Vacation time.

[Ralph]

Just three more working days left. My wife and I are headed to San Francisco Saturday to celebrate our twenty year anniversary. We are planning on visiting Alcatraz, Napa valley, and seeing the other main sights in and around S.F. Do any of y'all have any other suggestions for a couple doing the tourist thing? Any places to avoid?

Thanks,
RR3

arty:

 

[Tucker]

If you've never been on the West coast much, try Carmel (touristy, artsy) and Monterey (the aquarium is awesome), those are both South of S.F. by an hour or two. Of course the famous 17 mile drive is always a good bet. North of S.F. try Ft. Bragg (great coastline). In S.F. and around it, Golden Gate park, Pier 39, and Fisherman's Wharf are all popular tourist spots. Not too many places to avoid, S.F. is pretty tourist-friendly, IMHO.

If you like the bed and breakfast thing, Napa has great offerings, but do check with locals on the best choices. I have heard that some are not as comfortable as advertised.

My least favorite things about the Bay Area: traffic, bridge tolls.

My most favorite things: street musicians, cable cars, and the best restaurants on the planet.

I live about 5 hours north of S.F. but I visit often.

 

[JnJ]

Cool Ralph, you guys have a great time! August will be 18 for us.

 

[RTicUL8]

I don't know if it's still running today, but several years ago there was a wine-train running between Napa and St. Helena. It was a romantic dinner train that goes by several vinyards. Tucker would probably know if it's still there...

 

[Tucker]

I'd forgotten about that ... we did the Murder Mystery dinner trip years ago. It was great fun! Go in the evening, the cars get hot during the day in summer. Check out www.winetrain.com for more info.

btw... congratulations you two! All the best and all that ... have fun!

 

[Ralph]

Look what I found (Sorry, dial-up unfriendly)

Here is an XJ I spotted in Sonoma. Sorry for the large pics. I'm playing with a new camera.

RR3

 

[JnJ]

OMG! 8O

 

[Boatwrench]

Newlyweds.

Stop at Monterey/Carmel on the way north. It's 120 miles south of SF on the coast, that's where the scenic 17 mile drive is. Monterey has artsy shopping, a cool aquarium and good waterfront resturants.

When in SF make sure to ride a cable car, they get crowded in the middle of the day, especially the Hyde street line which has the tight turns. The cost is ~$3 but is going up this summer. Speaking of turns, drive down Lombard. Its a red brick serpentine street. There is also a serpentine street across town on Kansas ST but it's not scenic and or decorated.

Go out to Lincoln Park golf course and drive up to the Palace of the Legion of Honour. Walk towards the cliff and down to the 17th tee box. One of the best views of the GG bridge. You'll be looking back east towards it. Since your out at Land's End drive south three streets to Geary and then right (west) to the Cliff House Resturant and Ocean Beach, great place to watch sunsets if not foggy. This is also real close to Golden Gate Park which has a good aquarium and museum.

I tell everyone visiting California to see a Redwood Tree, there's a small grove in GG Park and groves between Monterey and the City, but just 35 miles north across the GG bridge in Marin County is Muir Woods National Monument. This grove is the tallest south of "The Avenue of the Giants" which is about 180-200 miles north of SF in the town of Garberville. Go to Sierra Chapter forum and look at the photos from the Lost Coast/ Usal run. Above Muir Woods is MT Tamalpias. Drive to the top for great views of the entire bay area and far out to sea. You can watch ships enter port from up there.

Another great view of the bay region is from Grizzly Peak road in Berkeley hills/ tilden park.

Also visit Sausalito, there is a model of the bay & delta which tide & water flow studies are performed in. It's interesting.

Have a drink in Harry Denton's Starlight Room in the Sir Francis Drake Hotel, very romantic. Legend has it if you only take a girl there for dinner to propose matrimony. Another fun eatery is the Tonga Room in the Fairmont at the top of Nob Hill (arrive by Cable Car). Tropic setting, drinks and food. Both of these are on the expensive side ($100 a night dinners).

If you want good food where the locals go is along 24th Street in Noe Valley district (between Church and Diamond Sts) or on West Portal Ave between the tunnel and Sloat.

Most importantly, dress in layers, SF temps can vary by as much as 15 degress depending on time of day and which side of town your on.

 

[CRASH]

The only activity to avoid in San Francisco is bending over. :moon:

CRASH

 

[Ralph]

Thanks for the tips, Boatwrench. We are going to Sausalito and Muir woods tomorrow. Friday we are heading to Monterey. Today we will be going to visit the firehouse where Glenn's dad works and maybe head towards some of the other areas you mentioned. We've had a great time so far. The biggest problem is so much to see and do in only a week.

RR3