Ten things to tell someone going to San Francisco their first time for vacation

Cable Cars are Tourist Rides not Transit

1. Take Mass Transit.  Get a pass at the tourist office just across from the Bart Station on Market.  Works on the Cable cars.  Your smartphone will tell you what bus to take.  Your bus driver will help you also.  Plan your trip and a 3 day pass may be all you need. Use it when you are doing the sites and really needing to get from one side of town to the other.  Also schedule the restaurants farthermost from you lodging while you are using the pass.

              http://www.sfmta.com/cms/mfares/passports.htm

2. Don't take the cable cars to get anywhere.  They are slow and packed.  Get up early and take them before everyone else is on them.  Use your Muni pass as it is $6 each to take the cable cars otherwise.  Use them as a tourist ride, not as a transit option.

3. Take the Segway Tour
                        
                   http://citysegwaytours.com/san-francisco

Ghirardelli Chocolate is the only meal to eat in the Warf

Walk across the Golden Gate Bridge

4. Walk everywhere you can go.

5. Walk across the golden gate bridge.  Take muni to get there.  This is a good day to have reservations at Mamacita and take the bus back from the bridge to the Marina area.

6. Don't eat in the wharf (tourist area)

Rent Bicycles from the Bike Hut

7. Rent bicycles from this place.  Take the bus down, you will be close to the Giants Stadium and there are a lot of lunch and afternoon bar places.  Ride up to the wharf and the golden gate.  Spend the day on the bike.  Staying close to the bay makes sure the trip is flat. Return to the bike hut and eat lunch or casual dinner on King Street

                        http://thebikehut.org/

8. Don't give the street people any money unless they are being creative.  Reward creativity.  And if a well dress black man says he needs money to get gas cause his family is beside the road in San Mateo, walk on.  He is good but he is not that creative.

Street Festivals are Fun

9. Take advantage of the street festivals.  Feel like a San Franciscan.  Start reading the sfgate.com site at least a month in advance to find out what is going on.  Get to know the issues in the city.  You can ask people how they feel about...  There are good conversation starters.

10. Rent your car at the end of your vacation so you can leave SF in the car and return it to the airport.  Most major car rental companies allow this without any drop off fees.  The cost of airport transportation for a family will cover the cost of the car for a day.  You don't want to park in SF.  If you do have a car in SF then drive the 35 mile scenic drive.  Sunday morning has low traffic and would be  good option to really see the city.  Then make your way out of town, north to Napa, East to Yosemite, or South to Carmel.