StuntDouble
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My girlfriend and I are going to be in the San Francisco and Napa Valley area for 11 days, and are looking for some ideas for places to go, and things to do. Any suggestions?
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Thngs to see and do in San Francisco?
- Thread starter StuntDouble
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Pier 39, SF zoo/aquarium, if you like wine napa has tours, jelly belly/ budweiser factory in Fairfield tours, Infineon raceway(if anything's going on) marine world. Can't think of much else
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Yup. ....
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Just wear a jacket there's no real difference in frisco's weather-if it's cold it's freezing and of its hot it's chilly.
Go see some of the redwoods, Santa Cruz mountains, Muir Woods, Mount Tamalpias.
Walk across the Golden Gate bridge.
Golden Gate Park and check out the Conservatoryand the Japanese Tea garden
China Town
Visit Alcatraz, Angel Island, Tibuorn
If you go to fisherman's Wharf, get a meal at Scoma's.
Tour the Anchor Steam Brewery (free)
Ric
Walk across the Golden Gate bridge.
Golden Gate Park and check out the Conservatoryand the Japanese Tea garden
China Town
Visit Alcatraz, Angel Island, Tibuorn
If you go to fisherman's Wharf, get a meal at Scoma's.
Tour the Anchor Steam Brewery (free)
Ric
shunsui
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Take a side trip down to Monterey and see the Monterey Bay Aquarium.
http://www.montereybayaquarium.org/
Santa Cruz, Pebble Beach, and Carmel are all down there too.
http://www.montereybayaquarium.org/
Santa Cruz, Pebble Beach, and Carmel are all down there too.
Last edited:
StuntDouble
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Looks like you guys have come up with some great suggestions. I think we are already doing some wine tasting tours, and I'm all about trying different foods. Especially if they are good and cheap 
I might have to do some sweet talking in order to visit the knife store though.
stjames, we are flying out this Saturday, and will be flying back home on Nov. 1st.
I might have to do some sweet talking in order to visit the knife store though. stjames, we are flying out this Saturday, and will be flying back home on Nov. 1st.
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these
if you are renting a car take a ride up the coast up past bodega bay. the view is one of the most amazing you will see anywhere.
there is a pirate store at fishermans wharf, find it
Sausalito is a nice place to see.
Haight/Ashbury (can do that when you do GG Park and the Tea Garden
Spend a day wandering Berkeley, check out telegraph ave in berkeley
Telegraph Hill in SF is really pretty
You won't be lacking things to do, the area is amazing and the city is fantastic.
eisman
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You're going to Napa? Here's some advice:
This is a great time to go to Napa. The harvest is just finished (it was late this year) and the crush is ongoing. The valley will smell of grapes. The leaves will all be red on the vines, and it will be cool (foggy) in the mornings. (I just came back from a trip to see some friends).
If you want to look at art visit Hess (up on Mt Veeder) or Clos Pegase (up by Calistoga). www.hesscollection.com
www.clospegase.com
Look on the map and drive Silverado Trail; it parallels the main (tourist) road up the valley but's the one locals use. I prefer the view and the wineries on that side of the valley. Among my favorites are Silverado, which has a great view of the valle from their tasting room and some of my favorite wines (especially like their Zin), and Stag's Leap, which does some of the best Cabs in the world. www.silveradovineyards.com www.cask23.com
On the other side of the valley go to Costantino's; they do small runs of dozens of good wines. They're known for the Cigar Zin, made to be drank with a good smoke. It'snot my favorite (I don't smoke) but I have some of his M Coz in the cellar; killer stuff. www.cosentinowinery.com
One of my favorite weekend things to do was to drive up to Mumm's and have champagne for breakfast on Sundays. They have a great photography display of Ansel Adams stuff and another hall of new talent. www.mummnapa.com
A lot of resturants change, but here are some of my favorites in the valley:
Celledon is really a locals place; it never gets the publicity of more trendy places but has some of the best food and service you'll find anywhere. I liked their old location better, but they have more room at the mill. www.celadonnapa.com The same family also runs Cole's Chop House if you want the best steak in town.
Domaine Chandone has a great place too; it's about halfway up the valley in Yountville.
If you can get into Greystone it's usually good. I think it's pricy and prefer Celedon for fancy stuff.
If you have a date, absolutely take her to Auberge for dinner. Plan to be there about half an hour before sundown (remember the mountains) and you can get a specatular view as the valley lights up below you. Spendy but very good. www.aubergedusoleil.com
Rutherford Grill is great for less formal stuff. It was one of my normal hangouts. Gets busy on weekends.
There's a brewery downtown on the river that's good too. Sit outside and have a beer. Also an Italian place off 39 that I can't remember the name of; it's been there for decades (look for the brick red building).
One of the best things you can do is picnic. Most wineries don't allow this, but some do. The best view I know of is from a winery up by Auberge del Sol. (I can't remeber the name). They will let you picnic if you only buy wine from them. Cheap at the price. Clos Pegase allows picnics. The old mill up by Calistoga does too, and has a nice park. (Problem is it's just past the high end shops, so unless you want to spend time shopping for stuff like Bose or Coach you have to be prepared.) Get the food at the local market. Then just drive up the valley.
If you really have time I suggest taking a drive from Napa to the Coast. Let me know if you need a route map; I did this a lot. It's a great Sunday thing.
