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Stinson Beach: Quintessential Cali Beach for Picnicking and Play

May 8, 2012 By

A favorite beach for locals, Stinson Beach is known for its great surf, clean facilities, and dog-friendly spirit. Driving to Stinson Beach is half the fun, with winding roads carved into the side of the cliffs that afford spectacular views of the Pacific. Parking, changing rooms and bathrooms are all conveniently located near the beach, with bonus amenities like a snack area and a BBQ spot. The three-mile long sandbar can handle large crowds with room to spare, even accommodating volleyball courts. Dogs and their owners are welcomed at the northern tip of Stinson Beach, and the nearby town contains several dog-friendly cafés for a bite after a visit. Lifeguards are on duty from Memorial Day to Labor Day to ensure visitors’ utmost safety. Recommended by locals for surfing, swimming, picnicking and rafting, Stinson Beach makes for a great day-trip to the Pacific.

Stinson Beach
Golden Gate National Recreation Area
1 Calle Del Sierra
Stinson Beach, CA 94970
(415) 868-1922
www.nps.gov/goga/stbe.htm

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Ferry Building Marketplace: A Foodie’s Paradise

May 2, 2012 By

If you’re looking for one of the greatest gourmet shopping experiences in the United States, get down to the Ferry Building Marketplace for a taste of Heaven. When the construction of the Golden Gate Bridge and the Bay Bridge made ferry travel in the area basically obsolete, the gorgeous Ferry Building lay wasted for decades. After the Embarcadero Freeway, which hid the building from sight, was demolished in 1991, the time was ripe to rehabilitate the building into something truly special. The Ferry Building was opened in 2003 with a world-class public food market occupying the ground floor. Representatives from local farms gather streetside to sell their freshest crops, many of which are certified organic. Head inside for a flabbergasting array of prepared and exotic foods—pretty much anything you’d ever need to prepare a transcendent meal is here for the taking. There are so many vendors here that you could eat a different thing every day, but just don’t miss Pepples, the tiny organic doughnut stall, no matter what.

Ferry Building Marketplace
1 Ferry Bldg
San Francisco, CA 94111
www.ferrybuildingmarketplace.com

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Enjoy a Worry-Free Wine Tasting Experience on a Wine Country Tour Shuttle

April 10, 2012 By

Want to do a wine tasting but worried about finding a designated driver? Wine Country Tour Shuttle is the perfect solution. A tour of four premiere wineries with red, white, and sparkling wines in the Napa Valley area, the Wine Country Tour Shuttle allows guests to try the wines, mingle with other guests, and not have to worry about how to get home.

Starting in San Francisco, the tour takes guests over the Golden Gate Bridge to Napa, and to such luxury wineries as Domain Chandon and Black Stallion. A $10 voucher is provided for a picnic lunch of choice cheeses, breads, and sandwiches. To return to San Francisco, the tour shuttle will take the Ferry/Bay cruise, affording views of Alcatraz, the Bay Bridge, and the Golden Gate Bridge. For its convenience and value, Wine Country Tour Shuttle is a great way to enjoy Wine Country without the hassle.

Wine Country Tour Shuttle
(415) 513-5400
www.WineCountryTourShuttle.com

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Exploratorium: Dynamic Science Museum for Young and Old

April 3, 2012 By

More interactive, more educational, and more fun than the average museum, the Exploratorium is a place where young and old can explore science, art, and human perception in a hands-on way. Exhibits on everything from electricity and motion, to sound and sight, to emotions and facial expressions, can be explored by guests at their own pace. Perhaps the most unique exploration area is Mind, where guests focus on their own cognitive states with activities like reading emotions on faces and detecting a friend telling a lie. With more than 450 exhibits on view at all times, guests need at least 3 hours to see everything, and will probably want to come back again and again! The Exploratorium is a wonderful place to get kids (and grown-ups!) excited and engaged with science.

Exploratorium
601 Lyon St.
San Francisco, CA 94123
(415) 561-0356
www.exploratorium.edu

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Napa Valley Wine Train: Uncork A Vintage Ride

March 6, 2012 By

In the list of American wine-producing regions (a list that seems to be growing exponentially every day), there’s one place that stands out—the Napa Valley. There are many ways to explore the valley and the vintners that call it home, but one of the most unique and charming is a ride on the Napa Valley Wine Train. An antique railway that runs on a 25-mile long track through the heart of the Valley, riders are not only given a moving glimpse of the beautiful countryside, they’re also served spectacular meals from the train’s two onboard kitchens, accompanied, of course, by a robust selection of local wines. The best seats in the house are in the car with the antique dome windows, which give an amazing view. The agency also arranges numerous winery tours that end visits to the area with a train ride to the quaint historic town of Saint Helena.

