Bay Area Must-Sees
- Thread starter Kestra
- Start date
I'm pretty sure the N train (subway) still goes out to Judah and the Sunset District on the west side. The F train will take you the length of Market Street, and then from the Ferry Building around on the Embarcadero past the Fog City Diner and Telegraph Hill to the tour boats, Fisherman's Wharf and the Maritime Museum at Aquatic Park.
SF transit system map - a handy aid to navigation in the city
As for In-N-Out's fries, you have GOT to try their animal style fries. Soooooooo good! Order a double-double, animal style, with animal style fries. EPIC!
I'm a UCSC graduate and I've only been the boardwalk once or twice. To be honest I prefer the town centre and think Monterey has a better wharf area, but then I don't like amusement park rides.
If you're going to Fisherman's wharf I'd take the cable car. You can kill two tourist birds with one stone.
Oh and I never quite got the automatic adoration for In-and-Out. I mean they are good(I actually had two double-doubles last night
), but they are just another variety of fast food burger. And yeah the fries are a little strange.
You're welcome. And if you're going to San Francisco, be sure to wear some flowers in your hair ... 
Doh!, you're correct. Have N Judah on the brain...
I really don't get why tourists go to Fisherman's Wharf. I lived around the corner from it for two years. Compared to the wharf at Monterey Bay it's crap: grossly overpriced restaurants that aren't that good and cheesy attractions like Ripley's Believe It or Not! wax "musuem" you can walk through in five minutes after leaving your wallet at the door (and the aquarium is AWFUL). I'd rather stroll the neighbourhoods by far.
While I don't disagree with you, Pier 39 is a good hang-out area. This part of the City, including the Embarcadero, is where tourists can get an awesome view of the bay and take ferries to Alcatraz, Sausalito, or Tiburon. The area isn't necessarily a good entertainment hub, but there are lots of nearby places to check out.
It is an awful place to spend money on entertainment, but I like the wharf because it's a fun place to just walk around and do a little window shopping. I enjoy taking a leisurely stroll while eating some yummy sourdough bread and taking in lovely views of the bay and the strange people.
Oh and be careful. There is a homeless guy there who thinks a good introduction to have people give him money is to hide in the bushes and jump out at people.
Seriously.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_Famous_Bushman
Also in the Santa Cruz area, Wilder Ranch State Park has some really beautiful walking paths - one in particular that goes right along the coast with spectacular ocean views. It's just outside of town and easy to get to.
If you're going to the boardwalk/beach area, be warned that traffic and parking are crazy on weekends (it's a small area bounded by the river). Whenever I travel over to San Jose I take the Highway 17 express bus, which I find really convenient. It takes you directly from downtown Santa Cruz to the train station in San Jose (Diridon Station). There's a trolley-style bus that runs from downtown Santa Cruz to the beach for only a quarter too. I can suggest good restaurants (and amazing ice cream) in the downtown area - if you're planning a trip and want more info send me a PM.
If you're going to the boardwalk/beach area, be warned that traffic and parking are crazy on weekends (it's a small area bounded by the river). Whenever I travel over to San Jose I take the Highway 17 express bus, which I find really convenient. It takes you directly from downtown Santa Cruz to the train station in San Jose (Diridon Station). There's a trolley-style bus that runs from downtown Santa Cruz to the beach for only a quarter too. I can suggest good restaurants (and amazing ice cream) in the downtown area - if you're planning a trip and want more info send me a PM.
I would also recommend the Claremont Hotel in Oakland (beautiful old hotel, with a fantastic view of the Bay and SF skyline from its deck), and Angel Island.
Cheers,
-CM-
Cheers,
-CM-
x2
Before you go, make sure you check out the "secret menu" (and take a copy with you, you cannot find it in the store)
I work a few blocks away from that place. It looks like an antiquated hotel. Not exactly a landmark per se, but it looks interesting from the outside.
I went with a group of friends to the Claremont Hotel for dinner on prom night my senior year of high school, and although it was quite expensive (thank goodness one of the girls' dad was paying), it was one of the best meals I've ever had. I have fonder memories of the meal than I do of the dance that followed.
Might I add, this is around downtown Oakland. While it's "relatively" safe during the day for the thousands of people who work here, I wouldn't be caught dead walking in the area at night.
