YATT: San Francisco

[Jeff7]

Yet another travel thread:
I'm going to be on the road again, this time in the area of San Francisco or Oakland, and if there's anything of interest there, I'd be willing to stick around while I'm in the area. I had intended to fly into Oakland, but the ticket prices to fly into San Francisco are less than half of that price, so that's probably where I'm headed. And the flights to Oakland are going to leave me with either very long layovers, or less than 35 minutes. My experience with flying is that an on-time arrival is not very likely.


If this was near Los Angeles, this is where I'd be going.
That's a tiny little bit more of a drive than I'd like to do, and it wouldn't surprise me if I end up in LA at some point anyway, as there's potential for a lot of business in California.


The Golden Gate Bridge might be something interesting to see.

I usually default to things like botanical gardens, particularly ones with good collections of succulents and cacti, and natural history or science museums.

(No, I don't know how to vacation, and I usually don't travel unless it's for work.)

Recommendations?

 

[OVerLoRDI]

Sounds like you'd really like golden gate Park. Conservatory of flowers, Academy of sciences, De young.

Cable car museum (free) is awesome, if you are into that sort of thing.

Twin peaks on a clear day.

Sutro baths on a clear day.

Alexander Ave on a clear say.

What kind of food are you into?

 

[Jeff7]

Sounds like you'd really like golden gate Park. Conservatory of flowers, Academy of sciences, De young.

Hm...yes, I'll investigate this.

Cable car museum (free) is awesome, if you are into that sort of thing.

Twin peaks on a clear day.

Sutro baths on a clear day.

Alexander Ave on a clear say.

Thanks, I'll also look into these.

What kind of food are you into?

Put it this way, I have canned pasta for lunch almost every day at work. Food isn't really a big thing for me. (If I could instead just plug into a wall outlet for an energy recharge, I'd do that.)
But, Italian is usually what I'll look for if a restaurant is on the agenda. Lasagna, or some manner of pasta.

 

[BoomerD]

The SF Bay area is totally devoid of any kind of culture or touristy things to do.

Your best bet is to not even venture out from your hotel room lest one of the homeless vagrants accost you and steal your stuffs.


/thread

 

[JManInPhoenix]

The Phoenix area is totally devoid of any kind of culture or touristy things to do.

Your best bet is to not even venture out from your hotel room lest one of the homeless vagrants accost you and steal your stuffs.


/thread

fixed that for you.

 

[Jeff7]

The SF Bay area is totally devoid of any kind of culture or touristy things to do.

Your best bet is to not even venture out from your hotel room lest one of the homeless vagrants accost you and steal your stuffs.


/thread

So one of ATOT's own is venturing far beyond the comfort of the basement, and you want him to stay inside.


Damn man, that's harsh.



(And I'm figuring to be staying near Walnut Creek, to the east of SF. ...Wow, hotels are expensive in that area.)

 

[SSSnail]

If you're into the urban development scene, check out the Tenderloin. It is teeming with interesting ethnic cultural activities. So are the up-and-coming vistas of Hunter's View, or Bay Point. Those area are awash with the vibrant neighborhood bonding rituals and interactions.

There's nothing better than to take a stroll down Market Street between 5th and 6th; a relaxing stroll, while taking in the scene, sights, and aromatic blend of exotic scents that's uniquely San Francisco.

I'll tell you about it more, but I have to go now. Be back later.

 

[baydude]

If you're into the urban development scene, check out the Tenderloin. It is teeming with interesting ethnic cultural activities. So are the up-and-coming vistas of Hunter's View, or Bay Point. Those area are awash with the vibrant neighborhood bonding rituals and interactions.

There's nothing better than to take a stroll down Market Street between 5th and 6th; a relaxing stroll, while taking in the scene, sights, and aromatic blend of exotic scents that's uniquely San Francisco.

I'll tell you about it more, but I have to go now. Be back later.

Yes Tenderloin is best visited during the night when all the bars are open.

True story: I saw Mark Zuckerberg in a wine bar then bar hopping in tenderloin once.

 

[Drako]

If you're into the urban development scene, check out the Tenderloin. It is teeming with interesting ethnic cultural activities. So are the up-and-coming vistas of Hunter's View, or Bay Point. Those area are awash with the vibrant neighborhood bonding rituals and interactions.

There's nothing better than to take a stroll down Market Street between 5th and 6th; a relaxing stroll, while taking in the scene, sights, and aromatic blend of exotic scents that's uniquely San Francisco.

I'll tell you about it more, but I have to go now. Be back later.

:biggrin:

That's gold Jerry, gold!

 

[quikah]

Muir woods is pretty nice if you want to see some big trees.

Computer history museum in Mountain View is cool.

Hiller aviation museum in San Carlos is neat.

 

[OVerLoRDI]

So one of ATOT's own is venturing far beyond the comfort of the basement, and you want him to stay inside.


Damn man, that's harsh.



(And I'm figuring to be staying near Walnut Creek, to the east of SF. ...Wow, hotels are expensive in that area.)

Do yourself a favor and try to stay in a city that is along a Bart line. That way you won't need a car (parking is horrible in the city)

Or checkout airbnb.

