tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20926324692866758912024-03-13T20:56:54.127-07:00Community ConnectionsCommunity Connectionshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05350940383735536679noreply@blogger.comBlogger46125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2092632469286675891.post-64334828880846689522012-11-15T20:11:00.000-08:002012-11-15T20:11:09.128-08:00Free days at SF (and beyond) museumsSan Francisco is a city full of museums, large and small, catering to pretty much every age and interest imaginable. While a few are always free - for example the Cable Car Museum, the Chinese Cultural Center Gallery and San Francisco Fire Department Museum - others have certain days or times when they waive or reduce their usual entry fees. <br />
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Tuesdays are a particularly popular day, with the first Tuesday of each month free for the Cartoon Art Museum, the de Young, Legion of Honor and Museum of Modern Art. The first Wednesday of the month can find free admission at the Exploratorium and Bay Area Discovery Museum.<br />
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For those who prefer the outdoors, there are free guided walks offered by the San Francisco Public Library and the San Francisco Botanical Gardens as well as an enormous variety of nature walks offered by county and state parks.<br />
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Outside of the city, both Stanford and Berkeley have free museums on their campuses, and the Museum of California in Oakland is free the second Sunday of each month.<br />
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This is by no means an exhaustive list, and programs are no doubt subject to change, so please double check before you head out to sample and enjoy!Community Connectionshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05350940383735536679noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2092632469286675891.post-78961301337216319222012-09-09T20:41:00.001-07:002016-01-30T10:53:04.306-08:00Defining the Bay AreaEvery region has its lingo, and the Bay Area is no different. People routinely refer to East Bay, the Peninsula, South Bay...but what exactly do they mean? Here's a quick overview to help you sound like a local.<br />
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Peninsula - Area code 650. Includes anything south of San Francisco down to Mountain View. This area is east of highway 280, on the west side of San Francisco Bay. San Mateo and Santa Clara counties.<br />
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North Bay - If you cross the Golden Gate Bridge, you are in North Bay. Mostly Marin County; shares the 415 area code with San Francisco. Farther north is Sonoma County.<br />
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East Bay - Once you head east over one of the three bridges (Dumbarton, San Mateo or Oakland/Bay Bridge) that cross San Francisco Bay, you are in the East Bay. Oakland, Fremont and Berkeley are all East Bay. Mostly area code 510. As you move further inland from the Bay, south and east of Oakland, there is an area sometimes referred to as the Tri-Valley region. It includes the cities of Pleasanton, Dublin, Livermore and San Ramon.<br />
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South Bay - Anything south of Mountain View, up to and including San Jose and Milpitas. Generally area code 408. Mostly Santa Clara County.<br />
<br />Community Connectionshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05350940383735536679noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2092632469286675891.post-59546506981763440592012-08-08T16:24:00.001-07:002016-01-30T10:54:11.180-08:00Sunday StreetsLooking for a new way to explore San Francisco's many and varied neighborhoods? Check out Sunday Streets (www.sundaystreetssf.com). On specific Sundays from March through October, different San Francisco neighborhoods close their streets to cars, encouraging people to explore on foot or bike. Various activities, demonstrations and shows add to the mix. From the Western Addition to Chinatown, Sunday Streets offers another great way to discover the city.Community Connectionshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05350940383735536679noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2092632469286675891.post-26642124068769196082012-08-08T16:15:00.000-07:002016-01-30T11:01:47.608-08:00Sequoia and Kings Canyon National ParksBig trees. A lot of really big trees. When you go to Sequoia National Park, that is what you will see. And, to be candid, not a whole lot else. There are a variety of hikes, from paved little trails to all day adventures (the quick but steep trek up the 'stairs' of Moro Rock was our favorite), a small museum and a visitor center. And while the giant sequoias are absolutely awe inspiring, once you have seen a few the wow factor does begin to fade . After a couple of hours my son, generally a happy hiker, wondered "Are we going to do anything today but look at big trees?"<br />
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Luckily, Sequoia shares an east-west boundary with another impressive national park, Kings Canyon. The two play off one another, with the dense forests of Sequoia giving way to the jaw-dropping sheer cliffs and lovely water falls of Kings Canyon. Sitting almost at the border of the two parks in Grant Grove Village, which has a visitor center, restaurant, small grocery store and Ranger Station. Lodging options include a camp ground, a cluster of small, basic cabins or for those who prefer a few more creature comforts, John Muir Lodge. We opted for the cabins which, as our guide book said, are one step up from camping. They do have electricity, a small desk, two double beds and your own covered patio with a picnic table and nifty little outdoor stove.<br />
