Trip Report 5/9-5/12

Arrived at OAK and took BART to Powell Street Exit. We had two large rolling bags and it was an easy trip and easy walk up 4 blocks or so to Sutter St to the Hotel Rex.

The Hotel Rex was great and you can’t beat the location or the value. We paid $250 total for three nights there booked through the hotel website. We had a Deluxe Queen room on the fourth floor. Not much of a view but we had two windows so it was plenty bright. The room didn’t feel small or cramped and there was plenty of space in the bathroom as well. Our queen bed was comfy and we slept great even though we are used to a king at home. Our room had a window AC unit which we used every night. When we arrived in our room we had a letter stating that the elevator would be in service during our stay from about 10am – 4pm each day. We never encountered the elevator being out of service, full, or not working and it always came promptly. There is also a wide, open staircase right next to the elevator (so not like a stair well) that we used as well. I really liked the hotel décor. Some people complain that it is too dark, but I think it is very fitting for the theme of the hotel. The library/bar area is even larger and more spacious than appears in the pictures on their website. There was also a room off the lobby with two computers with free internet access and free printing capabilities. The staff was also very helpful with any questions we had. The hotel offered a complimentary wine hour from 5 to 6 every evening. We went each evening for a wine. Can’t beat a free drink or two before dinner. I would definitely recommend this hotel, both for the value and location, and would stay here again in a heartbeat on our next visit to San Francisco. (photos posted in my hotel review)

After checking in at the hotel (our room was available early at 12:30pm) we headed to Chinatown for a dim sum lunch. We ended up at City View. Since we arrived pretty late the place was virtually empty. But they immediately began bringing out the food options. They are a Cantonese style restaurant and we had lots of steamed dumplings to choose from as well as sesame chicken and a couple fried choices. 7 or 8 different choices and $35 later we were stuffed. This was our first dim sum experience so I can’t really compare this restaurant but we really enjoyed the food here.

We spent the next hour exploring Chinatown and the shops. We walked by the Fortune Cookie factory but it didn’t look like much to see.

We went to Union Square to people watch for a while then headed back to the hotel for wine and to relax before dinner. We also stopped at Walgreen’s right near the hotel to purchase our 3 day Muni passes, which we completely got our money’s worth riding the cable cars about 6 times a day as well as taking the city bus once.

Dinner tonight was at North Beach Restaurant. The food (pasta and veal) was good but not especially memorable. The Caesar salad was quite good though. Fairly quiet restaurant and attentive staff.

The next morning we ate breakfast at the café Persimmon right next door to the hotel. Quick and reasonably priced at $18 for pancakes, omelets and orange juice. Then we hopped on the cable car headed to Fisherman’s wharf for our 10:45 am Alcatraz tour. I’d booked the tickets about a month beforehand through Blue %26amp; Gold Fleet. We really enjoyed Alcatraz and spent about 3 hours exploring the island, doing the audio tour and listening to a talk given by a guide working on the island. When we got back from Alcatraz we had lunch at Boudin Café, which is not the same as the Boudin Bistro on top of the sourdough factory/tour place (whose menu looked overpriced, $14 for a hamburger). We had good sandwiches and soda for about $20. We then headed over to Pier 39. We walked passed all the tourist shops but didn’t stop at any. The sea lions at the Pier are the coolest things there and we’d consider them a don’t miss.

From Pier 39 we headed to Ghirardelli Square for ice cream, then Lombard Street, then back to the hotel.

Tonight’s dinner was at Frascati. This was our absolute favorite dining experience of our whole trip, including Napa. The food and service were both amazing and the place is really cute and quiet, which seams hard to find in SF. Highly recommend this restaurant to anyone who knows and enjoy good, unique food.

The next day we again had breakfast at Persimmon and then headed down to Fisherman’s wharf. We rented bikes from Blazing Saddles and made the trip on bike across the Golden Gate bridge down to Sausalito. The bike ride was quite fun, but I soon realized I may be a little afraid of heights. Riding over the Golden Gate Bridge is a little scary with the wind blowing and people and other bikers going by. Plus the railing just seems so low! But otherwise it was a great time and nice to get a little exercise. We stopped for lunch at 7 Seas Restaurant in Sausalito. My Greek pizza was good and DH’s reuben sandwich was just mediocre. We walked around the town some then took the ferry back to SF and then headed back to the hotel after dropping our bikes back off.

Dinner tonight was at the Slanted Door. I was a little put off immediately by having to wait about 10 minutes for our 8pm reservation and then waiting another 15 minutes at the table before anyone came over to even take a drink order or bring water. But where service lacked the food made up for. Once we finally got a waiter he was very helpful in explaining the menu and helped us make some great choices. The Shaking beef and Halibut were both delicious. My DH even liked the snap peas, and this is someone who doesn’t like veggies. The place is extremely loud and very open. Don’t expect to have a private conservation here and be ready to have to listen to your neighbors conversations. Overall, good place, I think I’d recommend this more to a group of people then a couple.

We headed back to the hotel bar and enjoyed a drink and lively conversations with some SF locals.

Our final morning we walked over two blocks to pick up our rental car from Dollar rental. Easy check in and they upgraded us to the next size car for free.

Packed up the car and headed to Napa…..

