please comment on California itinerary
Aug 18th, 2004, 07:04 PM
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please comment on California itinerary
Sun: plane arrives into San Francisco at 12:30
go to Argonaut Hotel near Fisherman's Wharf
Cable Car to cable car museum (for 12 year old son)
Walk around Chinatown & Union Square
Walk to Coit Tower
Monday:
Cable Car to Lombard Street and back
Fisherman's Wharf
Alcatraz (tickets for 4:15 PM)
Tuesday Morning: Haight-Ashbury
Tuesday Afternoon & Evening:
Drive through Sonoma & Napa to Calistoga
Wednesday morning & early afternoon:
Calistoga, old faithful, petrified trees
Wednesday evening: drive to Eureka
Thursday and Friday: Drive through redwood
forest and Oregon coast to Portland
go to Argonaut Hotel near Fisherman's Wharf
Cable Car to cable car museum (for 12 year old son)
Walk around Chinatown & Union Square
Walk to Coit Tower
Monday:
Cable Car to Lombard Street and back
Fisherman's Wharf
Alcatraz (tickets for 4:15 PM)
Tuesday Morning: Haight-Ashbury
Tuesday Afternoon & Evening:
Drive through Sonoma & Napa to Calistoga
Wednesday morning & early afternoon:
Calistoga, old faithful, petrified trees
Wednesday evening: drive to Eureka
Thursday and Friday: Drive through redwood
forest and Oregon coast to Portland
Aug 19th, 2004, 08:33 AM
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ikemarrus: thanks for the clarification! 
Here are my "comments":
Sunday - I'd go to the cable car museum, then Coit Tower, then Chinatown and Union Square.
The reason is because Coit Tower has certain hours when it's open and by the time you get through with the cable car museum, it may well be 2:30pm or 3pm. It'll take you about 1/2 hour to walk leisurely to Coit Tower. It's up a very steep hill, so suggest you take a leisurely pace, unless you are hardened hikers. You'll want to get to the top of Coit Tower for the view.
Once down from Coit Tower, you'll probably end up in North Beach, which is not a beach at all, but just the name for the Italian section of SF. You can have dinner in North Beach or in Chinatown. Type in a request at the top in the "search this forum" box and you will have numerous restaurant recommendations for SF.
Monday: Appears like you have waaay too much time for Fisherman's Wharf. The Lombard Street trip shouldn't take you more than an hour. That leaves most of the day to be spent elsewhere.
I'd suggest, if the weather is good, to drive to Crissy Field and past that to Fort Point. Walk/hike around one of the "legs" of the Golden Gate Bridge. Should be fun for a 12 year old. However, if the weather is foggy (it'll clear up later in the day), then go to the Exploratorium - also great for children. The Exploratorium is out by Crissy Field.
When you come back from your Alcatraz trip, go to Lori's Diner in Ghirardelli Square or the Rainforest Cafe at Fisherman's Wharf. Both are very close to the Argonaut Hotel and great fun for kids. After dinner and for a "midnight snack", try The Chocolate Factory in Ghirardelli Square for wonderful ice cream.
Tuesday: again, waaay too much time for the Haight-Ashbury. Are you planning to sleep late?
If not, I'd do a quickie walk of the Haight, then go over to the Golden Gate Park, which is right by the Haight. Try the Japanese Tea Garden in GG Park. You'll probably have to wrench your child away from the moon bridge. Or just drive through the park all the way to the seashore. See the windmill, drive along the ocean and end up at that tiny restaurant next door to the Cliff House (C. House is under remodel). Look back at the wonderful strand of beach!
On your way north across the Golden Gate Bridge, take the first exit on your right to the Vista Point for a wonderful view back towards SF.
Then, as you exit the Vista Point and are on Highway 101, take the very next exit - Alexander Road - and follow the road as it curves left UNDER the freeway. Once on the other side of the freeway, follow the signs for "Marin Headlands". Park in any convenient spot along the road. The first possible spot is the best. Get out and walk to the old battery stations and get a breathtaking view of the Golden Gate Bridge. All this, of course, if the weather is good. If there's fog, forget it.
Go back down the hill and at the stop sign, turn LEFT. (If you turn right, you'll end up back in SF!) Go UNDER the freeway again, and resume your journey northbound on Highway 101.
If time allows, go to Muir Woods, you only need to stop for a couple of hours in Muir Woods.
On Calistoga: I think you will be a bit disappointed in the "attractions" you have pinpointed in Calistoga. The "geyser" is in someone's field and is piddly compared to Yellowstone.
I'd drive around the Sonoma-Napa area, then head on out to the coast. If you have the time, go to Point Reyes. The ranger station is one of the better ones in California and may be of interest to your 12 year old. From there, just keep driving northward. Stop in any number of quaint towns, like Gualala or Mendocino. Also highly recommend stopping at Fort Ross. Just past that is Salt Point State Park, would recommend a stop there also.
I'm headed up that way in a couple of months and am really looking forward to it! Beautiful coast!
Enjoy your trip!
Here are my "comments":
Sunday - I'd go to the cable car museum, then Coit Tower, then Chinatown and Union Square.
The reason is because Coit Tower has certain hours when it's open and by the time you get through with the cable car museum, it may well be 2:30pm or 3pm. It'll take you about 1/2 hour to walk leisurely to Coit Tower. It's up a very steep hill, so suggest you take a leisurely pace, unless you are hardened hikers. You'll want to get to the top of Coit Tower for the view.
