Things to do in San Francisco

SightTDW

I'm going to be in the San Francisco area for roughly a week with a friend next month to check out some schools in the area, and we should have a pretty hefty chunk of free time. The current plan is to wander aimlessly around and hope we figure things out, but I doubt some suggestions could hurt. The only real limitations are that we're both under 21, and we both fall into the broke college student demographic. Not that spending money is out of the question, just can't go nuts there. Any suggestions for the short term while we're up there next month, or the long term should I end up transferring to a school up there would be great.

Feral

Dolores Park Movie night is free and it'll be good weather for it. Just make sure you arrive early to claim your spot - it gets pretty crowded: http://www.doloresparkmovie.org/

All of the city museums have a rotating free admission day, and a rotating after hours night. The free admission day is just like it sounds: get there early on the specified day, and you get in free. The after hours night is where each museum has extended hours with a DJ spinning over the PA, alcohol, and special events or exhibitions. Naturally this tends to draw the 20-30something crowd.

My favorites are:

Exploratorium - After hours on the first Thursday of the month - Free admission on the first Wednesday of the month
http://www.exploratorium.edu/

California Academy of Sciences - After hours every Thursday - Free on the 3rd Wednesday of the month
http://www.calacademy.org

MOMA - After hours 3rd Thursday of the month - Free on the 1st Tuesday of the month
http://www.sfmoma.org/

In case these dates don't work for you, you can check out the other museums here: http://www.museumspot.com/cities/sanfrancisco.htm

And of course if you bring a student ID on any day of the week you can usually get student admission prices.

Feral

BTW, Pride is on June 27th if you happen to be here then.

firewaterword

If you can get out there, the Cliffhouse and the old Sutro Baths area is great. I haven't been there in awhile, but I think they've done some seriously nice renovations on the Cliffhouse in the last few years.

Wander around golden gate park for awhile - there's some seriously cool stuff there, a lot of it kind of hidden. For example, some motherfucking bison. I shit you not. If you like walking - a lot - the Barbary Coast trial is supposed to be pretty neat.

Bartholamue

When I was there for 7 hours (it was in-between flights), I just walked through the pier and the shopping district downtown. Saw Alcatraz and the Golden Gate bridge.

afrowoman

Riding on a trolley... hanging on to the side of the trolley and hoping that a semi-truck doesn't come up along side...is the best part of riding on a trolley...

Skeith

There's an old arcade on Fisherman's Wharf. Used to be located in the same place as the Cliffhouse and Sutro Baths, it's called the Musee Mechanique. Prices for the games vary from a nickel to a quarter, no entry fee.

SightTDW

Great suggestions, I hadn't thought about the museums, didn't expect the after hours bit. We very well may be there during Pride, so that's definitely something to check out.

As long as I'm there I'll have to check off "get self killed on trolley" from the ol' to-do list too.

Paladin

mmmmmm fresh hot san francisco sourdough bread


I'll probably get speared for this, but Boudin bakery on the wharf is a nice scene, with a good seafood sprawl surrounding it. It's good for tourists. There are other bread companies and other places with good food (probably with the same crappy parking) but this is one I've experienced and I liked it.