Escape the Ordinary . . . to a San Francisco New Years Eve! · Ghirardelli Square Other things to do at the Embarcadero as you're waiting for NYE festivities Sens Restaurant (the

Melanie TuckerTravel DesignerRare Finds Travel Design

[email protected]://www.rarefindstravel.com

Escape the Ordinary . . . to a San Francisco New Years Eve!

Trip Summary

A Bay Area New Years Eve!

Fly into San Francisco International Airport

LODGING OPTION #1: Hotel Zephyr

LODGING OPTION #2: Inn at the Presidio

LODGING OPTION #3: Chateau Tivoli Bed and Breakfast

LODGING OPTION #4: Hotel del Sol In The Marina

Get (re)acquainted with the city via trolleys

MOST FUN dinner idea: Oyster Crawl

Love dim sum? Try Yang Sings

Don't l ike dim sum? Try Foreign Cinema

Plan A (RECOMMENDED FOR THE DAY) : Cross City Trail - A 17 Mile Hike Through SF!

Plan B (Alternative plan for non-hikers): 11am Secret Food Tour of San Francisco

Plan C (if you want to get out of town): Beach picnic and playtime on Baker Beach before the NYE craziness

Golden Gate Fortune Cookie Factory

Ghirardell i Square

Other things to do at the Embarcadero as you're waiting for NYE festivities

Sens Restaurant (the easier dinner option)

The Waterfront Restaurant (the very special dinner option)

Passport to the World New Year's Eve Party (the Black Tie option. We've warned you)

12-2:30pm New Year's Day Champagne Brunch on a Hornblower Boat Cruise

Time to go home

Map of Activities

Monday Dec 30

Tuesday Dec 31

Wednesday Jan 1

Page 2 of 9

Monday Dec 30

A Bay Area New Years Eve! San Francisco's location on the bay brings you a number of New Year’s Eve events that are unique to the city, including a spectacular bayfrontfireworks show.

But THIS Escape is about more than NYE! It also features the l ittle-known 17-mile Cross City walking trail, and - if you're not a hiker - a l i ttlebeach crawl instead.

Fly into San Francisco International AirportFly into San Francisco International Airport (SFO) and rent a car.

OR

Arrange transportation: https://www.flysfo.com/to-from/ground-transportation

-Charter a car, get a taxi, etc.

-Take public transit (The BART) for $3-9/person.

- Get an Rideshare pickup! Uber is a popular option locally!

LODGING OPTION #1: Hotel ZephyrHoused within Fisherman’s Wharf, Hotel Zephyr is great for families with the most central location and an onsite game room (NO! not videogames! Think ping pong, photo booth, interactive art)

Heart of the action. Great views.

Address: 250 Beach Street

Phone: (415) 617 6565

Cost: starts $179 even at holiday rates

Website: https://www.hotelzephyrsf.com/

LODGING OPTION #2: Inn at the PresidioOur San Francisco boutique hotel is the ideal starting point to discover America’s most unique national park, as well regional destinations suchas Union Square, the Golden Gate Bridge, the Ferry Building, the Marin Headlands, and the Sonoma/Napa wine country. There are 22 uniquerooms, 17 with fireplaces, and have king or queen beds with modern amenities as well as sitting rooms and relaxing spaces.

Address: 42 Moraga Ave, San Francisco, CA 94129

Phone: (415) 800-7356

Website: https://www.presidiolodging.com/inn-at-the-presidio/

Cost: $125/night, with a 2 night minimum ($9 overnight parking charge for anyone driving up)

Page 3 of 9

LODGING OPTION #3: Chateau Tivoli Bed and BreakfastThis charming bed-and-breakfast inn, the Chateau Tivoli, stands as a classic example of the city’s iconic late-nineteenth century architecture.Located in the beloved Alamo Square Historic District, the 1892 structure originally served as a private home. Lovingly restored a century laterand furnished with Victorian antiques, fixtures, and Bradbury wallpaper, the B&B now invites couples, families, leisure, and business travelers toenjoy 9 guest rooms and suites.

