April 2010

So I’ve hibernated all winter weathering the turmoil of moving across the continent and acclimating my self to new surroundings. Its now time for some fun.

This summer promises new experiences and more opportunities. I have spent some time tracking down fun things to do in the city. A lot of these things are for tourist but I don’t care. I moved here on my first official visit to the west coast so I kind of skipped this step. So I’m going to cover it for my first full length summer in the bay area. I’m not setting this in stone and these trips/ plans are not supposed to happen in any real order. I’m just making a list of what I would like to get into this summer and as I strike it off the list as completed I’ll write a blog post and add pictures to the gallery.

Some I’ve already experience and would like to make a habit or do again. As I learn of new cool things I’ll be updating this list and of course the impromptu is always welcomed. :0)

The summer adventure tour for 2010:

The Muir Woods National Monument -
Mill Valley, CA 94941
I’m planning of taking the ferry across the bay to Sausalito were I’ll catch the route 66 bus up to the park. The bus I think is free but the ferry ride is going to be $4.20 each way with my Translink card. The park is open 8am to Sunset 7 days a week for a $5 donation. I’ve always wanted to see the red wood forests of California and I’ve been dreaming of them since last summer.

Alcatraz – Tickets are $24.50 up to $41 W/ Audio and is a 2 1/2 hour execration. I love history and I’ve seen documentaries and movies based on this place. I’ve learned a little about its history and I just want to go… so I’m going. :0)

San Francisco Bay Cruise – I’ve found the Blue and Gold fleet and the Red and White Fleet are about the same price at $24 for an individual ticket. I’m not sure which one I’ll go with but Its going to happen.

San Francisco Double Decker Bus Tours – I’ve seen these driving around the city all year long. I’m so going to wait until summer so I can sit on the top deck. I’ve seen these busses for $20 a person. I see this as a nice way to spend an afternoon.

I’ve found the San Francisco City Pass for $63.99. It covers a lot of what I want to do and you get access to things like a tour of the bay, unlimited MUNI and Cable Car rides, Museum visits and a lot more for a 7 day pass. This would cut down on a lot of the coast of this stuff but I would have to get it done in a 7 day window. Which would leave holes in my summer plans later on. lol

Asian Museum of Art – I’ve heard of this place but I didn’t know were it was. Now I’ve found the building and I can’t wait to go in. I found that they have a free day the first Sunday of every month so it would be nice to make it a regular haunt but until then. They are open 10am to 5pm Tuesday – Sunday closed Mondays. General admission is $12 but with the special exhibit its $17.

De Young Museum – I’ve walked around out side but I haven’t been in yet. Its in Golden Gate Park and it looks interesting. I just found out that I missed the King Tutankhamun Exposition…. I need a moment…NOOO! OK I’m good. I still want to see what this museum has to offer… out side of this exhibit…

SFMOMA - I’ve been to the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art…. but I want to go again! They are open Monday – Tuesday 11am to 5:45pm Wednesday Closed Thursday 11am to 8:45pm Friday – Sunday 11am to 5:45pm. The admission is $15 for one adult, half price Thursday evenings (6pm to 8:45pm) and there free day is the first Tuesday of each month.

Golden Gate Park -Yes I’ve been but it wasn’t long enough. I want to explore more of it and I would like to see the view of the golden gate bridge and the beach from there. Its admission is free to the public so I’m also not spending any money.

Conservatory of Flowers – Its in the Golden Gate Park and there hours are Tuesday – Sunday 9am to 4:30pm They are closed Mondays. The cost is $ 7 per adult and there free day is the first Tuesday of every month. I love this building and I’ve only seen it in pictures.

Japanese Tea Garden – I’ve heard of this place and now I want to see it. This is were the fortune cookie got its start if legend is correct. They are open daily 9am to 6pm during the summer and till 4:45pm in winter. Admission is $5 and if you enter before 10am Mon, Wed, or Fri admission is free.

California Academy of Sciences – This is a really cool place and it right across from the De Young Museum in Golden Gate Park. There hours are Monday – Saturady 9:30am – 5pm and Sunday 11am to 5pm. The admission is $24.95 per adult for regular admission and they have this nightlife program every Thursday starting at 6pm and that is $12.

Exploratorium – I’ve been hearing about this place since I got here. It sounds like a lot of fun. There hours are Tuesday – Sunday 10am to 5pm Closed Monday like everything else. Admission for adults is $15 there free day is the first Wednesday of each month. They also have a night program for adults that’s the first Thursday of every month and is also $15.  There is also the Tactile Dome that is $20 for that and general admission.

