At the far western end of the Embarcadero -- if you follow the row of touristy shopping and restaurants from Fisherman's Wharf/Pier 39 -- you will find a small park (National Maritime Park, if I recall correctly) that belongs to the National Park Service and primarily consists of the park itself and the part of the bay in the immediate area. It is the only National Park with the majority of the park being water/beach. Also on the grounds is the National Maritime Park Museaum. It's full of neat exhibits relating to sailing and maritime trade and what-not, as well as some really cool panoramic pics of SF circa 1900 displayed side-by-side with pictures circa 1980. The Museaum itself is at the end of the beach and looks kinda like a docked ship (but it isn't). There is also a tall-ship (frigate of some kind I believe), that I think is part of the park and is accessable via the wharf at the eastern end of the park. The museaum is free, but I'm not sure if the ship itself is. If, in fact, it is part of the park it likely is, but you can inquire from the people overseeing the place.
Just south of the park/museaum and clearly visable from the beach is Ghiridelli Square -- a rather upscale cluster of shops and restaurants, but with a really cool view of the bay. The best view is from McKormick and Culleto's -- very pricey -- but also one of the best seafood restaurants that I've ever been too. There is also a 50s theme diner nextdoor that also has a good view and a terrace. Of course, there is a Ghiridelli Chocolates outlet there and some of the chocolate is well worth trying. They also usually hand out various samples. Mmm...Chocolate.
Chinatown is well-worth looking around. Just remember, that some of the best food will come from the smaller and usually dingier looking places. The Chinese tend to focus on the quality of the food first and amibiance second. The best restaurants that I've been to are along Stockton or Sacramento streets. Also, as I'm sure you know, the various "Benevolent" societies are typically anything but. They don't bother tourists as a general rule, as tourists bring money to the community, but be a little more careful in their proximity on the off-chance that some of the more "energetic" members of rival societies decide to display that rivalry. As much as the asian-american community protested the movie "Black Rain" and the massacre scene in the restaurant, the event did actually happen in SF's chinatown -- at the Golden Dragon if I recall correctly -- and as part of an intramural fracas within/between the major tongs/triads.
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branchandroot
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Date: 2004-09-14 07:05 am (UTC)Just south of the park/museaum and clearly visable from the beach is Ghiridelli Square -- a rather upscale cluster of shops and restaurants, but with a really cool view of the bay. The best view is from McKormick and Culleto's -- very pricey -- but also one of the best seafood restaurants that I've ever been too. There is also a 50s theme diner nextdoor that also has a good view and a terrace. Of course, there is a Ghiridelli Chocolates outlet there and some of the chocolate is well worth trying. They also usually hand out various samples. Mmm...Chocolate.
Chinatown is well-worth looking around. Just remember, that some of the best food will come from the smaller and usually dingier looking places. The Chinese tend to focus on the quality of the food first and amibiance second. The best restaurants that I've been to are along Stockton or Sacramento streets. Also, as I'm sure you know, the various "Benevolent" societies are typically anything but. They don't bother tourists as a general rule, as tourists bring money to the community, but be a little more careful in their proximity on the off-chance that some of the more "energetic" members of rival societies decide to display that rivalry. As much as the asian-american community protested the movie "Black Rain" and the massacre scene in the restaurant, the event did actually happen in SF's chinatown -- at the Golden Dragon if I recall correctly -- and as part of an intramural fracas within/between the major tongs/triads.