Any suggestions on what to do in Berkeley/San Francisco?

[Mollis]

My bf and I are going there for spring break and staying with his family. We are going to be there for 5 days...but we don't know a whole lot of things to do.
Anyone have any suggestions on places to go or things to do? We have down some museums, but that's all we really have.
Also, any suggestions for restaurants would be great.

Thanks in advance :)

[Nictuku]

1. Palace of Fine Arts - Exploratorium!!!

It is a fabulous place, and will fill an entire day if you so choose.

http://www.exploratorium.edu/visit/index.php

[Mollis]

3. Wow

I looked at the site for that...and it looks awesome! We are writing out a planner, and we devoted a day to that :D

[petronius]

2. I like House of Nanking

Years ago we bought a book called "Walking San Francisco on the Barbary Coast Trail" - it's a really good walking tour through a number of historic areas. Worth a day or more...

[roody]

4. Ride the ferries around. Walking is fantastic.

Alcatraz is a very interesting outing. The Marine National Park near Fisherman's Wharf if you like boats.

[cboy4]

5. Definitely Pier 39 /Fisherman's Wharf, etc.

If anything, to see these always amusing residents.

[mackerel]

6. Academy of Science SF

http://www.calacademy.org/

http://www.10best.com/Berkeley,CA/

[comtec]

7. Wow 5 days? that's nothing!

You could spend 5 days at the warf, or Golden Gate park, or visiting Berkeley center, or, or, or.... ;)

Pier 23 (?) is an EXCELLENT sea food restaurant. Start at the base ball park (another thing to do!) and walk up the piers, starting at 1 :)

There's also China Town, and the Japanese cultural Center, more in the heart of The City (Love tho I do, the financial district, is not the heart. well not the middle anyway)

And the food... YUMMMMMMM, pick any place that's not a chain, and you'll have a food-gazm in SF, Berkeley.... keep an eye out LOL!

I was there last year, and the best fish and chips I've ever had, has sadly, closed. This crap economy is affecting everything!

Hee hee... you also might want to check out "Good Vibrations" in Berkeley too ;)

[Mollis]

8. I wish it were more days

but that's all he could get off from work. lol
We will go back though. Just from the suggestions on here I have filled up all 5 days completely. :D

[proud patriot]

9. Everything , all of it !

Bay Area Born, Raised and still Live here.

Have a blast , this is a great time of year to
visit . Not too hot or cold yet. I'm out in the
East Bay near the Delta and Farmland .

It's all great here .

We are all very nice too once we are out of our cars and
off the road .

[EFerrari]

10. I think the San Francisco Bay Guardian has a great events calendar.

You may want to check it out. Better, more fun listings than the Chronicle although that'd be something to check, too.

www.sfbg.com

[Auggie]

11. Here are a few suggestions for San Francisco:

Ferry Building, San Francisco. Great Farmer's Market on Saturday.

Alcatraz tour. Make a reservation. And rent the headphones.

Castro theater, the Castro District. One of the few remaining large screen theaters left in the U.S. Who cares what the film is?

Do some walking: http://www.sfcityguides.org

North Beach Restaurants (I can't get enough of them):

Tommaso's, http://www.tommasos.com. Family-owned -- one of the best Italian restaurants in North Beach. Reasonably priced. Order the pizza.

Mario's Bohemian Cigar Store, http://www.northbeachshop.com/pages/marios.html (Sandwiches, beer and wine)

Molinari Delicatessen, http://www.yelp.com/biz/molinari-delicatessen-san-francisco (get a sandwich and walk down to Washington Square to enjoy it).

ONE MORE RESTAURANT:

Zarzuela (Spanish tapas): http://www.yelp.com/biz/zarzuela-san-francisco
Great little tapas restaurant on Russian Hill, Hyde and Union Streets. You can take the Hyde Street Cable Car there from Union Square. Kill two birds with one
stone.

BARS:

Tosca Cafe, 242 Columbus Ave. opens at 5. Great place to hang out.