Suddenly SanFran
 

So with about 2 weeks' notice, my company is sending me to Palo Alto for 2 weeks for training at another company. So with one plane ticket and a rental car paid for, what a perfect opportunity to head up a little early and spend a weekend in The City. It will be CP's first visit. 2 days is not nearly enough, but hey, you take it where you can get it. And we've been generously offered a futon at the home of the voice of Mousepod himself.

The plan so far is to cram a few of the big first-time-must-sees in (Golden Gate Park, Chi Town, Fisherman's Warf, a ride on a cable car) for CP's benefit. Beyond that, some good eats, perhaps some music or a show. Who knows, we'll let our host be our guide.

I'm certainly excited, and it will make 2 weeks of lameness somewhat more palletable. Meanwhile, I'll be flying back for the weekend in between so I can make the Pirates meet (and maybe the Snowflake meet if I'm not too exhausted when I land). My coworker and I are also clinging to the outside chance that 2 weeks is a patently ridiculous amount of time up there for what we need to do, so perhaps I won't need to go back.

Now I need to get in contact with my host of other friends that live up there and at least have some dinner with a few of them during the week.

If you're going to be in PA, don't neglect the town itself. I don't know that you'll want to be driving up to the city every night.

Go walk around Stanford campus. Check out Green library. Walk in the foothills.

Check out Andrew's Project Insomnia Restaurant Reviews for some ideas on local places to eat.

Yeah, the PA time is another issue. The first two days we'll be in the city with MP. After that, I'm on my own in PA. Part of what I do will depend on what my coworkers are up to, and part of it will depend on what my friends (who are Stanford grads) are up to.

University Avenue in Palo Alto is fabulous fun.
There is the Stanford Theater (which is a revial house run by the fabulously wealthy David Packard) The current schedule. Loads of fun restaurants and some good used book/record/cd stores. A great street for walking.

In SF, keep in mind a Cable Car ride will set you back $5 a pop these days! Buy a day pass if you can and if you're roaming the city via public transport.
Too many restaurants to list (but if you want some ideas, PM me)

The De Young Museum has recently re-opened (I've not been yet) and there is the SF MOMA too!

Most importantly, HAVE FUN!
Donna

I hope so, but if you are too pooped to party with NA, EM & me (and anyone else), I'll be distraught, but I'll forgive you! ;)

Donna

Visiting the buffalo are always high on my priority list, but I'm a bit odd that way.

I LOVE the buffalo!



SO, I'd dump Fisherman's Wharf, keep China Town for a bit, but include City Lights - if you want some real swank history - and check out North Beach and Nob Hill. That's a couple of hours if you don't stop in the strip joints along Columbus.

Presidio is a pretty drive and Golden Gate Park is a must - with the seemingly millions of things it has to offer - including, but not limited to Buffalo.

Fort Point is a favorite spot - just to be practically under the bridge like that and pretending you are Jimmy Stewart is cool.

I always end up at Green Gulch Farm over the bridge or at Mt. Tam. I am always amazed how easy it is to "get out" of the city. I also end up in Berkeley a lot to eat Ethiopian food and shop at Cody's.

Haight is dirty, smelly and past it's prime but I seem to enjoy it.

Like LA, there's a lot to see.

Oooh, yeah, Berkley. Haven't been there since I was college shopping. (oh yeah, THAT was the last time I was in Frisco...couldn't remember).

We'll likely do little more than a driveby of Fisherman's Wharf. I know it's entirely tourist lameness, but it was a favorite when I used to go as a kid, so I at least gotta take a look at it.

Oooh, and better than Fort Point under the bridge, is the bluff on the Marin side where you look down over the bridge. Glorious, although you can't pretend to be Jimmy Stewart. (You can pretend to be living 'Soarin' Over California')


Lordy, I haven't been to San Francisco in 15 years or so! It's a weird and beautiful place. Have a great time!

GD - don't listen to any of these people. We're going to spend the day - the whole day - at the Ripley's Believe It Or Not museum (as long as you take me to yours when I come to visit).