Weather: San Francisco in October is pleasant but can be chilly. Pack a sweater and rain jacket.
Public Transportation: San Francisco has excellent public transportation options. We recommend purchasing a Muni Passport that will give you unlimited rides on all Muni vehicles including cable cars, street cars, and buses, making it easy for you to explore San Francisco. The Passports will be especially useful for Saturday afternoon, as we fan out to tour some of the city’s more interesting and unique neighborhoods on our own, via foot or public transportation. (Sessions will end about 4p on Saturday so you can chat with friends and co-authors while wandering through town.) You have the option of purchasing a 1-day Muni Passport for $11 as part of your conference registration. For comparison, a single ride on a cable car is $5 and a bus ride costs $1.50. If you would like to purchase multi-day Passports (they are also available in 3 and 7 day increments), please visit www.sfmta.com/cms/mfares/passports.htm. Please note that the Muni Passport does not cover BART trains or ferries.
Enjoying San Francisco: San Francisco is a destination city. Consider staying an extra day, or coming early, to enjoy some of the many things this beautiful and diverse city has to offer. If you are interested in specific entertainment and touring options in San Francisco, we strongly encourage you to plan ahead. Shows and tours usually book up in advance, as do many restaurants.
For restaurant reservations, OpenTable.com is a good way to go. You can choose restaurants by neighborhood, cuisine, or price, and make advance reservations here.
For information on attractions, shows (including the internationally acclaimed San Francisco institution Beach Blanket Babylon, www.beachblanketbabylon.com ) and tours (including Alcatraz), visit www.onlyinsanfrancisco.com. It is an excellent source of information. If you do plan to visit Alcatraz, please contact the co-chairs in advance for a list of people we would like you to take and leave behind.