Let me know if there's anything specific you have questions about. I lived in Napa for 5 years, and in the southern part of the bay almost as long. If there's anthing you want to see (scenery, ocean drive, museums, aircraft, cars, expensive shopping ares...etc) just let me know.
This is a great time to go to Napa. The harvest is just finished (it was late this year) and the crush is ongoing. The valley will smell of grapes. The leaves will all be red on the vines, and it will be cool (foggy) in the mornings. (I just came back from a trip to see some friends).
If you want to look at art visit Hess (up on Mt Veeder) or Clos Pegase (up by Calistoga). www.hesscollection.com
www.clospegase.com
Look on the map and drive Silverado Trail; it parallels the main (tourist) road up the valley but's the one locals use. I prefer the view and the wineries on that side of the valley. Among my favorites are Silverado, which has a great view of the valle from their tasting room and some of my favorite wines (especially like their Zin), and Stag's Leap, which does some of the best Cabs in the world. www.silveradovineyards.com www.cask23.com
On the other side of the valley go to Costantino's; they do small runs of dozens of good wines. They're known for the Cigar Zin, made to be drank with a good smoke. It'snot my favorite (I don't smoke) but I have some of his M Coz in the cellar; killer stuff. www.cosentinowinery.com
One of my favorite weekend things to do was to drive up to Mumm's and have champagne for breakfast on Sundays. They have a great photography display of Ansel Adams stuff and another hall of new talent. www.mummnapa.com
A lot of resturants change, but here are some of my favorites in the valley:
Celledon is really a locals place; it never gets the publicity of more trendy places but has some of the best food and service you'll find anywhere. I liked their old location better, but they have more room at the mill. www.celadonnapa.com The same family also runs Cole's Chop House if you want the best steak in town.
Domaine Chandone has a great place too; it's about halfway up the valley in Yountville.
If you can get into Greystone it's usually good. I think it's pricy and prefer Celedon for fancy stuff.
If you have a date, absolutely take her to Auberge for dinner. Plan to be there about half an hour before sundown (remember the mountains) and you can get a specatular view as the valley lights up below you. Spendy but very good. www.aubergedusoleil.com
Rutherford Grill is great for less formal stuff. It was one of my normal hangouts. Gets busy on weekends.
There's a brewery downtown on the river that's good too. Sit outside and have a beer. Also an Italian place off 39 that I can't remember the name of; it's been there for decades (look for the brick red building).
One of the best things you can do is picnic. Most wineries don't allow this, but some do. The best view I know of is from a winery up by Auberge del Sol. (I can't remeber the name). They will let you picnic if you only buy wine from them. Cheap at the price. Clos Pegase allows picnics. The old mill up by Calistoga does too, and has a nice park. (Problem is it's just past the high end shops, so unless you want to spend time shopping for stuff like Bose or Coach you have to be prepared.) Get the food at the local market. Then just drive up the valley.
If you really have time I suggest taking a drive from Napa to the Coast. Let me know if you need a route map; I did this a lot. It's a great Sunday thing.
Let me know if there's anything specific you have questions about. I lived in Napa for 5 years, and in the southern part of the bay almost as long. If there's anthing you want to see (scenery, ocean drive, museums, aircraft, cars, expensive shopping ares...etc) just let me know.
StuntDouble
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Thanks for all the responses. I plan on trying to visit as many of the suggested places as possible (we will be there for 11 days after all..).
Are there any other knife shops besides We Be Knives? Also, I'm planning on taking a Spyderco Lava and a Vic Tinker with me, but I wouldn't mind picking up something else as a souvenir.
Are there any other knife shops besides We Be Knives? Also, I'm planning on taking a Spyderco Lava and a Vic Tinker with me, but I wouldn't mind picking up something else as a souvenir.
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We Be Knives is a tad expensive, but you get to put your grubby paws on the merchandise so that makes the extra money seem worht it. The last time I was there was 1999-2000, and I picked up a second gen. Spyderco Military to play with. As for other knife shops, I'm sure there are others, I just haven't heard of any.
Anyways, have fun, and bundle up!
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Don't miss Alcatraz! It includes a boat ride out and back and an earphone guided tour. Fascinting place full of history.
Last time I was there you could go on board a WWII diesel submarine with an earphone guided tour. Be sure and spend some time with the volunteer on board, who usually served time on board a sub. They've got great stories!
If you'll have a car, be sure and take a drive down Lombard Street. Used to be known as the curviest street in the world.
Also on the list is the Palace of Fine Arts.
Have fun, Lou
Last time I was there you could go on board a WWII diesel submarine with an earphone guided tour. Be sure and spend some time with the volunteer on board, who usually served time on board a sub. They've got great stories!
If you'll have a car, be sure and take a drive down Lombard Street. Used to be known as the curviest street in the world.
Also on the list is the Palace of Fine Arts.
Have fun, Lou
shunsui
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tadgear.com or tripleaughtdesign.com has two stores in the city. Check out their website for the store locations and maps etc. They have a few knives and some surefire flashlights too. I think the Hayes St location is closer to everything else in the city you'd want to see.
+1 the WWII submarine tour at Fisherman's Warf is great.
+1 the WWII submarine tour at Fisherman's Warf is great.