Goin' to California (Need advice)

[ledhed]

My company (which consists of my best friend and me) has been hired to produce a promotional video for the Chamber of Commerce of Fremont, CA. We are flying out around Aug. 5, will be there for a few days. Now, this will be my first time to California and only my second to the Pacific (Went to Seattle a few years ago).

So here is the question, What to do? We will not have tons of free time but, I can see that we will have a little. We will be in San Jose for a few days, then Fremont and we are going to spend an entire work free day in San Francisco. The only plans I have is to go across the Golden Gate Bridge (If we have a car, we can't rent - I'm 17 and she's 18). So, any suggestions?

[dragon1952]

The drive from S.F. either S or N on Highway 1 is very cool. You can drive south on 1 down to around Half Moon Bay , San Gregario or Pescadero State Beaches. From San Gregario there's a road that goes east towards Redwood City that is a very cool drive. Then you can just head back to Fremont across one of the bridges, either the San Mateo or Dumbarton I believe. You've got to go on the cable cars from the bottom of Hyde St. If you don't have a car you can walk across the GG bridge to a cool lookout on the other side that has a great view of the city. It's not that far of a walk across and back again.

[Danny Tse]

If you're in Fremont and you don't have a car, take BART (Bay Area Rapid Transit) to San Francisco and exit at the Powell Street exit*. Once you exit at Powell Street, you should be at the cable car turntable-thingy (right next to The Gap). From there, you can take the cable car to Fisherman's Wharf or you can walk 2 blocks to Union Square, the main shopping area of SF. From Union Square, you are within walking distance to Chinatown, although the cable car can take you there as well.

Try to get a car if possible as there's a lot to see even within one day. You definitely need to see Golden Gate Bridge and maybe Sausalito.

Even though we are having a heatwave right now, do bright a jacket. Beware of the San Francisco fog.

* If you're lucky enough to take BART on a "Spare The Air Day", you can ride free the entire day....like tomorrow.

[F1nut]

If you go to Fisherman's Wharf take the ferry out to Alcatraz. Well, worth the time and a great view of the city and surrounding areas. Then, go to Chinatown for dinner and the sights.

[read-alot]

If you go to Fisherman's Wharf eat at Scoma's Restaurant.

http://www.scomas.com/directions.htm

I haven't been there lately but it was the place a few years ago.

[Demiurge]

There's a waiting list for touring Alcatraz, at least there was a few years ago. You usually need to plan well in advance for that.

If you could get up to Monterey and Carmel that would be my recomendation, but that's a bit of a drive. I'd have to say it's one of the most beautiful spots in CA. We used to live there when my Dad was in the Army there.

[danger boy]

Use BART to get around.. or a cable car. Fishermans Wharf is great for food and to kill time.

so is this place. http://www.ghirardellisq.com/ghirardellisq/ Ghiradelli Square.. Mmmmm chocolate!! ;)

You should also eat a hot crab sandwich on warm San Francisco sourdough bread. Mmmmmm chocolate!!! :p

It's cool to also visit Haight-Ashbury too. http://www.haightstreet.com/

Chinatown is great too.. to explore and eat some really good food.

have fun... SF is one of the great cities in the US.

[unc2701]

Golden gate is fun, just be aware that you'll go through about 3 different weather zones on your way across (deffinitely need a jacket). Even if you don't make it to Alcatraz, you can get a tour of the bay that loops the island. Sausalito is a neat town, but if you have to pick among things on that side of the golden gate, I'd go to Muir woods instead.

In addition to the BART and cable car, the buses are easy to use and once you pay you can get transfer tickets, (which no one checks anyway), so you can get around town for a day on about $2.00.

You can also try to catch a game at the ballpark- good way to spend the evening since you can't drink.

[marker]

On a big jet plane? Never let 'em tell you that there aawwaall the same. ;)

[mhardy6647]

Used to live in Milpitas (next town south of Fremont, albeit in another county).

You should go winetasting in Napa or Sonoma valley or (better yet, although another hour north) Healdsburg/ the Russian River valley.

Or go to The Analog Room in San Jose!

Don't forget the Winchester Mystery House in downtown San Jose.

Santa Cruz is nice, as is Big Basin park.

[ledhed]

Thanks for all the advice guys. mhardy, being 17, I doubt they will let me taste wine. Though the odd thing is, I think we are doing a video for a Wine and Art festival. Odd...

[trubluluc]

........bring lot's of sunblock, and a fan.
It was 104 here today.
BART will take you north.....SF Oakland etc. but it goes no further south than Fremont. In San Jo there is a light rail, but it has limited reach.
San Francisco can be 20+ degrees cooler than Fremont.

Enjoy

-Luc

[danger boy]

Thanks for all the advice guys. mhardy, being 17, I doubt they will let me taste wine. Though the odd thing is, I think we are doing a video for a Wine and Art festival. Odd...

do they know you're 17? :eek: :p

[mrbigbluelight]

Coit Tower (sp?) is an attraction, too.

That Alcatraz tour would definitely be interesting.

Being 17, I guess "Big Al's" is out.

Enjoy yourself, if all you do is walk around and ride the cable cars.

[mhardy6647]

The best things to do in San Francisco are to walk around and to eat! Some of the best restaraunts in the country ('specially if someone else is paying).

EDIT: plus, it's a beautiful city (which SJ, frankly, isn't)

[dorokusai]

Wear a condom.

[cheddar]

Depends on how many free days you have. You could easily spend your entire trip in SF. But you can also see the main sights easily in a full day and night. A monterey bay, carmel trip is a beautiful drive with the 17-mile drive in monterey great with either a car or bike. With the aquarium, this is also a full day trip. Since you're 17, it will sort of suck passing all the vineyards in NAPA, but this is also one of the most beautiful inland areas of california to drive or bike through. This is also a day trip.

The south bay (including san jose, fremont, etc.) where I live just isn't worth the time if you weigh it against the others that will take you at least three days to see already. However, you can drive through cupertino on your way out to monterey to see all the apple buildings just so you can say you saw 'silicon valley'. If you haven't figured it out yet, definitely get a car, unless all you want to see is SF.

[Danny Tse]

However, you can drive through cupertino on your way out to monterey to see all the apple buildings just so you can say you saw 'silicon valley'.

Or take photo standing in front of Dolby Labs (San Francisco), Pixar (Emeryville - up the freeway from Fremont), and LucasFilms (San Francisco Presidio).

[Skynut]

Union square is expensive shopping aimed at women so you have been warned.

I like Half moon bay if you are into the beach thing and Fishermans warf is a must with the clam chowder in the bread bowl.

[Skynut]

I also like the idea of walking across the Golden Gate bridge, I walked to the midspan once and stood there while a cruise ship went underneath.

I was in many vacation photos that day.