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California is a state of micro-climates, and these parks are no exception. As Grant Grove is at an elevation of about 6000 feet, temperatures were lovely. However, at either end of the two parks, it can be a different story. Entering Sequoia at the Foothills Visitor Center, the car dashboard read 104 degrees at 4pm - not exactly hiking weather. And, after a night up at Grant Grove we descended into the Canyon, losing about 3000 feet in altitude and gaining about 15 degrees in temperature. Taking the time to follow Kings Canyon Scenic Byway almost to Road's End is well worth the drive. A stop at Zumwalt Meadows made us feel we were in a mini Yosemite, but without all the people. We hiked two miles to the Roaring River Falls and saw a grand total of one other group (and one baby bear cub!) the entire time. We also stopped at Cedar Grove Lodge for some picnic supplies - from our quick stop not a place I would recommend for either eating or accommodations. Although other stops - including Grant Grove and Lodgepole - offer better food selection, your best bet, for both price and variety, is to load up on supplies before you even enter the park. <br />
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After a hot day on the trails, Hume Lake offered a welcome respite. One end of the lake is very busy, as there is a large, private camp. We drove a bit father and took a short path down to a shady spot at the far end of the lake, where our boys had a great time swimming, jumping off logs and exploring on the rocks.Community Connectionshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05350940383735536679noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2092632469286675891.post-1487327054864593942012-07-02T16:22:00.000-07:002012-07-02T16:22:24.924-07:00Bay Area Parent - pick up a copy!When we first moved to the South Bay, I found this magazine to be a great resource to help me get up to speed on whats what from a parent perspective. Its free, available at many local libraries, malls and community centers, and has articles that run the range from toddler tantrums to college applications. Published monthly, the magazine offers Silicon Valley, Peninsula/San Francisco/Marin and East Bay specific editions, so you get useful, local information and tips. www.bayareaparent.com<br />
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Another useful link is Bay Area Kid Fun. Sign up to receive their regular email highlighting kid-friendly events across the Bay Area. It is a great way to get out and explore new places, and the variety of offerings - plays, music, sports, special events - never ceases to amaze me. They also provide links for summer camps, pre schools, birthday party places, kid-friendly restaurants...you name it! Check out www.bayareakidfun.comCommunity Connectionshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05350940383735536679noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2092632469286675891.post-72077910627113804272012-06-23T15:24:00.001-07:002012-06-23T15:24:59.558-07:00Farm freshLiving in Silicon Valley it is easy to overlook the fact that California is the nation's agricultural powerhouse, leading all other states in farm income. Over 400 crops are gown here, from almonds and avocados to peaches and pistachios, and you can find many of them at your local farmers' market. Now is a great time to visit a market, with so much fresh produce in season. Most towns have at least one weekly, often year round market - check out the listings at the California Farmers' Markets Association (http://cafarmersmkts.com/farmers-market-locations), if you want to be sure you are buying direct from a farm. There are also many other legitimate markets, you can simply search on line for a selection near you.<br />
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Another option is 'pick your own'. Many farms and orchards cater to the 'u pick' crowd, some with activities to entertain the kids when the novelty of gathering their own fruit and veggies begins to wear thin. The site www.pickyourown.org provides suggestions of where and when to go, as well as tips on canning, freezing and cooking with your bounty. Bon appetit!Community Connectionshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05350940383735536679noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2092632469286675891.post-29944092004957832172012-06-23T14:30:00.000-07:002012-06-23T14:30:00.681-07:00Beating the crowds at YosemiteThe first time we visited this National Park, the novelty and the scenery managed to combine to outweigh a fact you otherwise cannot ignore: it is a very narrow valley with a lot of people. And all those people want to see and do pretty much the same thing, at the same time, and stay within a small couple of square miles. So when planning a return trip this spring we decided to try something a bit different. While the areas in and around Yosemite Village and the forest of yurts in nearby Currey Village account for the most foot traffic, it is a very big park. And making the effort to go just a few miles off the beaten path is worth it.<br />
