San Fran and LA

[Minima-No-Contact]

Hi guys

Pilot with Cathay, will be spending 48hrs in both cities in April on layovers from Hong Kong... first time visitor to the US, what to see, what to do? Recommendations please!
Cheers,
MNC

[taildragger173]

Fisherman's Warf in San Fran is a fun area. There are a lot of shops and resturaunts there. You have to get some sourdough bread while you're there too.

[blee256]

Where are you staying in LA? LA is so spread out that i recommend you getting a car. You can normally get a great deal on a car. About 25 a day or less. I have rented cars as low as 15 a day. Let me know where your hotel is and I can better recommend something.

[Nick]

Originally Posted by Minima-No-Contact

Hi guys

Pilot with Cathay, will be spending 48hrs in both cities in April on layovers from Hong Kong... first time visitor to the US, what to see, what to do? Recommendations please!
Cheers,
MNC

Here are some things in San Francisco that I recommend. I don't know where you stay so I can't give you directions but there are enough maps online and probably at your hotel that you can find them as long as you know the name.

Twin Peaks - an easy urban hike to the top of a hill that will give you a great view of the city. You can take a streetcar from Fisherman's Wharf for $1.50 and then walk up the hill.

Steiner Street Postcard Row - The park is called Alamo Square and you get a nice view of some Victorian houses and the city.



I took that picture two years ago.

Lombard Street - The curviest section of street in the world. When you get to this spot, from when you are looking down the curvy hill, turn 90 degrees right and walk two blocks. On your left will be Filbert Street. The spot you can see initially is not very steep but walk towards the hill and down that block and you will see it is the steepest grade in the entire city of San Francisco at about 20 degrees incline. Then I'd turn left and get back on Lombard Street, turn right and walk all the way down the hill and then all the way up the hill. There are lots of nice houses to look at on the walk and the other end of the street takes you to Telegraph Hill, and Coit Tower is on top of that. Good view and you don't even need to go up the tower, just the base is good enough.

Marin County & Sausalito - You can rent a bike from the Fisherman's Wharf area for about $20 for a whole afternoon. Not a bad deal I guess. Ride across the Golden Gate Bridge (the bike path is on the Pacific Ocean side) and up the hills on the other side. Awesome view of the bridge and city. If you cross back over and turn right, you can ride around Sausalito which is a nice area with boats and a few seaplanes.

For a 48 hour layover and first visit, I'll stop typing there. There is a lot more to do of course but those things are a must-see at some point.

[aloft]

Do yourself a favor and DON'T rent a car in San Francisco. It'd be more hassle than it's worth. SF has very adequate (and fun) public transit. Ride the cable car from Powell & Market through Russian Hill to Fishermans Wharf, hop on Muni out to the ocean, (one of the lines parallels Golden Gate Park, the N Judah line will take you to the Haight Ashbury neighborhood, fun area to stroll through on a Saturday afternoon). You can take the ferry from SF to Alcatraz and Sausalito, I rode the Sausalito ferry nearly every day for 5 years and NEVER tired of the views--easily the world's most scenic commute.

[Minima-No-Contact]

Thanks for the tips!
I had a great time in San Fran, really nice part of the world. Wasnt really impressed with LA... am heading back next month, any other recommendations for things to do there?

[Kristie]

If you like wine and want to rent a car, go out to Napa Valley!!

[Minima-No-Contact]

From LA?

[SkyCougar]

Originally Posted by Minima-No-Contact

Thanks for the tips!
I had a great time in San Fran, really nice part of the world. Wasnt really impressed with LA... am heading back next month, any other recommendations for things to do there?

Happy to hear that you like San Fran. Although you'll hear many Yanks bash it, most international folks say nice things about it. I'd be happy to point out the many reasons why I choose to live here, feel free to contact me.

[staplegun]

We need to know (generally, not specifically) where you're staying in each city, i.e. what neighborhood is your hotel in?



Kevin

[Minima-No-Contact]

In LA we're out near the airport unfortunately...

[berge7f9]

For SFO overnights, try the Elephant Bar Restaurant on Old Bayshore highway - next to all the crew hotels (www.elephantbar.com)

[SoCalAprch]

Originally Posted by Minima-No-Contact

In LA we're out near the airport unfortunately...

Rent a car and go drive up to Santa Monica in LA. You can also go down Sunset and Rodeo drive if you are into that stuff. Drive up PCH from Santa Monica to Malibu to see all the sights. Goto Neptunes net and get some crab legs. The airport is ghetto so Im not surprised you didn't like it. There are tons of things to do.

[SkyCougar]

Originally Posted by berge7f9

For SFO overnights, try the Elephant Bar Restaurant on Old Bayshore highway - next to all the crew hotels (www.elephantbar.com)

And you can hike along the bay path from most of the hotels to get to the Elephant Bar!

There is also a driving range behind the Doubletree Hotel, - they have cheap Corona's during happy hour, and the proprietor is a really nice guy....You can also take your hotel shuttle back to the airport and hop on the BART train and go into the city, hop on a ferry (No Max, not that kind!) and go to Sausalito or Tiburon..or take the boat over to Alcatraz and go to prison.

[Hypersonic_Wings]

Pay a visit to Disneyland and Disney California. Don't forget to go to the beach. You'll have loads of fun :b

[Vyse]

Originally Posted by SkyCougar

And you can hike along the bay path from most of the hotels to get to the Elephant Bar!

There is also a driving range behind the Doubletree Hotel, - they have cheap Corona's during happy hour, and the proprietor is a really nice guy....You can also take your hotel shuttle back to the airport and hop on the BART train and go into the city, hop on a ferry (No Max, not that kind!) and go to Sausalito or Tiburon..or take the boat over to Alcatraz and go to prison.

Also recommend Max's restaurant (no relation to the forum regular) which is also in that area a block or two to the south of the Elephant Bar. The main Max's on Van Ness Avenue in the City proper has singing waiters/waitresses. Both have very good food.