If you want to stay near the SFSU campus, look for hotels near 19th and Holloway, SF, CA 94132 (Sunset District, Golden Gate Park, Daly City)

Hospitality Information
(Maps, Dining, Transportation, etc)

1600 Holloway Avenue, San Francisco, CA

Division 32 APA Conference, 2016 San Francisco, CA


The conference will be held on the campus of San Francisco State University, Seven Hills Conference Center, in the Southwest Quadrant of the campus.  Click on the buttons to the left (or the links below) to see a map of the campus and a detailed map of conference area including directions, parking, and other useful information.

 

Click Here to discover on-campus transportation options. 

In addition the school offers a free shuttle from the Geary Street BART stations.


San Francisco State University Map 


San Francisco State University Guide (Dining, Services, Other Information)

 
Seven Hills Conference Center & University Map
The map link also gives directions, parking and other useful information - to use for the conference.


Climate:

San Francisco is generally cool in March. Daytime temperatures rarely reach 70 degrees and typically are in the low to mid sixties. At night temperatures are typically in the forties. Note temperatures south of the city such as San Jose and on the other side of San Francisco Bay are somewhat warmer. Normally the city receives about 3 inches of rain in March. However, special weather conditions are leading the experts to feel there will be much higher rainfall than normal this winter and spring. Be certain to bring appropriate raingear. In the city typically mornings are cooler and the legendary San Francisco fog abounds. Usually the fog clears late in the morning and while cool afternoons are generally sunnier.

Transportation around the City:

Rush hour in San Francisco can be very difficult. Allow extra time to reach your destination between about 6:00 AM and 10:00 AM and 3:00 PM and 7:00 PM. There is often congestion outside these hours. Driving can be difficult and parking can be brutal.

Taxicabs are generally expensive. A recent phenomenon, the Uber taxi service, uses a program on a smart telephone. The program is available for most phones. Download the program and provide a credit card. To use it start the program. It will find your location using the phones GPS, tell it your destination and it will give you a waiting time and the price. You will be picked up by a qualified independent, fully insured drive and be delivered to your destination Tipping is not allowed. Uber is not available at the airports but is otherwise a frequently used alternative to a traditional taxi service. Major hotels may also be able to get an Uber car for you.


Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART)

Is a modern convenient rail service that operates through the San Francisco Bay Area. Any concierge will be happy to provide you with a BART map showing access from the location. As noted below San Francisco State University operates a free shuttle from the Geary Street BART station to the campus. BART serves both San Francisco International Airport and Oakland International Airport.

San Francisco Municipal Transportation Authority (MUNI)

Operates bus services throughout the city. It is reasonably priced but like Uber has to deal with city traffic.

Getting to and from the city:

By Air:

San Francisco International Airport is far and away the best way to get to the city by air.

Most major hotels offer free service from the airport to the hotel. When making hotel reservations, check for availability.


Oakland International Airport is directly across the bay from San Francisco International Airport. The Bay Area Rapid Transit Authority operates shuttles directly from Oakland Airport to downtown San Francisco. Cab fares are generally prohibitive, typically in excess of $75.00.


San Jose Airport is fifty miles south of San Francisco. Generally the advice to get to San Francisco from San Jose Airport is to rent a car and drop it in the city. Shuttle and taxi services are very expensive. If you are planning to rent a car anyway, this might suit. However, you should be aware that San Francisco can be a challenging city in which to park. Various forms of public transport are generally more convenient.


By Train:

San Francisco lacks a terminal. Amtrak and other train services are available from most major coastal cities in California and there is also service from Chicago and points in between. All end across the bay in Emeryville. Free bus shuttles take passengers back to the city.

Hotels in San Francisco:

The Intercontinental Mark Hopkins Hotel at the top of Nob Hill. Legendary historic hotel at the top of Nob Hill. Priced accordingly. The restaurant on the top floor, the Top of the Mark offers outstanding cuisine priced accordingly.


The Fairmont Hotel is also in the Nob Hill area and is equally elegant, if not more elegant, than the Mark Hopkins. It offers elegance but is far less ostentatious.