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We tried a night at a yurt at White Wolf Lodge, and loved it. With just 26 yurts and 4 cabins, White Wolf is a cool oasis above the valley floor and provides easy access to some fabulous vistas and impromptu hiking. By that I mean that rather than taking your place in a stream of people marching along a marked trail, (although there are many marked trails and far fewer people, so that is not a bad option) you also have the opportunity to simply spot a good looking piece of rock, pull over and start climbing. You can pretend, as our kids did, that you were discovering a new spot and give it your name. You can visit mountain lakes, meadows, sequoia groves, creeks and mini domes. True, you don't have all the dining options of the Valley, and accommodations are pretty much limited to camping and yurts, but the sense of exploring something new and different; of truly getting away, are well worth it. And with no cell coverage, it is the perfect place to bring an overworked friend or spouse for a forced withdrawal from their electronic tethers. Don't get me wrong, we're glad we hit the highlights around Yosemite Village on our first trip, but there is much more to see and do. A ranger told us the average visit to Yosemite lasts just four hours, and that is a shame as the park deserves much more!Community Connectionshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05350940383735536679noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2092632469286675891.post-82586297603748062102012-05-06T13:02:00.002-07:002012-05-06T13:02:52.009-07:00Memorial Day...what is it all about?The last Monday of May is Memorial Day. Many newcomers wonder what exactly are we marking with this holiday. It is a uniquely American event, first observed to commemorate soldiers who died in the American Civil War. It is now both a day to remember Americans who have died in all wars and armed conflicts, and an opportunity for more a general expression of memory, when people visit the graves of family and loved ones. Towns host military-themed parades with marching bands, or present fireworks. For many people, however, Memorial Day simply marks the official kick off to summer - a great excuse to host a BBQ or hit the beach. However you chose to spend it, enjoy!Community Connectionshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05350940383735536679noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2092632469286675891.post-64611450852713067772012-05-01T16:37:00.002-07:002012-05-01T16:37:21.487-07:00Reserve America...and do it early!California offers an incredible variety of camping options. From the coast to Lake Tahoe, Death Valley to the isolated northern stretches of the state, there is a site for everyone....or so it might seem until you actually try to book one. This past weekend, as I furiously searched the Reserve America website for some - any - Memorial Day weekend option, I realized I need to think a bit farther ahead. Reserve America is a great site - you can put in a zip code, a park name, amenity requests or a combination there of and it will - ideally - provide a list of private and public, state and federal camp grounds that meet your criteria. However, the best spots often involve serious pre-planning. You can generally reserve about six months in advance so, as I have now learned, if you want to camp at Sunset Beach in late May, you better be at your computer November 1st at midnight to nab your spot.<br />
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The good news is that cancellation fees are nominal if they exist at all, so checking the site regularly a few weeks prior to your planned trip can sometimes land you a spot. This is true even for Yosemite, which books months in advance for peak season, but often opens up if you check again about ten days before you hope to go. The other piece of good news is that many camp grounds do not take reservations, or set aside a section on a first come, first serve basis, so if you don't mind taking your chances and getting up early, you have a decent shot at nabbing a spot. And, while it can be chilly, Northern California is chock full of camp sites, and the crowds are much thinner than the rest of the state, making it a good choice for last minute plans.Community Connectionshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05350940383735536679noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2092632469286675891.post-49102473476237217172012-04-01T14:43:00.000-07:002012-04-01T14:43:19.767-07:00A visit to the de YoungA rainy week with guests to entertain found us at the deYoung Museum last week, the first time I had been to just visit the museum, not a special exhibit. The art museum is located in Golden Gate Park, and going during the week (or, I presume, early on a weekend) means four hours of free street parking, which was a nice bonus. The museum has a full range of free, docent-led tours, and we decided to take advantage of one - a great decision. Our guide, Suzanne, took us through several galleries, stopping at one or two key pieces in each. In a little over an hour we covered part of the American, African and Oceanic galleries. Suzanne was the perfect combination of knowledgeable while also be very accessible and friendly. After taking in about all my mind could process, we stopped for some lunch in the museum's very nice cafe, then headed up the de Young's tower for a view of San Francisco and area through the clouds. I noticed a family-oriented docent tour on the list, and we will no doubt be back on another rainy day to check it out. Your entry to the galleries also includes same day admission to the San Francisco Fine Arts Museum's other location, the Legion of Honor, which is in nearby Lincoln Park, so a well planned day could certainly include a stop at both.Community Connectionshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05350940383735536679noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2092632469286675891.post-88337721229395205832012-03-21T21:01:00.000-07:002012-03-21T21:01:34.597-07:00Summertime is grill timeSummer is coming - time to brush off the barbecue cover and get grilling! To many ex-pats, this is a uniquely US phenomena, associated