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Forum: Travel, Events, and Groups
09-10-2008, 02:27 PM
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I appreciate all the comments I had from people who posted.
Overall here is what we did, and what I thought of each attraction or what ever-
You should consider a city pass which includes the cable car and historical tramway as well as busses, plus several attractions.
For lodgings, although not on the water, we stayed at the Holiday Inn Golden gateway. The hotel is at California and Van Ness and has great access to the cable car and many bus routes. It is very high up, and if you can get a good floor, aboge say the 10th, the view is great. Much better than the low hotels close to the water or in the financial district for example
- fishermans warf (Pier 39)- somewhat tacky but good place to see the harbor The sea lions are fun to watch
- golden gate bridge -- a must see, with good views from Fort Point (also a place to see)
- lombard street, is fun to walk down (didn;t try up) but best lighting for photos is morning, with the sun on your back.
- washington Square there is a great cathedral here (called sometimes the italian church)
- Grace Cathedral is very interesting to see inside, unlike european cathedrals, with old artworks, this has a more modern historical set of murals depicting the last 2 centuries
- Fort Point - great place to view the bridge but also a great place in its own right
- auquarium at Pier 39 is overrated except for the touch the shark exhibit in the city pass)
- a giants game ATT Park - you should make it possible but dress warm and expect fog at night
- Telegraph hill, Coit tower. Is worth visiting, but forget waiting for the ride to the top (no stairs option) and the view through clowded windows.
- the ferry terminal building, especially market day or when they have craft sales
- Exploratorium - this is a must see with children, and interesting for all ages in the city pass)
- Musee Mechanique - This is interesting for kids, but really looks like someone's private collection of antique pinball machines etc. With just a few $ of interpretive historical information it would be first rate.
- maratime museum- unless you are interested not realll that good
- Alcatraz is worth trying to see, but ticket sales are a bit out of control. you can't get them without advance order if yoou want them in the city pass, but they are forsale in the small shops seems like legalized ticket scalpers in the city pass if you can get it otherwise taake the boat cruse)
- alcatraz / harbour tour. interesting and good views of many sights on the harbour, but it can be Very cold
- cable car museum, well worth the visit
- china town is worth visiting, and would be really good for the chineese new year, but I was disappointed in the gates, I was expecting more elaborate gates.
- Sonoma, & Napa. Sonoma is smaller and less expensive than Napa, I found Napa just a bit too industrialized. Cost of tasting in Napa was a little out of hand, but then again, I have travelled through france where it is generally free.
- Point Reyes National seashore, You can sometimes see the lighthouse, but there can be a lot of fog. This is reportedly best in autumn. For birding, the lowlands north of Stinson Beach before point Reyes are good
- Muir Woods go early, it fills up with tour busses by about 9:30 but can be totally empty at 8:00
I will add more if I think of anything
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Forum: Travel, Events, and Groups
08-11-2008, 06:51 PM
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Maybe no one can prove he said it, but if you were at the giants game last monday you had proof!:D
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Forum: Travel, Events, and Groups
08-09-2008, 10:39 PM
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I have to laugh at your observation,. I just got back, have many similar photo's to yours. Took the cruse around the harbour. Someone was quoted (I think Mark Twain) as saying the worst winter they ever spent was august in SF:D, Believe it. Never saw 60F in a week
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Forum: Travel, Events, and Groups
07-27-2008, 04:26 PM
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Dave
Having seen you were in SF, I was wondering how long it would take for you to post here.
I plan to do most of what has been suggested, and have also planned a couple ofd days to point reyes. (Have to do a little birding also)
I am a little suprised you didn't get a fish eye view of lombard street. While it won't be fisheye, it will get the attention of my 10-20:D
Fort Point is on the list, and I am wondering also about longer shots from the park just west of Peir 45 (martime ship museum)
Also have, as noted Alkartaz, and a giants game if in town.
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Forum: Travel, Events, and Groups
07-17-2008, 01:47 PM
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Gary
No harm done.
I am glad that I see others posting things also, and that there have been many responses to my first posting.
SOme I can and will do, some I am not so sure about, but I intend to post a review, good vs bad of where I have been when I get it all sorted and done.
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Forum: Travel, Events, and Groups
07-17-2008, 10:18 AM
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what about angel Island?
ANy value in spending time there hiking? aside from the trails what is there to see/do on the island?
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Forum: Travel, Events, and Groups
07-17-2008, 09:49 AM
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Interesting. I had not thought much about going across the bay into oakland.
Monteray is probably out, as I don't intend to drive south of the city at all, just north along the coast and loop over to sonoma
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Forum: Travel, Events, and Groups
07-17-2008, 04:05 AM
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Staying Close to union square and the cable car turn around. Plan to get pne of the passes for muni and cable car and not get a car until we go out of the city.
China town is on the list. I was in NY this year for chineese new year, and caught the parade there a little.
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Forum: Travel, Events, and Groups
07-16-2008, 02:55 PM
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gary
Not to sound anti social or ungrateful, but I will be travelling with less than fanatical photographers, i.e. my wife and 14 year old son.
The idea of the travel planning forum, was to share travel ideas, but not to plan get togethers as there was already a forum for that, and not all travellers are as interested in photography as the forum members.
This is an "accomodation" of my hobby within family travel plans.
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Forum: Travel, Events, and Groups
07-15-2008, 06:12 PM
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I am planning a 7-8 day trip and wondering what I am missing.
Taking 4 zooms previously suggested by others as LLL (lowell's lens list) franging from 10-200 mm and a 2xTC
Aside from fishermans warf, golden gate bridge, a giants game (if possible) Telegraph hill, sonoma, Point Reyes National seashore, What Am I missing.
non mainstream ideas welcome
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