the freeways.

[Monkey]

A most excellent post by Palal up there!

Originally Posted by Palal

Proceed north on the Golden Gate Bridge. You can take the first exit after the bridge called 'vista point'. If you do, I still recomend visiting the following site:

Take the second exit (Alexander Ave), make a left at the stop sign, go under the bridge. After this, keep right. Go up the hill. At southern-most place, where you see many parked cars (sharp turn), do the same thing, and hike up to be as close to the GGB as you can

Glad Palal is good at directions, too ... this is the "west of the GG Bridge" vista point I recommended; imo it's far superior to the Parks Service one on the east side.


On the whole, people have given you some excellent advice here and good descriptions, anti-cheesehead. Santa Rosa itself may not be a dream destination ... I don't know the place, just that there's plenty of TRAFFIC, those people are out there in huge numbers in their cars/pickups/SUVs in force even early on Saturday morning! I recommend going north on 101 for perhaps 20 minutes & having dinner in Healdsburg on at least one occasion ... or two ...

[LAuniverse]

I won't tell you how the "surprise" of coming up into the city from the 101N happens but I'm sure other forumers know what I'm talking about.

[Monkey]

, LAuniverse!

And one more thing: don't be too concerned about fog, anti-cheesehead!

[The anti-cheesehead]

You guys are awesome.


"Proceed north on the Golden Gate Bridge. You can take the first exit after the bridge called 'vista point'. If you do, I still recomend visiting the following site:

Take the second exit (Alexander Ave), make a left at the stop sign, go under the bridge. After this, keep right. Go up the hill. At southern-most place, where you see many parked cars (sharp turn), do the same thing, and hike up to be as close to the GGB as you can"

So, do I take the first exit called vista point, or the second exit, Alexander Ave.?

Also, please tell me about the "surprise" coming into the city from 101N!!! I don't like surprises!

[Monkey]

Sorry, anti-cheeshead, you're a bit confused here (and maybe things *are* confusing).

We're talking about two different vista points. The 1st exit is the Park Service one, east of the Bridge. Take the Vista Point turnoff, park, get out & enjoy the view. Then get back on 101 North and take the Alexander Avenue exit. Proceed as outlined by Palal. Park and walk along the ridge and enjoy the great views on the other side of the Bridge. The vistas are fantastic, and you get the additional bonus of getting a feel for the landscape.

If you have the time, I say do them both because they're both great, and the difference is significant.

And don't worry! The surprises here are mainly visual and positive!

[The anti-cheesehead]

Originally Posted by Whose Homepage

Sorry, anti-cheeshead, you're a bit confused here (and maybe things *are* confusing).

We're talking about two different vista points. The 1st exit is the Park Service one, east of the Bridge. Take the Vista Point turnoff, park, get out & enjoy the view. Then get back on 101 North and take the Alexander Avenue exit.

It seems my post was lost. Which lookout is better, Vista Point, or Alexander Avenue?

[Monkey]

I go for Alexander Avenue, and so, it seems, does Palal (see his assessment in Post #4).

Actually the post in which I responded to your missing one has likewise gone bye-bye.

[Palal]

Also, if you're driving during Rush hour, avoid CA-1 (aka 19th Avenue). You're better off taking the route I gave you. It will take about the same time (provided you don't get out anywhere) and you'll get to see more.
19th is a 6-lane (3 each way) throughfare with nothing but cars.

To underscore my point, today there was an accident on Doyle Drive today (GGB approach) and all 'highway' approaches were jammed up. If people would've taken this route (and many have) they would have avoided traffic altogether.

Oh and one more thing. Unless you're suicidal or want an adrenaline rush, don't drive in the left lane on the GGB.

Can you tell us what day of the week you'll be flying in and approx. what time, so that we could help you avoid bottlenecks, etc.?