Holidays

[Manc in London]

Went to SF about 30 years ago. Alcatraz was excellent. I also walked the Golden Gate bridge. Great experience but quite scary when you get about half way across and its shaking. Also ride the trams if you get the chance.
On the same trip took in Carmel. Nice beach and lots of expensive shops. It was also a very expensive toll road to drive down the road Clint Eastwood lived in

Ta. Presume the toll road you refer to is 17-mile Drive (?). Plan on driving down there and having dinner at the 19th hole at Pebble Beach (not a golfer myself but enjoy watching it).

Now I know the bridge shakes and is scary, that encourages me to take the girls and not forewarn them.

We will certainly be getting the tram as we are staying in a hotel on a very steep hill!

 

[richardtheref]

Ta. Presume the toll road you refer to is 17-mile Drive (?). Plan on driving down there and having dinner at the 19th hole at Pebble Beach (not a golfer myself but enjoy watching it).

Now I know the bridge shakes and is scary, that encourages me to take the girls and not forewarn them.

We will certainly be getting the tram as we are staying in a hotel on a very steep hill!

We were also told that from the bridge, on a clear day, you can see the sharks in the bay. Luckily it was quite foggy if I had had the guts to lean over.
On the Alcatraz trip at the end one of the old prisoners was selling his book. He looked a lot like Willie Nelson. Obviously, I don't think there will be any ex prisoners still with us. However, I asked him what he was in for. He replied "well they claimed I murdered a fella". I then suggested that such a nice guy couldn't have committed such a crime and he obviously hadn't done it. At this point he replied "well I did stab him 17 times with a screw driver because he cheated at cards".
Quickly moved on at that point

 

[Djibrilshairdo]

We are going to San Francisco, Carmel, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara and NY from 8 July.

We have been to NY a number of times so know it well.

Anyone got any tips on the places in California listed above?

I know the obvious, such as avoid Union Square and SOMA at nights, get a travel pass for SF, go to Fisherman's Wharf, Golden Gate etc..

Maybe @FogBlueInSanFran cannot help?

Any tips much much appreciated. Ta

Over the bay, Sausalito is a nice day out as is a trip up to Muir Woods to see the giant sequoias. Definitely do a dim sum lunch in Chinatown (can’t for the life of me remember the name of the gaff we used to frequent on Commercial St) Union Sq - most of the Tenderloin is a shithole however some of the best music venues are in there, so if you’re thinking catching a gig you’ll have to venture in. Tbh it’s no worse than Piccadilly Sq these days. Fisherman’s Whafe is as cheesy as but got to be done I suppose, the walk from Coit Tower area down to Lombard St is ok.

17 mile drive in Monterrey takes you round some places that won’t remind you of growing up on a council estate! Handy if the weather is a bit crap.

 

[FogBlueInSanFran]

We are going to San Francisco, Carmel, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara and NY from 8 July.

We have been to NY a number of times so know it well.

Anyone got any tips on the places in California listed above?

I know the obvious, such as avoid Union Square and SOMA at nights, get a travel pass for SF, go to Fisherman's Wharf, Golden Gate etc..

Maybe @FogBlueInSanFran cannot help?

Any tips much much appreciated. Ta

Sure thing mate. Watching the final with my family but will post something later today.

 

[idahoblues]

Having a long weekend in Boise Idaho, really is a great City, took a ten mile bike ride earlier along the river which runs right through the middle. A little warm, 35c at the moment

 

[Millwallawayveteran1988]

Lot of reports this year of horrendous passport queues on entry at some airports. Faro was horrible last summer and just read an article about Tenerife earlier this month.

Any more bad ones ?

 

[Stephen Ireland's pants]

Lot of reports this year of horrendous passport queues on entry at some airports. Faro was horrible last summer and just read an article about Tenerife earlier this month.

Any more bad ones ?

Skiathos had two passport officers/booths which takes the piss if you want people to return. It took about 30 minutes and that was off season. Antalaya had about 30 officers and took five minutes.

 

[FogBlueInSanFran]

@Manc in London here’s an abbreviated perspective of something I sent @Bill Walker before he came out:

Here's a map by neighbo(u)rhood:

San Francisco Neighborhood Map - Compass​

All 70-odd named neighborhoods in the city of San Francisco, as well as the 10 Realtor Districts

www.bayareamarketreports.com

The one area to avoid is the Tenderloin, and the areas South of Market (or SOMA) that abut it. Those areas have been bad for decades. The neighborhoods south of the 280 freeway can also be dicey but you'd have no reason to go down there. For the most part, everywhere else is safe and comfortable though you'll likely encounter the occasional homeless person no matter where.

