Fleet Week. America's Cup. Hardly Strictly Bluegrass. San Francisco Giants playoffs. San Francisco 49ers game. Italian Heritage Parade. Castro Street Fair.
It's all happening in San Francisco this weekend and the city could see up to an additional 1 million people visit. For some San Franciscans, it's the weekend to leave.
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Here's the Fleet Week Guide for those heading into San Francisco.
The mantra for most people: Take transit. Take CalTrain or BART into the City. The Millbrae Caltrain/BART station has ample parking for those looking to do a hybrid). Ride a bike, if you can. Prepare assiduously for where to park if you drive in. Think about parking in the southern end of the city and taking transit to the most crowded areas along Aquatic Park, the Marina Green and Fisherman's Wharf.
Keep these maps and advice about designated parking, bike routes and transit handy to plan your trip.
Need transit information and customer service for San Francisco? Dialing 511 (and checking 511.org) and 311 are your friends.
Here's basic information and a schedule to advise you as you formulate your visit:
The Parade of Ships, as they come under the Golden Gate Bridge, is Saturday at 11 a.m. The ship tours run from Saturday to Monday, and are primarily berthed at Pier 80. The USS Makin Island LHD 8 Amphibious Assault Carrier is at Piers 30/32. There is parking for the ships tour at Pier 80. Note that the minimum age for ship tours is 8 years old.
Fleet Week's spectacular Air Show, from 12:30 to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, of course features the Blue Angels. But there is much more, including the U.S. Air Force's F-22 Raptor demonstration. Best viewing is near the Aquatic Park area and the pier at the end of Van Ness Avenue. The San Francisco Fleet Week Association sells prime viewing seats at the Marina that are available online.
The San Francisco Fleet Week Association web site provided the following schedule of events:
Saturday, October 6, 2012
8-5 Weapons Display at Alameda (East Bay), near USS Hornet free, open to public
9-5 Humanitarian Assistance Village on Marina Green
9-4 Ships tours aboard LHD 8 USS MAKIN ISLAND
10am Powell St. Cable Car Turn around 1st Marine Division Band Concert
10:30 24 Hour Fitness sponsors "TRX on the Green" live military workout demo
11am Parade of Ships (Ships coming in under the Golden Gate Bridge to their piers)
12:30-4 Fleet Week Air Show
1pm PIER 39 USN Sea Cadet Corps Band of The West Concert
9:30pm Fireworks sponsored by Hornblowers, Pier 3
Sunday, October 7, 2012
8-5 Weapons Display at Alameda, near USS Hornet, free open to public
9-5 Humanitarian Assistance Village on Marina Green
9-12 24 Hour Fitness and TRX free classs on Marina Green (register first )
9-4 Ships Tours
9:30-11:30 K9 Services - Pier 80
10-12 TRX24-hour Fitness Event on Marina Green
11-4 Oakland Navy League BBQ for visiting Sailors and Marines
12 Italian Heritage Parade North Beach with US Navy Band & USMC Band
12-4 Fleet Week Air Show
1:50-2:30 America's Cup Race
4:30 PIER 39 Navy Band concert
Monday, October 8, 2012
9 - 4 Ship Tours (Some ships open 9 to 2 p.m., see ships page)
10am High School Band Challenge at Golden Gate Park
The City of Francisco posted this travel advisory on its website:
“This weekend will be a great one for our City and we have the transportation system prepared,” said SFMTA Director of Transportation Ed Reiskin. “We urge anyone who will need to get around San Francisco that weekend to know their options, plan well, and leave their cars at home. We urge everyone to avoid delays by taking Muni, a bike, a taxi or a walk when getting around that week and weekend.”
Additional transit, biking and taxi options will be made available at various events, including extra bus shuttles on Market Street, a new pilot service on The Embarcadero, more buses and trains on most direct routes to and from special events, free bike valets, additional signage for cyclists and pedestrians, bike rentals are available throughout the city and 100 additional taxi will be made available with additional taxi zones at key events.
A lane of northbound The Embarcadero between Washington and Bay streets will be converted to bicycle use only on Saturday and Sunday.
For more information about getting around the City this weekend, go to SFMTA: www.sfmta.com or call 311.
