srfmhg Loc: Marin County, CA

DO NOT leave any valuables in your car or you’ll experience the modern and very common SF experience- getting your car window broken and your stuff stolen. That being said, drive across the Golden Gate Bridge and visit both the headlands and also, on the East sided of 101, Cavallo point. You’ll be able to get shots of the bridge from above and below.

ralf Loc: NJ

The Miur Woods is near-by. Well worth a 1/2 day trip.

Harvey Loc: Pioneer, CA

I lived in the SF area for 20+yrs and have enjoyed many a camera trip there and the areas north of there just miles of roads and 100s if not 1,000s of great photo ops -I have a book of photoing SF some place - it mentions 100s of locations as well as the best time of day for lighting - I'll find it and post it.

Bfree2 Loc: Grants Pass, Or

Fantastic! You should have an awesome time. If “layers” mean fog, then that’s fantastic as well, especially if your fortunate to watch the fog ‘roll’ over the city, and hills of the Marin Headlands.

jvangorp Loc: Stickney, SD

Ohhh my gosh!! you guys really came through for me!! We will try to soak in as much as time allows. Thanks you all for the great tips for our trip!! I'll post some pictures when we get back!!
Thanks again everyone!!

timcc Loc: Virginia

You will find lots to see in SF, as the above replies show. One safety/security note: if you are driving, out-of-state plates mark your car as a target for smash-and-grabs. Our daughter moved to SF and was broken into several times until she finally got her CA plates. Use off-street parking if you can. Have fun!

Eff Ess in Ess Eff

One of the (unintentionally) best kept photography secrets of S.F.is the pier 24 gallery. Situated at pier 24, near the S.F. end of the BAY (not Golden Gate) Bridge, this is reportedly the largest space devoted to photography in the U.S. and houses a major private collection. Admission is free, but advance reservations are necessary; this is because only 30 visitors at a time are admitted for a 2 hour period, so you will not feel crowded.

I posted a note about this recently, but did not see it published. Guess I'll send in a repeat soon.
You can Google info as to location,times of operation, current show.

There is a chance they may lose their lease at any time, so if anyone is interested better to go sooner rather than later,

Enjoy,

Frank

Harvey Loc: Pioneer, CA

Great info keeps coming in - I found my book on the area:
PhotoSecrets of San Francisco and Northern CA by Andrew Hudson

a great book covering North from SF to Eureka - East to Lake Tahoe and South to Hearst Castle.
PM me with your mailing address and I will mail it to you - Only if you promices to share you photos and experience when you get back.
Harvey Wilson

tuatara Loc: Orig. NZ - currently SF area

I would try the Bay Model in Sausalito, a lot o people don't know about it, even locals, made by the Army corp of engineers many years ago, it's a model of the topography the bay, fascinating. Check on it first it's hours are spotty .

Webguydave Loc: C'ville, Va.

Never underestimate how downright cold and wet the SF Bay Area can be, esp near the Golden Gate.....layer!!😄

Harvey Loc: Pioneer, CA

Stopped in there a couple of years ago - very interesting to those of us familiar with much of the delta area. - easy to find and good food at the marina a couple blocks away. I might ad if coming from the North side of the GG it is much easier to go a few miles north and get off the freeway at Bridge Blv and then turn south thru town back to the bridge - about 3 mi - but right thru the heart of Saucalido and many more photo ops and the road takes you right back the the prime photo ops of the Marin Hadlands and the North Towers of the bridge.

espJSB Loc: Cal

Golden Gate Bridge, Alcatraz Island, Fisherman's Wharf, Golden Gate Park, Presidio (beautiful former headquarters of U.S. Sixth Army), Cable cars, Lombard Street, Financial District - these are fine places I guess, but they pale in comparison to Ghirardelli Square and Dark Chocolate!

Dalbon

Just North of San Francisco there is an island called Mare Island which use to be an old Naval shipyard and it's on the left going North. There is a small church there that has, and I could be wrong on my count, I believe it's 25 stained glass windows which is the most Tiffany Stain Glass West of the Mississippi River. They are all dated 1901 , 1902 so they are old. I always wanted to go inside and photograph the windows but it was always closed except once the door was open and I walked in and right in the middle of a wedding so no shots that day. There are several old homes there too but the little brown church is the one to see.
Have a great trip, David

Harvey Loc: Pioneer, CA

Actually this is near/next to the city of Vallejo north east by several miles but still close to the southern end of the wine country, several miles south of Napa - it would be on my list if I were doing a "loop" of the area doing hwy 29 to Calastoga and back down Silverado Trail to Napa then Vallejo- Oakland/Alameda/Jack London Square back to SF. again a long 1 or 2 day trip to do it right. Sooooo very much to see and photo north and north east of SF. For 3 yrs my sales rout was the 11 bay area counties and I enjoyed my north territory the best for photo ops.

Harvey

Sharon B Loc: Orlando, FL

If you plan to visit Alcatraz as a destination, make sure you understand the logistics of buying tickets for the approved ferry. Alcatraz is part of the National Parks and is free to visit...but there's only one ferry service contracted to actually bring you to the island to disembark. Tickets can be purchased in advance and any given service time may sell out. Other companies will advertise service, but they can only circle the island and bring you back to the mainland. (At least this is how it all worked when I visited a handful of years ago.)

If you're a baseball fan, you can check if tours of Giants stadium are available during your visit. Also, the Disney Family Museum is located inside the Presidio. It was created by the Disney family, not the corporation, so there's lots of interesting insights and family mementos.

San Jose is a bit outside SF, but I rented a car for a day trip, since I've always wanted to see the Winchester Mansion. The tour was quite extensive, both inside the house and outside around the grounds. During my visit, photography was not allowed inside the mansion due to a contract for an upcoming film. The movie's since been released, so I'm not sure how that stands now. Photography was allowed outside the building.