Presenting: Only In San Francisco - Part 2
For a long time I have wanted to travel to San Francisco again
. Finally, in February of 2008, I had an opportunity to visit one of my favourite cities again. For only four short days I would see so many of the things that make San Francisco such a diverse travel destination: a visit to Alcatraz Island was a definite must, and the history and strange beauty of this place left a deep impression on me. One of my most exciting experiences was a bike ride across the Golden Gate Bridge, which was a phenomenal opportunity to take in the citys scenic beauty.
My explorations of Golden Gate Park, North Beach San Franciscos Italian neighbourhood, the Coit Tower, Telegraph Hill and Fishermans Wharf gave me an idea of some of San Franciscos unique neighbourhoods. A day trip exposed me to the impressive redwood forests of Muir Woods and the scenic beauty and vineyards of Sonoma county. Restaurant visits, shows and stays in one-of-a-kind historic hotels rounded out my all too brief stay in San Francisco. I had only scratched the surface, and I realized that I would definitely have to come back again to this beautiful City by the Bay.
To give you a better idea of this city here is part II of an extensive interview with Tanya Houseman, Media Relations Manager for the San Francisco Visitors and Convention Bureau.
1. Architecture lovers have long enjoyed San Francisco for some of its unique structures. What are some of the favorite destinations for architecture buffs in your city?
Since the days of the Gold Rush, San Francisco has been known for some rather palatial homes. The so-called Big Four are: Charles Crocker, Collis P. Huntington, Mark Hopkins and Leland Stanford. Price tags on two of the quartets homes atop Nob Hill ran respectively: $2.3 million (Crocker) and $3 million (Mark Hopkins). Hopkins home so dominated the San Francisco skyline of the 1890s that it could be seen some 25 miles south and was disparaged, according to one historian, as the product of a quarreling team of Albanian draftsmen.
James Flood, one of the silver kings, built a massive brownstone mansion and encircled it with a $30,000 brass fence. The only mansion on Nob Hill to survive the 1906 earthquake and fire is now the home of the Pacific Union Club at California and Mason streets. Get a closer look at this area on these guided walking tours of Nob Hill: Hobnob Tours, The Vampire Tour of San Francisco. San Francisco City Guides also offers free tours of the area every Sunday at 2 p.m.
Vintage houses open throughout the year include the Haas-Lilienthal House, 2007 Franklin St., south are the fabled grounds of Filoli at Canada Road, Woodside, and the Winchester Mystery House at 525 South Winchester Blvd. In the East Bay city of Martinez, one of Californias original capitals, the 17-room John Muir House is open every Wednesday-Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Guided walking tours with an architectural emphasis include Hobnob Tours (www.hobnobtours.com.), San Francisco City Guides (www.sfcityguides.org), and Victorian Home Walk (www.victorianwalk.com).
2. Golden Gate Park is one of the largest urban parks in the world. How can I get there and what will I see?
Golden Gate Park is an oasis for outdoor enthusiasts, and one full day is barely enough to explore its 1,017 acres encompassing free-to-the-public meadows, lakes, rose gardens, an arboretum, a rhododendron dell, music concourse, a children's playground, a buffalo paddock and the tallest artificial waterfall in the West. Nominal admission fees are charged at the Japanese Tea Garden which is free from 9 to 10 am on Monday, Wednesday and Friday, the Conservatory of Flowers and the beautifully restored carousel in the Childrens Playground. The first Tuesday of each month admission charges are banished at the de Young Museum. On Sundays and holidays, the park is free of cars on Kennedy Drive from 19th Avenue to Stanyan, when bicyclists and in-line skaters bring their own vehicles or rent from a nearby shop or stand.
Visit www.511.org trip planner for specific information on how to get there using public transportation.
3. Please give us an overview of some of the museums and cultural offerings in San Francisco.
Any trip to the City is incomplete without an infusion of culture. There is a tantalizing array of options available to art lovers. San Francisco's collection of museums includes the California Academy of Sciences in Golden Gate Park, the internationally acclaimed de Young Memorial Museum, San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, Museum of the African Diaspora, and the California Historical Society. The Contemporary Jewish Museum will open in June 2008.
The City's diversity and cosmopolitan mix of lifestyles are reflected in a liberal and varied mix of cultural experiences such as The San Francisco Opera, San Francisco Ballet, the San Francisco Orchestra, and a dozen live theater groups.