May and September are usually the best months to visit -- late spring and early fall so it's warm and before/after the fog really starts blowing in from the ocean (which happens in summer). That said, don't underestimate how cold it can get. The air is very, very damp typically. Dress for Manchester any time of year. Wear layers. It can be 10C in San Francisco proper and 30C ten miles north in the summer. We call them microclimates. If I had a dollar for every shivering tourist I saw in t-shirts and shorts on the Golden Gate Bridge I'd be a billionaire.

I am sure you'll do all the traditional visitor stuff -- Fisherman's Wharf, North Beach, the windy part of Lombard, the Haight-Asbury (Hippietown USA), the Painted Ladies, the GG Bridge, cable car, Alcatraz, etc. but one place I hope you do not miss which a lot of visitors do is Golden Gate Park.

https://www.cs.csustan.edu/~john/Pix/golden-gate-park-map.pdf

Around the Concourse is the DeYoung (a great art museum), the California Academy of Sciences (great museum with a fabulous aquarium, earthquake exhibits, a planetarium, and lots of other things) and the Japanese Tea Garden which should be in all its glory in spring or fall. Plus just walking to the many lakes or going to far end to the buffalo paddocks or the beach chalet fields (where I used to play footy as a teenager) where the ocean meets the park is fun.

Also the Presidio (and old military base turned into a national park) is a great place to walk around.

If you have time to go to Muir Woods in Marin County, do it -- its where the redwoods are. You need to make reservations and take a shuttle these days but they are spectacular. Also taking a ferry over to Sausalito or Tiburon (where I lived for 30 years) can be fun.

I’ll address some more stuff later on.

 

[FogBlueInSanFran]

Over the bay, Sausalito is a nice day out as is a trip up to Muir Woods to see the giant sequoias. Definitely do a dim sum lunch in Chinatown (can’t for the life of me remember the name of the gaff we used to frequent on Commercial St) Union Sq - most of the Tenderloin is a shithole however some of the best music venues are in there, so if you’re thinking catching a gig you’ll have to venture in. Tbh it’s no worse than Piccadilly Sq these days. Fisherman’s Whafe is as cheesy as but got to be done I suppose, the walk from Coit Tower area down to Lombard St is ok.

17 mile drive in Monterrey takes you round some places that won’t remind you of growing up on a council estate! Handy if the weather is a bit crap.

Yank Sing is the most famous place for dim sum and still one of the best but there are a few secret places SFians don’t share :)

One of the best 6-7 miles hikes on earth starts above Muir Woods on Mount Tamalpais — Coast Trail with views of the ocean above Stinson Beach, then the Cataract Trail up a creek through the redwoods, emerging around the Old Rail Trail with ridiculous views of the bay, city and bridges from near the Mount Tam summit. I’ve hiked lots of places but never found one as good as this on the planet. And it costs zero save the car ride getting to Pantoll Station.

 

[FogBlueInSanFran]

We were also told that from the bridge, on a clear day, you can see the sharks in the bay. Luckily it was quite foggy if I had had the guts to lean over.
On the Alcatraz trip at the end one of the old prisoners was selling his book. He looked a lot like Willie Nelson. Obviously, I don't think there will be any ex prisoners still with us. However, I asked him what he was in for. He replied "well they claimed I murdered a fella". I then suggested that such a nice guy couldn't have committed such a crime and he obviously hadn't done it. At this point he replied "well I did stab him 17 times with a screw driver because he cheated at cards".
Quickly moved on at that point

I’ve only been to Alcatraz once living here for nearly my whole life. It’s a fascinating place and everyone does it I suppose but what I love about San Francisco are the green spaces in and around the city.

 

[RadcliffeRick]

I’ve only been to Alcatraz once living here for nearly my whole life. It’s a fascinating place and everyone does it I suppose but what I love about San Francisco are the green spaces in and around the city.

I believe you need to book online a long time in advance?

 

[RadcliffeRick]

@Manc in London here’s an abbreviated perspective of something I sent @Bill Walker before he came out:

Congratulations Bill, San Francisco is probably the best place to do it :-)

 

[FogBlueInSanFran]

Congratulations Bill, San Francisco is probably the best place to do it :-)

LOL well done touche

 

[FogBlueInSanFran]

I believe you need to book online a long time in advance?

I’ve no idea how long — I haven’t been in forever (we used to park by the side of the highway and walk a half mile but it’s no longer allowed). There are other places to see and hike through redwoods like the north side of Tamalpais as I noted. And Armstrong Redwoods State Preserve which is a fair degree north of SF but $10 entry and 1/20th the crowds but just as beautiful
— plus not far from the coast and near wineries.