with hot dogs, hamburgers and loads of ketchup. And traditional barbecuing - cooking meats, generally with some sort of sauce or rub, over low indirect heat for a long period of time - did indeed originate in the US south. But barbecue has evolved into so much more than that. From tiny portable grills you can use on your deck or take to the park to enormous professional grade outdoor kitchens, barbecue is a wonderful way to prepare a meal for two or twenty, and an easy way to entertain. Moving well beyond the basics, you can prepare anything from veggies to desserts on the grill - we've even had our Thanksgiving turkey cooked on it rotisserie style. That is a big bonus on a hot summer day, when the last thing you want to do is turn on the oven. There are many good, basic BBQ cookbooks to chose from, or simply search recipes and tips on-line. The head outdoor chef in our house particularly likes <i>Weber's Big Book of Grilling</i>.<br />
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If you live in an apartment, check with your leasing office; most do allow small BBQs on decks and patios, but there are exceptions.Community Connectionshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05350940383735536679noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2092632469286675891.post-31443927726314942012-03-19T21:31:00.001-07:002012-03-19T21:31:43.801-07:00Aquarium of the BayWe recently took out an annual membership to the San Francisco Zoo - partly because after two trips it more than pays for itself, and partly because the zoo membership offers discounted admission to a variety of other spots, one being the Aquarium of the Bay at Pier 39 in San Francisco. With a week of grey weather and visitors to entertain, we decided to give the aquarium a try.<br />
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After holding a membership to the Monterey Bay Aquarium last year, I was perhaps not in the best position to evaluate, as comparing the two if really quite unfair. The Monterey aquarium is an amazing facility, one of the best in the world, and can easily consume an entire day. San Francisco's version, by contrast, is a about a one hour walk through. It has some nice features but for my money, I would certainly pay a bit more and visit the Monterey Aquarium. However, since we paid half price I was quite satisfied with our day. The aquarium is a not for profit, aimed at educating and advocating for our oceans and the life they support, and keeping this in mind helped keep my experience a good one. One bonus - we purchased the optional movie ticket ($3), and they let us stay and watch as many of the rotating series of 20 minute films as we liked - everything from cartoons about saving the ocean to the lives of sharks to the rebuilding of the Bay Bridge. The location is great too - if you are entertaining guests and making the obligatory stop at Pier 39, the aquarium offers a calm respite from the frenzy of the area.<br />
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We decided to skip the crowds and walked down to the Ferry Building for lunch afterwards - a great option anytime, but especially when you have a variety of palates you are trying to please.Community Connectionshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05350940383735536679noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2092632469286675891.post-47066402423801693842012-03-09T12:53:00.000-08:002012-03-09T12:53:41.299-08:00Living in an Earthquake ZoneWhile most don't give it a passing thought on a day to day basis, we are all well aware that we are living in an earthquake zone. So it's only smart to educate yourself, take a few basic precautions, and be prepared...just in case. There are a few simple things anyone can do. One is to pick up a copy of the US government publication "Putting Down Roots in Earthquake Country". It provides some great tips you may not think about if you have never lived in an earthquake prone area - things like securing your hot water heater and book shelves, making sure you store your bleach separately, and to avoid hanging pictures and light fixture directly above the beds. You can also pick up a grab and go emergency pack, or make you own. We have one stored in each of our cars as well as our home. Other things we've done to help feel a bit more in control? A family meeting spot, an out of state contact person and an old pair of shoes and a flashlight tied to the foot of all our beds; you do not want to have bare feet in the aftermath of an earthquake! We hope to never use any of it, but a few small steps are worth the effort.<br />
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The publication can be found on line at http://pubs.usgs.gov/gip/2005/15; for other useful links check out http://earthquake.usgs.gov/hazards/prepare.htmlCommunity Connectionshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05350940383735536679noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2092632469286675891.post-51632304593208639052012-02-21T16:40:00.000-08:002012-02-21T16:40:38.489-08:00Big SurIt is an iconic drive, and for good reason. Coastal highway 1 south of Carmel provides spectacular views around each winding bend in the road. There are dozens of pull over stops, official and not, from which to hop out and drink in the view. If you are a runner, the Big Sur Marathon is considered one of the top races in North America. Hikers, nature lovers, foodies and those who excel at doing nothing at all will all find much to love about Big Sur. One must-stop destination: Nepenthe. It has a restaurant, cafe and shop but what it has most of all is spectacular views. Sitting outdoors having a bite to eat while gazing at the Big Sur coastline is one of my favorite memories from