Website: http://www.chateautivoli.com

Address: 1057 Steiner St, San Francisco, CA 94115

Phone: (415) 776-5462

Cost: $195-300/night (Holiday rates are higher)

LODGING OPTION #4: Hotel del Sol In The MarinaFun, funky and family-friendly, the hotel del Sol is a 1950s motor lodge turned fab in the Marina District. Our colorful, casual suites,complimentary continental breakfast, saltwater pool, and pet-friendly property are ideal for travelers who love being entrenched in local flairthat includes independent shopping boutiques, l ively outdoor eateries, spirited people-watching, and waterfront sports. All rooms have flatscreen TVs, iPod docking stations, environmentally friendly l inens, large comfy furniture and much more!

Website: https://www.jdvhotels.com/hotels/california/san-francisco/hotel-del-sol?utm_source=google-local&utm_medium=organic&utm_campaign=gmb

Address: 3100 Webster St, San Francisco, CA 94123

Phone: (415) 921-5520

Cost: $154/night

Get (re)acquainted with the city via trolleysWalk to Fisherman’s Wharf trolley station for the Blue/Powell-Hyde line of cable car up to Lombard Street.

How much does it cost and where to get tickets?

Ideally purchase your tickets from the MUNI app on your smartphone. This avoids l ines and change problems. But ifi t’s a last minute impulse toride the cable car, you can purchase at the ticket booths (located Powell-Market and Hyde- Beach) but beware of frequent long l ines.

OR you can purchase directly from conductor but have small bil ls handy because only $20 bil ls or smaller are accepted. If you just want oneride – to see what it’s l ike – your single-ride ticket wil l be $7.If you want to hop on and off, get a 1-day pass for $20.

Disembark and walk down the picturesque iconic Lombard Street, the curviest street in San Francisco. See attached writeup of Lombards’history and houses.

NOTE: this puts you in perfect location of the dim sum dinner spot.

Page 4 of 9

MOST FUN dinner idea: Oyster CrawlYou may know this about me by now, but I am an oyster-lover! So here’s a l i ttle route to take on an oyster crawl around the city for tonight’sdinner. Uber or – better yet – walk to see the sites along the way. Here’s a map to shows you the way.

Oyster Stop 1: Anchor Oyster Bar

579 Castro Street

Owned by the same family since 1977, you’l l love the counter service and the marble tabletops. Crowded. Tiny. Squeaky clean. Fresh fresh

fresh! Awesome!

Oyster Stop 2: Swan Oyster Depot

1517 Polk St, San Francisco

Pull up a chair at the counter of Swan Oyster Depot and enjoy some of the best local Dungeness crab and Boston Clam Chowder you wil l ever

taste. Besides clam chowder, most of the offerings on the menu board are served raw, cocktail-style. The Depot is also a fish market. You can

buy a fi let to cook up at home. The atmosphere is completely informal. Reservations are not accepted, but it is worth the wait.

Oyster Stop 3: Anchor & Hope

83 Minna Street

Oysters in a garage? You’l l l ike this l ively if cavernous spot.

Oyster Stop 4: The Waterbar

399 The Embarcadero

Dollar oysters for happy hour each day – don’t miss it! Time your crawl accordingly (and also for sunset because this spot is right under the

Bay Bridge.

Love dim sum? Try Yang SingsTry dinner at one of the city’s best dim sum spots, Yank Sing, on Stev enson Street

49 Stevenson Street

(415)541-4949

Don't like dim sum? Try Foreign CinemaInteresting precise food. Black and white movies looping on wall of outdoor courtyard. In the hip Mission District.

Address: 2534 Mission Street

415-648-7600

Page 5 of 9

Tuesday Dec 31

Plan A (RECOMMENDED FOR THE DAY) : Cross City Trail - A 17 Mile Hike Through SF!As featured in the New York Times...

Before we describe the walk, rest assured that we have a shorter, easier version prepared for you. If you're just NOT a walker, then skip thisidea. But if you're even a casual walker, or have young legs with you, then read on - because we've got you covered for a unique activity in aslittle as 2 hours.

About the trail...

