California Fun

PharCyDe · Joined: 10 Apr 2004 Posts: 64 Location: Tennessee, USA

Im from the east side of the US and have been to California only a few times but I have enjoyed it each time. There are alot of cool stores to go shopping or browsing. The only downfall would be the traffic. As long as your walking though its a great place! hehe :lol: I was wondering though if there was anything REAL fun to do there that I have maybe missed.

cocodrilo · Joined: 12 Apr 2004 Posts: 494 Location: Western Japan

PharCyDe wrote: Im from the east side of the US and have been to California only a few times but I have enjoyed it each time. There are alot of cool stores to go shopping or browsing. The only downfall would be the traffic. As long as your walking though its a great place! hehe :lol: I was wondering though if there was anything REAL fun to do there that I have maybe missed.

Visit San Francisco! Great food, great clubs, cablecars on steep hills,great shopping, charming old Victorian houses, boat cruises on the bay, lots of food & wine-related events as SF is made up of gourmets & foodies!!!!

What's San Francisco famous for in the food dep't.? Well, we have Anchor Steam Beer, Sourdough Bread, crab(or ANY seafood served at Fisherman's Wharf!), Ghirardelli Chocolate, etc! If you are spendign a few days in this area, I HIGHLY recomend a trip to the wine country- Sonoma or Napa. Beautiful area, FABULOUS restaurants, spas, B & Bs, tree-lined roads, etc!

Spitfire · Posted: Wed May 12, 2004 1:38 pm Post subject:

I was in San Diego a little over a week ago. While there I took a drive up to Dana Point and Laguna Beach. These are good places to visit. The San Diego Harbor has on exibit four old ships that are all part of a tour that cost eight dollars. One of the ships is the HMS Surprise which was used to film the move Master and Commander.

Laura · Joined: 16 May 2004 Posts: 446 Location: San Francisco

There is so much more to food in San Francisco than chocolate, bread, and beer. It is one of the dining capitals of the United States. You can get any type of cuisine and any price point you can imagine. The only American ever to beat an Iron Chef *in Japan with Japanese judges* has his restaurant here. It's expensive, but amazing.

If you come to San Francisco, get away from the waterside tourist traps like Pier 39 and Fisherman's Wharf. Try taking a self-guided walking tour of the Mission District to see the incredible murals painted on many different buildings (search the web for the Precita Eyes Project). Head out to Ocean Beach for a walk (great with a kite or a dog) and a visit to the Zoo. Check out 24th street in Noe Valley with its bohemian yuppie vibe, or go out to what locals call "the real Chinatown" around 6th and Clement. Cross over the Golden Gate Bridge and see the Marin Headlands -- the bluffs of land overlooking San Francisco and the Bridge.

It's funny to hear people from the East Coast complain about traffic in the California. LA sucks, but New York City Area traffic is MUCH MUCH MUCH worse than Bay Area traffic. And besides, as a tourist in San Francisco you can get to most of the things you'll want to see via MUNI, BART, bus or taxi. MUNI and BART have web sites that show their routes, and MUNI's site even has a trip planner to help you figure how to get from place to place. Ride the "rolling streetcar museum" also know as the F-Market line up Market Street to the Castro. Take the N-Judah to the edge of Golden Gate Park where Cole Valley meets the Haight (land of hippies in the 60's), and rent roller blades or a bike and explore Golden Gate park.

There's a lot interesting art and music projects going on, free weekly newspapers (with web site) like the Bay Guardian and the SF Weekly will tell you what's on.

I've been living here for 10 years. If anyone has any questions, please feel free to ask!!!!

cocodrilo · Joined: 12 Apr 2004 Posts: 494 Location: Western Japan

Laura wrote: There is so much more to food in San Francisco than chocolate, bread, and beer. It is one of the dining capitals of the United States. You can get any type of cuisine and any price point you can imagine. The only American ever to beat an Iron Chef *in Japan with Japanese judges* has his restaurant here. It's expensive, but amazing.

When I mentioned "chocolate, bread and beer" I was simply stating what SF was famous for, not that one should go there and eat /imbibe just that. If you skip the sourdough and the Anchorsteam, you ARE losing out, though!
Just what American beat the Iron Chef in San Francisco? Fill me in. I believe Bobby Flay (Mesa Grill, New York) was up against one of the Iron Chefs as well. Don't know if he won the duel or not, but his presentation was definitely more impressive than the Japanese chef's.

If you're on a budget(which many travelers are) head to North Beach, the Italian area of the city. Nearby you will also find Vietnamese restaurants.
If you're in the Haight, there are some very cool hangouts (Turkish restaurants, complete with bellydancing, etc) but beware of the crime which is evident there as well.

Laura · Joined: 16 May 2004 Posts: 446 Location: San Francisco

Bobby Flay lost in Tokyo but he won the re-match in New York and then again in the new "Iron Chef America" series, also in New York.

Ron Siegal, previously of Charles Nob Hill and now head of Masa's in San Francisco, beat Iron Chef French Sakai in Tokyo in "battle Lobster." If you're looking for a SPLURGE meal in San Francisco, Masa's is hard to beat. You can research San Francisco's best restaurants online and also make reservations via Open Table: www.opentable.com

What crime in the Haight? It's just like any other street now, there's even a Gap. The Haight is going upscale.... There's an awesome tapas bar called Cha Cha Cha in the Haight. It's very popular and it's hard to get a table in the evening, but if you're there in the afternoon it's great for lunch! All the dishes I've tried are delicious and their sangria is yummy (and will knock you on your butt).

cocodrilo · Joined: 12 Apr 2004 Posts: 494 Location: Western Japan

Laura wrote: Bobby Flay lost in Tokyo but he won the re-match in New York and then again in the new "Iron Chef America" series, also in New York.

Ron Siegal, previously of Charles Nob Hill and now head of Masa's in San Francisco, beat Iron Chef French Sakai in Tokyo in "battle Lobster." If you're looking for a SPLURGE meal in San Francisco, Masa's is hard to beat. You can research San Francisco's best restaurants online and also make reservations via Open Table: www.opentable.com

What crime in the Haight? It's just like any other street now, there's even a Gap. The Haight is going upscale.... There's an awesome tapas bar called Cha Cha Cha in the Haight. It's very popular and it's hard to get a table in the evening, but if you're there in the afternoon it's great for lunch! All the dishes I've tried are delicious and their sangria is yummy (and will knock you on your butt).

Yeah, I remember Masa's. Used to hang out there in college. One of my friends knew someone there, so we used to sit at the bar drinking wine all the time. (Food was great, too!). Tragically, the guy was murdered several years after the restaurant opened!

David · Joined: 04 Apr 2004 Posts: 162

I have this deep desire (I don't know what it is), but I really want to see the BIG trees. Are they as spectacular as I imagine?

Laura · Joined: 16 May 2004 Posts: 446 Location: San Francisco

If you want to see the REAL BIG TREES, then go to King's Canyon/Sequoia National Park, which is in the Southern Sierras about half way between San Francisco and Los Angeles. The largest trees (by mass) in the world are there. It is a gorgeous park, and there are a couple of lodges you can stay in within the park itself, plus camping opportunities. I was there last Christmas and it was just beautiful and wonderful. Definitely go do it!!

David · Joined: 04 Apr 2004 Posts: 162

Thanks for the tips, Laura. It sounds like you've been many places. I will be sure to check out King's Canyon/Sequoia National Park as soon as possible.