- Plan a Perfect Week
- Enhancing Romance
- San Francisco Tours
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- Pacific Coast Tours
- Hitchcock Movies
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- Tours with more than 7
- Staycations
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A Friend in Town
The Premier Personalized Tour Service for the San Francisco Bay Area
We can pick you up anywhere within 90 minutes’ drive of San Francisco — at your home, hotel, or the airport!
Planning Ahead
What to Wear in Our Climate
San Francisco is noted for the year-round mildness of its weather; however, many visitors find it chilly, especially on its frequent windy days and after dark. The entire Bay Area (including San Jose, Berkeley, Silicon Valley, the Wine Country, etc.) has dozens of micro-climates whose characteristics relate to distance from the ocean, topographical features, and how the fog chooses to entertain us.
Temperatures can vary more than 20° between breakfast and dinner. Your comfort can often depend on where exactly in the region you are headed on a given day and which activities you plan to enjoy. Generally speaking, layered clothing usually works best, that is, light to medium-weight, long-sleeved, full-length casual wear. If you're sensitive to changes in temperature, leave your shorts and tank tops at home. Bring a nice sweater, hoodie or windbreaker for daytime outings and a jacket or blazer for special evenings out. If you're visiting the Wine Country and are going into caves where wines are stored, carry a shawl or something similar that will keep the chill at bay.
Our tours assume that you are a reasonably fit pedestrian, although length and difficulty of walks are up to you; in any case, a pair of broken-in walking shoes is highly recommended. An umbrella, rain hat or light poncho is advisable for November through April; if you're in the habit of wearing sunglasses, you'll want to bring them (or a sun visor) as well. For people particularly sensitive to cold, bring a light coat to help preserve body heat in the evening and when traveling over water or in a forest.
In this mostly informal region, suits, ties and dressier evening wear are welcome — though usually not required — at the opera, symphony or in most upscale restaurants.
A Chart of Suggested Activities
These are activities for which we suggest planning and/or reservations well in advance of your visit…especially if you intend to be here on any holiday weekend, or April through November, follows.
These time frames are approximations. A lucky visitor may find available tickets (or seating, an appointment, etc.) on the same day of a desired activity or event; but that outcome would be the exception.
| Activity or Event | Description (Location) | Planning Time Frame | Contact |
|---|---|---|---|
Ahwahnee Hotel (Yosemite National Park) |
most beautiful park lodge in the nation--to stay, or to dine there | (for lodging) a year ahead for peak season; otherwise, several months ahead | nationalparkreservations.com /yosemite.htm |
| Alcatraz Island Tour | famous prison complex (in San Francisco Bay) | 2-3 weeks | alcatrazcruises.com |
| Boulevard | Art Nouveau-style French restaurant (San Francisco) | 2-3 weeks | boulevardrestaurant.com |
| Chez Panisse | Original "California Cuisine" (Berkeley) | 3-4 weeks | chezpanisse.com |
| "Critical Mass" | impromptu bicycle ride through streets of San Francisco | last Friday (~5:30 pm) of each month | Meets at Justin Hermann Plaza (downtown SF)...must bring your own bike (rentable) |
| The French Laundry | top-rated haute cuisine restaurant $$$$ (Yountville, Napa Valley) | Exactly two months prior to the date, begin dialing | (707) 944-2380 |
| San Francisco City Pass | public transit, museums, etc. at discount | buy on arrival | citypass.com |
| Massage/mud bath in Calistoga | various spas (Napa Valley) | 2 weeks | ask us for suggestions |
| Paramount Theater Tour | spectacular Art Deco-style movie palace | 1st & 3rd Saturdays A.M., or by arrangement | paramounttheater.com |
| San Francisco Ballet | one of the nation's best troupes | 1-2 months | sfballet.org |
| San Francisco International Film Festival | first-run, first-rate, hard-to-find movies | April/May | sffs.org |
| San Francisco Opera | grand musical drama | 3-10 weeks | sfopera.com |
| San Francisco Symphony | orchestral excellence | 1-2 months | sfsymphony.org |
| The Slanted Door | Vietnamese restaurant (San Francisco) | 2-3 weeks | slanteddoor.com |
Tactile Dome at The Exploratorium |
a heightened experience of touch for ages 5-75 (San Francisco) | 3-4 weeks | exploratorium.com |
| Thep Phanom | Thai Restaurant (San Francisco) | 1-2 weeks | thepphanom.com |
| Trapeze Arts | classes & just fun (summer & weekends) Oakland & Sonoma County | several weeks | trapezearts.com |
| "West Coast Live" Radio | watch a radio (arts & culture variety) show live (San Francisco) | 2-3 weeks (Saturday mornings) | wcl.org |
| Yosemite: lodging in or near | indoors, or summer camping | 2-6 months | nationalparkreservations.com /yosemite |
| Yoshi's | premier jazz club (SF & Oakland) | 2-3 weeks for popular artists | yoshis.com |
| Whale-watching | San Francisco, or off the coast of the Peninsula | 2-3 weeks (during migration season) | oceanicsociety.org sanfranciscowhaletours.com sfbaywhalewatching.com |
In the Bay Area, one of the best resources for finding fascinating activities in which to participate, or to watch, is the San Francisco Chronicle's e-Guide. Check out our comedy clubs featuring both famous comedians and the up-and-coming, people to hike, run and bicycle with, folk and flamenco dancers, Film Noir, LGBT and Silent film festivals, kinky and mainstream nightlife possibilities....Come, enjoy the vacation of a lifetime!
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Unexpected Events
Yes, we do have earthquakes! here, but the probability of a significant temblor occurring during your visit is miniscule.
Anyone traveling a significant distance to reach our area is advised not to commit to a major pre-paid activity within 3-4 hours of his or her scheduled arrival time...your flight may be delayed due to fog, there may be traffic congestion coming in from the airport or across a bridge, etc. So you're settled into your hotel or friend's home but still have some nervous energy? Do something inexpensive and spontaneous: hop on a cable car and ride to the end of the line; enjoy the sunset from the closest panoramic viewpoint; enjoy dinner, drinks and dessert in or near your hotel. Or splurge on a shiatsu massage in your room, deliciously anticipating what you've planned your vacation to be.
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