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San Francisco local knowledge for July 4 fireworks viewing help please.

stupidhead

stupidhead

aka Ratdogheads
Subscriber
Hi folks, so Diane and I are traveling to the Bay area for a Dead and Company show at Shoreline on the 3rd and spending a week of poking around the area.
We had a vision of going to the Marin headlands overlook to watch the fireworks on Wednesday evening but after doing a bit of research it would appear many people have the same idea and shy of getting there quite early and parking it sounds to be a zoo for the fireworks.
Hoping some of the locals might chime in with some ideas for alternate viewing locations. Of course pier 39 seems like an ideal place but the zoo thing again. We have seen and are intrigued by the Angel Island cruise idea but local knowledge always trumps these touristy ideas that are obvious.

Geoff (and Diane)
 
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stupidhead said:
many people have the same idea and shy of getting there quite early and parking it sounds to be a zoo for the fireworks.
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The bad thing about the SF show is you always have a 50/50 chance of it being fogged in and wrecking it. And yes traffic though the city these days is pretty bad, less parking and the the draw if the firework just makes everything worse. I don't know where your staying but 20 miles south on HYW 101, about a 30 minute drive once on the freeway is two shows in San Mateo county.

They are both by the San Mateo Bridge and can both be see together. One is in Foster City and the other is in Redwood Shores and both start around 9pm. These locations are side by side almost and being a few miles away form each other. They are both along the bay and have a lot of waterways and a park like atmosphere with lots of open space.

The big rounded hump the the bridge is at is foster city, the smaller outcrop is redwood shores.
1200px-Foster_City_and_San_Mateo_Bridge.jpg FosterCityCA.jpg



Leo Ryan Park, 650 Shell Blvd/Hillsdale, Foster City

Will put you right under the show, but as you can see the area is very flat and it can be seen all over the place. However if you like the big bang the closer you are the better.

fireworks-300x449.jpg

This is a suburbia area and is much more relaxing and cleaner than the city rat race, not to mention the weather will be much better.
 
@4-2-7 is right about the fog. Some years you cannot see the fireworks unless you are right under them. If the fog isn't blocking them then there are several places in the city that have good viewing angles. I usually watch from the top of Bernal Heights but Corona Heights also has a pretty spectacular view.
 
Hey,

There are many locations to watch some pretty darned spectacular fireworks all over the entire area. We have one here in Richmond on July 3rd. Unfortunately, I have no idea as to how best to get there to view. It's been over 20 years since I ventured out to watch them.

Biggles
 
thanx folks for all the insights and tips. as usual the AK bunch is happy to share.

no cwh, not in the city. staying in San Diego first couple nights and then San Rafael and then up into Sonoma for the last couple days.

We have always enjoyed The Bay area in the past, I am sure this time will be a blast.
 
stupidhead said:
Hi folks, so Diane and I are traveling to the Bay area for a Dead and Company show at Shoreline on the 3rd and spending a week of poking around the area.
We had a vision of going to the Marin headlands overlook to watch the fireworks on Wednesday evening but after doing a bit of research it would appear many people have the same idea and shy of getting there quite early and parking it sounds to be a zoo for the fireworks.
Hoping some of the locals might chime in with some ideas for alternate viewing locations. Of course pier 39 seems like an ideal place but the zoo thing again. We have seen and are intrigued by the Angel Island cruise idea but local knowledge always trumps these touristy ideas that are obvious.

Geoff (and Diane)
Click to expand...
Fireworks In the Bay Area is always packed anywhere you go. The cruise would be a double treat. Being on the Bay and seeing fireworks. Have fun!
 
stupidhead said:
thanx folks for all the insights and tips. as usual the AK bunch is happy to share.

no cwh, not in the city. staying in San Diego first couple nights and then San Rafael and then up into Sonoma for the last couple days.

We have always enjoyed The Bay area in the past, I am sure this time will be a blast.
Click to expand...

If you can make it all the way into Berkeley, there is a nice new/vintage audio shop called Berkeley Stereo. The guy who runs it is quite nice and he has a good mix of old and new stuff.
 
there's an amphitheater around Palo Alto that usually has a july 4th concert followed by fireworks
another used to be in half moon bay. haven't been to these in years but do check them out.

note: bring blankets - the bay area gets cold/windy at night
(remember the misquoted Mark Twain - coldest winter I spent was summer in SF)
 
Sonoma has a great home town fireworks show that is virtually never fogged out.
You can literally lie on the field adjacent to the mortars and look straight up to view the show and feel the concussions.
Several local fire departments are deployed to manage any mishaps.
Last year we sat with the firemen and their families and truly had a ringside seat.
Sometimes nights are shirt sleeve, sometimes a warm wrap is needed.

The General's Daughter next to the field has a buffet so you can pig out as you watch, if that is your choice.
Busy, but crowds are very manageable. Get there a bit early and park behind the barracks on the plaza. Music and festivities all day on the plaza following a well attended home town style parade at 9am.
Rockets go off around 9:30.
We live in town and never miss it, often we have houseful of guests up to participate but it will be quieter this year because the Fourth is on a Wednesday.
 
Berkeley has a nice fireworks show off the marina area, and San Francisco has a good show off Chrissy Field -- if you are on a bay cruise you will see both of them, fog permitting. A long time ago, I was a reporter for the SF Examiner and the July 5 edition of the hated SF Chronicle ran file photos of the July 4 fireworks, which were blocked by fog. We had a lot of fun pointing out that "fake news" back in the 1980s.

Have a nice visit!
 
@stupidhead - Hi, just to add to this - the Presidio is a great place to watch the fireworks from. Drive down to Crissy Field area - last few years it has been easy to park last minute, down in the free open lots they have down there by Sports Basement and the other warehouses along the road across from Crissy. If fog comes, all bets are off, but that's as good a spot as any. Also close to restaurants, etc in the Marina. Cheers!

SF has changed quite a bit, but it is still a great, beautiful city.

Parking lots circled in red: Double-check there are no regulations, but I think all of these are fine & free/unenforced.
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I was actually nervous about posting this, as it feels like a secret, which you have to hold somewhat closely in SF. But I like AK-ers so much. So speakerheads, take note, as I may actually delete soon after the 4th, so as not to commit this to the memory of the internet forever.
 
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Fog is a real issue. As the interior of CA heats up the cool ocean air is drawn in and this creates fog in the Bay area.

As to fireworks, our viewing over the last 20 years has always been impacted by fog. The best experience we had, though, was to board a tall ship out of Sausilito. It sailed out into the bay and underneath the fireworks. There was fog then too, but it was less of an issue. Wear warm cloths. I searched and found a bunch of suppliers, mostly sold out. Curiously enough - this popped up (https://www.sfyc.org/default.aspx?p=.NETEventView&ID=3860273&qfilter=&type=0&ssid=335634&chgs= ) which is private yachts sailing out of Sausilito - out of the San Francisco Yacht club. Top notch boats are anchored there. This is an interesting option.
 
rmeade said:
Fog is a real issue. As the interior of CA heats up the cool ocean air is drawn in and this creates fog in the Bay area.
Click to expand...

With the heatwave that's going on, I don't think the City will be the place to be this year. It's going to be foggy for sure.
 
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