hey guys
I lived there for 25 yrs and one of my favorites was riding a bike - SF has a large park extending from the geographical center of town to the beach - Golden Gate Park. If you go out to Haight St (use the N-light rail on the MUNI Metro subway system from downtown) and walk west towards the park - directly across the street from the park (near McDonalds) are several bike shops that rent bikes. The park itself is mostly flat ground and makes for good cycling, and you can also cycle across the Golden Gate Bridge into Marin County. If you don't mind a few minor hills (no need to tackle the big ones) you can continue to tour the rest of town on a bike too - I would avoid downtown (the area east of Van Ness Ave. - just too much traffic!) If you go on Sunday, most of the park itself is off-limits to cars. SF has to be one of the most beautiful cities of size - normally very clean air due to the winds and fog. Be sure to hike to the top of some of the hills - this is a walker's city (worst possible way to tour town is by car). Try Twin Peaks and Buena Vista park for the best 360 degree views - be sure your camera is ready.
April is an excellent time - great weather and the flowers will be in bloom. The city itself is the attraction in my book!
Try the down on Mission St. (Latin neighborhood) - best in the world!
Daawgon is correct--the best thing way to visit is by walking or MUNI and the best place to visit is probably Golden Gate Park. I especially like both the Japanese Gardens and the botanical gardens. Walk down Grant street in Chinatown and then go visit the Golden Gate Bridge. The Metreon (run by SONY) south of Market is fun, as is the Ferry building, which is now an indoor farmers market most days. Fisherman's Wharf and Ghiradelli Square are touristy, but still fun (not your typical tourist traps completely)--and in this area is the famous Boudon Bread Bakery.
For those of you who are into sports, the baseball park has the best view of any in the country (and I used to live in Baltimore, where Camden Yards rules). Also, taking a cruise around the bay and riding the cable cars are both a lot of fun.
Enjoy.
Forgot to mention, north of town are Sausalito, the Muir Woods, and the wineries of Napa, Sonoma, and the Russian River Valleys.
Also forgot to mention a must---riding one of the town's famous cable cars--which is also a good way to get around when it isn't too cold and when the town is not completely full of tourists (then the lines tend to be kind of long).
P.S. A good way around the lines is to board the cable cars somewhere near the middle of the line (mid-journey). Normally, someone always gets off in the middle and there are spots available without waiting in line for over 30 minutes (which is how long it will take waiting at the ends of the line).
When you say 'soon' did that mean in like a week or a month? I just found your post and have a little input. Hope I didn't miss you!
Calcruzer: you forgot to mention the Exploratorium. I don't know if you're a fan, but that place is fun. It's just a good place to go if you are curious and like to touch things (unlike museums and other education venues, they encourage you to take a hands-on approach). Also, book your tour of Alcatraz early (like a day or two before) because it fills up! I only mention that because I have a lot of friends who go to San Francisco (or 'the City' as we call it here in Sacramento) and don't book and then they get there and...oh darn, no room and all the tours are booked.
Try Birite creamery. Good ice cream! On Delores and 18th kind of over by Mission (it's across from Delores Park).
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