Once down from Coit Tower, you'll probably end up in North Beach, which is not a beach at all, but just the name for the Italian section of SF. You can have dinner in North Beach or in Chinatown. Type in a request at the top in the "search this forum" box and you will have numerous restaurant recommendations for SF.
Monday: Appears like you have waaay too much time for Fisherman's Wharf. The Lombard Street trip shouldn't take you more than an hour. That leaves most of the day to be spent elsewhere.
I'd suggest, if the weather is good, to drive to Crissy Field and past that to Fort Point. Walk/hike around one of the "legs" of the Golden Gate Bridge. Should be fun for a 12 year old. However, if the weather is foggy (it'll clear up later in the day), then go to the Exploratorium - also great for children. The Exploratorium is out by Crissy Field.
When you come back from your Alcatraz trip, go to Lori's Diner in Ghirardelli Square or the Rainforest Cafe at Fisherman's Wharf. Both are very close to the Argonaut Hotel and great fun for kids. After dinner and for a "midnight snack", try The Chocolate Factory in Ghirardelli Square for wonderful ice cream.
Tuesday: again, waaay too much time for the Haight-Ashbury. Are you planning to sleep late?
If not, I'd do a quickie walk of the Haight, then go over to the Golden Gate Park, which is right by the Haight. Try the Japanese Tea Garden in GG Park. You'll probably have to wrench your child away from the moon bridge. Or just drive through the park all the way to the seashore. See the windmill, drive along the ocean and end up at that tiny restaurant next door to the Cliff House (C. House is under remodel). Look back at the wonderful strand of beach!
On your way north across the Golden Gate Bridge, take the first exit on your right to the Vista Point for a wonderful view back towards SF.
Then, as you exit the Vista Point and are on Highway 101, take the very next exit - Alexander Road - and follow the road as it curves left UNDER the freeway. Once on the other side of the freeway, follow the signs for "Marin Headlands". Park in any convenient spot along the road. The first possible spot is the best. Get out and walk to the old battery stations and get a breathtaking view of the Golden Gate Bridge. All this, of course, if the weather is good. If there's fog, forget it.
Go back down the hill and at the stop sign, turn LEFT. (If you turn right, you'll end up back in SF!) Go UNDER the freeway again, and resume your journey northbound on Highway 101.
If time allows, go to Muir Woods, you only need to stop for a couple of hours in Muir Woods.
On Calistoga: I think you will be a bit disappointed in the "attractions" you have pinpointed in Calistoga. The "geyser" is in someone's field and is piddly compared to Yellowstone.
I'd drive around the Sonoma-Napa area, then head on out to the coast. If you have the time, go to Point Reyes. The ranger station is one of the better ones in California and may be of interest to your 12 year old. From there, just keep driving northward. Stop in any number of quaint towns, like Gualala or Mendocino. Also highly recommend stopping at Fort Ross. Just past that is Salt Point State Park, would recommend a stop there also.
I'm headed up that way in a couple of months and am really looking forward to it! Beautiful coast!
Enjoy your trip!
Aug 19th, 2004, 09:09 AM
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Hi There
Your spending WAY too much time at the Wharf - its tacky and trashy. Its worth maybe a one hour walk thru. Food there is awful.
The Haight, its filthy, too many beggers. The shops aren't going interest the 12 year old as they cater to suburban kids who are buying goth wear, leather stuff, bad tie dye etc. Now, there is a great record/cd shop called Ameoba and its on Haight. If you guys are into music its pretty fabulous - be sure to check out the used CDs, a jazz buff friend found very rare things there. Frankly Haight Street is best viewed by a quick car ride. BUT cruise around the streets near it for some pretty amazing architectuer. Drive along Buena Vista East and Buena Vista West - Danny Glover lives up there in a fab vintage mansion (formerlly The Spreckles Mansion)
Alcatraz is the one tourist destination that's really cool and wonderful, the rest of it is crummy and disappointing.
If you are not renting a car you can go on some nice/interesting bus rides.
The 42 Loop is good, the F line down Market is good, the 43 is good (and goes thru the Presidio, crosses Haight, and crosses Irving - Irving would be a good street to explore and stop for a snack)
The 12 year old might like The Exploratorium.
have fun!
Your spending WAY too much time at the Wharf - its tacky and trashy. Its worth maybe a one hour walk thru. Food there is awful.
The Haight, its filthy, too many beggers. The shops aren't going interest the 12 year old as they cater to suburban kids who are buying goth wear, leather stuff, bad tie dye etc. Now, there is a great record/cd shop called Ameoba and its on Haight. If you guys are into music its pretty fabulous - be sure to check out the used CDs, a jazz buff friend found very rare things there. Frankly Haight Street is best viewed by a quick car ride. BUT cruise around the streets near it for some pretty amazing architectuer. Drive along Buena Vista East and Buena Vista West - Danny Glover lives up there in a fab vintage mansion (formerlly The Spreckles Mansion)
Alcatraz is the one tourist destination that's really cool and wonderful, the rest of it is crummy and disappointing.
If you are not renting a car you can go on some nice/interesting bus rides.
The 42 Loop is good, the F line down Market is good, the 43 is good (and goes thru the Presidio, crosses Haight, and crosses Irving - Irving would be a good street to explore and stop for a snack)
The 12 year old might like The Exploratorium.
have fun!
