Ask HN: How can I experience SF and Silicon Valley in two weeks?

[imgyuri]

Hey HN.

We're two hackers from Korea, visiting SF from June 13 to June 24.

Our current plan is to just jump around good cafes and parks, while doing Kaggle competitions.

Any recommendations on places to visit? Things to do? Cool meetups?

What's the best way to experience the Bay Area?

On the small chance that anyone is super generous enough to give a tour around their HQ, I'd be greatly appreciative. (email in profile)

[_w7am]

Good lord, so much snark in this thread, so here's some actual suggestions if you want to enjoy yourself (note: I moved out 3.5 years ago).

Get coffee at Four Barrel, Ritual, Sightglass, Blue Bottle, Philz

Get tacos in the Missions at Taqueria Vallarta, Taqueria Cancun

Go to Noisebridge, Sudo Room, Hacker Dojo

Hike at Hawk Hill, Skeggs, Muir Woods, Mt. Tam

Look up local concerts at funcheapsf.com. There's so many fantastic gargage bands that should have record deals. $5 can get you an amazing show

Have a picnic at Lake Merrit

Walk around some of the university campuses (I quite like Berkeley)

Look at the street art on Clarion Alley

Go to Nightlife at the California Academy of Sciences

To the Conservatory of Flowers

Drive up Twin Peaks on a foggy day and watch Carl roll over the city

Walk around Haight-Ashbury (possibly buy drugs) and check out the shops and food

Walk around Telegraph Ave in Berkeley (possibly buy drugs) and check out the shops and food

Drive CA-1 to Monterey. Stop in Santa Cruz.

[ghaff]

Good list. I'd add the Rodins at Stanford (which is also a nice campus to walk around) and, for hiking, the Santa Cruz mountains (Big Basin, etc.) Also free guided walking tours in SF and the boat trip to Alcatraz (touristy but worthwhile--book ahead).

While the Computer History Museum in [EDIT: Mountain View] is great, if I were visiting the Bay area from halfway around the world, I really wouldn't spend much time in Silicon Valley proper, tech events, etc. I suppose I get the mystique but there are so many more interesting things to experience on a short visit.

[vforgione]

Thank you for this. As someone interviewing with a handful of companies in SV and considering relocating, this whole thread reenforces a whole host of misgivings I have of the area. Maybe I'm too Midwestern, but most of the comments read as a big "eff you - don't even bother." Does everyone hate it there so much? I know it isn't perfect, but what city/metro area is?

[peterhunt]

Hang out in Dolores Park for the authentic SF experience.

Also, El Farolito is the superior Mission burrito ducks

[lisper]

> possibly buy drugs

That would be unwise. It's not a particularly auspicious time to be a foreigner in the U.S., and the Trump administration just announced a crack down on even minor drug offenses. The Haight is pretty relaxed and the odds of getting caught are low, but the consequences at the moment could be particularly severe. Not a risk worth taking.

But do go to the Haight and watch people buying drugs :-)

[cwal37]

Piggybacking off of your Monterey suggestion, take the slight detour there to check out Point Lobos, a particularly beautiful state park.

Also, strongly second Nightlife at the Cal Academy of Sciences. I try to design my trips to the bay area such that I'll be there on a the day of the week those are so I can go (Thursday I think?). It's a great museum, very hands on, and those nights have always had a really enjoyable vibe when I've been.

Oh, and taking 1 north of the city along Point Reyes for a ways is also an excellent drive. You can cut back inland through some rolling hills and get a very different vibe than the city and coast going south towards Big Sur

[mattnewton]

If you go to Santa Cruz, I recommend sea kayaking off the warf next to the boardwalk. It's a great way to get some sun, enjoy the ocean without being a surfer and see sea lions and aborable sea otters (but be careful not to get too close and disturb them).

I also highly recommend night life at the Academy of Sciences, and I think the exploratorium does something similar.

