West coast plan and Yosemite query

[Sew109]

I posted on another thread that SAN Francisco is the only US city where I have felt a real threat of danger, it’s by no means everywhere and I do not scare easily.

I would bare this in mind and take this into consideration when choosing where to stay.

[Thecornflake]

Originally Posted by Sew109

I posted on another thread that SAN Francisco is the only US city where I have felt a real threat of danger, it’s by no means everywhere and I do not scare easily.

I would bare this in mind and take this into consideration when choosing where to stay.

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I’ve read a lot recently about how unsafe it’s getting in the last couple of years. We’re sticking to tourist areas only and mostly going to use the tour buses to see stuff rather than walking. If it was up to me we wouldn’t go to SF at all but the wife and kids really want to see some of the sights. My thing would be much more hiking around in nature than city stuff.

[landandword17]

Originally Posted by Thecornflake

I’ve read a lot recently about how unsafe it’s getting in the last couple of years. We’re sticking to tourist areas only and mostly going to use the tour buses to see stuff rather than walking. If it was up to me we wouldn’t go to SF at all but the wife and kids really want to see some of the sights. My thing would be much more hiking around in nature than city stuff.

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Visit Muir Woods. Lovely spot. We also felt very uncomfortable at one point in SF near the civic centre area. SF and New Orleans were the only US cities that gave us that ‘walk swiftly and get out of here right now’ vibe. We still enjoyed the city a lot but I would avoid the Tenderloin and SOMA neighbourhoods. Other parts of the city were lovely. Sausalito was a nice spot across the Golden Gate Bridge and the cable cars and ferries were also fine and felt safe.

Oakland was traditionally a very rough spot and parts I’ve seen on TV look very industrial. I would ask on TA or some forum that has locals before booking an apartment over there because you’ll need to commute in and you’d want the walk to stations to feel comfortable and the stations themselves to be okay (for example civic centre station was not pleasant/many people around so we didn’t feel threatened but think humans defecating in front of you) The motels around Lombard Street are in a safe area with few homeless people. Fisherman’s Wharf doesn’t havens many homeless as the downtown area either but hotel prices are very steep.

[Thecornflake]

We found a place in Lakeshore Oakland. Close to a bart station and reading reviews online from both tourists and locals its a pretty safe area. Have also checked it ouy in street view and looks very nice. Very clean streets and quite an upmarket area.
I think we would probably uber back from the main city if travelling back in the evening and the last day in sf we'll be picking up the car in the afternoon and driving back to then head off to yosemite the next day.
Main places to visit are alcatraz, fishermans wharf area, golden gate park (using the tour bus to get there probably) and exploratorium on the thursday. Theres also a night (6-7pm)route option on the tour bus that goes out to treasure island to see the bridge lit up.

[JudyC]

Definately more time in Yosemite, either take a day off LA or San Francisco, or both. We stayed three nights there and would have loved longer.