 

[Manc in London]

@Manc in London here’s an abbreviated perspective of something I sent @Bill Walker before he came out:

Here's a map by neighbo(u)rhood:

San Francisco Neighborhood Map - Compass​

All 70-odd named neighborhoods in the city of San Francisco, as well as the 10 Realtor Districts

www.bayareamarketreports.com

The one area to avoid is the Tenderloin, and the areas South of Market (or SOMA) that abut it. Those areas have been bad for decades. The neighborhoods south of the 280 freeway can also be dicey but you'd have no reason to go down there. For the most part, everywhere else is safe and comfortable though you'll likely encounter the occasional homeless person no matter where.

May and September are usually the best months to visit -- late spring and early fall so it's warm and before/after the fog really starts blowing in from the ocean (which happens in summer). That said, don't underestimate how cold it can get. The air is very, very damp typically. Dress for Manchester any time of year. Wear layers. It can be 10C in San Francisco proper and 30C ten miles north in the summer. We call them microclimates. If I had a dollar for every shivering tourist I saw in t-shirts and shorts on the Golden Gate Bridge I'd be a billionaire.

I am sure you'll do all the traditional visitor stuff -- Fisherman's Wharf, North Beach, the windy part of Lombard, the Haight-Asbury (Hippietown USA), the Painted Ladies, the GG Bridge, cable car, Alcatraz, etc. but one place I hope you do not miss which a lot of visitors do is Golden Gate Park.

https://www.cs.csustan.edu/~john/Pix/golden-gate-park-map.pdf

Around the Concourse is the DeYoung (a great art museum), the California Academy of Sciences (great museum with a fabulous aquarium, earthquake exhibits, a planetarium, and lots of other things) and the Japanese Tea Garden which should be in all its glory in spring or fall. Plus just walking to the many lakes or going to far end to the buffalo paddocks or the beach chalet fields (where I used to play footy as a teenager) where the ocean meets the park is fun.

Also the Presidio (and old military base turned into a national park) is a great place to walk around.

If you have time to go to Muir Woods in Marin County, do it -- its where the redwoods are. You need to make reservations and take a shuttle these days but they are spectacular. Also taking a ferry over to Sausalito or Tiburon (where I lived for 30 years) can be fun.

I’ll address some more stuff later on.

Thank you for taking the time to share. Much appreciated. Toying with the idea of Muir Woods but we are only in San Fran for three days so it would be a tight squeeze.

Appreciate the advice if where to avoid. We are not too far off some of those places (staying at Stamford Court Hotel).

Quite like the idea of getting the ferry over to Sausalito. It would give me Circular Quay to Manly vibes (Sydney). Had not heard of Tiburon. I'll have a look into it later this morning.

Thanks

 

[Manc in London]

Over the bay, Sausalito is a nice day out as is a trip up to Muir Woods to see the giant sequoias. Definitely do a dim sum lunch in Chinatown (can’t for the life of me remember the name of the gaff we used to frequent on Commercial St) Union Sq - most of the Tenderloin is a shithole however some of the best music venues are in there, so if you’re thinking catching a gig you’ll have to venture in. Tbh it’s no worse than Piccadilly Sq these days. Fisherman’s Whafe is as cheesy as but got to be done I suppose, the walk from Coit Tower area down to Lombard St is ok.

17 mile drive in Monterrey takes you round some places that won’t remind you of growing up on a council estate! Handy if the weather is a bit crap.

Thank you for taking the time to share.

We will be going Chinatown for sure as we are staying very close by (a block or two west of it).

How do you know I grew up on a council estate? Have I been telling my 'i lived in a cardboard box in the middle of the road' stories in here? lol

 

[hampshireblue]

Thank you for taking the time to share.

We will be going Chinatown for sure as we are staying very close by (a block or two west of it).

How do you know I grew up on a council estate? Have I been telling my 'i lived in a cardboard box in the middle of the road' stories in here? lol

Agree on Sausalito and Muir Woods.

 

[burnley blue mcfc]

Got the bug of Xmas in the sun, so we’re trying Egypt this Christmas & new year, never been before but the mrs has booked a 5star platinum in hurghada which looks lovely but a bit too posh for me!!

 

[idahoblues]

Just got back from Boise, 700 mile round trip, didn’t see one cop the entire journey

 

[idahoblues]

All this talk of San Francisco has me wanting to make a visit, a wonderful City to visit!