Reviews for lodging, dining and some of the activities...
I only posted a few reviews from my 2014 "free day" but I figured I should collect them for easy reference. The places I reviewed are listed here and the reviews are below (along with links to each review on Trip Advisor):
- The Herbert Hotel
- Rogue Ales Public House
- Cable Car Museum
- Presidio
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The Herbert Hotel: Spartan accommodations, but a great location.
Stayed May 12, 2014; reviewed June 18, 2014. See this review on Trip Advisor.
I had a business trip to the San Francisco area with meetings starting late on Tuesday. While I could have made it out on a direct flight Tuesday morning, I opted for a more relaxed schedule and flew out on Monday, giving me Monday afternoon and most of the day Tuesday to explore the city. To simplify the transportation from SFO to the city, I wanted to get a hotel near Union Square so that I could just ride the BART to and from downtown plus have access to the public transportation options when exploring the city. After search through the internet, I was lucky to find a room for $150 just off Union Square as most of the options in that area were running in the $300 to $600 per night range! I used booking.com to secure my room at The Herbert for $134 for the one night (plus tax, so the total was right at $150).
I arrived at the Herbert before noon, so well before the check-in. No problems there as the staff gladly stored by luggage for me while I went exploring. From the amount of bags in the storage room it seems that this is a common occurrence. I spent the rest of the day walking around the city and the Presidio and did not return to the Herbert until 9:00 PM. My bags were in the storage closet, right where I left them, but now they were all alone.
After checking in, I took the old elevator up to the fifth floor to find my room and get a little rest. The Herbert is an older hotel, established in 1909 and it has that old feel, although the trappings have a bit of a modern vibe. The room I had was small, but plenty of space for one person for a night (it might have been tight with two people in there). As for furnishings, there was the queen sized bed , a chair and a small table. The TV was mounted on the wall. For night stands there was a small shelf mounted on either side of the bed; not much space on either one. The small table (or it might have also been a self) was also mostly full with the coffee maker and supplies. On the plus side, there was a rather large closest in the room (not that a closet is of much use for a one-night trip). The bathroom was much bigger than I expected. Note that not all of the rooms have a private bath, so do make sure of the arrangements (private or shared bath) when making your reservation. Note that the bathroom is stocked with the normal amenities, but rather than the small/personal-size bottles of shampoo, etc. the supplies are in wall-mounted dispensers.
For me, the location or the hotel and the cost were the major selling points. The Herbert is just a short walk from the Powell Street BART station and the cable car terminal at the end of Powell Street, plus there are a number of buses that provide access to all areas of the city. The number 38 bus runs along Geary Street and provides a starting ride to Golden Gate Park or the Presidio. And of course the hotel is just a short walk to Union Square.
This was my third stay in the area around Union Square. Previously I have stayed at the Hilton and the Hotel Fusion. All things considered, I preferred the Herbert, particularly in terms of cost and location. I would certainly stay at the Herbert again on a future visit to San Francisco.
I had a business trip to the San Francisco area with meetings starting late on Tuesday. While I could have made it out on a direct flight Tuesday morning, I opted for a more relaxed schedule and flew out on Monday, giving me Monday afternoon and most of the day Tuesday to explore the city. To simplify the transportation from SFO to the city, I wanted to get a hotel near Union Square so that I could just ride the BART to and from downtown plus have access to the public transportation options when exploring the city. After search through the internet, I was lucky to find a room for $150 just off Union Square as most of the options in that area were running in the $300 to $600 per night range! I used booking.com to secure my room at The Herbert for $134 for the one night (plus tax, so the total was right at $150).
I arrived at the Herbert before noon, so well before the check-in. No problems there as the staff gladly stored by luggage for me while I went exploring. From the amount of bags in the storage room it seems that this is a common occurrence. I spent the rest of the day walking around the city and the Presidio and did not return to the Herbert until 9:00 PM. My bags were in the storage closet, right where I left them, but now they were all alone.
After checking in, I took the old elevator up to the fifth floor to find my room and get a little rest. The Herbert is an older hotel, established in 1909 and it has that old feel, although the trappings have a bit of a modern vibe. The room I had was small, but plenty of space for one person for a night (it might have been tight with two people in there). As for furnishings, there was the queen sized bed , a chair and a small table. The TV was mounted on the wall. For night stands there was a small shelf mounted on either side of the bed; not much space on either one. The small table (or it might have also been a self) was also mostly full with the coffee maker and supplies. On the plus side, there was a rather large closest in the room (not that a closet is of much use for a one-night trip). The bathroom was much bigger than I expected. Note that not all of the rooms have a private bath, so do make sure of the arrangements (private or shared bath) when making your reservation. Note that the bathroom is stocked with the normal amenities, but rather than the small/personal-size bottles of shampoo, etc. the supplies are in wall-mounted dispensers.