4. Please give us an overview of some of the culinary offerings in San Francisco.
Celebrity chef Emeril Lagasse said of San Francisco, You cant have a bad meal in this town. Its easy to see why chefs love San Francisco -- its 49 square miles of great dining and a Mecca for the mouth. Its the diverse, distinct blending of cultures and creativity, and its proximity to fresh, sustainable ingredients that attracts great chefs to the City, with a trail of devoted foodies following in their wake.
The City boasts more restaurants per capita than any other cosmopolitan city in the U.S., and its impossible to sample every restaurant, therefore, many tours are offered to help visitors find the best places: In the Kitchen With Lisa Culinary Excursions, Chinatown Adventure Tours With The 'Wok Wiz' and Local Tastes of the City Tours are just a few.
5. What kind of nightlife opportunities exist in the city?
San Francisco offers a bustling nightlife and a variety of nightclubs, lounges, and bars.
Here are just some recommendations: Top of the Mark in Nob Hill has been a San Francisco landmark since 1939, it is known for breathtaking, 360-degree views of San Francisco and the Bay Area. Cocktails are served starting at 5 pm; Yoshi's Jazz Club & Japanese Restaurant at East Bay is a world-class jazz house and "the" place for jazz in the Bay Area; Bin 55 in Yerba Buena is a Northern California wine bar featuring 55 wines by the glass with every varietal coming from the Bay Area, Napa, Sonoma, Mendocino and Monterey. Harlot, located in SOMA is an upscale VIP lounge featuring modern Goth dcor, world-renowned DJs, performances and special events, catering to an after work and late night crowd. Infusion Lounge at Union Square is San Francisco's new premier restaurant/lounge. It features refined Asian influenced design, 6,000 square feet, VIP room, and a dance floor. Find more information on onlyinsanfrancisco.com.
6. San Francisco also offers great opportunities for shopping. Please tell us more.
In Union Square, all things fashionable and hip can be gazed upon, tried on and purchased. Big-name retail, posh hotels and superb theater are the name of the game. But take a moment to step out of the riptide of people walking through the square, and youll see San Francisco in all its melting-pot glory.
San Francisco Centre -- Westfield Mall opened in November 2006.
Union Square, home to Nordstrom and the West Coast flagship Bloomingdale's, is home to more than 170 exclusive boutiques and specialty stores. The Restaurant Collection under the Dome features Straits, LarkCreekSteak, Zazil Mexican Cuisine and Cocola Bakery, Out The Door, witchcraft. You can also find here nine-screen Century Theatres, The Food Emporium featuring Bristol Farms and Valet Lounge on Mission Street. It is located on Fifth and Market Streets, adjacent to Union Square and across from the Powell Street cable car turnaround.
You can shop for one-of-a-kind items at Hayes Valley. The area, bordered by the Van Ness performing-arts district and the Western Addition around Laguna Street, has developed into a haven for haute couture. For trendy fashion boutiques, SoHo-style funky art galleries, high-end interior-decorating shops, top-notch restaurants and hip nightspots, Hayes is perhaps the more independent side of Union Square.
The success of Hayes Valley's current commercial district was boosted in part by the destruction caused by the 1989 earthquake to the Central Freeway, which had destroyed entrance ramps on Franklin and Gough streets. The freeway was an eyesore and created noise pollution that kept businesses and foot traffic away. Not long after that part of the freeway came down, the community began to transform, and commerce moved in.
Unlike some other parts of San Francisco, Hayes Valley has managed to retain a sense of community and a nonexclusive feel despite the fast build-up and high price tags. Some of the businesses that braved the less-than-savory days are still around, such as the Hayes Street Grill, now twice its original size. But many of the shops sprouted up in the '90s, making Hayes Valley a real destination spot. The combination results in a wide diversity in clientele. While high-end San Franciscans sip $7 cocktails at Absinthe, down the street many are powering down an entire meal for around the same price at Flipper's. Now, tourists also head here specifically for the shopping, for one-of-a-kinds like a buffalo-leather chair or an exclusive Sue Wong Art Deco gown.
Since shopping and gallery hopping are two highlights of Hayes Valley, it's best to go when the full lot are open. Many galleries are closed Mondays, and some don't open Tuesdays, either. Shops tend to open around the 11 am mark, though some are open earlier. Reservations are needed at most restaurants generally from 6 pm to about 7:30 pm, when operagoers and symphony audiences head off to performances. Seating is easier to find later in the evening.
