Airports

San Francisco is served by two international airports, San Francisco International Airport (12 miles south of the City) and Oakland International Airport (20 miles from downtown in the East Bay).

Ground Transportation

BART (Bay Area Rapid Transit) serves both airports. The host hotel is located about 2 blocks from the Powell Street BART station. Information about BART from the airport is available on their website.

Shuttle vans, rental cars, and taxis are also available from both airports.

Transportation around San Francisco is available on MUNI, which operates the City's bus, cable car, and historic trolley lines. A MUNI Passport is the most cost-effective way to get around San Francisco from the downtown area.

Note that although BART and MUNI share several steet level entry points along Market Street, they are distinct entities with different fare structures and payment methods. Fares are not transferable between them.

Weather

"The coldest winter I ever spent was Summer in San Francisco." Samuel Clemens (Mark Twain)

Probably apacraphal, but nevertheless true. While August days in San Francisco tend to be temperate and sunny, the fog rolls in off the ocean in the late afternoon and the evening lows feel much colder than they actually are. Pack layers and don't go out in the evening without a sweater or sweatshirt. Locals recognize the tourists by their light clothes and chattering teeth.

Current Forecast

Partly Cloudy (62^oF • 17^oC)
Humidity: 70%
Wind: W at 18 mph

Tue 53 - 63 ^oF » Partly Cloudy «

Wed 51 - 60 ^oF » Partly Cloudy «

Thu 53 - 60 ^oF » Mostly Cloudy «

August 2009

The forecast for the week of August 5, 2009 was:

The host hotel is located a few blocks from the shopping heart of downtown, Union Square. A City of neighborhoods, each with its own rich history, you could easily spend a week or more exploring San Francisco and barely scratch the surface. Despite the presence of national chains throughout the City, a few attractions remain that are uniquely San Francisco, so if you can only get away for an hour or two and want to visit something you can't see somewhere else, check out these places:

• Fortune Cookie Factory: An easy walk through Chinatown from the Parc 55, this hole in the wall shop has been producing cookies for decades. "Golden Gate Park's Japanese Tea Garden in San Francisco is reported to have been the first person in America to have served the American version of the cookie when he did so at the tea garden in 1890s or early 1900s. The fortune cookies were made by a San Francisco bakery, Benkyodo." Wikipedia
• Conservatory of Flowers: Lovingly restored after extensive storm damage in the 90s, if you only have a few hours to spend in Golden Gate Park, spend one of them here. A world-class collection of orchids and other rare plants wrapped in a glass Victorian confection.
• The Japanese Tea Garden: Spend the other hour in the Park here. Last remnant of the 1894 Mid-Winter Exposition, the Tea Garden is a San Francisco institution with amazing cherry blossoms in the early spring and a dwarf tree collection that's unrivaled.
• Alcatraz: Iconic former prison, the main building is a fine example of Deco style architecture. Accessable only by boat departing from Fisherman's Wharf, book your transportation early.
• The Musee Mecanique: One of the world’s largest privately owned collections of mechanically operated musical instruments and antique arcade machines, including remains of San Francisco's legendary Playland at the Beach. Located in Fisherman's Wharf, take a side trip from the tourist traps and step back in time.
• Children's Fairyland: Located across the bay in Oakland on the shores of Lake Merritt, Fairyland is the original fairytale park for young children. An inspiration for elements of Disneyland that opened in southern California a few years later, the park exists today as a non-profit entity dedicated to maintaining a place for children to experience their favorite stories (no adults unacompanied by children--no children unaccompanied by adults).