The route sweeps up hil ls, through working class and wealthy neighborhoods, connecting new trails, community garden corridors, state andlocal parks, stairways, hidden pathways along chain-l ink fences and two waterfronts. It crosses from the city’s southeast corner to its northwest.The trip begins at Candlestick Point, and it's a good idea to take a Lyft/Uber to the start point.

Link to NYT article description experience in depth: https://www.nytimes.com/2019/11/18/travel/crosstown-trail-san-francisco.html

*NOTE* May have to create an account to read the article

Here are some helpful maps and even an app to download: https://crosstowntrail.org/map/

Grab a bite to eat at Bayside Cafe before you start your journey, or grab some food and head to the nearby green gardens to take in the view.

Address: 2011 Bayshore Blvd, San Francisco, CA 94124

Phone: (415) 467-2023

What's the easier, shorter v ersion?

The whole trail 's 17 miles - most of us are not "up" for that length, and even if we are, there's NYE back on the waterfront to enjoy.

So we recommend Uber-ing to Candlestick Pier and doing the first 2.5 miles of the hike which take you to the Vistiacion Valley Greenway - aseries of community gardens with each block devoted to a different genre of plants from vegetables to herbs to flowers to succulents.

Plan B (Alternative plan for non-hikers): 11am Secret Food Tour of San FranciscoOur team of bay area guides wil l take you to eateries and shops that are beloved by the area's locals, and we know you wil l love them too asit's a cultural melting pot of flavors, dishes and memories! We begin our tours at 11am. We wil l meet outside of the Mission Cultural Center,2868 Mission St, San Francisco, CA 94110. Our guide wil l be standing there to greet you with an orange umbrella so we are easy to spot! Thetour is 3-3.5 hours long with 6 food stops.

Today's food walk starts at 10am. You'l l need a reservation!

Address: Mission Cultural Center, 2868 Mission St, San Francisco, CA 94110 (see photo below so you'l l recognize it)

Phone: +1 628 246 0095

Website: https://www.secretfoodtours.com/san-francisco/?msclkid=1b076890c09c1ec3a704354b10b89b04&utm_source=bing&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=SFT%20SF&utm_term=+walking%20+tour%20+SF&utm_content=Walking%20Tours

Cost: $79/person

Page 6 of 9

Plan C (if you want to get out of town): Beach picnic and playtime on Baker Beach before theNYE crazinessStart w ith a breakfast picnic.

Pick up car and drive up to Farm Table.

754 Post Street

Opens 7:30am. One communal table indoors, café standups on sidewalk, best tiny breakfast around! Worth getting up for. You might want to bethere when it opens!

Driv e to Baker Beach. Where is it?

Just on the edge of the city, easy to reach in only 12 minutes.

Late morning driv e south to San Gregario Beach, to do a bit of exploring in the sea cav es:

This cave is about an hour drive south from Baker Beach, right along the coast, and then a 15 minute walk along Gregario Beach. Hike southfrom the parking spots and you'l l find it just around the first out cropping of rocks.

Golden Gate Fortune Cookie FactoryDid you know? Fortune cookies were invented in San Francisco! Since 1962, San Francisco's legendary Golden Gate Fortune Cookie Factoryhas been making custom fortune cookies by hand. Take a tour and sample some fresh, warm, flat fortune cookies for an unforgettableexperience!

Address: 56 ROSS ALLEY, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94133

Phone: (415) 781-3956

Website: https://www.goldengatefortunecookies.com

Ghirardelli SquareYou can't enter the new year without a one of a kind chocolate experience! Head to Ghirardell i Square to try almost every kind of ice creamsundae imaginable. Create your own ice cream experience from any of our dozen ice cream flavors! Select a sweet cake cone, classic sugarcone, or a chocolate dipped waffle bowl. Top off your creation with handmade Ghirardell i hot fudge or any of our other delicious toppings.

