Thursday, July 25, 2013

Tuesday, July 16, 2013

California Street and Powell Street Cable Car Line

Today, there are two types of cable cars in regular service. Though they differ in appearance, their operation is almost identical.

The California Street Cable Car Line uses twelve larger, maroon cable cars which have an open seating section at each end and a closed section in the middle. These cars can be operated from either end, and turn around by means of a simple switch at the end of the line.

The two Powell Street lines (Powell-Hyde & Powell-Mason) use smaller cable cars, operable from only one end and thus require turntables to reverse direction at the ends of the line. There are 28 Powell cars kept on the roster at any given time. Several sport historic liveries recapturing the look of the cars at various points in the twelve-decade history of the service.

Additionally, there are unique cable cars from now-vanished lines which Market Street Railway and the Cable Car Museum are working to return to service in the future.

http://www.sfcablecar.com

Monday, July 15, 2013

Golden Gate Ferry : Children 5 and Under Free

Golden Gate Ferry : Children 5 and Under Free
Adults $9
Park in Larkspur
Take the ferry into San Francisco
http://goldengateferry.org/

Sunday, July 14, 2013

Green Tortoise Yosemite National Park - 3 Days/4 Nights


Yosemite National Park - 3 Days/4 Nights

Take the alternative backpacker bus tour to Yosemite — one of America's most beautiful National Parks! This wilderness adventure includes a day of activities in the famed Yosemite Valley. Camp in the majestic Sierra Mountains, and swim at Mono Lake. Relax or hike in a sub-alpine meadow, and trek through 2,000-year-old giant Sequoia trees.

Our Yosemite camping tour leaves San Francisco in the evening, and we arrive in Yosemite Valley for a continental breakfast and an incredible view under El Capitan. Lush woodlands sustained by the Merced River contrast the sheer granite faces that make Yosemite world famous. The park ranges from 600 - 4000 meters (2,000 - 13,000 feet) above sea level. Breathe in the fresh air and take a leisurely walk through the forest on the way to the Ansel Adams Gallery and Yosemite Museum, or take a peek inside the famous Awahnee Hotel. Walk up to Columbia point for great views of Half Dome.

Strong hikers can head up the Mist Trail and get up close to two thundering waterfalls. The Ansel Adams Gallery puts everything in black-and-white, while numerous trails offer many different full-color perspectives of the sights — don't forget good hiking shoes! Bicycling or floating the river are also great ways to spend the day, before we embark eastward across the park's sunset vistas.

We arrive in the eastern Sierra for dinner and a starry desert campsite. Wake up to a cookout breakfast in the spectacular Mono Basin. We spend the day exploring deserts, high mountains, American Indian country, and Mono Lake, an ancient inland sea. Walk lightly amongst the tufa spires as you explore this unique, fragile environment.

Enjoy a refreshing dip at June Lake. Embark on a scenic drive over the 9,945 ft (3 km) Tioga pass to Tuolumne Meadows, the largest sub-alpine meadow in the Sierras. Go for a swim in the Tuolumne River or scale Lembert Dome for breathtaking panoramic views of Yosemite's high country.

An incredible drive takes us to beautiful Olmstead Point for group pictures, then to awesome Tuolumne Grove for a visit with the massive, ancient Giant Sequoias. We'll wrap up our adventures with a late-night stop at a Gold Rush-era saloon, and arrive back in San Francisco early the next morning.

Note: Be prepared! We visit many environments in the course of our Yosemite adventure, so anything from valley heat to a near freezing night is possible. Your food fund covers all national park and camping fees, and all meals.

Saturday, July 13, 2013

Yosemite Tours by Amtrak Train

See Yosemite in 1 Day! By Amtrak Train
14.5 Hour Itinerary from San Francisco

Start at: The Ferry Building (San Francisco 7:00am)
Guided Shuttle to Emeryville Train Station
Comfortable Train Ride (2 Hours)
Yosemite Shuttle to Valley Floor
2 Hour Yosemite Valley Floor Tour Option
See: Half Dome
El Capitan
Bridal Veil Falls
Sentinel Bridge
Tunnel View
Yosemite Falls
Or Check out our Free Time Option!
Depart Yosemite Lodge at the Falls (4:20pm)
Yosemite Shuttle to Amtrak Tran Station
Comfortable Train Ride (2 Hours)
Arrive Emeryville, CA (9:45pm)
Hotel Drop-Off at SF Hotels (Union Square / Financial District)

http://www.yosemitetourshuttle.com

Thursday, July 11, 2013

Chinatown


The Chinatown, centered around Grant Avenue and Stockton Street in San Francisco, California, is the oldest Chinatown in North America and the largest Chinese community outside Asia and is the oldest of the four notable Chinatowns in the city.

Wednesday, July 10, 2013

Pier 39



Entertainment, sea lions, fresh fruit stands, ferries to Angel Island, aquarium, restaurants and parking.

Views of San Francisco Bay and the Golden Gate Bridge.

Tuesday, July 9, 2013

Cliff House

San Francisco Beaches, excellent dishes, warm drinks, drive down the coast of California, but stop at the Cliff House.

Monday, July 8, 2013

San Francisco State University California




San Francisco State University, located in one of the world's most vibrant and beautiful cities, is a recognized leader in addressing issues both global and close to home.

Enjoy your college experience in the greatest city in the world, San Francisco.

Nearly 300 clubs and organizations help students explore their interests and connect with others. The Associated Students, SF State's student government, supports a first-class child care program, low-cost health insurance and a legal resource center. In addition, many fraternities and sororities are active on campus.