 

[OBLAMA2009]

if you go to oaktown be sure to check out the west oakland bart station, and international blvd. if you go to sf be sure to check out the tenderloin


oops i see someone beat me to it....

 

[child of wonder]

Prepare to be panhandled like you've never been panhandled before.

Also watch out for piles of human feces on the sidewalk and men pissing on trees in broad daylight.

 

[OBLAMA2009]

Prepare to be panhandled like you've never been panhandled before.

Also watch out for piles of human feces on the sidewalk and men pissing on trees in broad daylight.

there seems to be a new fad here in the bay area where dudes open their car door, and then stand outside their cars and piss into the corner in lieu of searching out a bathroom

 

[twinrider1]

Cable car museum (free) is awesome, if you are into that sort of thing.

+1. It was one of my favorite stops.

Alcatraz too.

And dress warmly. Here I am in San Francisco in April of '88.

 

[Jeff7]

there seems to be a new fad here in the bay area where dudes open their car door, and then stand outside their cars and piss into the corner in lieu of searching out a bathroom

Ah, good. That means I won't need to use Airpnp.




Looks like the Golden Gate Park would be the best bet. I might end up with a Friday to kill, depending on how the first day goes.
I'll have a nighttime flight back home.


Luggage question: I'll have a carryon bag, and plan to be checking out of the hotel on Friday morning. The hotel is not yet arranged, but it will likely be about 30mi east of Golden Gate Park. Either way, the park is about a 1.5hr public transit trip from either the airport or the hotel.
So...what does one do with luggage when they've got no car, and no hotel? Some kind of locker rental place? Or just carry it around for the day? (Seriously, I never travel.)

 

[bradly1101]

Huntington Library-Gardens is amazing. I've been there many times. You'll have to get down here sometime.

 

[zinfamous]

Muir woods.

Also consider Berkeley Botantical Gardens if you find the time to cross the Bay. At the very least, you will experience one of the best views of the area.

 

[ciba]

So...what does one do with luggage when they've got no car, and no hotel? Some kind of locker rental place? Or just carry it around for the day? (Seriously, I never travel.)

I went to SFO and checked in for a flight, then went back to the city for a giants game once.

 

[Jeff7]

Muir woods.

Also consider Berkeley Botantical Gardens if you find the time to cross the Bay. At the very least, you will experience one of the best views of the area.

That's actually closer to the job site - the job site is to the east of that.


Now I'm wondering if I need to add an extra day to the trip. :hmm:


I mean, sure, seeing people urinate on things in broad daylight is one thing, but it's just not quite something that's worthy of changing travel plans.

 

[RossMAN]

Don't make the same mistake we made, I assumed May + California = warm.

Bring a light jacket or something warm to wear, just in case.

 

[SSSnail]

In all seriousness, you'll love the Golden Gate Park Botanical garden, which is right next to the Japanese Tea Garden, which is between it and the De Young Museum, which is right next to the California Academy of Science. More than you can spend a day there.

Japanese Tea Garden

Botanical Garden

De Young Museum

California Academy of Science

Oh, and about your luggage, just roll it with you, unless you have more than one.

 

[Jeff7]

Don't make the same mistake we made, I assumed May + California = warm.

Bring a light jacket or something warm to wear, just in case.

A trip a few months ago took me from just south of the Canadian border to the middle of Alabama.

It was colder there than it was 700 miles farther north.

No, I wasn't expecting that.

(45°F -> 40°F)



Another option is available: There's going to be a return trip to this job site in a few weeks or months. I could volunteer for that trip as well. :sneaky:
That'd be once I've had more time to properly plan the trip. (I really only had a few days of notice here. I'm also not a terribly impulsive person, at least beyond something like, "I think I'll have.....peanut butter ice cream today.")

 

[shortylickens]

came in for yet another titty thread.

Got this instead.

 

[jaedaliu]

How busy will you be with the job? most suggestions are for in the city while you're staying and working in the East Bay.

All my suggestions revolve around food:
Best Thai food I've ever had is at Royal Thai in San Rafael
Favorite pastry shop (they mostly do cakes) is Masse's Pastries in Berkeley
Food I want to try but haven't yet: French Laundry in Yountville, and Chez Panisse in Berkeley (need reservations well in advance for these)
Favorite Ice cream parlor: Fenton's Creamery in Oakland
Favorite Pizza is Zachary's in Oakland/Berkeley. They're the same to me.

As you can see, I miss my old college days. I've been back, and the food was just as excellent for me, so it's not just nostalgia.

As for stuff to do:
The drive from Walnut Creek to Berkeley over the hills (not the freeway route but the back roads) is beautiful on a clear night. It's a dangerous drive during a meteor shower because there are hundreds of people on the side of the unlit road.

Oh, and when you're visiting the golden gate bridge, have nothing of value in your car. They had these signs up when we visited: Lock your valuables in your trunk. Which we did. Came back and discovered the rental was broken into and they stole my (now) wife's purse from the trunk. Filed a police report, and was told that thieves have spotters there all the time.