~TEXAS boy is coming to SAN FRANSICO, CA in 3 weeks !

[spanishleprachaun]

  woohooo !!! time away from the heat down here in South, tx.... coming up the first week of Sept to San Fran.   For the locals and those nearby,... any MUST SEE places ? Returants ? Museums ? Attractions ?
up for all and everything

Sent ya a PM Jerry--- would be great to meet up !

carlos

[Jerry]

We will try to get a few of the So cal members to meet too.  I know  they would.
We are sort of planning a pond party, so this may be it!
I know both Mike's, Annette, Argos and more would love it.  Gerg in Palm Springs is a bit of a haul.
I am sure i am missing a few names here, so my apoplogies.

PMd you too.

[Esther]

I'm jealous. -------------- Maybe someday.

[miguynmkoi]

   How long are you staying in SF?  There is so much to see there.  Really depends on how much time you have to play. 

[Jerry]

Anette, Mike W, Mikey etc.  We are trying to have a get together here on a Sat or Sun. Carlos will be sending me specifics.
The hot chick is coming too!

[Mikey]

As Annette notes, there's lots to see and do in San Francisco.  Driving/parking in the downtown area is a pain, so spend some time on-line learning their transit system.  We always enjoy visiting their botanical garden http://www.sfbotanicalgarden.org/

Would love to get together with you if you can work your way a bit further south....  Keep Jerry informed of your plans.  

[Jonna]

Yeah, that part was confusing to me.  He's going to SF and you're having the party in LA?  We're like Texas out in Calif, big distances.

My suggestions are to go down to Ocean Beach at the west end of the city, take a walk and watch those breakers coming from all the way across the Pacific. 

Cross the Golden Gate bridge and go out to the headlands for great views, in September you will have the best weather of the year, warm and a lot less fog.  If there is fog, it will burn off by noon in Sept.

Take a ferry across the bay to Sausalito and have lunch and walk around.  When you go down to take the ferry, walk around near the Ferry building, go to the farmer's market, have a nice breakfast. 

Walk around in Chinatown, go in stores, have some dim sum. 

Go to Golden Gate park and go to the Japanese tea gardens and see the koi and the lilies. 

Skip Fishermans' Wharf, waste of time and money.  The Alcatraz tour can be fun, it's touristy and all but if you don't get to take the ferry to Sausalito then you'd at least get a short ride on the bay.  Personally, I think taking the Sausalito ferry is more interesting and it's a lot cheaper.  Well, it's cheaper before you buy lunch and shop 

[Jerry]

Good advice from Jonna.  She lived there and knows her way around.

Jonna, they will fly here (Burbank) and rent a car here. I am less than  20 mins from the Burbank air terminal.  Also they will avoid the traffic and hassel at LAX

They will fly wherever Southwest airlines flies.  Don't ask.

[Argos5]

Bring jackets...although the famous quote "The coldest winter I ever saw was the summer I spent in San Francisco" is often falsely attributed to Mark Twain, the sentiment is accurate.

[Jerry]

It wasn't MT?  I think it was 2 weeks?

[spanishleprachaun]

Thanks all for the tips !

The plan is taking shape !
(airfair is FReeeeeeeeeeeeeeee )  Passes that can be used anywhere, anytime  southwest flies non-rev.  Just a matter of making sure a certain flight looks fairly open.

Looks like we will fly into Burbank, rent the car, drive over to jerry's.. spend a little time,.. then take the drive up to san fran and spend 3 days there. 

i'll keep you posted on specific dates and times Jerry

carlos

[Jerry]

Driving up the coast route to SF is lovely trip.  You can see the aquarium at Monterey as well as US 1 through big Sur.
Stop off in Santa barbara for lunch! tour State Street

[Mikey]

I agree with Jerry.  Definitely take the coastal route up.  Very scenic.  Very slow driving from San Simeon to Carmel due to winding roads but worth the time. 

Speaking of San Simeon, there is Hearst Castle, if you are into that sort of thing.  I find the tours interesting.  If nothing else, their restrooms are very clean should you need a potty stop before the long, winding 70 miles to Carmel/Monterey.  http://www.hearstcastle.com/

Just past Hearst Castle about 4 miles, on the seaward side, is a protected area where huge elephant seals bask on the beach.  Pull into the free parking area and take photos.  I'm not sure if they are there at this time of the year but it's worth a look.  http://www.elephantseal.org/
I'm assuming the fires are out in the Big Sur area....

[Jonna]

Oh yeah, if you are driving up then I second or third the Monterrey Aquarium.  Also the drive up through Big Sur and past Hearst Castle.  It's long, that will turn your drive up into a 2 day or more drive.  If you want it faster, take hwy 101 and just go west to Monterrey and up from there.  You miss Big Sur but the drive is still nice. 

BTW, I'm pretty sure that Southwest flies into Oakland but never mind because you would miss Jerry and the AP'ers.

[MikeW]

I always enjoy Hearst Castle on the drive north. It is nothing out of the ordinary, if you are in southern Europe, but out in the middle of nowhere CA, wow. Families emerge from their cheetos wrapper filled station wagons, and walk up to a 16th century French fire place and mantle. It is amazing what they shipped over from Europe, stone by stone, and put back together on a remote hilltop. It is remote today - imagine getting an invitation to dinner in 1932 - getting there would be quite the expedition.

Look forward to meeting you Carlos.

Cheers,

Mike

[miguynmkoi]

Very slow driving from San Simeon to Carmel due to winding roads but worth the time. 

Not really!    It's a very fun ride with lots of view stops!