Visiting California, any advice?

[Venga]

Hey guys, as the title states im gonna be going California end of May, flying into San Fran and then 6 days later flying out of LA.

Im am 21 so bars and clubs are an option, however it is more a family trip.

It's a pretty open holiday in the sense i haven't got anything set in stone except the flights.

So yeah, any places to visit, things to do etc would be greatly appreciated. If I've missed anything out let me know.

[Melena]

SF is expensive, but plenty of tourist stuff to do. Ghiradeli square is always popular, along with Fishermans Wharf and Alcatraz Island. I'm not a clubber so I can't really recommend anything on that end.

As for LA, it's been a while but the wax museum was fun, and if you can, squeeze in a day at Universal Studios Hollywood, and for Anaheim if your going, a couple days at disneyland, or at the very least visit downtown disney for some expensive dining and shopping.

[miokomioko]

Don't go to Alcatraz like every tourist feels the need to do. Shit's boring.

The whole strip down Embarcadero along the piers between (Ghiradeli Square and Pier 39) is where all the touristy/restauraunty/streetperformer junk is. Other than that, there's a pretty rad zoo on the southwest and opposite end of the city. For more high-end shopping and whatnot, go for Union Square. I'm still so sad that Union Square's FAO Schwartz toy store shut down years ago.

Oh, also, you should most definitely go to the massive indoor trampoline park if you get a chance. House of Air in the Prisidio, near the Golden Gate Bridge.

[Demosthenes11]

don't stand in line to ride the cable car either. I'm pretty sure you have been in an uncomfortable vehicle driving slow speeds before.

for a unique experience that is supremely SF, I would check out http://www.asiasf.com/index.php

Other than that, i love just walking around union square / fisherman's wharf. golden gate park is cool too but expensive to go inside anywhere.

[Demosthenes11]

oh, the castro has great quick food too. It's worth going through there for the experience too. very gay neighborhood, but some of the nicest people, too. though it also has some of the biggest assholes. strange dichotomy

[Kerberoz]

Get used to not having enough oxygen in the air.

[miokomioko]

Yeah, the Castro is the "gay mecca." I don't really consider it a place to hang out for a family, maybe just drive through so you can say you've seen the gayest place on earth... Oh, but just south of Castro, in Dolores Heights (near the big gay Dolores Park) there's a small bakery/pastry shop called Tartine that is famous. There's a line around the building before they open every day at like 5am. Shit is nommmmmmmmmmm.

Oh yeah, I also forgot Japantown. It's small (a bit west from Union Square), but has a decent little mall with a full sized Kinokuniya book store and all kinds of weird Japanese crap and plenty of restaurants and theatre.

If you're a hipster, go to the Mission district and check out the bars there as that is the "hip" part of town. I'm not too familiar with the more mainstream clubs as I usually prefer dives and pubs.


Wear a respirator when you get to LA. That's all I have to say about that place. I stayed in the city overnight for a job interview once, slept with the window open as it was hot as hell. I almost died.

[Demosthenes11]

dolores park is awesome and has a great big view <3

also grade A place for people watching

[zoobernut]

In SF definitely go to Golden Gate Park lots of amazing things in that park to see, the tea gardens, the natural history museum, the art museum, the botanical gardens etc. If you have a chance to leave SF for a bit I would make a trip down to Monterey and visit fishermans warf and the aquarium there definitely worthwhile.

[synistar]

In LA besides the usual theme parks and Citywalk (more or less a place to eat and maybe catch a free concert) Griffith park observatory, Aquarium of the Pacific, Santa Monica Pier and 3rd street Promenade. Don't care too much about Venice, maybe a bike ride down to Hermosa and back. Kodak theater is at hollywood and highland, and up the street is Hollywood Bowl. If you can catch an evening concert there (and you can pack food like a picnic) do it. It's an awesome venue.

Places to eat at include In & Out Burger, Pinks hot dogs (somewhere in the Hollywood area), Phillipe's (located near union station, awesome sandwiches), Mayflower in Chinatown, and lots of good food in Koreantown too.

[Dimmauk]

Learn to Swim.

[Fhqwghads]

Watch out for all the Mexicans.

[Dimmauk]

Watch out for all the Mexicans.

We will totally steal your jobs and hubcaps. And ride off on the womens.

[Omniyoji]

Take the family to Round1 >_>
Address on the site.

Oh yeah, I also forgot Japantown. It's small (a bit west from Union Square), but has a decent little mall with a full sized Kinokuniya book store and all kinds of weird Japanese crap and plenty of restaurants and theatre.

Ah yes if you like Jp stuff, great place. Love that bookstore

[Kerberoz]

Learn to Swim.

[antihero]

http://img845.imageshack.us/img845/4...prepareyoh.jpg

[MyTitthias]

More San Francisco suggestions: if you want the see the "Full House," also known as the Painted Ladies, check out Alamo Square. My girlfriend lives around the corner from those houses and there are also a ton of people checking it out. It is also one of the best views in terms of a contrast between classic San Francisco architecture and views of the SF Skyline.

Golden Gate Park is a great to place to see as well. Check out the De Young Museum, California Academy of Science, and the bison in the park. Also close by is Ocean Beach, which has its own brewery the Beach/Park Chalet, and the Cliff House, a famous restaurant.

Baker Beach is very close by and gives an excellent view of the Golden Gate Bridge and Marin County. The Presidio and Marina also have great views of the GGB.

[Sparky]

If you do one thing while in L.A. please go Rosco's Chicken and Waffles. Place is epic. Go on the weekend mornings and see some celebrities.

[Miroku_Asura]

In LA, make sure to hit up the Getty center. There's two main sites- one in LA which is this great museum that overlooks the city (the architecture is beautiful too), and the other is in Malibu if you get the chance to do a day trip there. The Malibu site (The Getty Villa) is mostly classical works from Greece and Rome, but very cool none the less. Website: http://www.getty.edu/visit/.

EDIT: Also, the Griffith Observatory makes a really cool end to the day- The Getty centers usually close around 5 ish, so you can head to the Observatory and catch one of their 7 o'clock shows afterwords.

[-Zer0-]

If you're into art, the de Young and Legion of Honor are great places to check out. Also the science museum.

Edit: oop, already mentioned. Worthy of mentioning again though!