7. Please tell us about the accommodation options in San Francisco.
Lodging options are plentiful and range from boutique to majestic.
8. What opportunities for sports and physical recreation are there in and around the city?
There are plenty of opportunities for sports and physical recreation in San Francisco such as walking, jogging, biking, or golfing. Strolling around the streets of San Francisco is often enough to get your heart racing, the City is brimming with scenic routes just waiting to be discovered. Walk down Hyde Street to find Lombard, "the crookedest street in the world," or head to Fisherman's Wharf where jugglers, artists and magicians entertain visitors for hours.
Park your car, rent a bike for the day, and visit the Presidio. Scattered with former barracks and brick administration buildings, the Presidio air is laden with the aroma of fresh eucalyptus trees that line the winding roads and navigable trails. These paths offer breathtaking views, intoxicating scents, and the occasional challenging hill. From there you can head out of the City across the Golden Gate Bridge and take on the Marin Headlands and Tennessee Valley for a daylong biking excursion across the bay.
Do like the locals and join one of the numerous marathons or triathlons. The most well known Bay Area races are the "Bay to Breakers," a mid-May 12K run starting at the Embarcadero, running through Golden Gate Park and finishing at the Great Highway, and the mid-June "Escape from Alcatraz" triathlon, consisting of a 1.5-mile swim through the bay, an 18-mile bike and an 8-mile run.
If you don't feel like waiting for an organized race, set out on your own. Stride across the grass at Crissy Field, charge through the grueling sand ladder at Baker Beach, and finish off on the path that leads over the Golden Gate Bridge. You will end up on the North side of the Bay leading over to Marin, Tiburon and Stinson Beach. When you reach the end of the Bridge, look over your shoulder and enjoy the City's skyline.
With five public courses within the city and more than 130 public and private courses within the surrounding Bay Area, San Francisco has a course to fulfill every golfer's dreams. Whether in search of a quick round, or a getaway with magnificent views of the City's most popular sights, satisfaction is just a swing away. Different degrees of difficulty as well as varied ranges of green fees are easily accommodated, though San Francisco's famous fog sometimes makes play extra challenging.
9. What are some popular destinations for day trips from San Francisco?
Visit the beautiful Beach Communities, cycle through the Wine Country and taste some superb food, swim, boat or fish at Lake Tahoe and visit old Sacramento, explore Yosemite National Park, East Bay, dine at a trendy restaurant in Sausalito, or enjoy Monterrey and Carmel with its sandy beaches.
10. What types of festivals and special events highlight the yearly calendar in San Francisco?
Here are just some examples of the variety of events in the yearly calendar: the Berlin and Beyond Film Festival in January, Chinese New Year Parade and Celebration in February, the SFJAZZ Spring Season and the St. Patricks Day Parade in March, the San Francisco International Film Festival in April, The San Francisco Wine Festival in May, Fourth of July Waterfront Festival, San Francisco Fashion Week in August, and San Francisco World Music Festival in September.
11. What are some of the big news stories that will be coming up for San Francisco in 2008 and beyond?
Some of the events to come in 2008 are the opening of the San Franciscos Contemporary Jewish Museum on June 8 and the Frida Kahlo Show at SFMOMA from June 14-Sept. 28.
In addition, San Franciscos Pier 1 First Water Taxi Landing opened Dec. 14, 2007 at Pier 1 on the Embarcadero. The taxi landing will also be available for use by sea kayakers and recreational boaters.
In December 2007 San Francisco's Historic Japantown inaugurated its Self-Guided History Walk.
The Festival of Sail Homeports will take place in San Francisco between July 23-28, 2008. Anchored by the San Francisco Maritime National Park Association and its partner, the San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park, the Festival of Sail will transform the piers of San Francisco into an international nautical attraction this summer. More than 15 tall ships and other vessels from around the world are expected to visit San Francisco between July 23-28, 2008.
In addition, Alcatraz Cruises, the official National Park Service concessionaire of transportation services to Alcatraz, is planning to offer their Alcatraz and Angel Island combination tour again starting mid-spring and running through
Labor Day 2008.
For general travel information, sightseeing tours and specific background about the Golden Gate Bridge, Alcatraz, the famous San Francisco cable cars and San Franciscos diverse neighbourhoods please visit Part 1 of this interview.
Thank you for your time, Tanya, and for providing us with such great information about your beautiful city.
by: Susanne Pacher
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