Cable Cars

Recommends

Contributor

Joined 10 years ago

These open-air trolleys are a quintessential San Francisco experience.. In Short
They may not be the most practical way to get around, but cable cars are inextricably linked with the mythology of San Francisco. Besides, the 9,600,000 tourists who ride the cars annually can't be wrong. Avoid the hour-plus wait at Powell and Market or the Wharf. It's much better to happen upon a cable car along its route than to endure the long lines of other tourists, sidewalk preachers, screamers and thieves.

Recommends

solanda

Joined 10 years ago

Cable Cars. If you haven't been on the cable cars you should. We tried the idea of waiting along the line since the review said the wait was so long at the turn around. Not a good idea with strollers. The cars are very full. We waiting at the turn around for about 4 cable car loads and got on with no problem. The inside fulled up a lot so it was hard to see out.

Recommends

jsterben

Joined 10 years ago

The real San Francisco treat. They may not be the most time-efficient or convenient way to get around the city of San Francisco, but they certainly are the most unique. San Franciscos cable cars are not to be missed. No visit to the City by the Bay--first or repeat--should be considered complete without a ride on one of the citys three cable car lines. The Powel/Hyde route is my personal favorite. Waits at any time of the year from any of the systems terminal points can easily reach over an hour in lengtha wait that will be entertaining if nothing else as the local crazies and musicians/street performers vie to get your attention and your spare change. Fun for everyone, young and old, even if youre doing nothing but riding from one end to the other with no particular purpose in mind.

Doesn't Recommend

rgreen

Joined 11 years ago

Excellent. We've been to San Francisco so many times that I've lost count. But we never took the cable cars because it was either too cold or the lines were too long. Well I've got to tell you that we didn't know what we were missing. If you visit San Francisco you've gotta do the cable cars at least once...it's worth it! The drivers are entertaining and the peoples expressions are fun to watch and boy oh boy, the scenery is incredible from the cars. But watch out for the real sharp turns. The drivers don't slow down and it can catch you off guard. I thought I was going to end up on the asphalt.

Recommends

peterbehle_citysearch

Joined 11 years ago

Plenty of fun for a couple bucks. The cable cars offer up a romantic version of public transportation, but they're also useful and quick. If you've got a choice, though, the California line is the way to go -- the Market Street (to the Wharf) line gets ridiculously crowded with tourists.