Any suggestions on San Francisco

[jmk89]

I have to go to SF for 10 days for work from next weekend (once I get away from London where I am right now!).

I may have a bit of time on my hands - any thoughts for good things to do that won't get me into trouble with SWMBO? Even tho' this is the 'NOTHING AT ALL TO DO WITH WOODWORK' forum, some thoughts on wood-related things to do or look at (or tools that I should get in the US) would also be gratefully received!!

Cheers

Jeremy

[Flowboy]

Japanese gardens, Museum of Natural Hstory, Nob Hill, Sausalito (across the Golden Gate), Silicon Valley in Sunnyvale (near Lockheed's Research facility) Haight?Ashbury, crookedest street in the world, Macy's (so you can say you've been there. If you've got time drive down to Monterey Bay, great Scenary and if you have an extra couple hours go to Monterey and remember the Jazz festivals held there.
Ghirradeli's old Chocolate factory, Pier 39, next to where the boats leave for Alcatraz. (If you want to go to "the rock" get to the warf reeeal early, queues are horrendous.

Cheers

Rob

[joe greiner]

Exploratorium museum. Near Golden Gate bridge. Asked one of the shop folk how much they charged him to allow working there. They had to throw me out at closing time.

Joe

[Flowboy]

Joe,

The exploratorium is what I meant I think, up near the Presidio? Even walking through the gardens is fantastic and, yes, they had to kick me out at closing time as well. So much to see.. so little time!

Rob

[MurrayD99]

Never had a lot of time..... fly in, meetings, fly out.... but Union Square (yes indeed, Macys). I used to stay at the York Hotel up on Sutter (where Vertigo, I think) was filmed - even had that room one time. Nice place - enjoy...

[Cliff Rogers]

What they all said.
If you have some time to spare & are interested in computer shops, catch a train to Palo Alto & look up a place called Frys.
It is like a computer & electronics supermarket.... I have never seen so many gadgets ever, let alone under the same roof.

[Gas Man]

As well as everything that has already been mentioned the following may be of interest:

Within a couple of hours drive are places like Lake Tahoe - take the Gondola to the top of "Heavenly" (it really is) and Monteray/Carmel (Seventeen Mile Drive, Pebble Beach and The Lone Cypress) all beautiful and well worth seeing.

We had an absolute ball on the "Cable Cars" we used a three day transit pass that allowed unlimited use on the "trolleys" and the BART. Great chocolates at Ghirardelli's, clam chowder at Fisherman's Wharf is a must, Alcatraz Island was "touristy" but fun and the views back to the city are spectacular. Have a look at the seal's at Pier 39 and “drive Lombard Street”. We found the graffiti art murals in the Mission District very impressive – area appears best visited during daylight hours. Coit Tower on the top of Telegraph Hill has great views.
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The views of the Golden Gate from the north side of the Bay are great and we also loved the “Victorian Houses" at Alamo Square. As previously mentioned Sausalito is a nice spot – great for a Sunday brunch looking back over the Bay towards the city.
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As Cliff mentioned if you are into electronics try to find a Frys – it’s like a Dick Smith Store on Steroids! Bought digital cameras there and the prices were great.
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Hope you have a ball.

[Schtoo]

What they all said.

Muir woods = big &^%*&%^ trees!!!

Green apple books is good if you want some books, all dirt cheap and almost anything you can dream up, they got.

Japan woodworker is on the other side of the bay (I think) in Alameda. Not quite as good as here, but they would have some tools and things I think. ;)

Be a good idea to grab a car for a day or two and drive around. Heaps to see and do just out of the town.

If you get to the lighthouse near the ocean, take a windproof jacket as you will freeze.

Take a camera.

And lotsa cash.

You will need both. :D


(Only spent 6 days there, but luckily we had two tour guides who showed us almost everything. :) )

[bsrlee]

I would suggest going to some online forum like Taunton's 'Knots Landing' or one of the others, creating a free account and putting up a post there. You'll probably be knocked down in the rush as people offer information, offers of 'native guides, meals, accomodation etc.

