Headed to Nor Cal in March Looking for ideas

[Fluid Power]

Wife is going out for business. I am flying out with the kids toward the end of the week (girl 13 and boy 12) to get away from the frozen Mid West. Plan on staying in the city Saturday and Sunday, doing the touristy stuff, (Alcatraz, Fisherman's Wharf etc) On Monday the plan is go to Muir woods and then cruise down highway 1 to Santa Cruz and then on to Monterey before flying home on Thursday. Any thoughts, ideas and/or suggestions?

Darren

[Sieg]

Sonoma and Laguna Seca site inspections? If you haven't been on site at either track it's worth it IMO.

[glassman]

So, i'd do the Muir woods on Sat or Sun, then do the drive down Highway 1 on the other day (sat or sun) to Santa Cruz, bout an 1 1/2hour drive, then another 45 min to Monteray. Theres alot to do/see in Santa Cruz and they are two entirely different towns. Then do the SF wharf/Alcatraz mon/tues/wed when the Bay Arean's are back at work, it'll still be crowded, but its really packed during the weekends there.
Remember to pack for cold weather, its not freezing cold, but it gets down right chilly by the bay. I ski in the sierra's wearing a t'shirt cause it feels warmer than being by the bay when the fog rolls in....

[Fluid Power]

So, i'd do the Muir woods on Sat or Sun, then do the drive down Highway 1 on the other day (sat or sun) to Santa Cruz, bout an 1 1/2hour drive, then another 45 min to Monteray. Theres alot to do/see in Santa Cruz and they are two entirely different towns. Then do the SF wharf/Alcatraz mon/tues/wed when the Bay Arean's are back at work, it'll still be crowded, but its really packed during the weekends there.
Remember to pack for cold weather, its not freezing cold, but it gets down right chilly by the bay. I ski in the sierra's wearing a t'shirt cause it feels warmer than being by the bay when the fog rolls in....

Thanks for the heads up!

“The coldest winter I ever spent was a summer in San Francisco.”

[glassman]

Mark Twain. Funny, i had wrote that in my reply, but hit "that" button, and the paragraph disappeared

[Chevy Kid]

At the age your kids are at you might check out the Exploritorium on the Embarcadero in the city. Cool place.

Tim

[GregWeld]

So you MUST take a trolley..... just because there aren't any anywhere else. Yeah you'll have to stand in line and wait - but do it.


Also if the fog hasn't rolled in - the crookedest street... LOMBARD.... only takes a few minutes but the houses and flowers are cool and of course if you have a car - ya got to drive it. Then park and watch others for a few minutes.


If you're a walker -- you can actually walk from Fishermans Wharf (a terrible tourist trap but WTF ya gotta do it) all the way back downtown to Union Square... That will wear the kids out and they'll sleep like babies. LOL
While at Fisherman's Wharf the must have is the clam chowder in a sour dough bread bowl at ALIOTO'S....

Spend some quality time doing Carmel!!

The pier at Monterey is just kind of a tourist trap.... not really worth the effort IMHO.

Carmel by the Sea -- is far better than Monterey.... it really only takes a little bit to walk all the shops.... then you drive the 17 miracle miles (yes they actually charge you to do this - pay the $9 and do it!!) ... and have a bit of lunch or drinks and some snacks at the LODGE AT PEBBLE BEACH... It looks really fancy - but don't be put off by that... you can go in -- go downstairs to THE BENCH and eat outside if the weather is good (kids are fine) and watch the people play the 18th. If you do this -- make certain you get the DUCK FAT truffle fries!!! They're OMG good. There's nothing "ducky tasting about them"!


http://www.pebblebeach.com/dining/the-lodge-at-pebble-beach/the-bench/our-menu


You'll love it -- hope the weather is good for you!! Prepare for not so great... it's miserable being cold.

ALSO ---- BRIZIO'S STREET RODS -- Is in SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO not far from the airport... 505 Railroad Ave. It's a very cool hot rod shop that even the wife and kids will like. Tell them you're my friend - and please - if you have any common decency do not mention you know Charlie Lillard.

[Fluid Power]

So you MUST take a trolley..... just because there aren't any anywhere else. Yeah you'll have to stand in line and wait - but do it.


Also if the fog hasn't rolled in - the crookedest street... LOMBARD.... only takes a few minutes but the houses and flowers are cool and of course if you have a car - ya got to drive it. Then park and watch others for a few minutes.


If you're a walker -- you can actually walk from Fishermans Wharf (a terrible tourist trap but WTF ya gotta do it) all the way back downtown to Union Square... That will wear the kids out and they'll sleep like babies. LOL
While at Fisherman's Wharf the must have is the clam chowder in a sour dough bread bowl at ALIOTO'S....

Spend some quality time doing Carmel!!

The pier at Monterey is just kind of a tourist trap.... not really worth the effort IMHO.

Carmel by the Sea -- is far better than Monterey.... it really only takes a little bit to walk all the shops.... then you drive the 17 miracle miles (yes they actually charge you to do this - pay the $9 and do it!!) ... and have a bit of lunch or drinks and some snacks at the LODGE AT PEBBLE BEACH... It looks really fancy - but don't be put off by that... you can go in -- go downstairs to THE BENCH and eat outside if the weather is good (kids are fine) and watch the people play the 18th. If you do this -- make certain you get the DUCK FAT truffle fries!!! They're OMG good. There's nothing "ducky tasting about them"!


http://www.pebblebeach.com/dining/the-lodge-at-pebble-beach/the-bench/our-menu


You'll love it -- hope the weather is good for you!! Prepare for not so great... it's miserable being cold.

