janisj

Gardyloo -- true the waterfalls will be pretty dry later on, but they are flowing now, and will be in April.

All the places you recommend are good too . . . they just need to decide which to do this trip and which to do later.

StuDudley

I got this e-mail about Yosemite an hour ago:

http://email.e.dncinc.com/clk40/webm...nDc%3D&c=UTF-8

Stu Dudley

SAB

Something that you should know about SF as a resident, not a visitor or former resident--many families with young children start out here and leave. Why? Schools. If and it's a big if, you can get your child into one of the few highly rated public schools then you stay. If you can afford to send two children to private school, then you probably stay. However, if you realize as many do, that you will be spending over $60K a year just for schooling two children, that you can get more home for your money in places like Orinda and Mill Valley and send your child to good public schools, you leave.

If you do not intend to stay here more than a couple of years, none of this should be an issue.

jlevey

Thanks for the link stu and for the info on schools sab - very useful to know! Might be a short move if we do make it over there

As a random question - how much do I need to be aware of bears in Yosemite? I hear they're very attracted to food and since I will be carrying around food for my son do I need to be wary of this?

Thanks so much for all your help everyone! You've no idea how much it's helped me

janisj

Bears are an issue when you are storing food (in the car, at the tent cabins, when camping). You can't leave ANY food in those sorts of places (bear proof food lockers are provided).

Walking around Yosemite Valley w/ snacks in your backpack or handbag is fine. You likely won't see any bears on your short visit.

clawtalk

Noe Valley is the best neighborhood for families in SF. Any other neighborhood is good except the Tenderloin and some of SOMA

Michael

Any other neighborhood is good except the Tenderloin and some of SOMA

Including Bayview, Dogpatch, Visitacion Valley, Crocker Amazon, etc.?

StuDudley

and Hunter's Point??

SAB

You do know that families live in all these "undesirable" neighborhoods, right? Not everyone in SF is upper middle class or a techie and able to pay cash for a million plus home in Noe Valley!!!

Michael

I am fully aware of it. However I would not consider the neighborhoods as good any more than the Tenderloin (families live there too)--and there are variations among these neighborhoods. The irony is that while Noe Valley is considered a family neighborhood, my impression is that its two public schools--primary and middle schools--do not have a great reputation. I can add that the public housing side of Potrero Hill does not have a good reputation either.

In terms of generally acceptable neighborhoods, I would say that the Richmmond and the Sunset have less arguable variation than the east side.