Perfect week-end for families in San Francisco

Kick off the weekend with a Friday night ball game at AT&T Park to watch the San Francisco Giants. Even if you don’t see a ‘splash hit’, the waterfront views of the Bay Bridge are unbeatable, and the super slide and mini-ball park are sure to be a home run with the kids. Don’t forget a sweatshirt for when the fog rolls in!

Saturday morning put on your walking shoes and take Bart to the Embarcadero terminal to sample California’s natural bounty at the Ferry Building Farmer’s Market. Hundreds of local farmers gather outside of the historic Ferry Building Plaza to sell an impressive cornucopia of seasonal fruits, flowers and vegetables, as well as artisan cheeses, smoked meats, pastries and breads. If you get a late start and are looking for lunch, indulge at one of the prepared food stands and treat yourself to homemade tamales or lox sandwiches on fresh San Francisco sourdough still warm from the oven.

Once you’d had your foodie fix, hail a cab or take the N-Judah line from the Embarcadero Muni Metro station at Market and Main Streets to Golden Gate Park to check out the recently renovated California Academy of Sciences. A state-of-the-art aquarium, natural history museum, and planetarium wrapped into one, the Academy of Science is an interactive and educational experience will wow all generations of visitors. Highlights of the Academy include hourly penguin feedings, a four-story indoor rain forest, and Claude, the albino alligator. In true San Franciscan spirit, the Academy of Science building is the world’s ‘greenest’ museum.

When you’re done with the museum, take some time to soak in the natural beauty of Golden Gate Park. Designed by Frederick Law Olmsted, the same man who designed Central Park in New York City, the park is much too large to cover entirely in a single afternoon (especially with children). Pick one or two sections to explore and enjoy. If you want to see more wildlife, the Bison Paddock in the western part of the park has hosted bison since 1891 when the species was on the brink of extinction. Keep heading west and you’ll eventually end up at sandy Ocean Beach, a prime spot to fly a kite and watch surfers tackle the Pacific’s waves.

Top the day off with a family-style diner in North Beach, San Francisco’s Italian neighborhood. Authentic trattorias abound off of the streets surrounding Columbus Ave. A stop off at a gelateria is a must for ice cream lovers.

Union square is a convenient and central location to start Sunday morning. Best known for its world-class shopping, Union Square boasts one of the largest collections of retail stores in the western United States. Once you’ve had your share of retail therapy, walk a few blocks to the corner of Powell and California to catch a ride on one of San Francisco’s iconic cable cars. The California cable car line will take you through historic Chinatown. As the oldest Chinatown in North America and the largest Chinatown outside of Asia, it is worth getting off the trolley to explore this culturally rich neighborhood in more depth on foot.

Close the weekend out in dramatic style with a matinee showing of Wicked at the Orpheum Theater. The show is especially memorable under the luster of the Orpheum’s ornate gilded interior.

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Food Glorious Food: The Ferry Building Marketplace

Next to New York, many gastronome’s cite San Francisco as North America’s great foodie city. The arguments are strong: its long history of immigration have bestowed a wide variety of influences on local cuisine, it’s the birthplace of the organic food movement and in close proximity to the famed Napa Valley wine country.

Although you are spoilt for dining out choices in San Francisco, you may like to buy some fresh produce and cook up a meal in your holiday apartment. One of the best places to shop for fresh food, for both locals and visitors alike, is the Ferry Building at the foot of Market Street on the edge of the water.

A local landmark, the Ferry Building has been the main transit hub for San Francisco ever since it opened in 1898. Curiously, its 245-foot tall clock tower was modeled after the famous Giralda in Seville, Spain and quickly became a welcoming symbol of the city of San Francisco. At the terminal’s peak, around 50,00 ferry passengers arrived daily, passing through an elegant arched reception hall before entering into the city of the Golden Gate.

In 2003, the Ferry Building received an extensive makeover, putting some spit and polish on its gracious Victorian form. Unlike other major ferry and port buildings across the world, the Ferry Building has retained its original function; it’s still the transit hub that connects all of San Francisco’s neighbourhoods and the surrounding bay communities. (If not travelling here by ferry, take the historic Line F trolley car, which stops right outside the front door).

The Ferry Building Marketplace offers a great selection of farmer’s produce, gourmet specialties, prepared foods and fresh meat and fish. Whether its some fresh pasta and sauce you can ‘assemble’ back at home or the ingredients for a classic San Franciscan dish such as Crab Louis Salad, you’ll find it here — in surroundings that are a true slice of the city’s history.

** The Ferry Building is open daily, though many stalls in the marketplace are closed on Mondays.

Since 2006 Holiday Velvet offers San Francisco accommodation.

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Flower Power in San Francisco

Most people love flowers and San Francisco puts on one of the great floral shows. The enticingly-named Conservatory of Flowers is located in a Victorian-era greenhouse and displays beautiful flora from all over the world.