[krausejj]

This is a great list! If you really want the city vibe, though, you should check out non-touristy spots as well, and witness some of the insane differences between neighborhoods:

- Check out Union Street in the Marina, then compare that to the Tenderloin (there are good restaurants around Geary/Hyde)

- Go to the Creamery in Soma (tech ground zero), and then take an Uber to Market & Castro, the historical center of the gay community

- Eat amazing Asian food on Clement Street, and then decent Italian in North Beach

You might find that "SF" is actually dozens of different towns fused into one. There are a few overarching similarities, but the most striking thing to me are the differences -- even the weather is different across neighborhoods.

[shlant]

+1 Taqueria Cancun

Hit up Boba Guys if you like bubble tea

Do the Lands End walk (https://goo.gl/maps/UGC651a1Cvt). Some great bridge photos there

[pattycakes]

I will add, if you like watching live music, a more extensive list is here: http://www.foopee.com/punk/the-list/

[pella]

+ "Meetups in San Francisco"

https://www.meetup.com/cities/us/ca/san_francisco/

[itomato]

The drive on 1 also includes a drive on 17.

Big Sur is not accessible due to landslides.

[indescions_2017]

While the experts are chiming in: any recommendations for A). Sushi and B). Healthy Vegetarian / Wellness / Vegan / Juice Bar / Poke Bowl type spots? Thanks in advance!

[kzisme]

I'm curious what made you move out.

As someone who haven't made it out to SF I've always wanted to see if it lived up to the hype. (if even for nicer weather)

[cs-student]

What time and dates do you recommend to be above the clouds on twin peaks?

[wtvanhest]

Id also recommend checking out Detour.com and some coworking spaces.

[nohat00]

There is literally nothing in this list that is in Silicon Valley.

[solidr53]

(possibly buy drugs)

[discordianfish]

+ Get truffle from the truffle man

[nickpsecurity]

Bookmarking this. Appreciate it.

[sjg007]

Sit in traffic on the 101. Take Caltrain to SF between 6am-10am or the other way from 5pm-7pm. Walk around Soma, east some food. Take Bart. Drive East across Dumbarton bridge between 4pm-6pm (actually go West and look at the traffic the other way). Drive by Facebook, drive by Google.

Walk around downtown Palo Alto.

Also there is Hacker Dojo in Mt. View which is a good place to meet others. You can also walk around downtown Mt. View.

There are some good hikes around the coast. Also go see the Golden Gate bridge. Santa Cruz is nice for a beach day.

*EDIT: Alternative lock yourself inside AirBnB for the whole trip, code, code, code, more code, order groceries from Instacart, takeout using DoorDash, sleep under desk. You could also stay at one of the AirBnB hacker mansions on your trip as well.

[Tloewald]

Don't forget to eat a $15 lunch special in Palo Alto and for bonus points get a parking ticket for failing to parse the insane special case parking signs.

A lot of people like to take selfies at the Facebook sign if you can get to it without being run over.

[beat]

More serious than my first answer... the Bay area is really one of the most interesting places in the world to visit.

Go to some tech meetups you're interested in and just meet people. You might be able to catch someone who is a personal hero speaking. If there's someone you really want to meet (especially if it isn't a pitch!), try just emailing them and asking for lunch! You might get lucky.

Take a day to go north to Marin county. Experience Muir Woods and other natural wonders. Another day to visit Napa is good too, if you like wine.

If you can, I'd really recommend a trip south to Monterey Bay. See Santa Cruz and Monterey, and get to Carmel-by-the-Sea in time to enjoy a beautiful sunset on the beach. (this is really a two day trip). Another possible road trip is Yosemite National Park. But these are ambitious and time-consuming.

Visit the Computer History Museum (must-see!). Walk around the Stanford University campus. Drive up Sand Hill, and admire how much all the VC buildings look like dentist's offices. While you're in Silicon Valley proper, eat at Buck's.

San Francisco itself is tourist heaven. There's so much to see and experience there.

edit: I'm not a local. I've just visited. These are things that worked for me!

