San Francisco

[kittya]

Going there for four days. Not planning to do much shopping but, is there anything that is really worth buying that is better value there? and, of course, what about childrens clothes? or, can you get everything here now?

tis the home of Levi's if you're into jeans! lol

if i was going i would be off to baby Gap and oshkosh

iirc North Face is manufactured there, when I first went many years ago I planned on buying a puffa jacket. Found out it was cheaper here.

Jewellery is cheaper, but you have to declare it at customs ..... or you should

What kind of jewellery and, where would you buy it? I found with Gap Kids the prices were much the same as here so Im reluctant to spend time shopping for things for the sake of it. What about Dermalogica skin care and that kind of thing? Whist we are on the subject of shopping are there any good vintage shops?

San Fran the home of Benefit- they have a few Benefit shops there and its deffo cheaper than over here.

yeah but their gap should stock the whole range, ours don't! lol

Any outlets worth going to?

I used to live there..when I go back I head to Union square, from there you have Old Navy, a huge Gap, Anthropologie (my favorite) Armani Exchange, Banana republic, J Crew, Diesel , and all the chain stores .. Nordstroms was always my favorite.. If you want a treat head either to Macys top floor to the Cheesecake factory - the terrace is gorgeous at night , or to the Rotunda at Neiman Marcus

Lol..and if you get time hit up the most amazing fish restaurant in the world -- Farallon, just off Union square...

Across the bridge there are a couple of decent outlets - fab for buying handbags and clothes cheap - the Petaluma outlet is easy driving distance, but you would need to hire a car ..well worth it for cheap Coach handbags though..
You lucky moo !!

xxxxxxx

Ooh, I used to live there to, that you're going!
Agree with Union Square/Market St for the big shops, Old Navy is fab for cheap sporty basics (and maternity clothes, oddly enough, if you needed those at all?!). There is a large Sephora on Powell St at Market near Union Square, it is two floors of makeup and frangrance and is well well worth a visit. Their own brand stuff is lovely, and it's pretty cheap for such good quality.
Go to Haight Ashbury for the vintage shops - not all of them are that cheap though. If you are planning on visiting the Haight, it's worth getting there early and going to Kate's Kitchen for breakfast to fuel you up! At the very top of Haight there is a record store called amoeba, it's built in an old bowling alley and is huge. They have piles and piles of second hand, very cheap CDs.

Oooh yes Kate's Kitchen is fab.

Aercrombie in San Fran is good and definitely cheaper than here. Also agree re.Gap and Urban Outfitters.

Lulu Lemon is a cute shop - sells sporty type good.

I'm too. Would love to live there.

Im reading my rough guide now and already want to move there!!! Any must do's? it all looks wonderful. Staying on Union Square so will do all the chains. What about American Apparel? Ive never got the place when Ive been in the one here. Is Keihls cheaper? Im only there 4 days and dont want to spend it shopping so will do the big stores as and when Im going back to the hotel. Id love to potter round some boutiquey places. When is sale time?

I know it's touristy, but I definitely recommend Alcatraz, it has a real atmosphere even now. You get an audio guide narrated by the ex prison warders. I lived in SF for three years and I think I visited Alcatraz about 5 times . You might want to prebook if you're keen to go, at certain times of year it gets booked up days or even weeks in advance.
Four days isn't long, but there is loads to do in the city - there are some super museums in Golden Gate Park which are worth a look if you're going to the Park (which is lovely anyway). You can go right down to the ocean and eat at Louis' which is right on the coast and has great views.
If you're feeling energetic you can hire bicycles at Fisherman's Wharf and then cycle over the Golden Gate bridge, spectacular at sunset, Sausalito is just over the bridge and is lovely for a coffee and a look round the arty shops (or you can get a ferry over, have lunch at the Alta Mira if you're feeling flush!).
Not sure if you've got your children with you but if not, how about a day or half day in the wine country (Napa and Sonoma counties), it's beautiful and there are some great wines that you'd never see anywhere else. You'd really need to rent a car for that though.
Union St (in the Marina district) has some lovely little boutiquey shops - BTW the bus system is great in San Francisco, it goes everywhere and your tickets should get you on the buses, cable cars and BART (a kind of underground system), if you're planning on seeing a lot of the City it might even save money to buy a weekly pass. Oh, definitely go on the cable cars! Very very fun . There is one that's a lot quieter than the others, I think it's the Van Ness/Market one.
Am so excited for you!!

But all the places nr Union square are chain shops, it's really not much different than the UK!
I'd head towards pacific heights!

I also recommend a trip to the ferry building market place. Lots of places where you can eat there and a fabolous store selling kitchen items, if I remember well. I loved that place.

If you hire a car there's a great drive you can do that takes you all round the city.

Also Berkley is a great place for a day trip, second Sausalito and the beaches over in Marin County (other side of Golden Gate) are lovely.

Francis Ford Coppola has a winery - I think in Sonoma but I may be wrong. Definitely worth a visit.

I so want to do a winery but it will have to be a day trip? how would we get home tipsy? Theres so much to think about!! god, this should be on another thread Im sure but, what about bars? do we need to get away from Union Square?

Is Benefit really that much cheaper there? Any other tips for make up? (beauty products are abit of an obbsession!!)

we went to a lot of the wineries while we were there and of course it depends what you are looking for - but our favourite was always V.Sattui - its just the most beautiful and laid back...Its in St Helena ..
You would pass the Petaluma outlet that I mentioned on the way ..

I agree re Pier 39 - its a shame to waste time in SF doing that rubbish ..BUT if this is the only time you are likely to go to SF then you should have a quick wander down the Pier..

Noe Valley - oh yes ..lovely area . I loved the Haight too, but then I'm a bit of an old hippie..
There ARE no bad ares in SF really..its all good...
We have lived in SF itself for a while and also in Marin across the bridge, in Ross and Sausalito ...
Ross is a beautiful little sleepy US town if you get a chance to see it on the way through to Napa.. ... Sean Penn lived there when we lived there, his kid was at the same school as my son ..Lovely family..

Sausalito is gorgeous ..oh Im getting so homesick ....

Lol.. Beauty product obsession - that I can relate too... you must go to Sephora ...Kiehls IS cheaper and there is so much more of a choice than here..
Pick up Glycolic face washes and creams cheap in any Rite Aid though ( Superdrug type place - you'll see them all over..)

And you MUST go to Nieman Marcus if you like beausty products - their cosmetic hall is just so stunningly and utterly beautiful ... I would go and choose my stuff there, get samples and soak up the atmosphere and then shoot over to Macys where they were cheaper to actually buy !!

omg it sounds fabulous. I'd love to go there.

Kerrymumbles, Fimore is my favorite street in the whole world...lots of home style shops, bookshops and coffeeshops !

I want to be there right now. Four days isnt that long, sounds like we will be exhausted. I really have to narrow my trip down to things I have to see and fit my shopping around it. Are beauty treatments much the same as they are here? I guess they would take up to much time.

I almost wish I wasnt stopping over in LA now and just spending time in SF!

Clinique is much cheaper in the States, too.