One of the backlashes of the industrial age was a yearning for open, green spaces and a wide interest in botany, leading to construction of giant botanic greenhouses in both Britain and the US. With its central dome and arched-shaped wings, many believe that the Conservatory of Flowers’ design was inspired by that of Palm House in London’s Kew Gardens. Sitting gracefully on a rolling hill in the city’s enormous Golden Gate Park, it has been a San Francisco landmark since construction in 1878.

Like most landmarks, the conservatory has had a dogged history. In the first half of the 20th century it was plagued with serious maintenance issues, and a series of fires rendered the wooden and glass structure unsound (yet surprisingly it came out unscathed from the city’s great earthquake of 1906). By 1998 the conservatory was placed on the list of the 100 Most Endangered Landmarks in the World, a catalyst for major charities and preservation trusts to raise funds for its rehabilitation. Twenty five million US dollars was raised and put towards renovation work that lasted last four years.

Today, the Conservatory of Flowers hosts several exhibits each year under its majestic central dome, and a rotation system means that all species are shown at their blooming best. One of the most recently popular has been ‘Chomp!’ a fascinating and somewhat ghoulish look at carnivorous plants such as the pitcher plants of Borneo and the fly-eating Venus flytrap (the largest of this succulent is aptly named ‘Abandoned Hope’).

On permanent display in the conservatory’s Highlands Tropics Gallery, you’ll see delicate orchids, tumbling moss and majestic ferns, and aquatic plants such as giant water lilies floating in pools of water that cascade into each other. The Potted Plants Gallery sees traditional varieties in pot plants and urns collected from all over the world. The Conservatory of Flowers is a fascinating tribute to biodiversity and the intricate work of Mother Nature

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The Fillmore district San Francisco

The Fillmore district, San Francisco, is sometimes called the Moe or the Fillmoe and really just covers the streets in the neighbourhood of Fillmore Street, an area renowned for its music venues. Below is a selection:

The Great American Music Hall is located at 859 Ofarrell Street and is over one hundred years old. Originally it was a bordello and restaurant and is now one of the finest rock venues in California. The interior offers beautifully carved balconies, frescoes on the ceilings, columns made of marble, and magnificent hanging lights. The Great American Music Hall is not that big but it is charming and generally holds about five hundred and fifty people within the rococo décor.

Another great music venue is the Fillmore which is at 1805 Geary Boulevard and it’s the kind of place that performers play in when trying to make a comeback.

On the other hand, Kimo’s Bar & Penthouse Lounge at 1351 Polk Street has the kind of lounge environment that encourages less formal performers and welcomes great musicians that just love to jam. The drinks are reasonably priced and the décor has an Hawaiian flavour. Through its two glass walls there is a fantastic view of the city and if you like to watch drag acts some of the best are in the upstairs bar.

If you like acoustic guitars and good singing the Roem Baur Music at 940 Bay Street is the place to visit.

Alternatively, the Mezzanine at 444 Jessie Street is where you can be very cool as you pay for your expensive drinks. The Mezzanine offers loads of space, great sound and a good choice of bars. It’s a fun place to be, especially if you like to watch the young and beautiful at play. Sometimes there is a DJ and at other times local bands play.

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The Haight-Ashbury district in San Francisco

The Haight-Ashbury district in San Francisco is the area where Haight Street and Ashbury Street cross. The district is the area surrounding the intersection and the two names are in honour of a San Franciscan banker called Henry Haight, and Munroe Ashbury, a politician who was a member of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors between 1864 and 1870. Henry Haight and Munroe Ashbury helped plan the construction of San Francisco and also were involved in the planning of the Golden Gate Park.  

19th CENTURY HAIGHT & ASHBURY
Prior to the development of the Haight Street Cable Railroad in 1883, the area that is now called Haight-Ashbury was a mix of farmland and sand dunes. The transport link from Haight-Ashbury to the western end of Golden Gate Park via Market Street encouraged development of the area and over the following twenty years it became a sought after residential suburb for middleclass families. Haight-Ashbury is also one of the few neighbourhoods to not suffer fire damage following the catastrophic San Francisco earthquake in 1906.

HAIGHT & ASHBURY IN THE 1930s
During the Depression years of the 1930s, many desperate people left the Haight-Ashbury district to move into smaller, cheaper houses in the San Francisco Bay area. During the subsequent war years, many of the large houses in Haight-Ashbury were converted into apartments and boarding homes for people returning from overseas.

HAIGHT & ASHBURY SINCE THE 1950s
The 1950s saw the Haight-Ashbury district declining fast with most of the middleclass families selling up and leaving. But, in the 1960s, there was a renaissance when the Haight-Ashbury district became the centre of the hippie movement that led to the great “Summer of Love” in 1967 when Scott McKenzie sang “San Francisco” and asked people to wear flowers in their hair. Since that time, the Haight-Ashbury district has retained its hippie feel and is still a popular neighbourhood with West Coast counterculture.

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Agel Iceland is a distraction from the ordinary

If you are a true nature lover or just enjoy the thrill of an educational field trip you will find the wonders of nature and a deep sense of history while visiting Angel Iceland. In fact, I would suggest that Angel Island to see a specific target, while in San Francisco.