[pmoriarty]

* Alcatraz (very touristy, but very cool. get tickets well in advance! make sure to take the audio tour, consider taking the night tour)

* Exploratorium (I recommend Thursday evenings when they serve drinks and there aren't any kids running around)

* Muir Woods (a forest full of gigantic redwoods, 20 min drive North of SF)

* Bike or walk across the Golden Gate Bridge

* Day trip South on Route 1 to Monterey to see the aquarium (the views on the way are stunning)

[vanilla_nut]

I second the Alcatraz night tour- not only is it a much cooler way to experience Alcatraz, you also get stunning views of both SF and the bridge. I really love your list, even though I don't know what the Exploratorium is.

[navbaker]

>>* Day trip South on Route 1 to Monterey to see the aquarium (the views on the way are stunning)

This is for sure a must-do. I would recommend going even further south than Monterey, at least to Point Lobos. This is one of the most beautiful places on earth.

[Simulacra]

For Alcatraz, call ahead and politely ask if someone might be willing to take you to the citadel. Very rarely seen part of the prison.

[corysama]

To find meetups, search meetup.com

A good park is Lands End. Or, take a bus up to the redwoods in Muir Wood. Or, enjoy the drive up to Hog Island for oysters.

A good cafe is Caffe Trieste in North Beach. While you are in NB, stop by Molinari's for a North Beach or South Beach Special sandwich.

Visit the NoiseBridge hacker space.

Contact Stanford and see if the audio lab (or any lab) will give you a tour. Do the same for Berkeley. I hear San Jose State has a really fun VR lab.

Contact companies located in The Vault coworking space and see if you can get one of them to give you a tour.

You might get lucky and find an event here http://sf.funcheap.com/category/event/event-types/geek-event... or here https://www.eventbrite.com/d/ca--san-francisco/geek-events/ I miss the Laughing Squid calendar...

Go see a random show at Bottom of the Hill. Just go in with low expectations ;) But, you might get lucky and see a band you end up liking.

Take the Anchor Steam brewery tour. Get a drink at Tommy's Mexican, Mikkeller Bar, Bourbon and Branch, Smuggler's Cove.

Avoid Pier 38 and Haight Street. They're tourist traps. The Castro is still fun. The Mission is still dirty, but delicious. The Tenderloin between O'Farrell and Market is still sketchy.

[eb0la]

Visit the Computer history museum and try to resist the impulse to hugh the Cray-1.

The tech in San Jose is also interesting.

Try to visit a state park or natural reserve nearby. Visit Carmel and point lobos (2hr drive from SF), Half Moon bay...

[jrmg]

To understand Silicon Valley, you really need to see the peninsula and the South Bay.

I’d spend a day, start with breakfast at Hobees in Sunnyvale or Cupertino, check out 1 Infinite Loop, drive around the Google campus area, _maybe_ stop at the NASA Ames visitor center.

Drive down to San Jose to see that peculiar city, and have lunch at yeh newish San Pedro Square Market or SoFA market - or the classics like Henry’s Hi-Life or Original Joe’s.

Maybe check out the old-school tech beomoths like Intel.

Spend some time at the Computer History Museum (and the food trucks there on Friday evenings!). That could be a day trip in itself.

Skip the Tech Museum in San Jose (it’s a great museum, but its not something unmissable if you’re short on time).

End your day with a trip to one of the peninsula city centers and have a meal at a place with good Yelp reviews. I’d recommend Dish Dash in Sunnyvale.

That’s not the most touristy or startup-focused of trips, but you’ll see the Silicon Valley that’s really lived in by the people that make their homes here.

[jrmg]

Oh, and if you’re interested in pre-SV history, check out a local museum, like the Sunnyvale Heritage Park (I’d recommend this to anyone who lives here and doesn’t know how we got to where we are too).

[jngreenlee]

SF: Spend a night doing coke with the ladies at Mitchell Brothers O'Farrell Theatre, bring lots of money...stumble home stepping around the street relics. Don't loose your phone. Goto some snobish coffee shops while hung over. This is about as SF as you can get.

