About Jamie A
In addition to writing and taking photos during her trips, Jamie loves to find hidden gems, cheap eats, and kitschy Americana attractions. She hails from Oil City, Pennsylvania, went to college in the Finger Lakes Region of New York, studied abroad in Norwich, England, and moved to Boston in May of 2007. She also enjoys writing poetry and lyric essays, reading lots of books, being a foodie, listening to girl group tunes from the 1960s, crafting, and dinner parties with her friends.
Blog posts written by Jamie A
March 19th, 2008 by jamie a
San Francisco Photo uploaded by
Maps can cost a lot of money, but are beyond useful when trying to navigate a new city. After you’ve picked up your Go San Francisco Card, check out these great maps for bargain travelers!
Budget Travel just alerted us to the concept of , which are free travel guides to places all over the world with local, zoom-able maps, and marked attractions.These guides are great for planning out itineraries based on your personal interests as well, providing all sorts of suggestions based on your preferences.
We’d love to hear what you think should be included for those traveling to San Francisco! What are your favorite attractions? Let us know in a comment!
Planning a trip to
San Francisco?
Read about attractions, tours, discounts, and more with the
Go San Francisco Card.
March 10th, 2008 by jamie a
Pink Hibiscus Flower Photo uploaded by
From March 12-16th, check out the at the Cow Palace!
With thousands of blossoms and gardens to go ga-ga over, both amateur gardeners and seasoned pros alike will have a fantastic time at this year’s show. Spanning three acres, the highlights of the show include a garden container display, Sproutopia (for the kids!), the newest plants, presentations from the Bonsai Club, wine bars, and a health pavilion.
You can also use this opportunity to not only tour some beautiful gardens, but you can learn about the craft from the best of the best. The garden show offers covering tons of topics, ranging from adding art and accessories to your garden to hands-on interactive activities for the kids.
After the show, you can always pick up a and tour the , ,or the .
Planning a trip to
San Francisco?
Read about attractions, tours, discounts, and more with the
Go San Francisco Card.
February 26th, 2008 by jamie a
The Band “Golem” Performing at Noise Pop Photo uploaded by
From February 26 through March 2nd, the best indie artists descend upon the city of San Francisco for the .
Since 1993, this festival has featured the best in alternative and independent music, film, education, art, and culture. Distinguished guests of the past with incredible musical talent include Wilco, The Flaming Lips, The Shins, and The White Stripes. The festival has been named one of the country’s top independent music festivals, showcasing what San Francisco and the rest of the independent world has to offer.
Rolling Stone writes that the festival is “…One of the best ways to see punk legends, indie darlings and the best local upstarts in one extended weekend. It’s meant to be a nonstop party… You can taste each and every intelligently booked showcase.”
Planning a trip to
San Francisco?
Read about attractions, tours, discounts, and more with the
Go San Francisco Card.
February 22nd, 2008 by jamie a
The Golden Gate Bridge Photo uploaded by
If you’re a film buff and would love to see where some amazing movies have been filmed, check out
Along with a friendly guide and a seat on a bus, you also get to see clips from the movies as you drive by the locations of filming. From the Golden Gate Bridge scene in Hitchcock’s Vertigo to spots in the family-favorite Mrs. Doubtfire,
If you’re interested, so you can make reservations today!
Planning a trip to
San Francisco?
Read about attractions, tours, discounts, and more with the
Go San Francisco Card.
February 20th, 2008 by jamie a
Exploratorium Photo uploaded by
San Francisco’s will be hosting a lecture entitled on February 23 at 2 pm.
The lecture will be held in the McBean Theater and will be hosted by Pireeni Sundaralingam, who was educated at Oxford, studied both poetry and cognitive science, and now works as a neuroscientist. Dr. Joshua Freedman of FKF Applied Research and Hans Lee of EmSense will join her for the discussion.
There is a limited capacity, so is encouraged.
Planning a trip to
San Francisco?
Read about attractions, tours, discounts, and more with the
Go San Francisco Card.
February 5th, 2008 by jamie a
City Lights Books Photo uploaded by
Cnn.com recently published a list of which includes the famed in San Francisco.
