San Francisco day trip on a budget

Prompted by CRAZY hot temperatures here in NorCal, we decided to make a day of going to San Francisco to beat the heat.  The trick with visiting this beautiful city is not spending a small fortune...just to get there!  After doing a little research, we booked a bus fare and were on our way!  Read on to find out how we did it and how you can too!

First Stop: The bus dropped us off near the Cal Train station on 4th and King.  This was very close to AT&T Park, but we first made a stop at Safeway across from the drop off location.  Here we were able to use a pretty clean public restroom (always a chellenge in a city).  We got 3 bagles for an instant snack and Andy got some hummus to add to our picnic lunch for later.  Total spent $4.50

Second Stop:  AT&T Park
During most days of the week, the park opens the playground area for public use.  This is FREE!  The girls got to go on the giant Coca-Cola slides and play in the mini park.  What is even better about all of this is that we had the place to ourselves!  We got a calm and relaxing view of the facility and the kids got to play. No crowds, no lines, no hassle...a great way to start the day.


Mary going for the homer!

Kaycee fielding the ball.

 

Next task: Walking the Embarcadero to head to the picnic spot.  This is a clean and well-traveled path along the waterfront.  There are loads of joggers, dog-walkers, toursits and some pan-handlers too, but that is to be expected when going to SF. 

 

 

Thrid Stop:  We walked about 1.5 miles from our starting point to get to the park across from the ferry building.  We found a table and had our picnic lunch which we brought from home.

 

Lunch at 12 noon.  The ferry buliding is over 100 years old.

Picnic lunch

 

Near our picnic spot was this huge water feature where Andy and the girls spent time exploring.

 

Fourth Stop: Walking to see the Transamerica Pyramid which is the tallest skyscraper in the San Francisco skyline and one of its most iconic.  From the base of the buliding, it is hard to tell the pointed shape!

Fifth Stop:  We made a quick visit to Uncle Ray and Cousin Dustin's office.  Kaycee said, "Mom, I think they have a nice office."  I would have to agree.  Who wouldn't like this view?

 

Sixth Stop:  Coit Tower.  The path to get there from Sansome Street took 447 stairs up and some pep-takling.  There was a bribe involved to get the kids up all those stairs without complaining...Ghirardelli Chocolate!

 

 

Seventh Stop:  Pier 39.  There is so much to see and do at Pier 39.  We missed out on the famous sea lions as they are away in SoCal for mating season.  Even though the sea lions were not there, we got some great views of the bay including Alcatraz and the Golden Gate.  There are several shops and places to check out.  Below is a photo of the beautiful produce stand - fruit almost too beautiful to eat!  I found my treat of the day at the Biscoff coffee house.  I enjoyed a Biscoff flavored latte and cookie...YUM!  If you have yet to try Biscoff cookies or cookie spread, you may not want to unless you are prepared for a new addiction!  Andy enjoyed a smoothie at Maui Wowie in a cool souvenir cup.  Total spent at Pier 39: $11.00

Street performer - OUCH moves!

The vision this artist had and coveyed to paper was amazing!

Chocolate being made right before our eyes!

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Fresh produce at Pier 39

Eighth Stop:  Fisherman's Wharf.  We spent some time watching a couple of the many street performers between the pier and Fisherman's Wharf.  It is pretty amazing to witness the given talents of others.  We watched the spray paint artist and some street dancers. 

 

 

 

Ninth Stop: Ghirardelli Square.  Here we enjoyed the obvious...CHOCOLATE!  We were able to meet up with an old friend here and catch up on how things are going for her.  The girls split a huge sundae - the selection for their treat of the day...and bonus (yes, I bribe my children on occasion...don't judge me) for NO complaints up the stairs to Coit Tower!   Total spent: $9.00

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tenth Stop:  Lombard Street.  After a steep hike up Hyde street, we made it to the top of the famous "crooked street".  We walked down the street faster than the line of cars made it down.

 

 

Eleventh Stop:  Ferry Building.  It was time to start heading back to the bus stop, but before we did, we needed to eat!  We went inside the historic building to find an array of fresh foods.  The marketplace offered clam chowder in bread bowls and I orded some tea-smoked scallops (delicious)!  Andy held out and got his dinner at Safeway - jambalaya.  Total spent on dinner: $25.00

 

 

Travel Summary: 

 

Bus travel round trip = 3.5 hours. 

Time in the city: 9 hours

Walking distance: 9.01 miles + 447 stairs

 

Points of Interest Visited:

 

*AT&T Park

*Ferry Building

*Coit Tower

*Pier 39

*Transamerica Building

*Fisherman's Wharf

*Ghirardelli Square

*Lombard Street

 

Expenses:

 

Transportation: $24.00 (Megabus)

Parking: $4.00 (Old Sacramento garage commuter special)

Treats/Snacks: $24.50 (Safeway, Ghirardelli, Pier 39)

Dinner: $25.00 (Safeway, Fish Market)

 

TOTAL:  $77.50 for a family of 4

 

We could have pinched some more pennies by making a different dinner selection and omitting the pricy treats, however, I must say we throughly enjoyed ourselves!  Feel free to accept the day-trip challenge...I'd love to hear other options for family trips to San Francisco while being $$$ savvy.  Thanks for reading!