(spoken from experience)

San Jose: Rent a car and park on the 101. Cruise the suburbs and price snap houses for shock and entertainment!

[cynicalbastard]

don't forget about the irish coffees and overpriced mediocre croissants. or pretending not to be alcoholics at brunch the next morning, with 5 of your closest enablers, slamming bottomless mimosas and bloody marys. do this while talking about work, and how drunk you got last night, and how amazing the benedict is while posting pictures of it to instagram, even though you can barely taste it after waiting 90 minutes in line for the privilege of paying $75 per person not including tip and the foodservice healthcare surcharge.

[toomuchtodo]

This sounds like a perfect night out. The SF part. Not the San Jose part.

[pdkl95]

Best way to quickly experience the Bay? That would be the 1:1000 horizontal scale, 1:100 vertical and temporal scale model[1][2] just across the Golden Gate in Sausalito, built by the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers. Ok, maybe not the most interesting place to visit in SF, but it's an amazing feat of engineering history built about 20 years before Silicon Valley existed.

As for food, SF is full of great places to eat of all types. If you want roast meat at very reasonable prices (for SF), I've always liked Tommy's Joynt[3].

[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/U.S._Army_Corps_of_Engineers_B...

[2] http://www.spn.usace.army.mil/Missions/Recreation/Bay-Model-...

[3] http://tommysjoynt.com/ (warning: horizontal-scrolling - their food is much better than their website design)

[driverdan]

One suggestion I haven't seen is doing an SF bike tour. I did a 5h bike tour around SF years back and it was the highlight of my trip. You get to see many parts of the city and it's far more personal than the buses. The ride was pretty easy, it was designed for people who don't ride often. Do it early in the trip to get a feel for the city.

[ginkgotree]

Grab a Getaround or Zipcar and get north of the Golden Gate Bridge. Everyone only goes as far a Muir woods - don't it's packed of tourists with visor caps and selfie sticks and you'll get annoyed. Drive a little further and Hike Mount Tam - amazing views of the bay. Go to Sonoma for wine, not Napa.

[hocuspocus]

Not sure you can sign up for Getaround as a tourist. Zipcar is possible though.

+1 for Sonoma county for wine, and arguably the best brewery in the world too (Russian River ;)

[fallingmeat]

https://www.evernote.com/shard/s11/sh/136ff1bb-957d-48b7-a99...

[mudil]

Go to Filoli. It's a formal garden, an estate, and an oasis of beauty.

http://www.filoli.org

[derfnugget]

Sign up for the Meetup.com event at Google HQ on June 23rd. They've put a cover on the event($10) but I've been to many of these and can confidently say it will be worth it. Plus, they serve food, beer, and wine. I just signed up and I'd be happy to meet you there. (HN lurker and FrontEnd Dev in downtown SF).

[danso]

If you do make it to Stanford, I'd be happy to take you up to the Hoover Tower (it's free for employees).

[ransom1538]

* Dolores Park [buy ice cream at Bi-Rite / get lunch on valencia]

* Bike across golden gate [$50 for a bike] / ferry back

* Check out an amazon loft meeting https://aws.amazon.com/start-ups/loft/sf-loft/

* Computer History Museum (If going south, otherwise skip)

* Presidio picnic is really fun https://offthegrid.com/event/presidio-picnic/2017-6-11-2pm

* See comedy show Cobbs sf

* Take San Francisco cable car to Hyde and Union walk & get a slice of pizza at ZA - then walk to lombard and hyde

[lukewrites]

Go get a sandwich at the Molinari Delicatessen (https://www.yelp.com/biz/molinari-delicatessen-san-francisco).

[alecmgo]

Here's a list of nerdy sites to visit in Silicon Valley: http://siliconvalleyguide.org/

Disclaimer: I made this.

[playhard]

Rent a bike from SF , explore the city and travel to Salsalito

[itomato]

Ignore the populist suggestions.

Get a Zipcar account and use your instincts.

You will meet people and many of these suggestions are a guaranteed wait in a queue for no real good reason.