Founded in 1953 by poet Lawrence Ferlinghetti, it’s known as the center of the counterculture literary movement. City Lights Publishers were the first to publish Allen Ginsberg’s poem “Howl,” which landed Ferlinghetti in jail.
A hangout for beat poets and tourists alike, it’s a must-see for any bibliophile visiting San Francisco.
If you’d like to read more about the Beatnik influence on San Francisco, be sure and check out our “Beatnik’s Guide to North Beach” for even more places to visit.
Planning a trip to
San Francisco?
Read about attractions, tours, discounts, and more with the
Go San Francisco Card.
January 31st, 2008 by jamie a
Lemon Cream Tart at Tartine Photo uploaded by
During your travels in San Francisco, you’re bound to need a little mid-day pick me up. For the best in gourmet bakeries, check out on 18th Street in the .
Grab a delightful breakfast pastry, a hot pressed-sandwich, or a slice of pie, cake, or a delectable tart from their . Rita over at the loved it, and we hope you do too!
Planning a trip to
San Francisco?
Read about attractions, tours, discounts, and more with the
Go San Francisco Card.
January 29th, 2008 by jamie a
Mustard in Bloom Photo uploaded by
Mustard season in the Napa Valley brings an abundance of wine, food, and art from January through the month of March with the . It celebrates the gorgeous yellow blossoms of the mustard plant, while supporting local farmers and wineries during the off-season.
Check out the for art shows, photography contests, seven-course gourmet dinners, and competitions galore. If you’re looking to stay in the area and enjoy this beautiful time of year, here’s a complete listing of in conjunction with the festival.
Planning a trip to
San Francisco?
Read about attractions, tours, discounts, and more with the
Go San Francisco Card.
January 28th, 2008 by jamie a
Jazz Club in San Francisco Photo uploaded by
During your visit to San Francisco, why not enjoy a candlelit evening at one of the city’s famed jazz clubs? If you’re a fan of sipping drinks while listening to the smooth sounds of the saxophone, these clubs will be perfect for your night out on the town.
Start with , named “San Francisco’s Best Jazz Club” by the New York Times. With 14 shows a week, it’s a great place to catch the best in jazz. Advanced tickets are recommended, so just make sure to book ahead to secure one of their 25 beautiful tables. Enjoy their candlelit atmosphere while your cocktails are delivered right to your table.
There’s also , featured in the photo above, which resides in Union Square. In a bistro-style setting, this place is perfect for a cozy night full of French and Mediterranean cuisine, great music, and delicious drinks, making this a favorite spot in the city for 23 years.
Finally, there’s , featuring two shows a night and amazing Japanese sushi. According to Fortune magazine, “Yoshi’s has the best talent, the best acoustics, the best atmosphere in the Bay Area.” Yoshi’s welcomes guests of all ages to enjoy great music in their 320 seat capacity jazz venue, which makes it a great stop on your trip.
Planning a trip to
San Francisco?
Read about attractions, tours, discounts, and more with the
Go San Francisco Card.
January 25th, 2008 by jamie a
Comparing Digital Cameras Photo Uploaded by
If you love taking photos on your vacation and then showing them off to your friends and family, you should read a quick guide for making the most out of your photography efforts recently posted by GoGirlfriend.
Since I’m taking a photography class right now, this article is a great read. It’s also easy to understand, pinpointing ways that everyone can make their vacation photos more interesting, not just photographers who know all that camera lingo.
My favorite tips from the article are “Get Clicking,” because, like everything else, practice makes perfect! When you own a digital camera, there’s no reason to edit until you get home and look at them on the big screen.I’m sure that out of every 20 photos lies a truly wonderful one and you won’t know unless you keep your finger clicking.
I also enjoy “Get Funky,” which encourages all of us to be unique. Everyone’s got pictures of the beach, but how can you make yours special? Use light, crazy angles, and focus to make it your very own creation.
Planning a trip to
San Francisco?
Read about attractions, tours, discounts, and more with the
Go San Francisco Card.
