General Information:
September is our warmest month, but San Francisco can be foggy, windy and chilly at any time of year. A sunny day can turn into a cold evening. September temperatures range from 15°C to 21°C (55°F to. 72°F). Bring a jacket.

Transportation:
Most international flights arrive at San Francisco International Airport, which is 13 miles from downtown San Francisco. http://www.flysfo.com/

The Super Shuttle from the airport to hotels in downtown San Francisco costs approximately $20, http://www.supershuttle.com/htm/cities/sfo.htm

Public transportation via BART (Bay Area Rapid Transit) trains is available directly from the International Terminal at the airport. Take the Dublin/Pleasanton Line to the Powell Street station, which is next to the Renaissance Parc hotel. Cost is $5.50, http://www.bart.gov/news/features/features20041117.asp

Cab fare is approximately $50.
Great maps are available from Google or Maps.com
Parking in San Francisco is expensive. The Renaissance Parc charges $38 per night plus tax. Public transportation is available all over the city.

Entertainment, Dining, Shopping
Things to do in San Francisco:
  -- Walk to China Town.
  -- Walk to the Ferry Building at the Embarcadero for gourmet food and shops.
  -- Walk or take a street car along the Embarcadero.
  -- Take the Cable Car to Fisherman's wharf.
  -- Take the boat trip to Alcatraz (bring a warm jacket).
  -- Shop at Union Square, or at Nordstroms and Bloomingdales right across the street in the San Francisco Center.
  -- Take the BART to Berkeley and visit the University of California.
  -- Visit a museum (see below).
  -- Play games at the Sony Metreon.
  -- Go ice skating at the Yerba Buena Center.
  -- Go to a play - several theatres are nearby; discount tickets may be available at Union Square.
  -- Have coffee at a North Beach Café.
  -- Buy a city pass for various San Francisco attractions, including major museums and unlimited rides on cable cars, street cars and busses at http://www.inetours.com/Tours/SF_City_Pass.html

Good food within walking distance of the meeting:

Note that lunch and dinner are provided by the conference on Friday and Saturday.
Nordstroms has a nice café with a view and is across the street from the hotel.
There are food courts in the basement of the San Francisco Center, which includes Nordstroms. Most museums have excellent food.
Straight up the street from the hotel, towards Union Square, Kuletos has good food.
The Sony Metreon has convenient restaurants.

Things to do before or after the meeting:
If you are interested in a post-meeting tour on Sunday, Sept. 17, email Frances Dupont fmd@pw.usda.gov and indicate your interest in a San Francisco walking tour, a bus tour to the wine country, or a bus tour to the redwoods and scenic beaches. If there is sufficient interest, we will arrange a group tour.

On your own with a rental car:
Visit California wine country (1 day or more)
   http://www.napavalley.com/
   http://www.sonoma.com/
   http://www.sanluisobispo.winecountry.com/

Visit the Monterey Bay Aquarium (1 day or more)
   http://www.montereybayaquarium.org/

Drive to Big Sur to experience the rugged California coast (2 days or more)
   http://jrabold.net/bigsur/

See the redwoods at Muir Woods (1 day or more)
   http://www.visitmuirwoods.com/

Visit Yosemite National Park (2 days or more)
   http://www.yosemite.org/vryos/

San Francisco News
   News about San Francisco from the San Francisco Chronicle: http://www.sfgate.com/

Museums within walking distance of the meeting:
   Asian Art Museum
   http://www.asianart.org/

   S.F. Museum of Modern Art
   http://www.sfmoma.org/

   California Academy of Sciences
   http://www.calacademy.org/

Other Museums.
Exploratorium: A hands-on museum of science, art and human perception for children of all ages, set next to the lovely Palace of Fine Arts in the Marina District.
http://www.exploratorium.edu/

Fine Arts Museums: The new De Young Museum in Golden Gate Park and the Legion of Honor Museum on the Golden Gate Headlands are wonderful museums with great views.
http://www.thinker.org/index.asp

Cautions
Tourists love San Francisco, but it also attracts some unpleasant characters, so be cautious. Ask at your hotel desk about areas to avoid.