For me, the location or the hotel and the cost were the major selling points. The Herbert is just a short walk from the Powell Street BART station and the cable car terminal at the end of Powell Street, plus there are a number of buses that provide access to all areas of the city. The number 38 bus runs along Geary Street and provides a starting ride to Golden Gate Park or the Presidio. And of course the hotel is just a short walk to Union Square.
This was my third stay in the area around Union Square. Previously I have stayed at the Hilton and the Hotel Fusion. All things considered, I preferred the Herbert, particularly in terms of cost and location. I would certainly stay at the Herbert again on a future visit to San Francisco.
Rogue Ales Public House: Great neighborhood pub.
Ate here on May 12, 2014; Reviewed June 20, 2014. See this review on Trip Advisor.
I visited the Rogue Ales Public House on a Monday in mid-May as I was walking about the city. I had done a little research on the craft beer options in San Francisco prior to my visit, and the extensive beer list and interesting food menu posted on the Rogue website piqued my interest. As it happened I was very near to Rogue about midday, so perfect timing for lunch.
I visited the Rogue Ales Public House on a Monday in mid-May as I was walking about the city. I had done a little research on the craft beer options in San Francisco prior to my visit, and the extensive beer list and interesting food menu posted on the Rogue website piqued my interest. As it happened I was very near to Rogue about midday, so perfect timing for lunch.
From the street, the pub appears to be just any neighborhood bar, and while it is still relaxed and inviting, the interior has a more eclectic vibe with the murals and signs scatter about the place. The bank of taps behind the bar was the most interesting part of the décor, at least to this beer lover!
When I walked in at 1:00 PM, the place was empty, but it was not long before there were 6 or 8 more patrons enjoying a selection of craft brews at the bar. I had ordered a pint of the Brutal IPA, but then saw some of the other folks ordering flights of samples; now that’s the way to go in a place like this so that you can try a wider variety of beers without getting totally hammered! So my next round was a selection of pale ales and IPAs with the Chipotle Ale thrown in for good measure. For lunch, I just could not resist a Kobe burger. The bartender suggested the bacon-cheeseburger set-up; who am I to argue with a suggestion like this. It was outstanding |
Overall, I had a very nice lunch at Rogue Ales Public House. The service was excellent, the burger was great and the beer selection was huge! Something for everyone. Plus there is the friendly neighborhood atmosphere with the cool interior surroundings. It made for a great stop during my walking tour of the city.
Cable Car Museum: The history and engineering of the iconic cable cars; well worth the visit.
Visited May 12, 2014; reviewed June 18, 2014 See this review on Trip Advisor.
The Cable Car Museum does not take a long time to tour, but it is a fascinating place with a great combination of history and engineering. I was only at the museum for about 30 minutes, but I did get a lot out of that time there; definitely worth the visit to get the historical perspective and the technical understanding of these iconic vehicles. Plus the price is right as there is no charge for admission.
The museum is on the corner of Mason and Washington. It has small assortment of historical displays. The most interesting to me were the signs talking about the near demise of the entire cable car system back in the late 1940s and 50s. But the citizens and media banded together to save the cable cars, although it was a battle that had to be fought more than once during that period and there were cable car lines that did fall prey to the shortsightedness of the city.
The museum is located inside the Washington-Masan powerhouse and carbarn. The machinery used to move the cables is there for all too see. It is quite the industrial display. Plus there are exhibits in the museum area that explain the operation of the powerhouse and how the cables are used as the motive force to get the cable cars around their routes. This is a great place to visit to get a better perspective on these rolling icons of San Francisco.
The Cable Car Museum does not take a long time to tour, but it is a fascinating place with a great combination of history and engineering. I was only at the museum for about 30 minutes, but I did get a lot out of that time there; definitely worth the visit to get the historical perspective and the technical understanding of these iconic vehicles. Plus the price is right as there is no charge for admission.
The museum is on the corner of Mason and Washington. It has small assortment of historical displays. The most interesting to me were the signs talking about the near demise of the entire cable car system back in the late 1940s and 50s. But the citizens and media banded together to save the cable cars, although it was a battle that had to be fought more than once during that period and there were cable car lines that did fall prey to the shortsightedness of the city.
The museum is located inside the Washington-Masan powerhouse and carbarn. The machinery used to move the cables is there for all too see. It is quite the industrial display. Plus there are exhibits in the museum area that explain the operation of the powerhouse and how the cables are used as the motive force to get the cable cars around their routes. This is a great place to visit to get a better perspective on these rolling icons of San Francisco.
The Presidio: A gem in the city with something for just about everyone.
Visited May 12-13, 2014; reviewed July 7, 2014 See this review on Trip Advisor.
I really enjoy visiting San Francisco as there is just such a variety of things to see and do in the city. But one of my favorite places and one that I tend to fit into each visit is The Presidio, which is part of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area. Hikers, bikers, birders, history buffs, photographers…there truly is something for everyone.
