If you are going to the San Francisco Bay area, here are my recommendations for your visit:
DAY ONE
Take a bus tour of San Francisco. It will orient you to the city and you can decide what you REALLY want to see more in depth later.
Book your tour of Alcatraz in advance. It is, in fact, the only way to get to go.
On the day you visit Alcatraz, also visit the USS Pampanito, a WWII submarine there also on the Wharf.
DON'T buy any t-shirts at the Wharf -- you will get much better deals in Chinatown.
Plan at least three hours for Alcatraz, from the time your boat leaves to the time you come back to Fisherman's Wharf. And view the short films near the port -- don't just go to the prison. There is a lot of information about the big Indian occupation of the 1970s, as much as there is about the island being a prison. Inside the prison itself, you take an audio tour, and it is *fabulous*. We were going to skip it and just walk around on our own, but I'm so glad we didn't. You get full access of the prison, except for the upper floors.
DAY TWO
Take yourself to the cable car museum -- it will take about an hour to watch the video and tour. Also take a tour of Chinatown and South Beach. In South Beach, stopping at City Lights bookstore is a MUST. If you have time, have lunch or supper at the Stinking Rose, and a drink at the Saloon or Vesuvios.
DAY THREE
Visit the Fairmont Hotel and Grace Cathedral in one part of town, and Golden Gate park in the other part of town. And have lunch or dinner at a burrito place in the Mission District.
AN EXTRA DAY OR TWO
Visit the Legion of Honor/Fine Arts Museum of San Francisco. The inside will have many lovely things -- and walking around the outside will give you some of the best views of the Golden Gate bridge.
Visit the Irish pubs on Geary (very good dinners).
Look into the bands and performers playing during your visit -- San Francisco has an amazing concert scene. Getting to see a favorite band at the xxx or the Great American Music Hall will be a treasured experience.
Visit REI. This is a cooperative that has the biggest and best quality outdoor equipment anywhere. There are stores throughout the SF Bay area. Plan on spending two hours there -- the clothes and shoes are particularly fantastic, and if you are into hiking, camping, biking, canoeing, whatever, you will be in heaven.
If you have kids, visit the Exploritorium -- you will have as much fun as they will.
TWO DAYS IN THE SOUTH BAY
The only thing worth visiting in the South Bay is Japantown in San José. San José is, otherwise, an ugly, sprawly city that has all the worst qualities of big USA cities.
Otherwise, head down to Gilroy and to Monterrey. If you have a full day and night, go all the way to Heast Castle, or any of the beaches along the way.
THREE-FIVE DAYS IN THE SIERRAS
Start as early as possible and head to Yosemite, and consider booking a mule tour or any other tour in advance. 95% of Yosemite is inaccessible by car, so if you only see the valley floor and the roads leading in and out, you are barely seeing anything. If you are going to camp, definitely get a reservation in advance. Buy a guidebook in advance as well, and read it beforehand, so you can know exactly what there is to do BEFORE you get there.
Head over Tiaga Pass into Lee Vining the next day. If you want to stay in a hotel in Lee Vining or nearby Bridegeport, definitely book in advance. Otherwise, Bishop, more than an hour away, should have something.
Making one of these three towns your base, or a camp site nearby, here are just some of many things to see:
Bodie, a ghost town and state park. The road to Bodie is inbetween Lee Vining and Bridgeport, and alot of the road is mostly dirt, and is not plowed when it snows. This is the best remains of a real American West boom town you will ever see. Plan on spending three hours, and take a picnic lunch (there's no food or drink sold there).
Visit the North Tufas on Mono Lake. Though not as beautiful as the South Tufas, it is a part of Mono Lake not to be missed. Note that the land is owned by Los Angeles -- an environmental crime if there ever was one. The Mono Lake visitor's center is also a must for a visit. There is plenty of beautiful, low-impact hiking all around this area.
Ofcourse, you also should visit the South Tufas, which are spectacular. Nearby, don't miss the xxx, a 650 year volcano. Hike up to the top!
Although I've never been, the Devil's Post Pile, on the way from Lee Vining to Bishop. But apparently its lovely, and worth an entire day's visit.
Also midway between Lee Vining and Bishop are a series of petroglyphs. If you are into primitive art, they aren't to be missed. You get the map to these from the Ranger's station in Bishop, which is right on the main drag.
The best shops are in Lee Vining -- there aren't many, but you should visit them all, including the visitors center. And definitely eat dinner at least once at the Mobil gas station restaurant. Trust me on this (if lobster taquitos are on the menu, you MUST order them).
If you have an extra day, head far South for the Bristle Cone Pine Forest. THe Ranger's station can give you more info. You will see the oldest living things on earth, and some of the most beautiful landscape anywhere.
Leaving the Mono Lake basin and heading back to the SF Bay area, go back over Sonora Pass.
Return to the coyotebroad travel home page
Disclaimer
Any activity incurs risk. The author assumes no responsibility for the
use of information contained within this document.
Quick Links
Disclaimer: Any activity incurs risk. The author assumes no responsibility for the use of information contained within this document.
This material is provided as is, with no expressed or implied warranty.
Permission is granted to copy, present and/or distribute a limited amount of material from my web site without charge if the information is kept intact and is credited to Jayne Cravens
Please contact me for permission to reprint, present or distribute these materials (for instance, in a class or book or online event for which you intend to charge).
The personal opinions expressed on this page are solely those of Ms. Cravens, unless otherwise noted.
Follow
me! 