Major Hotel Chains with locations relatively close to the conference:


Four Seasons, San Francisco

Grand Hyatt

Hilton San Francisco and Hilton Towers

Marriott Hotel

Westin San Francisco Market Street

Westin St. Francis.


However, there are dozens of smaller chain hotels, independent hotels and bed and breakfasts that can offer excellent accommodations at a reasonable price. Most will not offer shuttle service to the airports and will have to be booked directly. Here is a web site link that lists many of them. http://www.tripadvisor.com/HotelsNear-g60713-d5789878-San_Francisco_State_University-San_Francisco_California.html Note that reviews are available.

 

Things to Do in the City by the Bay

Many of the places to see and things to do in San Francisco involve good dining and food. Some do not. Among them are the following:


Big Bus Tours is one of many firms that offer overviews of the entire city. Start with one of their tours and follow up with those things that most interest you. Different tours have different prices. See the following link for more information: http://www.tripadvisor.com/HotelsNear-g60713-d5789878-San_Francisco_State_University-San_Francisco_California.html


In addition to land tours of the city, a cruise around San Francisco Bay is well worthwhile.

The Red and White Tour Company is one of many offering high quality tours of the bay. They depart from the end of Fisherman’s Wharf. Details can be found at http://www.redandwhite.com/


Alcatraz Island and the now closed Federal Prison would not seem the top choice. Consistently those who make this trip find it a major highlight of their stay. The National Park Service operates the island as a National Recreation Area. However, they do not offer transportation to the island. Officially they cooperate with Alcatraz Cruises, LLC to bring visitors. More information about the National Recreation Area and a link to Alcatraz Cruises can be found at http://www.nps.gov/alca/planyourvisit/index.htm There are numerous other services that provide transportation to and from the island.


Presidio Park and Golden Gate Bridge

At the northern tip of San Francisco, the National Park Service operates the Presidio a military installation that over two hundred years housed soldiers from Spain and Mexico before it became a US military base. Control of the Golden Gate was a critical military factor through World War Two. Despite the history it is a beautiful park to walk and leaving the park the Golden Gate Bridge can be reached in a minute or two.


Haight Ashbury

The intersection still carries the aura of the counter culture spawned there in the late 1960s. There are many small shops and cafes that are imbued a near unique American Cultural experience. Especially for those who were alive in that era and/or lived through it, this colorful neighborhood reeks of nostalgia. And considering California’s liberal stance on the possession and use of cannabis that smell too might be found though in the height of the era Haight Ashbury was more closely associated with psychedelic drugs. And while California may be liberal in its legal stance about cannabis, it is not true for other substances.

Sight seeing and dining

Chinatown

Is the home of chop suey, egg foo young and several other dishes many Americans consider Chinese. The following guide gives you an overview of Chinatown’s many things of interest. Also note that San Francisco’s Little Italy is included. http://www.sftodo.com/china.html


Fisherman’s Wharf

It’s well worth a trip even for many who don’t like fish. At the base of Fisherman’s Wharf is Ghirardelli Square home of the chocolate that bears its name. Chocoholics beware! Over the years many of the restaurants on the Wharf have become chains and many more have changed ownership. Alioto’s remains family owned since 1925 and is the best know of the restaurants on the Wharf. Beyond that look and the multitude of cuisines choose those you enjoy. Note that prior to leaving San Francisco sour dough bread is a must.


Dining in San Francisco

There are hundreds of wonderful restaurants in San Francisco. Here is the San Francisco Chronicles listing of their top 100 http://www.sfchronicle.com/food/top-100-2015/


Many of these are expensive. Here is a list of moderately priced restaurants that offer good food http://www.tastingtable.com/dine/san-francisco/best-cheap-eats-san-francisco-2015


And to start the day here is a list of excellent breakfast restaurants by area in the city http://www.tastingtable.com/dine/san-francisco/best-cheap-eats-san-francisco-2015

About San Francisco


San Francisco Travel provides information about restaurants, things to do and locations of interest in and around the Bay Area.  Click the button to go straight to the San Francisco Visitor Information page.  (It will open up a new page.)

Special thanks to the San Francisco State University for hosting the 2016 Division 32 Conference.