Travel: BlogHer Food 2010, Getting to San Francisco from the Airport

Golden Gate Bridge

Traveling to San Fran for the first time? Unless you have a ton of luggage, I highly recommend the BART! Fast, easy and generally the best [and cheapest!] way to get into the city.

F Line Muni Streetcar from Embarcadero to Castro District; $2 for 90 minutes of travel. Enter from the front door & pay the driver with exact change.

SFO Arrivals:

Upon arrival into SFO, after collecting your luggage, follow the signs to BART, which is located in the International Terminal. You can take the free AirTrain to the BART station. Once you arrive at the BART Station, you will find the ticket machines directly in front of you after you get off the AirTrain.  You may use either Cash or Credit to purchase your tickets[see instructions below].  Proceed to the BART station entrance, slipping in your ticket into the designated slot.  Board the Pittsburgh/Bay Point train to San Francisco [NOT Millbrae]. 

OAK Arrivals:

If you are arriving into Oakland, you will need to take the AirBART bus to get to the Coliseum/Oakland Airport BART Station [travel time is approximately 15 minutes]. The AirBART bus departs every 10 minutes [fare is $3, EXACT change only].  Follow the directional signs to the AirBART [located between Terminal 1 and 2, 3rd curb from the terminal].  You can take either trains that travel to Daly City [make sure it's NOT headed towards Dublin/Pleasanton, Richmond or Fremont.]

How to use the ticket machine:

You will need to already know what your fare is before you actually get to the ticket machines.  Avoid wasting time asking around for what the fare should be - Look up fares HERE: BART Fare Calculator

To Powell from SFO: One way fees will be $8.10, Roundtrip at $16.20.

To Powell from OAK: One way fees will be $3.80, Roundtrip at $7.60.   

1.) Put in your form of payment - either Cash or Credit - in the appropriate slot.

2.) The default amount of the ticket is $20 which will appear on the screen.  Using the buttons A - D, add/subtract the amount needed to get to your destination.  [add $1 = A; subtract $1 = B; add $.05 = C; subtract $.05 = D].

3.) When you are done, hit "E" to print the ticket.

Arrival into Downtown San Francisco:

Powell Street BART station is probably the closest if you're staying at the Intercontinental.  Just two blocks Southeast from Powell Station, it's an easy walk [and thank goodness for "up" escalators to street level!] using the Hallidie Plaza exit.

Embarcadero Station

Ferry Market Building Farmer's Market - San Francisco

On my last trip up to Napa, I swung by the Ferry Building during a non-farmer's market day.  I missed out on some fabulousness. Emily from Foodzie recommended that I get to Primavera for their Chilaquiles.  Come on, NACHOS for breakfast? Of course I love this stuff.  It's one of my favorite meals of all time.

I first became aware of Frog Hollow from a friend who I thought was calling it, "Frogolo".  Through a comedy of errors, I finally discovered that it was Frog Hollow, the best fruit ever.  It's about $3.90 a pound at the ferry market but it is the BEST fruit I've ever had.

They served grilled peaches the weekend I was there.  The sweet, juicy nectar from the peach was absolutely amazing.  

I wandered through stall after stall of fresh veggies, cheese, fruits, plants, and mushrooms.  I found a lot of asian veggies here that I can't readily find in my local markets.  It makes it feel so exotic.  It was an amazing smorgasboard of offerings.  I only wish that we had this place in Los Angeles!  

 

I know I'm a simple person but really...how many different colors and types of radishes are there?  I love the spicy crunchiness of radishes and was sad that I couldn't grab a few bunches to munch on.  Look how beautiful they are!

One of the best parts of the Farmer's Market was getting to see these group of swing dancers dancing around the area right in front of the building.  It was amazing!  People were having such a great time and the spontaneity of the dancing almost made me want to get out there and dance.  But i don't dance.  I sprain ankles by walking.

Ferry Building Farmers Market
One Ferry Building
San Francisco, CA 94111


Tuesday 10:00am - 2:00pm
Thursday 10:00am - 2:00pm
Saturday 8:00am - 2:00pm