purpleleaf

I have the opportunity to visit San Francisco in mid-February. I'll be travelling with my husband but he'll be working during the day. I'm not really into "shopping" - unless it's for fabric! I figured since I'm alone anyway, I could try to find a few quilts or craft related shops to check out. I'm also open to any other suggestions for things to do/see while I'm there. I won't have a car and will be relying on public transportation.

Thanks

ManiacQuilter2

I didn't visit any quilt shops when I was there over a decade ago. Definitely a ride on a cable car is fun and stop of at where the gears are located. I am not sure if the US treasury mint is still open. That was one of the few buildings that survived the big quake in 1906. Also stop at the wharf for lunch.

Tothill

You have to check out Britex. I have no idea if they have quilting fabric, but you have to see it.

There are lots of art galleries to visit too. The Cable Cars are lot of fun.

quiltingcandy

My 2 DD's and I were there last April. There is so much to do in SF I didn't have time to sew a stitch. Depending on where you stay, if you are down town, you do not need or want a car. Buy yourself a pass for the public transportation - there is a pass that covers the buses, trains and cable cars. (Each cable ride is $6.00 even if you only go a block!)
Treat yourself a trip to Alcatraz, you need a reservation, so make it before you go. It is a walking tour and you wear head phones, so you go at your own pace. And you can stay as long as you want. There are bus tours, check out Groupon for these. We bought one that lets you get off and on for 24 hours. So we started in the afternoon, and went back the next morning. We had a wonderful time at the waterfront. And we had a great walking tour with a man that took us around the older part of SF and he had great stories. I wish I could have gone on his tour of the bakeries, but we ran out of time. I did have one complaint of Ghirardelli - the ice cream sundaes were too big. My DDs had to finish mine.

I understand that you will be traveling alone, but these are things you can do on your own. I kind of like to go at my own pace, stop where I want, which is not always possible traveling with others. Do you have a cel phone? The Google Maps app will tell you how to get around using public transportation, it was great.

I didn't see any fabric stores downtown. We didn't look for them since neither of my daughters sew.

I hope you have a great trip, San Francisco is a great city to visit.

Battle Axe

If you like Chinese, try the Imperial Palace. It's just a red door in China town, but you actually go back in a tunnel.

VernaL

Yes, I have been to Britex, but it was when I was sewing clothes and they had 100% cotton fabrics and I didn't want to have to use an iron!! I only saw a little and left, but I learned later after I was a quilter that it was a great place to go. I haven't been there for a long time.

The Museums are just fantastic. I loved the history one. They have a great zoo and botanical garden as well.

caspharm

As far as checking out quilt stores without a car: you could take the train down to San Mateo and get a cab. There is a quilt shop there called Always Quilting (alwaysquiltingonline.com). Try this one called Quiltworks and see if they are still in business in SF:http://www.quiltworks.org/. A third one if BART goes near there and I think they do, is New Pieces in Berkeley.

Unfortunately, most of the quilt shops in SF proper closed before I left the Bay Area 5 years ago. As far as things to do, VernaL has it right. Check out the deYoung Art Museum. The Science museum was rebuilt and it is very cool. The zoo and botanical gardens are nice. There is also a Japanese Tea Garden.

Fisherman's Wharf is very kitschy touristy, but it can be fun. Chinatown and Japantown can be fun.

Citypass is another option that my DH and I have used in other cities. Here is the link for SF:http://www.citypass.com/san-francisco. It does cover a nice selection of sites to see.

Have a good time. One last thing, bring warm clothes. It does get cold (high 50s during the day) in February, especially with the wind.