A couple of years ago, there were a string of armed robberies that targeted local Asian restaurants (though some of them were away from downtown). A co-worker was once mugged in the wee hours of the morning while walking from BART, just a block down the street, to our admin building. A security guard was viciously attacked (but then, this was late at night). I'm not even going to say anything about East and West Oakland, which are no tourist spots.
The Jack London Square area, once a lively area, is mostly safe. A lot of the businesses (Barnes & Noble, TGI Friday's, El Torito, The Spaghetti Factory) have closed over the last decade or so. There are also a number of fairly good restaurants in Chinatown, down the street from where I work, like The Silver Dragon and Peony's.
A couple of years ago, there were a string of armed robberies that targeted local Asian restaurants (though some of them were away from downtown). A co-worker was once mugged in the wee hours of the morning while walking from BART, just a block down the street, to our admin building. A security guard was viciously attacked (but then, this was late at night). I'm not even going to say anything about East and West Oakland, which are no tourist spots.
The Jack London Square area, once a lively area, is mostly safe. A lot of the businesses (Barnes & Noble, TGI Friday's, El Torito, The Spaghetti Factory) have closed over the last decade or so. There are also a number of fairly good restaurants in Chinatown, down the street from where I work, like The Silver Dragon and Peony's.
My list of must sees in Northern California
Point Reyes National Seashore. Be sure to go to the lighthouse and there are a number of other places to go there.
Mount Tamalpais State Park-be sure to drive to the top. On your way up or down stop at Muir Woods National Monument.
Walk across Golden Gate Bridge.
A couple of walks in San Francisco (a beautiful city to walk in):
1 Start at the Hyatt near Embarcedero, walk along the waterfront past Fisherman's Warf and Crissy Field, walk over the Golden Gate down to Sausalito and talk the ferry back across the bay to the ferry building.
2 Start and Lands and walk to the Golden Gate.
Another great place in San Francisco is Coit Tower.
Go to Angel Island and go to the top of Mount Livermore.
Go to the Pointa Bonita Lighthouse on the Marin side of the Golden Gate.
Go a little north of Bodega Bay to go to Goat Rock.
Go to Sonoma to see the mission and General Vallejo's house.
Go to the Luther Burbank home in Santa Rosa.
Go to Montery and see the aquarium, the Carmel mission and Point Lobos State Reserve.
Be sure to drive carefully down Highway 1 between Carmel and San Simeon.
While in San Simeon see Hearst Castle.
Go to Sacramento and see the Capitol, Railroad Museum and Sutters Fort.
Go Lake Tahoe. You should go to Tallac Historic Site in October and see the salmon. You should also hike down Emerald Bay.
If you get a chance go to Reno to go to Harrah's Car Museum.
Have a great time in Northern California. It's a great place to live.
Point Reyes National Seashore. Be sure to go to the lighthouse and there are a number of other places to go there.
Mount Tamalpais State Park-be sure to drive to the top. On your way up or down stop at Muir Woods National Monument.
Walk across Golden Gate Bridge.
A couple of walks in San Francisco (a beautiful city to walk in):
1 Start at the Hyatt near Embarcedero, walk along the waterfront past Fisherman's Warf and Crissy Field, walk over the Golden Gate down to Sausalito and talk the ferry back across the bay to the ferry building.
2 Start and Lands and walk to the Golden Gate.
Another great place in San Francisco is Coit Tower.
Go to Angel Island and go to the top of Mount Livermore.
Go to the Pointa Bonita Lighthouse on the Marin side of the Golden Gate.
Go a little north of Bodega Bay to go to Goat Rock.
Go to Sonoma to see the mission and General Vallejo's house.
Go to the Luther Burbank home in Santa Rosa.
Go to Montery and see the aquarium, the Carmel mission and Point Lobos State Reserve.
Be sure to drive carefully down Highway 1 between Carmel and San Simeon.
While in San Simeon see Hearst Castle.
Go to Sacramento and see the Capitol, Railroad Museum and Sutters Fort.
Go Lake Tahoe. You should go to Tallac Historic Site in October and see the salmon. You should also hike down Emerald Bay.
If you get a chance go to Reno to go to Harrah's Car Museum.
Have a great time in Northern California. It's a great place to live.
