I have been to California several times but I have never been to this part and will be there Sunday to Sunday next week. I am in training during the weekdays but off on the weekends and would like to have some fun!  I like quirky and educational things as you seen one bar/club/nightlife you have seen em all. So anyone have some tips?

AB

Do you know the way to San Jose?..;) sorry, had to get that out of my system...;)

Don't know from SJ, but San Francisco, The Golden Gate bridge, Alcatraz, Haight/Ashbury, Chinatown, things like that are the usual destinations. Plus, I can't remember the name of the street, but it's about 15 u-turns end to end...you'll recognize it when you see it. Take a cable car. See Starfleet headquarters (woops...won't be there for another 3 centuries..;) have fun...

I was in Frisco for 3 weeks a few years back in August so there was good weather for sightseeing. You won't be so lucky during the winter.
One good place to see is Fisherman's Wharf, another is Coit Tower, another is Lombard Street, another is Alcatraz and of course don't forget the Golden Gate and Golden Gate Park.
You might find a trip across the bridge to visit  Muir Woods Nat'l Monument enjoyable and I really enjoyed a trip on their Bart subway system especially when it goes under the ocean from Oakland to San Francisco...you are in a tunnel but you can actually feel the difference in pressure anyway.

This being the winter time, I must warn you that a trip to Alcatraz is going to be too cold to enjoy it...IF they even offer it this time of year!

In any case, take warm clothing, stay warm and have fun. It's a pretty town.

I grew up out there actually...SF is one of my favorite cities.

If you're in the city itself take the cable car from Powell and Market there is a turnabout there
Take the Powell Hyde line all the way down to Fishermans Warf Price is like $5 one way...you can also do all day tickets but I typicallt don't bother.
Watch off the right hand side as you get towards the bottom...you'll know it is getting there after you've done a sharp left and a sharp right...and you'll be able to see Lombard street...the zig zaggy one. You can get off there and wait for the next car to come if you want the photo op.

There is a kind of cool Maritime museum right by where the line ends...old ships, several you can board for a reasonable price. It is out on the Hyde street pier...not to be confused with the maritime museum which will be up the street to your left (as you face the water)

If you go up the pier a bit to your right as you face the water you can find numerous site seeing boats and opportunities to do Alcatraz if that is your thing

One of the places you'll pass if you wander that direction will be The Cannery...a collection of shops...nothing to notable here unless you're into musical instruments then you need to find the Lark in the Morning music shop. This is one of my favorite stops just to see what they have and try playing a few things....cool stuff from around the world on display typically.

From where the line ends if you go left, facing the water, you can get around to the Palace of fine Arts which houses, among other things, the Exploratorium...pretty cool hands on museum of science with changing exhibits.

Go back up Hyde street a block or two to the corner of Hyde and Beach and you'll see the Buena Vista...world famous for its Irish Coffee. I typically hang out in there for a warming evening beverage and a chat with the bartenders...not bad food either.

I'd recommend getting one of those touristy maps of the city that you can find about anywhere...typically for free in your hotel...they are easy to follow around and once you get your bearings you can find anything on them quickly.

I can keep going...I grew up more south, towards San Jose, so if you give me more specifics on what you're after I can probably come up with a couple more options.

Where is the training?

My training is in San Jose north of the Airport Milpitias I think. Which I will most likely stay close to till Friday then I will head up north. Although I may need to come back as I did not book any rooms in San Francisco.

The drive isn't bad...to get to the stuff I am talking about is only about 45 minutes so day trips up to the city on the weekends are very doable
You might even consider driving just up to Millbrae...that would be north on 101...and getting on BART there to go into the city. You would get off at the Powell station which would put you right by the cable car turn around.

San Jose is kinda trendy night lifey as a hold over from the .com days.
I put on my thinking cap and see what I can come up with on that end of town.
That's right in by where I went to school..Santa Clara University...so I need to readjust focus off of college drinking spots and more on culturally cool....

walk the bridge! Fort Mason at the bottom..walk the park, and Crissy feilds. There is a route from ocean beach where you can trek round to the bridge. the toursity maps will tell you all. ocean beach. Pier39..and munch on crab cakes and mini donuts. grump at the fog, ashbury haight if you like punk and weird stuff. and all the other stuff everyone talks about. but don't forget the crab cakes and the clamchowder and the sourdough bread! there's thes restaurant on market street bang opposite macy's that serves clam chowder in sourdough bowls.. lovely.

If you're going to San Jose you might reconsider S.F. and go to the Monterrey Bay Area instead: 

but if you must go to Sam Francisco, The cable car to Fisherman's Wharf is hard to beat.
The little park at the cable car turnaround is where Bruce Li used to teach in the mid sixties. 
Further down The Balclutha was an old masted vessel you could board for a fee (not too exciting) the wax museum. Ghiradelli Square (evening best) is also somewhere around Lombard Street(that crooked thing). 
In the Park, the Japanese Tea Garden where Micho Kaku thought about the perception of dimensions at the coy pond there (when I met him it looked like he was trying to catch the fish but what di I know?)   , Steinhart, Stow Lake.
close by to the park: Funland, the Cliffhouse, Flieshaker's Zoo.
Also along the panhandle in the park, you'll find Haight Street where I met the blind man J.J. used to sing about. Also the Presidio (future home of Star Fleet ?? LOL) is in the area. There are so many restaurants - SF's China town hosts some of the best Chinese Restaurants outside of King City (no I'm serious). Also with a large number of Italians in the area, Italian Restaurants might be a good bet. As I haven't lived in the area for a looong time I wouldn't presume to mention any of them, not even Alioto's.     
Of course you'd be missing something if you don't get a kosher hot dog along the way. 

I dunno - I haven't been there in years.

aha..i forgot... stinking rose...
you got to try that...

I have been on my honeymoon as you can see from my avatar. One thing that I will always remember is hiring a bike and cycling over the Golden gate bridge down into Sausilito. Thats a real nice little seaside town. You can then catch a ferry back across the harbour and see the bridge from the water. Bikes are available from a number of places, but we picked ours up from fishemans wharf.
Alcatraz tour at night is excellent as well

If you're going to San Francisco, be sure to wear some flowers in your hair.

Hey, it's Pakled's fault. :^)

"The coldest winter I ever experienced was summer in San Francisco" - Mark Twain..;)

it do get chilly there, tho...

yep  !  !  warm clothes are always in order. First nice day was today over to Fresno which is  just a hop, two skips, three jumps, a short run, a small leap, a short prance, two skedaddles and three shuffles away from my heart.