Moving to SF and request advice - UPDATE

[Formerly Known as Hawaiibiker]

When I moved from Hawaii to DC, I received great advice from the CAM members so I'm hoping to get the same from MOB 

I will be moving out to San Francisco in September and am trying to get a feel for some good neighborhoods to find an apartment.

Ideally, are there any good areas along the BART lines?  I do not plan to have a car and the Duc will be my daily driver.  Work will be across the bridge but luckily am told it is near a Bart station so I would like to have the option to use the bike or the train.  Since our Ducs are an important part of our family, I will also be looking for garage parking.

So, hoping people can chime in on some places that have access to good parks, restaurants, bars, nightlife and yet be near a Bart station.  Am I asking for too much?

So far, I am considering Mission District (24th St station) and Embarcadero.  Are these good places?

Thanks in advance for all the help and can't wait to meet everyone and enjoy all of the Left-coast roads 

[desmoquattro]

Welcome!

I'd highly recommend the Mission. I live near 16th/Mission BART, and love it. It's very central, and easy walking distance to groceries, restaurants, etc. Oh, and the bike shops are very nearby 

Do you plan on coming out to visit before you move? Many of us would be happy to give you a tour.

[ghostrider]

where is work going to be.

[duckwrench13]

Ingleside isn't too bad either. It's far enough out of the craziness...and crackheads, unlike DQ's place ... but easy enough to get into the heart of the city, and everything fun. It's super easy to get to all the good riding roads, and the Balboa Park BART is right down the street.

And, unlike other parts of the city, you can get a huge house with a garage, for about the same as what you'd pay for an apartment down town.

Heck, these guys'll tell ya how freaking huge my garages is!

[Formerly Known as Hawaiibiker]

Desmoquattro, thanks for the input. I heard the Mission has a great eclectic feel but can also be a little sketchy depending on where you go.  Is this what you find?  Any specific part to avoid and/or target?  I will also be in Nappa Valley on the 16th to attend a friend's wedding so am hoping to get a few days in to check out some neighborhoods.  Anyone want to meet up and share some input and a drink ... first pitcher is on me 

Ghostrider,  work will be in Walnut Creek.  I heard it's about a 40 minute train ride from within the city but figured it should be quicker with the bike.  Someone said it would be a "reverse" commute so hopefully not so much traffic when I want to take the bike.

Duckwrench13, I hear you about getting more property for the buck if I go outside.  But being single and new to the area, I'd love to live right in the middle of all the fun... at least for now ;-)

Everyone, thanks for the great input ... pleas keep them coming!

[duckwrench13]

Duckwrench13, I hear you about getting more property for the buck if I go outside.  But being single and new to the area, I'd love to live right in the middle of all the fun... at least for now ;-)

Everyone, thanks for the great input ... pleas keep them coming!

 The Ingleside neighborhood is in San Francisco. Mt. Sutro and Twin Peaks kind of separate the noise 'n crazies from the area. It's about a 10 minute ride from here to the Mission if you want the hustle 'n bustle.

 Sure it's all fun, until your bike gets knocked over for the umpteenth time. A few minutes out, in one of the other neighborhoods, and you can get a decent place with a private garage.

[ducnymph]

If you're single and want to have fun and meet new people, I'd def recommend the mission. I think it's the city's cultural mecca. There's tons of restaraunts, bars, shops, galleries, Dolores park etc. You can avoid some of the sketch-iness if you get a place in the nicer part of the mission like on Guerrero and Dolores streets. Mission is the best if you want to be close to Bart. Up the hill and on the other side of the mission is another great neighborhood, Noe Valley. Both are sunny and warm -a major + in my book. SF has strange micro-climates 

I give  to 1)Mission 2)Noe Valley, and on the other side of Market five min from the mission also 3) Lower haight/Duboce Triangle. Slightly off-center, but still pretty cool you could also check out Laurel Heights, Presidio, and Inner Richmond. I think a bike is less likely to get knocked over in these hoods    and you might find a garage easier, but unfortanately these aren't close to Bart.

[ROBsS4R]

I live out in the east bay.

Look me up when you arrive and settle in. 

[TCK!]

Are you set on living in SF?

The Creek has a pretty thriving night life as it's the current spot people move to when they get tired of paying crazy rent in SF.

It also has a thriving Cougar community, and has several well documented Cougar hunting grounds.

I think The City is cool but for me its not worth trying to commute in and out of every day. Not that my 104mile commute a day is much better, but at least there is no traffic.

[707soldier]

move to Concord, I heard its nice there.

[Desmostro]

San Francisco has so many flavors I would highly recommend coming out and checking it. Or at least really sitting down and defining what's important. Yuppie? Hipster? Bohemian? Collegiate? We got it all and then some. Each neighborhood is so different you’d think you were in different countries let alone cities. To make it even more fun, there are intensely different micro-climates even within the city. It can be 55F and fogged over down town and 80F and sunny on the southern hills. I’m not exaggerating.

The hills being quite steep, you can go from view of the bay to puke stink and gutter trash in 3 blocks.

You can go from White-bread yuppie to China to Italy to Mexico in 1 mile. Ok maybe 2.
These are good things and one reason I’d like to think we love this place so very very much. But you got to find the right spot for YOU!
Finding a garage is tough but possible. We’re nice. We’ll help when we can. I know a sweet, huge, new 3 bed loft with garage on a sunny hill coming up for rent. 3 garages next door all have motobikes too. That goes for the rest of youz too. Let me know.

[ROBsS4R]

The Concord Walnut Creek area is very nice.

It all depends on what you want. You can be Yuppie trash out here also but at a slower pace than SF 

[Formerly Known as Hawaiibiker]

Everyone,

Thank you so much for the replies

I am much more comfortable in an eclectic environment ... I consider myself a global nomad as I was born in Asia, grew up in the NYC area (loved hanging out in the village, soho ....), lived in AZ, France, HI, DC/VA and can't wait to make it to the Bay area.   I am far from a yuppie although I may need to wear suits once in a while 

So far, the Mission sounds like a great place .... I also want to find a safe area, more for my parents when they come and visit ... want to make sure they can walk around and take the train without any issues.

I never realized about all the micro neighborhoods (both culturally and climate-wise!) .... thanks for the heads up.

Thank you also for enlightening me about the specific areas of the Mission, that will factor in on my search.

Desmostro, that loft you were talking about ... is it near a Bart station and do you know what the rent is? (you can pm me if you don't want to discuss in public).

Duckwrench and yeloducnymph, thanks for the insight about the different neighborhoods.

ROBsS4R, not looking to live in the uppie neighborhood (no offense to any one living there!) and I will definitely look you up once I'm out there  

TCK and 707soldier,  Yeah, I'm trying to live in SF ... figure it's a good time... before I have to live in the burbs due to the family     Also, not sure if I'm looking to go cougar hunting .. or is it the other way around?     

[Vindingo]

If are moving to the city and dont have a place when you get here, I have a room you can rent for a few months (up to 6 if you want).  It's in a pretty swanky hood in the city, central to almost everything, and has a garage spot.  My girl is moving out in the begining of Sept and I was about to start craigslisting.  pm me if you are interested.

[somegirl]

Welcome, sounds like you have been getting sound advice.    Your commute out to Walnut Creek shouldn't be too bad, apart from the initial bit of getting out of the city.

Let us know when you are in town.