Unusual or quirky things to do in San Francisco
 

I'm coming to SFO next week, arriving Saturday 5th,leaving Friday 11th. I've been many times before, but something keeps drawing me back :)
The thing is , I've done all the things in the tourist guides that I want to do, and am quite happy to just chill and soak up the ambiance but does anyone have any suggestions for any activities more off the beaten track. I will be relying on my Muni passport to get around so nothing too complicated . Any suggestions?

Chris

Try going to sfweekly.com and use the "best of" drop down menu at the top. You should be able to find something there.

http://www.anchorbrewing.com/

Take the tour. Reservations required. Free tasting after the tour.

Search out the "Man in Bush" near Fisherman's Wharf.

Rent a scooterbuggy and ride round the City in that.

Drive over the Bridge during sunset.

Have Sunday lunch near the marina at Tiburon, overlooking the Bay.

Check out Napa Valley for winetasting and end up at www.indianspringscalistoga.com for a massage and great food.

Have a bonfire on Ocean Beach

Check out books on sexuality in Haight-Ashbury bookstores

Do Amoeba Records very slowly -- try to find a least on disc that you have been searching years to find

Take a jog around the track at Kezar Stadium just as the sun is breaking

Try to buy the most offbeat and unsual Russian thing you can find from a store on Clement Street

Smack a golf ball around Lincoln Park Golf Course

Try chou doufu (fermented tofu) at the Star Lunch diner on Jackson Street in Chinatown

1. Cement slides in the Eureka Valley/Buena Vista Park area (described in another thread in this forum - should be searchable).

2. Kabuki Springs communal baths in Japan Town. www.kabukisprings.com. Alternates between men's and women's days - check the schedule online.

3. Baker beach. Note that much of this beach is a nude beach. However, the views of the GG bridge and boat traffic under the gate are fantastic and the nudity factor means you won't see so many tourists.

4. Ferry to Angel Island for hiking/biking.

Tour SF on a Segway
 

A friend recently mentioned that she took visitors on a guided Segway tour of San Francisco and had a GREAT time:

http://www.electrictourcompany.com/index.html

Tim

If you are not easily offended, you might go on the "El Corazón de la Missión" tour. It's listed on this web page:

http://www.thelab.org/

Oh, god, please not that. I hate those things -- they hold up traffic and the drivers are usually so distracted sightseeing that they're an accident waiting to happen.[/QUOTE]

--deleted--

Check out post 110 here in reference to the Seward Street Slides.
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showt...=302299&page=3

Here is a related thread http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=465422

I like the idea of "just chill and soak up the ambiance."

Consider rooftop gardens. These are typically open to the public on weekdays between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m., and can be a great place to eat lunch, read, relax, or just watch people. For example:

• Roof Garden at 1 Montgomery. Enter the Crocker Galleria at 50 Post, go up to the third floor, and find the entrance on the east side. Want something a little more obscure? From the northwest corner of the third floor, there are stairs to the Roof Terrace of 161 Sutter.
• Sun Terrace at 343 Sansome. The fastest access is through Sacramento St., but the Sansome St. entrance has an interesting display of historic artifacts. Take an elevator to the 15th floor. The Sun Terrace is small, and fairly uncomfortable, but there are some interesting photo opportunities.
• 100 First St. Steps lead up from [the south side of] Mission St.
• Garden Terrace at 150 California (north side, between Front and Davis). Go to the rear elevator bank, get off on the sixth floor. There's a shaded (supposed to be) non-smoking area.

Unusual: Tourists may think Westfield San Francisco Centre (Market & 5th Streets) is just another shopping mall. But, how many other places can you ride curved escalators?

Quirky: Most of the cemetaries were dug up years ago, and their occupants relocated (to Colma), but the San Francisco Columbarium's remains remain.

Off the beaten path: The 16th Avenue Tiled Steps put art at your feet.

Soak up: London Wine Bar ("America's First Wine Bar") gives you a peek into the last century; VinoVenue shows you how it's done in this one.

visit the wild parrots of SF up on telegraph hill

Visit the Cable Car Museum its a lot more interesting than it sounds :)
Also make sure to walk down to Pier 39 to see the sea-lions.

mike