(I’ll continue my Napa review on the Napa Board)

Trip Report 5/9-5/12

Great report- glad you had a good time.

Your point about a fear of heights and the GG Bridge is a good one. I didn%26#39;t think my vertigo would be an issue until I tried to walk across the bridge with my family a few years ago, and found that I just couldn%26#39;t do it. Made it as far as the first tower and had to make my way back. There%26#39;s no logical reason for it- you%26#39;re as safe there as on any sidewalk- but the combination of sights and sensations tricked my rather feeble mind into thinking I was falling off the thing. Just a warning for those of a similar mind!

Trip Report 5/9-5/12

Just read your Napa review and it seems we have the same trip planned (2 nights in SF and 3 nights in Napa) so I really appreciate the info.

Quick question: we%26#39;re also planning on biking the GG Bridge. Can you tell me how long it took you to actually get accross the bridge? Also, was it confusing figuring out how to get to Sausalito? I wouldn%26#39;t think so, but my friend did this a couple of years ago and actually ended up getting LOST for two hours on her way to Sausalito. I like to think I%26#39;m a little more ';with it'; than she is, but who knows?

Thanks again for all the great feedback!

I got such a buzz reading your report, it was great. Thanks for the warning about the bridge. I didn%26#39;t cross it on my last visit, but it was an idea for Sept...I may well chicken out now!

Great trip report! You caught a great weather window!

Regarding biking across the bridge: you really shouldn%26#39;t have a problem getting from the bridge to Sausalito. There%26#39;s really only one way you can go from the Vista point (You have to cross UNDER the bridge to get to the Vista point. Maybe your friend went straight ahead and got stuck on the wrong side of the highway?) Just follow the Alexander Drive. You can take a ferry back from there, or continue on to Tiburon or Larkspur and catch ferries there.

If you rent from Blazing Saddles they will provide you with a map. If you don%26#39;t rent from them, go to their website, www.blazingsaddles.com, and study the map.

macjack - I didn’t think that I had a big fear of heights until riding over the bridge. But I almost didn’t want to keep going and there’s no way I would have gone back across. After the first tower I just kind of moved to the middle of the sidewalk, went really slow and kept my eyes straight ahead of me. I’m sure all the real bikers flying by me were getting mad I was in the middle of the sidewalk going so slow!

CMG – It took us from about 11am to 1:45 to get from Blazing Saddles near the Hyde cable car line to Sausalito. This includes stopping several times for photos. We had planned on going all the way to Tiburon but it took a little longer than we expected and the ferries don’t run all that frequently from there. I’ll also warn you there are some unexpected hills on the way to the bridge. I got a little worn out going up some and I’m in good shape. But I saw all types of people, old and young, riding across the bridge, so it’s definitely doable. It should be pretty easy getting to Sausalito, once you pass the “rest area/lookout” (where we stopped to use the potty) just follow the bike trail and stay to your right. The bike trail ends and you’re riding on what looks like a rural road downhill, which looks a little strange at first, but it’s the right direction. Just stay from the highway and you’ll be heading the right direction. Have a great trip!

Cavaletta – we did have awesome weather! We had just come from San Diego where everyone says is beautiful all the time and it was cold and cloudy there so it was so nice to have warm sunny days in SF and in Napa!

Thank you, thank you, thank you!

Actually, I think I remember my friend saying she went left instead of staying right... either way, I%26#39;ll be sure to take a lclose ook at that map beforehand.

DH and I are in pretty good shape, but I%26#39;m glad you mentioned the height as well -- hadn%26#39;t even thought of that. DH is a *little* afraid of heights, but he never turns down a challenge so it should be pretty interesting to see him bike accross (lol). Can%26#39;t wait to post about that experience when we get back ; )

I never thought about the hights on the bridge. The rail doesn%26#39;t seem particularly low to me.

On weekends bikes are only allowed on the outside of the bridge (the ocean side). That makes the ride a bit easier because you aren%26#39;t dodging people. I think you can ride on the ocean side on week days too. You don%26#39;t get the views of the bay and the city from that side, but it%26#39;s an easier ride. Just remember, as soon as you get the chance, go down the steps and under the bridge, coming back up on the side by Vista Point. You%26#39;ll get your fill of views from there.

And please please please, wear a helmet! Yes, you will get helmet hair. But you%26#39;ll also be so much safer with all those drivers who are unfamiliar with the area.

The only hilly part is going up to the bridge and it%26#39;s no problem at all if you want to get off and push it up there.

The Tiburon ferry takes a smaller number of bikes and when the last one leaves you will be stuck riding back. There will be serious hills on the return.

Have a great time! It%26#39;s one of my favorite ways to spend the day.

Just a comment about the Golden Gate Bridge. May, 1987, I believe was the 50th anniversary of the Golden Gate Bridge. I can%26#39;t find the picture, but on that date, someone took a picture of the bridge from the side with the 600,000 people that took the ';Bridge Walk'; that day. The bridge had an incredible sag in the middle and later engineers stated that the bridge shouldn%26#39;t have held up but it did. Guess I can have that extra dessert after all.

The 50th anniversary of the GG Bridge was May 1986. The Oakland-San Francisco Bay Bridge had had its 50th anniversary just a few months earlier in November 1985.

Amazing it is that there were two major, major bridge construction projects that were completed in the middle of the Great Depression.