hello,

I am visiting San Francisco next week and would like to ask you guys any suggestions and recommendations as for museum, gallery, garden, park, street, monument, building, anything really!

I definitely don't want to miss Golden Gate Park, de Young museum, botanical garden (and Apple Store )

I have 8 days to explore the area... by foot or tram. Is Angel Island worth visiting? I am normally into nature/landscape but when I am visiting a place for the first time (well, I was there for a day when I was 16! and that's a LONG time ago), I'm just going to shoot as a diligent 'tourist' ... weather permitting!

Thank you for your suggestions!

Mari

There is currently a Jeff Wall exhibit at the SF MOMA. I think you will be amazed by what large format photography can do when combined with cost-no-object imaginative staging.

For some ideas about classic sights in SF, check this gallery of pictures of San Francisco

For a first visit, I'd skip Angel Island. There isn't much there, apart from nice views, which can be had at more interesting places, such as the Golden Gate Bridge. If you really want to shoot nature, better go to the Marin Headlands, Mt Tam, and Muir Woods. It is easier with a rental car, but I think public transit is available.

The municipal pier provides spectacular views of the SF skyline, Alcatraz, the Golden Gate Bridge, etc--provided the fog is not too bad!

Thank you for suggestions!

Wow, they are spectacular shots of SF... I certainly feel like I am already there! Yes, I heard of Muir Woods... if the weather is good, I may consider going there.

If you're in the mood for fine dining, two of the best restaurants in the world are within an hour's (or so depending on TRAFFIC!) drive. The French Laundry in Yountville, and Chez Panisse in Berkeley.

If the weather if good, skip it if your goal is photography. It's difficult to get good images in a sunny forest. On the other hand, if you haven't walked in an old-growth redwood forest before, the experience is certainly worth it regardless of conditions.

If you want to check out Berkeley, no need to drive, as the BART is great from SF. Galen Rowell made great images in the Berkeley Hills.

Well, if you're going near the apple store I'd check out the galleries at 49 Geary St too, there are quite a few in this 5 story building, my favorite is http://www.fraenkelgallery.com/ some amazing and inspiring work has passed through there.

I would also suggest you take an early ferry from the ferry building downtown and go to sausalito (the light on alcatraz can be incredible in the mornings, you go right by it on the way) and walk the marinas of this town. You can also rent a bike from north beach area and cycle across to sausalito and then ferry back as the ride back is tougher! If you like indian food, there's an awesome, tiny, cheap place tucked further into sausalito, parallel to bridgeway, ask anyone where it is, they'll all know. Great cafe's include Northstar and cafe Trieste.
If you have access to a car I would also go to Half Moon Bay, south of san francisco. Awesome. Drive down the side streets, get lost. It's worth it.

-Nik

It's quite likely that my pictures of Half-Moon Bay do not do the place justice, but I am nevertheless curious to know what do you like so much about the Half Moon Bay streets that I missed ?

Thanks so much for the suggestions... Sausalito sounds great. It's all about waking up early I guess Also, thanks for the link for the gallery. I'll sure get into the building (before I get into Apple store!)

mari