San Francisco Zoo – I really want to visit as many zoos as I can were ever I live or visit. I didn’t get to see the NC zoo but I hope to one day correct that. The San Francisco Zoo is open daily 10am to 5pm admission for adults is %15 for general admission but if you take public transit they take $2 off admission. There free day is the first Wednesday of every month.

The San Francisco Ballet - I would LOVE to see a ballet! I’m eyeing either Romeo and Juliet or Swan Lake… I do not want to go to yet another Nutcracker but I will if I must. They have a few other programs in there season so we’ll see what I can get into. Tickets have a wide range that I could maybe afford is between $20 to $56 a seat.

The San Francisco Symphony – I love the Symphony! I haven’t seen one since college. I use to work at a theater. I would love to see this symphony I hear there really good. There tickets range from $15 up to $70 a seat. If I can’t swing this there’s always the free concert in the park Sunday July 25th at 2pm in Dolores Park.

Aquarium of The Bay - I love aquariums… use to volunteer at one. There so peaceful and wonderful. This one is located at PIER 39 another spot I want to check out. There open everyday 9am to 8pm and the admission is $15 per adult.

San Francisco Giants Game – I’m starting to like base ball… not a huge over the top fan… just enjoy a live game. I went to a Durham Bulls game 2 years ago and again to a game last summer before moving out here. I’ve also been to a game in Boston it was about 10 years ago the New York Yankees beat the Boston Red Socks 10 to 2 or something like that. I saw the world series when the Red Socks won a several years later. Depending on who the Giants are playing at home and were the seat is I think I can get away with just under $20 for a seat… not even going to get into how much the hot dog is going to be. :0)

Twin Peaks – I want to see the view and its free.

North Beach – Again its pretty free… at least no admission coast. I want to get to know the city in side and out. Visiting places like this will help with that. :0)

Lombard Street. – This is supposed to be the worlds crookedest street. Man that’s hard to type and say. Its a free location and it looks interesting.

San Francisco Fisherman’s Wharf - Its a tourist trap now I know but I haven’t seen it. Why should I let that stop me? :0)

San Francisco Ferry Building Market – I have been here once or twice but I couldn’t spend a lot of real time here. I’d like to just wonder around for an hour or two.

MUNI – That’s right I want to ride the San Francisco Municipal Rail way from one end to the other. I thought it would be a good way to see the city. Besides I’ve finished BART.

The Pacific Coast- Yes I’ve made 2 trips out there so far but there’s more coast line to be seen.

So I guess This is the start of the list of things I want to do this summer. And this only covers the stuff I want to do in San Francisco :0) I welcome any adventure out side of San Francisco and the Bay Area so We’ll see what happens. Again as I cross an adventure off the list I’ll post a blog about it with pictures. This is going to be fun. Its like a scavenger hunt in the city.

March 28th I finally made it to the west coast. After getting out of work and realizing as the sun hit my face that it was to pretty a day to follow the same old boring routine of work, home, sleep. I decided to hop on MUNI for a change and ride the N line all the way to the end and see if the “Ocean Beach“  stop at the end of the line was apply named. To my glee it is, I found my self staring at the Pacific coast in its full glory and it was starring back.

Once I regained my senses, remembering its not nice to stair, I stopped in at Java Beach Cafe the little cafe on the corner were the train had dropped me off and bought a sandwich and had an impromptu picnic on the beach. And it was amazing! I’ve been to the beach before I grew up on the coast of the Atlantic, but this was like going to the beach for the first time all over again. There were your basic beach things like sand, water, sun, seagulls, but there was mountain range meeting the coast line on either side of me.

Were I grew up the mountains and the beach were in complete opposite directions. The sand was black and a finer grain than the sand back home. It didn’t smell as fishy as the beaches back home. I sat there enjoying my sandwich and read for a little while. I was out there till the sun started to set. I shared my experience with my best friend back home over the phone. Chattering on like a little child at every wonders minute detail. He was probably board out of his mind. lol

I went back April 4th on a cold, wet, windy day and still enjoyed it. The wind was blowing the dryer sand across the compacted wet beach. It looked like a brown Vail being pulled across the surface. I went for a walk and was pulled along with the sand and the surf. I got a few pictures and saw some more seagulls up close and got a Sand Dollar as a souvenir. After being chilled to the bone and soaked I made it back to Java Beach cafe for a while to warm up and dry off. The rain was more like a deceptive sprinkle. I thought oh its nothing but after being out in it for 30 minutes or so realized I was soaked threw and numb from the wind.

I hope to make going to the beach a regular thing.