In the great city of San Francisco, which has much to offer visitors, it is almost impossible for a thing to find the really special and unique about your trip. Fishing in Iceland is the only thing. Wherever your interests, is not something that will attract the attention of people of all ages, economic situations and other areas of life. If you find something that interests you here, you should really think about their interests.

For nature lovers there is much interest in the form of plants, birds and other animals in their lives, which should be of interest. There are also special tours are available to mark, and will focus on the diversity of life on the Big Island. It is not only a wide variety of land animals, but a good representation of marine animals can also be seen here. If you love nature, this is a great place to get a good deal of time to enter the great city of San Francisco. Not only can you enjoy the sea animals, the ferry ride over (if you're a ferry to transport them), but you get the plants and wildlife on the island to enjoy too. Do not forget that animals or in the air though. There are many varieties of birds, are also well represented here.

For those who prefer more active activities, there are a lot of fishing in Iceland to keep you entertained and happy. First, there is much to offer ways to walk. There are guided tours, even offering security numbers (very good for beginner hikers) and information about the island and its rich history. If you are walking is not really your thing, there are also bike rentals on the island too. Choosing among multiple routes with different difficulty levels, even beginners can enjoy a pleasant stroll around the island.

My personal favorite physical activity here would be kayaking. For the right price, you can book a guided kayak tour around the island. The tour includes equipment rental, your guide for the day, and that would be a picnic for a full day tour that will take you around the entire island. There is a 2 and a half hour ride, if you are unsure about the whole thing kayak or enjoying time on other aspects of the island on their journey as well. The beauty of a fishing trip in Iceland is that it will truly enjoy no right or wrong way to order your days.

For sun lovers, there are several beaches where you can bring a blanket and lie down with a good book to catch some rays. I recommend swimming Angel Iceland, while water is the cleanest though, is quieter. The tides are dangerous and can surprisingly fast. But if you find books and love that you are using a jet or two, let the kids and the rest of the family, cycling, hiking, and all other good things, while catching up with the latest and best sellers in the the beach.

All this, and I do not even really hinted at the rich history of fishing in Iceland. There are many activities planned throughout the year, take the visitor on the rich history of this island. Days of the Civil War to the Potomac are traveling for Christmas Victorian brief instant in the history of this great island. Besides these events there are tram tours, which offered almost every day during the regular season on the island, giving a brief overview of the history of the island. This would be a good way to spend one day be on a visit to San Francisco.

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5 More Freebies for San Francisco Entertainment

If the thing you look least forward to on vacation is wracking up vicious amounts of debt on your Master Card, then you've come to the right place. I'm here to offer advice on free things to do while visiting San Francisco. Granted, it is not wise to think that you can go on vacation without spending any money and have a good time. However, it is quite possible to be very selective when deciding where to spend your money by having alternative entertainment options that cost little or no money.

Rather than a top ten list, which can be a little long winded, I'm going to provide a top five list. My sincere hope is that you will use this list as inspiration for finding your own free or low cost entertainment while visiting San Francisco. On to the list:

1) San Francisco Botanical Gardens. The climate of San Francisco provides a unique atmosphere that allows the growth and maintenance of plants from around the world. As a result the San Francisco Botanical Gardens offers a look at plants that are rare almost anywhere else on earth. The Gardens are 55 acres and host more than 7500 plants from around the world.
2) Chinese Culture Center. This center offers resources about the Chinese culture in San Francisco in addition to many programs that are available to learn about the artistic and cultural contributions that the Chinese community has made to this great city.
3) Fort Point National Historic Site. This site has special historical significance. Its original intent was to prevent invading forces from entering San Francisco Bay. By the end of the Civil War the massive cannons that had been used for this purpose were obsolete. The last of the original 126 cannons was removed around 1900. During the 1930's, the fort was used as a headquarters for the building of the Golden Gate Bridge. This Fort has played a vital role in our history and is worth a visit, especially considering the fact that it is free.
4) Stern Grove Concerts. These concerts only take place on Sunday afternoons during summer months but are well worth checking out if you have a sunny Sunday afternoon available during your stay. The goal of these concerts is to educate the masses and potentially inspire future musicians. A love of music is the second best gift you can give a child, second only to a love of reading. It's a great way to spend an afternoon, and it's free!
5) Wells Fargo History Museum. This museum is a fun side trip for the family. Not only does it tell the history of Wells Fargo as it pertains to San Francisco, but it also tells of Black Bart and other stagecoach robbers while providing visitors with the awe inspiring story of the great earthquake of 1906 and the role of Wells Fargo in the recovery process. I believe that young and old alike will find this museum to be a lot of fun, especially for the price.

If you are visiting San Francisco and need some great family friendly activities to fill your days, then this is definitely a great place to start. I hope that you can find a few more things than I have mentioned here to help fill in gaps and entertain the young and old on your vacation alike. Remember not to over plan your trip, as some of the greatest times to be had are spontaneous rather than planned.

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