jkm757 Loc: San Diego, Ca.

If you like wine take a drive north to Healdsburg where there are a dozen or so wine tasting rooms and lots of good restaurants. If classic and vintage automobiles interest you be sure to visit the Blackhawk auto museum in Danville. The Berkeley hills offer some great panoramic views of the bay. FYI, Alcatraz tours sell out early so make your reservations now.

Todd G

Great views from the (n) Marin side of the golden gate in the hills. Great view of the city from the first Island out on the Oakland bridge at night. Golden Gate park, the Height, Coit tower day and night. Was just there recently. Don't keep valuables in you car as the idiots there decided not prosecute. crimes under $800. So just inviting car break ins.

duckfan48

You have a great agenda planned. I do not remember if you mentioned how much time you have, but do enjoy every moment. One suggestion I have is if you decide to tour the city on a rented bike look into ‘Lyft’ or ‘Uber’. They have rental ELECTRIC bikes everywhere to rent. CRAZY. We went last year to a ball game, and had I known prior I would have downloaded App. I lived there before moving to Sedona, and there are so many places to see it can be overwhelming. So my advice is to not rush. Enjoy every moment, and savor all the flavors.

aggiedad Loc: Corona, ca

Check out the Tadich Grill, 240 Calif st. The oldest continuously operated rest. In Ca.

Webguydave Loc: C'ville, Va.

Having lived/worked/photographed in the Bay Area for 40+ years ( now retired in rural Va), I’ll say you can no more than sample the offerings in a few days.
The suggestions offered are good! My personal fav is to travel north 101 across the GoldenGate Bridge, take the first exit immediately and head up the hill west off the bridge. A number of vista views of the Bridge and the City, and if you hang around for a spell there’s going to be a ship transiting under....almost as surely there will be fog this time of year...what a memorable view! Btw...best time for pictures opportunities come in the afternoon with the sun in the west...have fun!!😄

Silversleuth Loc: San Francisco Bay Area

Couple of tips from a SF native: Book your Alcatraz trip in advance, it is often sold out. If you rent a car, leave NOTHING in it, even in the trunk, we have 80 to 100 smash and grabs every day. Good idea to keep camera tucked inside your coat while walking around between shooting opportunities.
Golden gate Park has a beautiful Deyoung museum, a photogenic Japanese tea garden and an Academy of Science worthy of a visit. The MOMA and Asian Art Museum are also worth a visit, both allow photography (no flash of course). Fisherman's Wharf and Hyde Street Pier are target rich photo opportunities. Weather can be unpredictable so bring some warm layers. It's truly a great City to visit with a camera. Have fun and be safe.

Picture Taker Loc: Michigan Thumb

On the cable car, stop at the power station (if it is open). It is the power station that runs all the cable cars.

rcl285

I’m surprised nobody has mentioned Muir Woods, which is just north of SF. Giant redwoods, some a thousand years old, and the tallest trees in the world.

Sonny Boy

Try to go to the Cliff House and Land's End. Great views of the ocean and the GG bridge from a different perspective.

jaycoffman Loc: San Diego

I lived, studied and worked in the Bay Area from 1972 to 2004 with a few time outs for other places--at least 25 years in all. First things first--San Francisco is San Francisco--very unique and well worth exploring. It also has homelessness and street crime but no more or less than any other major urban center in the U.S. so just take normal precautions. It is also subject to a period of excess gentrification that is tacky and annoying but not a threat to visitors. The core of SF is still there and you can enjoy it. Whoever said it is right--you can't possibly see everything in one trip--heck, I didn't see it all while living there. But if you try you can see a lot.

Don't worry about boat rides--use the ferry system. Take the one that lets you get off at Angle Island. Well worth it. One place not mentioned is the Presidio of SF--just beyond the Golden Gate Bridge. It's absolutely beautiful and provides a lot of good photo ops. Also, if you get short of time and can't go up the coast then get across the Golden Gate bridge to Muir Woods. It's the easiest and closest way to get yourself into the Redwoods. Spectacular. Somehow Chinatown in SF is more Chinatown than most Chinatowns--well worth spending some time there.

If you have the time any ride up Highway 1 north is world class. I've ridden the Pacific Coast Highway probably 30 times over the years--from San Diego to Seattle and never get tired of it. It's one of the most beautiful coasts in the world.

Last thing about SF and photography. Unless you're shooting a professional portfolio lighter and simpler is better. Action is fast there and people are moving all the time. Also the hills are not to be underestimated--the are formidable. Very last thing--SF insider's view--just because brochures show California (southern CA) as sunny and warm and bikinis and surfing in March--that is not correct for SF. The joke showing locals in overcoats and hats and tourists in shorts freezing to death is real. Despite the rest of CA take warm layers.

Hope you have a wonderful visit to a magic city. (I'll be surfing in San Diego).

NewGuy

It all depends on your interests. Here are some things you might want to Goggle:

Legion of Honor Art Museum
De Young Art Museum
MOMA (San Francisco Museum of Modern Art
Asian Art Museum in SF
Coit Tower (Depression era art)
The Embarcadero
Golden Gate Park
San Francisco Zoo
The San Francisco Aquarium
"China Town"
The waterfront
Maritime Museum (near Ghirardelli Square)
Cable Cars
Golden Gate Bridge (I like the view from Baker's Beach)
Alcatraz
Angel Island
Sausalito (short ferry ride)
Lombard Street (steep switchback)

Sonoma County (where I live):

Armstrong Forrest
Numerous beaches along Highway 1 (pay attention to warning sign about rip tides, rogue waves, etc.)
Countless wineries
Charles Schultz Peanuts Museum (the cartoon)
Jack London State Park
Luther Burbank Home

jeffhendy Loc: El Dorado Hills, CA

Instead of walking across Golden Gate bridge, rent bikes in San Francisco, ride across the bridge, continue on to Sausalito (all downhill from the bridge) and take the bikes on the ferry back to the Ferry Building.

Rich Maher Loc: Sonoma County, CA

Korbel Winery has the best tour in Sonoma County.
A drive up the coast is a must, stop at Bodega Bay for sure.
I have been lucky enough to have lived here for many years, it's a special place.

PGHphoto Loc: Pittsburgh, PA

Don't miss Muir Woods for the redwoods.

Adicus Loc: New Zealand

We are doing the same in April but have some friends on Alameda Island who are going to take care of us and take us all over and already have Alcatraz booked. Loking forward to this trip wonder about the layers though at that time? Still a good idea do you think ?