One Night in San Francisco, coming from Lake Tahoe

Hello everybody. I%26#39;m visisting some of my girlfriend%26#39;s family in Lake Tahoe and we are thinking about possibly taking a very unplanned one night trip to San Francisco some time this coming weekend. Say Saturday May 20th for the sake of discussion.

Driving in through Sacramento, I thought our best bet would be park outside the city and take the BART in? Is this the way to go? Is it safe, say from the Pittsburg/Bay Station Bart Station?, park overnight?, travel into the city that day, stay at a priceline hotel, and take the BART back out of the city the next day? I was also considering coming in from the Richmond Bart station, but that looks like a more dangerous area? Any suggestions or advice about this idea or the Bart in general?

I do need to do a little more research myself, but any travel ideas into the city, things to see in one day (Fisherman%26#39;s Wharf area?), and priceline hotel areas of town for a 3/4 star hotel for $100 or under would be greatly appreciated. Thank YOU!

One Night in San Francisco, coming from Lake Tahoe

Don%26#39;t ride BART that often, but sounds like it could work. I might pass on Richmond. If you go to Pittsburg, maybe go further to Concord, Walnut Creek or Lafayette. Just make sure you don%26#39;t leave anything visible in the car.

As to Priceline, I would go for Union Square East or West. Do not choose Civic Center. Check

p070.ezboard.com/bpricelineandexpediabidding

for list of hotels used and prices paid by others, plus bidding strategy. I know a lot of people get the Hyatt Embarcadero in U S East. Choose 4 star and you%26#39;ll be OK.

Good Luck!

Be aware that Sunday, May 21 is Bay to Breakers. This could impact availability, and will generate lots of traffic after the race.

One Night in San Francisco, coming from Lake Tahoe

Hi! Don%26#39;t miss Pier 39 near Fisherman%26#39;s Wharf. I have a review and some photos posted here. If you can make it over to Union Square, it%26#39;s great for shopping. I have several photos of Union Square also in the review section if you want to check them out!

The Ferry Market Building is also not to miss! :)

Parking outside the city on one of the BART lines would be good. I%26#39;ve done it myself in the past. Overnight parking isn%26#39;t an issue in most stations, but on weekdays you have to vacate the spot in the morning because of the intense competition for spaces among commuters. Not an issue on weekends, as far as I know.

As for stations, I%26#39;d choose Pittsburg/Baypointe or closer in, like El Cerrito. I%26#39;d choose El Cerrito over Richmond, which is only one stop over. Haven%26#39;t been to the Pittsburg Baypointe station before, but I believe it%26#39;s fine. BART parking restrictions aren%26#39;t as strict as they are on weekdays. You%26#39;d likely get a ticket if it were a weekday.

I%26#39;d strongly suggest you double-check the BART site, www.bart.gov for parking policies, however.

It%26#39;s been a while since I%26#39;ve left my car on the East Bay side overnight, so I suppose it%26#39;s always possible that there could be changes in policies on use of the parking lot on weekends.

Thanks for the information. I never thought of perhaps traveling farther in along the BART route. I just figure it%26#39;s easier to not have a car in the city. Just expensive to park and I%26#39;m not going to use it in the city anyway. El Cerrito or Concord sounds good. Any other ideas would be appreciated. Thanks.