In the global arena, typically SF State enrolls the largest number of international students at any comprehensive university in the U.S., and ranks second among U.S. universities for the number of students who study abroad for an academic year. With a diverse range of students from almost every state and nearly 100 countries, the University community is a perfect setting for learning to succeed in a pluralistic society and global economy. Our highly diverse campus consistently ranks in the top 20 nationwide in awarding undergraduate degrees to minorities.

SF State's pioneering commitment to community and civic engagement is prevalent throughout the curriculum. More than 500 courses combine academic study with community involvement, and our location in a center of business, technology and culture provides a laboratory for community-service projects, work-study opportunities and internships. The University has been named by Princeton Review one of 81 "Colleges with a Conscience," and is classified as one of the Carnegie Foundation's "Community Engagement" institutions.

http://www.sfsu.edu

Sunday, July 7, 2013

A Year in the World is vintage Frances Mayes


A Year in the World is vintage Frances Mayes

The author who unforgettably captured the experience of starting a new life in Tuscany in bestselling travel memoirs expands her horizons to immerse herself—and her readers—in the sights, aromas, and treasures of twelve new special places.

A Year in the World is vintage Frances Mayes—a celebration of the allure of travel, of serendipitous pleasures found in unlikely locales, of memory woven into the present, and of a joyous sense of quest. An ideal travel companion, Frances Mayes brings to the page the curiosity of an intrepid explorer, remarkable insights into the wonder of the everyday, and a compelling narrative style that entertains as it informs.

With her beloved Tuscany as a home base, Mayes travels to Spain, Portugal, France, the British Isles, and to the Mediterranean world of Turkey, Greece, the South of Italy, and North Africa. In AndalucĂ­a, she relishes the intersection of cultures. She cooks in Portugal, gathers ideas in the gardens of England and Scotland, takes a literary pilgrimage to Burgundy, discovers an ideal place to live in Mantova, and explores the essential Moroccan city of Fez. She rents houses among ordinary residents, shops at neighborhood markets, wanders the back streets, and everywhere contemplates the concept of home. While in Greece, she follows the classic Homeric voyage across the Aegean, lives in a bougainvillea-draped stone house in Crete, and then drives deep into the Mani. In Turkey with friends, she sails the ancient coast, hiking to archaeological sites and snorkeling over sunken Byzantine towns. Weaving together personal perceptions and informed commentary on art, architecture, history, landscape, and social and culinary traditions of each area, Mayes brings the immediacy of life in her temporary homes to the reader. An illuminating and passionate book that will be savored by all who loved Under the Tuscan Sun, A Year in the World is travel writing at its peak.

Saturday, July 6, 2013

Fillmore Jazz Festival 2013


Fillmore Jazz Festival 2013

The best talent the Bay has to offer is showcased on our stages, from up-and-coming jazz fusion and latin-flavored acts to seasoned crooners belting out jazz standards. Groove to your old favorites or tune in to new sounds - our performance schedule will help you get the most out of the Fillmore Jazz Festival.

http://www.fillmorejazzfestival.com

Wednesday, July 3, 2013

Green Tortoise in San Francisco


Summer Fun - Don't forget the Green Tortoise in San Francisco, California this summer.

The Green Tortoise San Francisco hostel is a full service, fun, comfortable, and welcoming hostel. Located in the North Beach area (Little Italy), famous for entertainment, bookstores, and Beat Generation history. The hostel is close to Chinatown, Fisherman’s Wharf, and public transportation that can take you all over the Bay Area.

http://www.greentortoise.com

Tuesday, July 2, 2013

Napa Valley Wine Train


The Napa Valley Wine Train provides a relaxing three-hour, thirty-six mile round-trip journey from the historic town of Napa, through one of the world's most well known wine valleys to the quaint village of St. Helena, and back.

Guests aboard the Wine Train enjoy a freshly prepared lunch or dinner inside a fully restored 1915-1917 Pullman Dining Car or 1952 Vista Dome car as they pass the vineyards and wineries of Napa Valley. They also have the option of pre-purchasing a winery tour.

The tracks upon which the Napa Valley Wine Train runs were originally built in the 1860s to bring guests to the hot spring resort town of Calistoga. While the track to Calistoga no longer exists, much of the rest of the route of the Napa Valley Wine Train is unchanged. The tracks run through the heart of the world famous wine region. During the three hour journey, guests can see five towns; Napa, Yountville, Oakville, Rutherford, and St. Helena; and numerous wineries through the large picture windows on board.

The Napa Valley Wine Train begins its journey at the McKinstry Street Station in Napa. The Train then travels north to St. Helena, where the locomotive disconnects from the north facing side of the Train and reconnects to the south facing side of the Train in preparation for the return journey. Currently, the Napa Valley Wine Train stops at different locations depending on the day of the week. Guests are only allowed to disembark at these locations if they have pre-purchased one of the Winery Tours.


Monday, July 1, 2013

Sonoma Traintown Railroad : The Children Will Love You

Sonoma Traintown Railroad : Parents enjoy tasting in the wine country, but the children. For boys and girls, there is train town. The children will never forget how fun it is. 

Located just one mile south of the Plaza in Sonoma, TrainTown features a quarter scale railroad on 4 miles of track. Each train trip lasts 20-minutes and goes through tunnels, over bridges and makes a stop in Lakeview- our miniature town and petting zoo. 

In addition to the train ride we also offer six amusement rides.

General admission and parking are free of charge.

Website