What to do for one day in San Francisco?

[midnight armadillo]

I'll have one day off on a work trip to hang out in SF. My only firm plans are eating at the Stinking Rose restaurant. Any suggestions? I may rent a bike for the day too...is biking the Golden Gate bridge worth it?

[midnight armadillo]

1. bump

[JohnnyLib2]

2. We've walked it, great feeling.

The Ferry Building market is wonderful for browsing--one of the cable car lines is a couple of blocks away--we like to get off the one which crosses The Crookedest Street (Lombard) and get the views. If you keep moving, you can see many of the more famous areas in one day. Have a great time!

[Gormy Cuss]

7. Good suggestions.

For the OP:
The Ferry Building has many interesting food and services vendors. The California cable car line is closest to the Ferry Building and is the least crowded if you want to ride one for the experience.

For the Crookedest Street, it's the Powell & Hyde line. This line also takes you to the Fisherman's Wharf area where you can rent a bike.

Both cable car lines can be boarded on Market Street near the intersection of the street with the same name as the line.

eta: if you bike over the bridge you can take the Sausalito ferry back to the city and you'll end up near the Ferry Building.

[Swamp Rat]

3. Columbus Ave. near Washington Square Park has some cool pubs and book stores

Sts. Peter and Paul Churches, Coit Tower are some landmarks in the area, and there are a lot of great restaurants. If you have a bike, you can also ride along the Embarcadero to the S.F. Maritime Nat. Hist. Park.

[pinto]

4. Yes, it's a beaut. Pack a lunch for a picnic, SF side or Marin Co / Sausalito side.

Have a good one. :thumbsup:

[BlueCollar]

5. If you can manage it

dinner at "The Old Clam House" off Army street...

[KamaAina]

14. Army St. is now known as Cesar Chavez St.

An SF twofer: out with the military reference, in with the great union organizer!

[XemaSab]

6. You will not regret biking out to the GG bridge

That is a terrific call.

[hippywife]

8. The Exploratorium.

http://www.exploratorium.edu/visit/index.php

[pitohui]

9. i prefer strolling the bridge to biking it but if time is of the essence...

biking is a popular thing to do, and you will surely enjoy it, i prefer to stroll the bridge because i can stop more and take more pictures

sausolito is not there immediately at the end of the bridge, so there is still a bit of a walk to get to that lovely "nuclear free" town and enjoy the hip hop dancing cockatoo but it's a highly enjoyable outing

also there's a hill/mountain in the other direction where you actually look down on the bridge from the marin cty side and get GREAT movie-style photos of the bridge

many, many people DO bike one way and then take the ferry back, and i'm not sure why, because we did the walk easily in both directions so it seems that biking in both directions would be really super easy -- just do what you feel, it's a lovely excursion however you play it

[midnight armadillo]

12. We'd probably bike both ways

The bridge is 1.5 miles, and we each typically take 20+ mile rides for fun, so I think 3 miles is manageable. Too bad we can't rent recumbent bikes like we're used to, so a comfort bike will have to do! :)

[Gormy Cuss]

18. The hill is Conzelman Road

and I agree with you, pitohui -- great views of the bridge (and the city and the bay if there's no fog.)

To the OP: Conzelman is challenging -- aside from being a long uphill slog there'll be lots of nervous tourists driving on the same not-so-wide road, especially on the weekend but plenty of people do bike at least part of the way up.

Another bike route after the bridge would be to go to Fort Cronkhite. You can pick up the road just after crossing the bridge. The Rodeo lagoon is a beautiful spot for a picnic lunch. If you choose to go this way do pack some food and water because you'll be in the middle of nowhere but it's beautiful.
http://www.nps.gov/goga/planyourvisit/focr.htm

[Taverner]

10. Go see the beer nazi aka "The Toronado"

Right on the Haight. The staff is mean, but the beers here are out of this world.

[midnight armadillo]

13. That's quite a beer list

Very cool. I have bookmarked it!!
http://www.toronado.com/

[mopinko]

11. go to the beach chalet at the edge of golden gate park. have a great beer.

watch the sun set on the ocean. chill.

[Beer on a stick]

15. Museum of the Legion Of Honor, for starters.....

[madinmaryland]

16. You could catch a game at Barroid Memorial Park!

[thatsrightimirish]

17. I would go to the Ferry Building

Beautiful building, views, and great food. You can also ride your bike to check out the ballpark if you like doing that stuff.