ALSO ---- BRIZIO'S STREET RODS -- Is in SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO not far from the airport... 505 Railroad Ave. It's a very cool hot rod shop that even the wife and kids will like. Tell them you're my friend - and please - if you have any common decency do not mention you know Charlie Lillard.

thanks for the suggestions. Kids are walkers, no problems, Trips to NYC and Chicago are common place so they know when we go, we will be walking. My daughter wants to go whale watching in Monterey, I think we can arrange a night in Carmel for sure. I have a buddy that knows Brizio as well, so that will work. It will more than likely be me and the boy, although my wife is a good sport about car stuff. In and Out burger is on the list as well! Go low brow and then try the duck fat fries in Pebble Beach! As far as weather, it has to beat the nasty cold mid west!

Darren

[glassman]

thanks for the suggestions. Kids are walkers, no problems, Trips to NYC and Chicago are common place so they know when we go, we will be walking. My daughter wants to go whale watching in Monterey, I think we can arrange a night in Carmel for sure. I have a buddy that knows Brizio as well, so that will work. It will more than likely be me and the boy, although my wife is a good sport about car stuff. In and Out burger is on the list as well! Go low brow and then try the duck fat fries in Pebble Beach! As far as weather, it has to beat the nasty cold mid west!

Darren

Yes the weather does. Just watch the AT&T pro/am right now. And yeah, everything Greg said is spot on (that ahole is right almost all the time, but dont tell him i said that).....

[Fluid Power]

and I should mention that the wife and I are HUGE craft beer fans! So feel free to recommend breweries, beers and brew pubs!

[GregWeld]

and I should mention that the wife and I are HUGE craft beer fans! So feel free to recommend breweries, beers and brew pubs!



Hit up Rob --- FETorino... he's been living in the bay area for months now trying to drown his sorrows... and I'm certain knows every craft beer joint in the area.

We need the @ sign in these threads to be able to ping someone!! LOL

[Flash68]

and I should mention that the wife and I are HUGE craft beer fans! So feel free to recommend breweries, beers and brew pubs!

Ok now you've pulled me into this one.

I lived in SF from 2001 to 2012. Any of these guys who live around here and give you advice about SF are also tourists BTW. :D

Off the top of my head, here's a list of some beer places to consider, some seedier than others: ;)

City Beer Store (not just a "store")
La Trappe Cafe (my wife and I had our first date here back in 2010)
Anchor Steam Brewery (the tour is excellent, but reservations are booked 2 months in advance last I did it a few years ago)
Toronado (Haight & Ashbury area)

If you go to Oakland for any reason there are 2 excellent places here:

The Trappist
Beer Revolution


Oh, and you don't wanna go to any of Rob's favorite spots anyway. They are dark lonely places with a seat for 1 in the back. :underchair:

[GregWeld]

Oh, and you don't wanna go to any of Rob's favorite spots anyway. They are dark lonely places with a seat for 1 in the back. :underchair:



True enough from the text pics he sends!!

[toy71camaro]

Excellant Advice from Greg above. My sister and bro-in-law just came back from the Pro-Am at Pebble Beach this weekend. Weather was insanely perfect. Bill Murray signed her pregnant belly. LOL.

Anywho, I'm not sure if you can still drive down Lombard street. I heard recently they stopped allowing the drive. But it's still worth checking out!

Heads up about Alcatraz, when I went there many years ago (and from what I still hear), you have to get your tickets WEEKS in advance. I'd double check that one. Its a must see, but make sure you're prepared with tickets. Walking up to the ticket booth may be a shock when you can only purchase a ticket for a tour in 3 weeks. :)

We spend quite a few day trips over in Monterey/Carmel with our two kids, but they're much younger than yours. If you really wanna nice drive, head all the way down 1 and hit up Big Sur. There's some gorgeous scenery there and some hiking to some pretty cool spots.

Monterey Bay Aquarium is pretty darn good too. Just try to hit it on a weekday. It gets pretty crowded on weekends.

PS.. When you going? The GF and I were debating heading over to the Monterey/Carmel area for the weekend of my 35th bday on March 22. :)

[Justin@EntropyRad]

The city is great..the wharf, pier39, market square, alcatraz, and the exploratorium are all good times!

Further north up 101, you can get killer Beer at Lagunitas Brewery by Petaluma, the kids might like all the giant Peanuts characters in Santa Rosa(hometown), the drive out to Bodega Bay is good...the drive up hwy 128 to the Mendocino coast is a top-ten road in the country

If you and the wife had a free Saturday morning, and a 'bike or a roadster...Alice's Cafe on the skyline is a fun spot for gearheads

DO NOT FORGET IN-N-OUT at least twice...order from the secret menu

Infineon(Sears Point..for life) is a good walking track..bring a mountain bike for Laguna Seca(great on-track camping though)

Can always give good restaurant recommendations based on city as well