Website: https://www.ghirardell isq.com

Address: 900 North Point Street, San Francisco, CA, USA

Phone: +1 415 775 5500

Page 7 of 9

Other things to do at the Embarcadero as you're waiting for NYE festivitiesYou can spend your entire visit in the Embarcadero and not see it all. Get to know local marine l ife at Pier 39, home to both lounging sea l ionsand the Aquarium of the Bay. You can also catch a tour to Alcatraz Island here. A recent addition to the waterfront is the child-friendlyExploratorium at Pier 15, an interactive museum delving into science, art and human perception.

OPTION #1: The Exploratorium

It's a unique science museum that combines human perception with interactive exhibits. This museum wants viewers of all ages to have funwith the scientific learning process and moments of discovery.

Address: The Exploratorium, Pier 15, The Embarcadero, San Francisco, CA, USA, Phone: +1 415 528 4444

OPTION #2: SS Jeremiah O’Brien Cruise (National Liberty Ship Memorial)

If you want to add a l ittle history to your walk along the Embarcadero, then look no further than the SS Jeremiah O'Brien cruises at Pier 45.This Liberty ship is one of only two fully functional remaining ships out of the 2,710 that were built and used during World War II. It has beenrestored to be historically accurate, and is a l iving museum and National Historic Landmark.

Address: National Liberty Ship Memorial, Pier 45, The Embarcadero, San Francisco, CA, USA

Phone: +1 415 544 0100

OPTION #3: Alcatraz v isits

Day tickets. Night tours. Behind the Scenes experiences.

For what it's worth, my firsthand experience says that this is TOTALLY worth it, but I'd got for basic tour with audio guide. Nighttime DOES adda little drama.

Sens Restaurant (the easier dinner option)This 2nd-floor bistro offers Mediterranean dining & dramatic views of the Ferry Building & the bay. It has an outdoor patio where you get somegreat views of the show. It's to the north of the Ferry Building, but its on the upper level of the building where you can see the display.

Address: 4 Embarcadero Center, San Francisco, CA 94111

Website:http://www.sens-sf.com/#reservations-page

The Waterfront Restaurant (the very special dinner option)Have a once in a l i fetime New Year's Eve SF experience at the Waterfront Restaurant, with the best views of San Francisco Bay and theamazing fireworks display. Dine not he freshest seafood, succulent salads and devil ishly delicious desserts.

New Year's Ev eMenu: https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5589e753e4b002a4489c7716/t/5db21411e2ba8b3e5f7fdb8d/1571951633891/menu_new_years_eve_pre_fixe_2019.pdf

Website: http://www.waterfrontsf.com/#home-intro

Cost: $95/person

Passport to the World New Year's Eve Party (the Black Tie option. We've warned you)This glitzy, landmark event truly embodies what this great city of San Francisco has to offer! Come experience for yourself the exciting anddiverse mix of music, fashion, art, culture, sophistication, and charitable causes as we take you into 2020 in style at the largest upscale NewYear’s Eve Party in town. Featuring 20,000+ sq feet, Premium Hosted Open Bar, 5 different rooms with 10 DJ's & 2 LIVE Bands, LIVEPerformances, LIVE Exhibitions, Interactive Visuals & more! Each room has a theme with the different city in a different country, for a funcultural experience.

Address: WESTIN ST. FRANCIS HOTEL ~ 335 POWELL ST ~ ON SAN FRANCISCO UNION SQUARE

Website: https://www.alistsf.com

Doors: 9PM, FORMAL ATTIRE, black tie preferred

Cost: $115

Page 8 of 9

Wednesday Jan 1

12-2:30pm New Year's Day Champagne Brunch on a Hornblower Boat CruiseTreat yourself to a good-morning getaway featuring free-flowing bubbly. This San Francisco 2-hour brunch includes a buffet with classicbreakfast dishes, lunch entrées, and desserts. With l ive music and views of San Francisco Bay’s renowned sights l ike the Golden Gate Bridgeand Alcatraz Island, it's the perfect way to unwind after a hectic week.

Website: https://www.hornblower.com/san-francisco/san-francisco-champagne-brunch-cruises/

Cost: Adult/$89, Kids/$53 (reservations still available! Book soon)

Hours: 11:00AM and sail from 11:30AM to 1:30PM.

Time to go home

Map of Activities

Page 9 of 9