I am having a visitor come in to visit and I am new to the Bay Area (Palo Alto) and want to show off the area... (that I still know little about)

Demo/Psycho Graphics:
1. 30 somethings
2. Love to cook
3. Love "great chefs"
4. Love celebrity chefs, exceptional dining
5. Love hideaway type restaurants with character just the same
5. Love technology
6. Love water
7. Love exploring like locals in cities
8. Love great bed and breakfasts
9. Pools
10. Like for lunch sometimes simple things like a roadside stand or good burger
11. Love "events"
12. Love hockey
13. Love hitting "the sites"
14. Love experiences

Dates of trip Sept. 20th noon - September 24th midnight

Budget not an issue, but don't need to spend a lot either -- whatever it takes is fine.

Starting point is Palo Alto Ca.

Any suggestions for say 2 days is SFO, 2 days in Palo Alto area and 2 days in wine country?

Thanks so much!

Woops, just realize we only have 4 days...

Ideas:
tour of Stanford and the Cantor Museum, sculpture garden, chapel, etc....
Dinner at Evvia or Three Seasons
Scenic drive over 92 to HMB and north on 1 with a stop at Mirimar Beach for coffee at cafe there, into San Francisco staying on the Ocean route all the way, over the GG to lunch at Sam's in Tiburon, back to SF for driving tour, wine at Ferry Bldg, Dinner anywhere.
North to Napa then west to Sonoma and Tomales Bay,
Home

SFO is the airport, SF is the city. Two days at the airport is a bit much...

check out what poster Stu Dudley writes about this area and you'll have plenty of very good suggestions.

Here are some ideas:

http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...1&tid=35129049

Stu Dudley

Make reservations for Manresa Restaurant in Los Gatos. It's expensive but I prefer it to the French Laundry. If in SF, go to Coi for an exceptional eating experience (Daniel Patterson is into essences and aromas).

Flying Fish on 92 just before it reaches hwy 1 might be the roadside stand for you. It offers very good fish and shrimp tacos.

"Foodies" tend to know ahead of time where they'd like to eat, and usually do not visit "celebrity chefs" so you can probably take the first 5 items off your checklist.

With such a short time, why not introduce him/her to nature and scenery, instead?

Many thanks to all...

Cabovacation swore I saw you last week at your fav lunch spot...

ha ha, two days at the airport is a bit much... you don't have to tell me that twice

Thanks for the Stu Dudley mention and thanks to Stu for the link!

Michael, many thanks for the suggestions... especially helpful as I tried to book French Laundry and it is, of course, booked up...

Kindest,
Amanda

It would be pretty far-fetched to have seen me - because what do I look like? But I was there!

Let me know if you have any other ?? about local stuff. I hope you are enjoying life here!

(btw....i am pretty old!)

Great ideas, everyone. Here are some more suggestions.

At Stanford: Go up to the top of Hoover Tower ($2) for the fantastic view and take photos if the day is clear. Explore the Museum of War, Peace and Revolution (free and tiny) in the lobby. http://www.stanford.edu/home/welcome/campus/hoover.html

At the Cantor Center, there is a café with a local celebrity chef, Jessé Cool. Delicious desserts, and light meals. "Spared From the Storm" an current exhibit of paintings saved during hurricane Katrina is good. http://museum.stanford.edu/

The Papua New Guinea Sculpture Garden (near Tresidder) is truly special. The Stanford Barn is picturesque, and is part of the history of motion pictures.

The lovely Stanford Theatre, on University Ave., starts a new program of "rare British films" in mid September http://www.stanfordtheatre.org/stf/ In between the double feature, the organist plays the Mighty Wurlitzer.

Walking on University, check out the Apple store for the local tech scene, and meander across the street to Borders two story bookstore in the old New Varsity art deco theatre. Have a probiotic frozen yogurt at Red Mango, owned by a local winner of "Survivor."

A few blocks away on Addison is the "Birthplace of Silicon Valley" the Hewlett Packard Garage.

Some innovative cooking is taking place at Mantra http://www.mantrapaloalto.com/home.htm , Junoon, http://www.junnoon.com/ and Pampas, a Brazilian churrasco has a pastry chef from the Top Chef television program.

http://www.pampaspaloalto.com/team.htm.

The original Gordon Biersch is in Palo Alto, and is lively, (noisy), but has good casual food and delicious specialty beers. http://www.gordonbiersch.com/restaur...location_id=15

On the coast, The San Benito Deli in Half Moon Bay has delicious sandwiches you can eat on the outdoor patio or take to the beach.

The Moss Beach Distillery near Half Moon Bay is another interesting historical restaurant with a beautiful ocean view.

I especially like Fitzgerald Marine Preserve. http://www.fitzgeraldreserve.org/ Great tide pools.
If you continue driving up to San Francisco on the coast you'll pass Maverick's Beach, where there is a Big Wave surf contest every year. The Beach Chalet and The Cliff House are both very interesting buildings with ocean views, and you will be near the ruins of Sutro Baths. (I'm trying to get your love of pools in there).

In San Francisco, I enjoyed Michael Mina. We had a tasting menu with three small dishes per course (three courses plus several extra tasty delights). I thought it was fun, interesting and relaxed.

For exploring like locals I like Balmy Alley murals in the Mission http://www.balmyalley.com/, Dave Egger's Pirate Store at 826 Valencia http://www.826valencia.org/store/, The Castro Theatre http://www.thecastrotheatre.com/p-list.html

North Beach is very fun to explore, including City Lights Bookstore, Spec Adler's museum bar, Café Trieste, and Grant Avenue. You can still feel the Beat Poet energy.

Point Reyes and the Russian River are great areas to for adventures in addition to the Sonoma and Napa wine areas.

As for Hockey, San Rosa boasts "the most beautiful ice arena in the world" which was given to the community by Snoopy creator Charles Schultz. http://www.snoopyshomeice.com/ You can even pick-up hockey games.

The Sunday California Ave. farmer's market in Palo Alto is good for fresh fruits & vegetables, and interesting prepared foods. There's a good burger place, The Counter, where you can make elaborately customized burgers, including veggie and turkey.

Seconding Manresa in Los Gatos. If you're in Palo Alto and he's into food and quaint restaurants then you shouldn't miss Manresa. He's not a huge celebrity, but his name isn't unknown in the Bay Area either. ;-)

It would be pretty far-fetched to have seen me - because what do I look like? But I was there!

I saw you... I know it... I should have said something but I thought like you, pretty far fetched. Ha ha...

Sure, I don't know but this is what I did see...

White hair... book in hand, maybe a note pad -- can't recall, sitting outside... white guy... fairly tall... slim, well, that is easy to be tall compared to me, i'm only 5'4"!

So, was it you?

Kailani what a great post... thank you a mil times over.

I am going to pick some of these up for sure and will let you know how it goes... The Fitzgerald Marine Preserve sounds interesting as does the hockey rink.. thank you!

Manresa it is... thank you for the 2nd...