Napa Valley Wine Train
1275 McKinstry Street
Napa, CA 94559
(707) 253-2111
www.winetrain.com

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Pier 39: Shopping, Dining, and Entertainment on the Scenic San Fran Bay

February 7, 2012 By

Situated on the beautiful San Francisco Bay, Pier 39 is a premiere shopping and dining destination sure to delight locals and tourists alike. Home to such attractions as the Aquarium of the Bay and the Pier 39 Marina, Pier 39 has 110 specialty shops and 14 restaurants. A group of sea lions has made a home out of a dock at the end of the Pier, and the Marine Mammal Center’s Kiosk provides guests with information about these amazing creatures. With great views of the Golden Gate Bridge, Alcatraz, the Bay Bridge, and the city skyline, Pier 39 is a stunning location for a romantic night out. Street artists and frequent musical performances make this an entertaining spot, even just for an impromptu walk in the sunshine. With novelty shops, seafood restaurants, music, arts, and sea life, Pier 39 is a must-visit for anyone in San Francisco.

Pier 39
The Embarcadero and Beach St.
San Francisco, CA 94133
(415) 705-5500
www.pier39.com

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Not Just For Kids: The Cartoon Art Museum

January 10, 2012 By

If there’s one art form that has gained a significant amount of respect in the last few decades, it’s comic books. Once considered the exclusive interest of children and subnormals, “graphic novels” are now read by just about everyone. If you want to really get inside the art form, San Francisco’s Cartoon Art Museum is the greatest institution of its kind anywhere in the world. Founded in 1984 to increase public interest in the past and future of the comics, the museum stages a dozen high-profile exhibits a year on a number of topics, as well as a number of free drawing programs and other enrichment experiences for kids and adults alike. Openings are popular events, as often artists will come out and mix and mingle with museum visitors to discuss their work. Admission is reasonable and the gift shop is extremely well-stocked if anything you see on display piques your interest.

Cartoon Art Museum
655 Mission Street
San Francisco, CA 94105
(415) 227-8666
www.cartoonart.org

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Aquarium of the Bay: World-Class Aquarium with Local Focus

December 6, 2011 By

A perfect place to take the family on a rainy afternoon, the Aquarium of the Bay has plenty of fish, rays, and sharks to entertain and delight guests. As the only Aquarium situated on the San Francisco Bay, the Aquarium of the Bay has a special focus on the animals and ecosystems found in this area. Exhibits are divided into three sections: the first is “Discover the Bay”, which is an introduction to the various aquatic life that live in the Bay. “Under the Bay” is a set of two impressive clear crystal tunnels that allow guests to travel through shallow and deep-water habitats. The last section is “Touch the Bay,” an interactive exhibit where guests can touch animals like California King snakes and Leopard Sharks while learning about conservation. Educational, exciting, and with added emphasis on the local ecology, Aquarium of the Bay allows people of all ages to learn more about marine life.

Aquarium of the Bay
The Embarcadero and Beach Street
San Francisco, CA 94133
(415) 623-5300
www.aquariumofthebay.org

 

 

 

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Alcatraz: Not Just For SF Tourists – A Prison Worth Exploring

November 1, 2011 By

Few prisons in the United States have the mythic resonance of Alcatraz—the forbidding island in the San Francisco Bay has become the stuff of legend. In 29 years of operation, it was claimed that no one ever escaped. The prison was decommissioned in 1963 because it was too expensive to keep convicts there due to the isolation of the facility. Years later, the island was opened to tourists under the auspices of the National Parks Service. Taking a cruise to Alcatraz has become a must-do for any visit to San Francisco, and it couldn’t be easier. The boat departs from Pier 33 and takes a leisurely spin through the bay, filling you in on the history of the prison before letting you off to explore the buildings and gardens. The self-guided tour uses headsets, so you can take as long as you want to explore—as long as you catch the last boat before it leaves.

Alcatraz
Pier 33, Alcatraz Landing
San Francisco, CA 94133
(415) 981-7625
www.alcatrazcruises.com

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Lucky Chances Casino: Got a Good Hand?

October 4, 2011 By

Can’t get to Vegas? Give Colma a try. The Lucky Chances Casino is a friendly and modern 60-table cardroom, the perfect place to try your luck. It’s the newest card club in the Bay Area, with a full array of poker and Asian/Vegas style games, as well as over 600 friendly staff to help you relax for a few hours. The restaurant never closes, and it’s worth a try even if you’re not playing—the Chinese, Vietnamese, Filipino and American food is decent, fairly-priced, and tastes great after a night on the town. All is comfortable and clean here—the only pressure comes from placing your bets!

Don’t worry about the car, either; there’s extensive underground parking, with free valet service.

Lucky Chances Casino
1700 Hillside Boulevard
Colma, CA 94014
(650) 758-2237
www.luckychances.com

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