San Francisco travel tips
February 13th, 2008 by amy c
Haight-Ashbury photo uploaded by
In the mid-1960’s, the corner of Haight and Ashbury was one of the most famous intersections in perhaps the world, as young people flocked to the area in a search love and peace. The Summer of Love is still swinging in the neighborhood, also known as the “global village.”
Only now, brightly colored Victorians, funky t-shirt shops, hookah bars, and psychedelic music and art meet hip-hop trends and the height of modern fashions. Trendy hipsters, accessorized urbanites, young professionals, and even those still living in the long-gone flower power era stroll down these few blocks of liberal quirkiness.
Whether you are looking for hot pink fishnets, a pair of fresh kicks, or a t-shirt souvenir of a neighborhood overwhelmingly “Californian,” Haight-Ashbury offers both a look into San Francisco’s hippie and Beat generation past as well as its trendy present. Located on the edge of Golden Gate Park, the Haight is the perfect place to glimpse San Francisco from a local perspective as San Franciscans from all backgrounds flock to these streets for a dose of urban diversity. (more…)
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February 8th, 2008 by susan j
San Francisco Bay Photo courtesy of (used with permission)
What better way to see San Francisco than aboard a cruise ship in San Francisco Bay? Founded in 1892, the historic continues serving the Bay Area with cruises that offer picturesque views of the Golden Gate Bridge, Alcatraz, Marin County, and more. The Golden Gate Bay Cruise departs daily from Fisherman’s Wharf, and there are special holiday cruises throughout the year, too.
Here are some of Red and White Fleet’s February cruises:
Wednesday, February 14, 5 pm
Saturday, February 23, 2 pm
About.com’s Ingrid Taylor has also blogged about the Red and White Fleet .
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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.
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San Francisco?
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January 15th, 2008 by jamie a
Opus One, Napa Valley
Photo uploaded by
Budget Travel magazine recently published, all about wine tasting in the gorgeous Napa Valley. With the , you can put these tips to use with an all-access pass to Napa’s best offerings.
Napa is a world-famous wine producing region, ranking among Italy and France for their amazing wines. There are more than two hundred wineries currently in the region, making it a very popular vacation destination in California, second only to Disneyland.
Here’s a toast to you, winos, and have fun in Napa Valley!
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San Francisco?
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January 10th, 2008 by susan j
Sunday, January 13 (various times)
The city of San Francisco presents with special activities and prizes for kids at 35 of the Bay Area’s best museums and attractions. Get in free to places like de Young Museum, ZEUM at Yerba Buena Garden, and others!
Through Sunday, January 27
Catch an at the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art. The exhibit features more than 40 images by this prolific photographer.
Ongoing
The Chabot Space & Science Center presents , a “global adventure of science and discovery.”
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San Francisco?
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January 4th, 2008 by susan j
Tropical Fish at San Francisco’s Steinhart Aquarium
Photo uploaded by
This weekend, San Francisco’s Steinhart Aquarium is having a blow-out celebration before they close. But don’t worry… they’ll be back and better than ever when they open next fall in a new eco-friendly building in Golden Gate Park. Click to read about the festivities and exhibits on Sunday, January 6 to commemorate the last day to visit the aquarium in their current location.
Of course, if you plan to visit the Bay Area after January 6, there are plenty of other things to do in the meantime. Why not check out Exploratorium, the Bay Area Discovery Museum, or the Cartoon Art Museum on your next trip to San Francisco?
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San Francisco?
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January 4th, 2008 by susan j
Golden Gate Park photo uploaded by
According to our friends at TripAdvisor, environmentally conscious travel (or ecotourism, as it’s sometimes called) is one of the . With a high percentage of parks and many residents walking using public transportation (BART), San Francisco ranks among the .
Here’s our guide to going green on your next trip to San Francisco.
- Make like a local and walk, bike, or use public transportation. can take you to many of the Bay Area’s tourist attractions, plus it’s often cheaper than renting a car. For a bit of exercise, you could take a walking tour or rent a bike.
- Fly green. Online retailers like offer flight eco offsets that will balance out the carbon emissions of your plane based on the length of your journey.
- Book an eco-friendly hotel. in Union Square offers that have water saving devices, energy efficient AC units, among other amenities. recommends , , and .
- Get an eco-education. San Francisco is home to dozens of beautiful parks and nature preserves. For a taste of the local landscape, check out the Conservatory of Flowers, the University of California Botanical Garden, and San Francisco Botanical Garden at Strybing Arboretum.
- Support green businesses. There are tons of globally conscious shops in the Bay Area, so those are a great place to find one-of-a-kind souvenirs. Check out for eco-friendly clothes or for fair trade items like coffee and crafts.
Is there something we’re missing? Leave a comment and let us know!
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San Francisco?
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December 25th, 2007 by susan j
Christmas photo uploaded by
Here’s wishing you a very merry Christmas and a happy new year!
We’ll be taking a little blogging break this week, so here are a few posts to tide you over:
Travel-friendly Gifts
Open for the Holidays in San Francisco
San Francisco’s Sweet Tooth: Best Desserts in SF
Happy travels!
Planning a trip to
San Francisco?
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December 20th, 2007 by susan j
Friday, December 21-Saturday, December 22 (10 am-6 pm)
hosts a free Gingerbread Decorating Contest in the Postal Annex at the North Point Shopping Center.
Friday, December 21-Saturday, December 22 (various times)
The Quintessence Snow, a Russian-style winter celebration, performs at the .
Wednesday, December 26-Saturday, December 29 (noon and 2 pm)
As a special post-holilday treat, the Holiday Animation Film Festival is included in admission to Exploratorium.
Through January 1 (various times)
Get in the holiday mood with the at the San Francisco Zoo.
Planning a trip to
San Francisco?
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December 12th, 2007 by susan j
Photo uploaded by
If you’re buying gifts this time of year, then don’t make the mistake I made and purchase a fancy set of lotions and gels for friends across the country! Though I remembered not to wrap the the gifts in my carry-on, the TSA security personnel were not as impressed with the festive holiday scents as I was. Ah, well, live and learn…
Condé Nast Traveler recently published their , which features ideas like patent leather passport covers (perfect for the fashionista with a taste for world travel) and noise-canceling headphones (great for long flights with squirming children). You can even suggest your own gift ideas .
The Washington Post also has some great on your list, including paper shampoo or soap from . These cute little packages include 30 single-use sheets and are approved for carrying on domestic flights, so all you have to do is add water (a much smarter travel gift than holiday scented lotions - I certainly won’t make that mistake twice!).
The Go San Francisco Card also makes a great gift, because it’s portable, flexible, and convenient so your gift recipient can choose when and where to use the card. Plus, selected cards are 20% off from now until December 20 - just in time for the holidays!
What’s on your wish list this holiday season? Leave a comment and let us know!
Planning a trip to
San Francisco?
Read about attractions, tours, discounts, and more with the
Go San Francisco Card.
