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Originally Posted by ADqtPiMel
Where would be a convenient location to stay? I would fly into SFO...do I need to rent a car or can I get by on cabs/public transportation?
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The Fairmont Hotel is one of my favorites in the US, but the Intercontinental Mark Hopkins next door is also a very fine place to stay and a good bit less money. Both are on Nob Hill so you will just be a short cable car ride from Chinatown, Fisherman's Wharf and other fun stuff in the city. And of course those destinations make for a good brisk walk or run if you want.
San Francisco seems to have finally resolved the issue with all their homeless people running around harassing tourists- on my last trip there we had no troubles at all. So it is much easier to wander about and not be hassled.
In terms of restaurants, in a city like San Francisco that changes a lot for the really top cutting-edge places- and I have not been recently enough to comment on where the really top of the line is. But if you are in Chinatown and want a well-priced really solid meal- Oriental Pearl is great. The duck is especially good.
Visit Gump's if you have a chance. The US is awash in fake, adulterated and dyed jade- but Gump's is about the only place left in this country where you can see and buy the real thing in its natural color forms. Last time I was in Chinatown I saw ZERO authentic and unadulterated jade. I have some stone cutting experience which is why this means a lot to me- and maybe most don't care- but it is really neat to go to Gump's and see real jade.