I have found 'Americans' to be generally extremely generous & easy to get on with when 'at home'. For some reason they seem to export the loud, crass & obnoxious types (their neighbours probably can't stand them either :cool: ) that wear shorts & hawaiian shirt.

[Tex79]

There is some great info here guys so thanks.
Jeremy I hope you have a good time in while your there. The Missus and I are heading there in early January for five days, I've been madly looking up wood working stores and I've come up with Robert Larson Company, Rockler and Woodcraft. RLC appears to only be in Sanfrancisco but Rockler and Woodcraft are a located everywhere. Their Incra gear is very cheap!! If you get a chance check out their websites.
I think I will have to check out Green Apple books and Fry's also.

Cheers Evan.

[Doughboy]

San Fran is the only West Coast US city I would ever consider moving to. I reckon a ride or drive over the golden gate, sausolito (sp?) is awesome, the palace of fine arts (where sean connery met his daughter in ''the rock''), ghiradhelli square, fishermans wharf, presidio ( they have a stand of gums there from the turn of the century i think it was), lombard st, china town, nob hill, pacific heights ( morgan freeman lives here and has one of only a few gardens in San Fran itself), take a trolley tour but really it is time restricted. Do some research and you will have a great time.

Pete

[jmk89]

Thanks all for the good thoughts.
I'll see how much time I get for touristic activities and will report back when I return!!!
Cheers

Jeremy

[Schtoo]

presidio ( they have a stand of gums there from the turn of the century i think it was)

Pete


I was wondering where that smell was coming from, till I saw the trees. :cool:


Apparently they are a bit of a goof. They needed wood for houses, and heard that 'gum' trees grow fast and planted some.

Problem is, they didn't know which ones are good for making houses out of, and planted the wrong ones. :rolleyes:

That tour bus ride has finally paid off! :D

[Flowboy]

Hi all,
I know JMK89 has a plathora of info and might find time to do some work if he's lucky, but I just wanted to add this.
SanFrancisco (never call it San Fran to a resident) is currently trying to eradicate all gum trees from its environs. Being Eucalypts, they needfire to spreas seed and the fire fighters in the US are not used to exploding trees and fires that spread through the canopy at 50kph.
Gums are all up and down the West coast (read East coast of Oz turned on its head) and I've attached a photo of Balboa Park San Diego. There are two things I like about this photo.
1. The Eucalypts towering over the buildings and
2. The is a couple kissing each other at the bottom left corner of the pond. A simple act of affection caught on film forever!
One more thing, there are two h'ways which come in to SF from the south, 101 and (I think) 401. I took 401 from Sunnyvale once and there was absolutely no traffic. Asked a person in SF why and they told me its built on top of the San Andreas fault!! Great way to get in and out of town though.
Have fun JMK, just take lots of money!!

Regards

Rob

[Shedhand]

...'n if ya go for a poo, hang onto the tackle mate! they half fill their bogs with cold, deep water. Weird. I was over there a couple years ago (first time overseas) ans was bustin'. Went to the first of 12 cubicles and it was half full of water - :eek: then found all damn half full of water. Went and told the guy that all his toilets were bung. Thought I was a nutter and called security after I went looking for one that wasn't half full of Dihydrogen Monoxide. Eventually gave up, grabbed the tackle and kangaroo-hopped a bowl (urgently by this time) in the cattle class toilets. When I got back to the Club Lounge (travelled Business Class) this bloody giant black security guy with his hand on his GLOCK (that's GLOCK guys) :eek: asked if i was causing any trouble :( ..Lucky the ol' choco den was empty else I'd a cr apped meself. You reckon I felt a nit when they explained that the toilets are always half full.

[jmk89]

Just back - didn't have much free time, but did get to use some of your suggestions, especially the Exploratorium. What a great applied arts and sciences museum! It reminds me of the old MAAS in Harris Street, only much much better. I wished that my kids had been with me, but then I might not have been able to spend all arvo in there (their concentration spans are not as great as mine!!)