On my most recent visit, I spent the afternoon and evening of one day and the morning of the following day just hiking around the park, hitting some of my favorite spots as well as covering new ground. One of those favorite areas is Crissy Field along the northern coast of the park along the bay. It is a favorite of many joggers and dog-walkers as well, so a prime area for watching people as well as birds. There are many shore birds in this area; egrets, grebes, herons, terns and pelicans are all frequent visitors. The trails around and through Crissy Field provide great access to the historic buildings around the old air field as well as excellent views of the Golden Gate Bridge. If you are hungry, then check out the Warming Hut at the west end of Crissy Field. It is a great place to grab breakfast before heading on into the park, which is exactly what I did on the second day of my trip this past May.
Another popular area within the Presidio is the Golden Gate Bridge Pavilion. This is the starting point for walking or biking across the bridge, which is a great experience (I walked the bridge during one of my first trips to the Presidio). I also stopped in at the Visitor Center to get my bearings and ask some advice on the hiking trails. The volunteers there were quite helpful. There is a snack bar across the plaza from the visitor center; this is where I stocked up on water before hitting the trials in the park. There are again great views of the bridge from the old battery fortifications.
During my last visit, I wanted to see if I could get a photo of the Golden Gate Bridge from Marshall Beach to the west of the bridge along the Pacific Coast. This required a hike from the Pavilion area, along the trial under route 101 at the southern end of the bridge, then along the Coastal Trail and the Batteries and Bluffs Trail and down a rather steep route to the seashore. Once down on the beach, it was a simple walk along the shore north toward the bridge where I found the view of the bridge that I was looking for as well as a view of a nude sunbathers that I had not bargained for! To each their own, I reckon. In addition to the bridge and the nudists, there were scores of brown pelicans in the area; many perched on the large rocks just off the shore.
I also walked several of the trails in the interior of the Presidio. Lover’s Lane is a favorite of the joggers but is also a great place for birders. There are numerous other trails through the park that connect the various old military areas. I walked though the Main Post area on my last visit but as I was there on a Tuesday, all of the buildings along Montgomery Street were closed, but I still was able to enjoy the historical structures from the outside. I’ve covered many miles of trails in the Presidio, but there is still more to see, so I’ll certainly be back. Maybe next time I’ll do a little hiking with golf clubs as the golf course at the Presidio looks like a very nice track (at least what I could see from the adjacent trails).
I really enjoy visiting San Francisco as there is just such a variety of things to see and do in the city. But one of my favorite places and one that I tend to fit into each visit is The Presidio, which is part of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area. Hikers, bikers, birders, history buffs, photographers…there truly is something for everyone.
On my most recent visit, I spent the afternoon and evening of one day and the morning of the following day just hiking around the park, hitting some of my favorite spots as well as covering new ground. One of those favorite areas is Crissy Field along the northern coast of the park along the bay. It is a favorite of many joggers and dog-walkers as well, so a prime area for watching people as well as birds. There are many shore birds in this area; egrets, grebes, herons, terns and pelicans are all frequent visitors. The trails around and through Crissy Field provide great access to the historic buildings around the old air field as well as excellent views of the Golden Gate Bridge. If you are hungry, then check out the Warming Hut at the west end of Crissy Field. It is a great place to grab breakfast before heading on into the park, which is exactly what I did on the second day of my trip this past May.
Another popular area within the Presidio is the Golden Gate Bridge Pavilion. This is the starting point for walking or biking across the bridge, which is a great experience (I walked the bridge during one of my first trips to the Presidio). I also stopped in at the Visitor Center to get my bearings and ask some advice on the hiking trails. The volunteers there were quite helpful. There is a snack bar across the plaza from the visitor center; this is where I stocked up on water before hitting the trials in the park. There are again great views of the bridge from the old battery fortifications.
During my last visit, I wanted to see if I could get a photo of the Golden Gate Bridge from Marshall Beach to the west of the bridge along the Pacific Coast. This required a hike from the Pavilion area, along the trial under route 101 at the southern end of the bridge, then along the Coastal Trail and the Batteries and Bluffs Trail and down a rather steep route to the seashore. Once down on the beach, it was a simple walk along the shore north toward the bridge where I found the view of the bridge that I was looking for as well as a view of a nude sunbathers that I had not bargained for! To each their own, I reckon. In addition to the bridge and the nudists, there were scores of brown pelicans in the area; many perched on the large rocks just off the shore.
I also walked several of the trails in the interior of the Presidio. Lover’s Lane is a favorite of the joggers but is also a great place for birders. There are numerous other trails through the park that connect the various old military areas. I walked though the Main Post area on my last visit but as I was there on a Tuesday, all of the buildings along Montgomery Street were closed, but I still was able to enjoy the historical structures from the outside. I’ve covered many miles of trails in the Presidio, but there is still more to see, so I’ll certainly be back. Maybe next time I’ll do a little hiking with golf clubs as the golf course at the Presidio looks like a very nice track (at least what I could see from the adjacent trails).