this past summer. Although a do-able day trip from the South Bay, to fully appreciate the Big Sur vibe, plan to stay a night or two. Accommodation options range from tent camping to luxury lodges, and everything in between.Community Connectionshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05350940383735536679noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2092632469286675891.post-58356751818088452462012-02-21T16:10:00.000-08:002012-02-21T16:10:38.192-08:00Your private beach awaitsOne of the best kept secrets of the Bay Area is, in my opinion, the coast between Santa Cruz and Half Moon Bay. While those two places are great destinations in themselves, I much prefer the pleasure of discovering the many small coves and beaches that dot the coastline in between. And you don't have to be terribly intrepid to make a discovery. Simply head along coastal highway 1, and keep your eye peeled for a small path, a particularly wide gravel shoulder or a small gate. Pull over and take a peek. Chances are you have found a path to the coast. Some are steep, some flat, some go through sand dunes and some have small boardwalks to help you navigate through whatever vegetation is about, but all lead to spectacular views and, in my experience, little or no one to share them with. This is when you pull out your camera and get that wide angle shot of you on your private beach. With a blanket, a good book and a picnic lunch there are few better ways to enjoy a sunny day.Community Connectionshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05350940383735536679noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2092632469286675891.post-49292896535951797452011-08-26T21:43:00.000-07:002011-08-26T21:43:22.939-07:00Disney in a DayIf you are here with children of a certain age, Disney is an inescapable stop, and this summer we decided to work it into a trip to Orange County. But with so many other great spots to visit, we didn't want to spend our entire time in line for rides. So we decided to try to do Disney in a day, and I'm happy to report that, with a little advance planning, it is indeed do-able. We decided which rides made our top five list prior to our leaving; arrived at the park half an hour before it opened (you can go through the gates and up Main Street prior to park opening); and made sure we went on a day when season passes were blocked. With the help of Disney's FastPass system we were able to hit four out of our five highlights by 9:30 am! All the planning was worth it, as we then had time to enjoy some relaxing time at the beach. Newport Beach is your quintessential southern Cal beach - miles of big white sand in each direction and a boardwalk full of cruiser bikes. Laguna Beach, just a few miles south, is a totally different experience. The big white flat beaches give way to low cliffs, and the park that follows the coast is dotted with stairs down to various small, secluded beaches. Unlike Newport Beach, the town of Laguna Beach itself is steps from the water and offers a great range of shops and restaurants - we particularly liked the Ocean Avenue Restaurant on, you guessed it, Ocean Avenue. Our final stop on the way back was the Grammy Museum in LA. We had never heard of it either, but with a couple of music fans in the family this new, interactive museum proved to be a good stop and a welcome change from all the sun.<br />
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The LA area is so large, with so much to offer - and such terrible traffic - the only way to tackle it is a piece at a time. Orange County, which must surely be used in all those California travel ads, is certainly a piece worth seeing.Community Connectionshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05350940383735536679noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2092632469286675891.post-55406799991410047992011-08-26T20:20:00.000-07:002011-08-26T20:20:21.647-07:00North of the Golden GateWhile Napa and Sonoma may be the first stops that come to mind when you think about a drive north across the Golden Gate Bridge, northern California has much more to offer than vineyards. I mentioned our trip to Muir Woods and Stinson Beach in an earlier post, and this time we ventured farther north, to the funky little town of Mendocino, almost a 3 hour drive north of San Francisco. This part of the coast is wild, windswept and unspoiled. Mendocino is a great spot to spend a weekend with excellent restaurants, many eclectic shops - several of which feature the works of local artisans - and miles of hiking trails in every direction. We chose to camp at Russian Gulch, a small state park two miles north of Mendocino. It's known as a hot diving spot, and is also popular with kayakers and canoeists. To break up the drive on the way there we stopped at the Charles Schultz (creator of the "Peanuts" cartoon) Museum in Santa Rosa, a small museum but one that had enough to interest all ages and a good spot to stretch our legs. <br />
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On the way home we elected to drive the Coastal Highway all the way to San Francisco, and it proved to take about the same time as 101 - but much more scenic! The Point Arena Lighthouse was a great stop on the way back, and the views from the top of the 110 foot structure make it worth the climb. With much more to see and do, we will certainly be heading north again.Community Connectionshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05350940383735536679noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2092632469286675891.post-49919573198530525012011-07-10T13:19:00.000-07:002011-07-10T13:19:04.581-07:00Bay area history usually conjures up thoughts of the Gold Rush, earthquakes and perhaps Spanish Missions. But World War II? Not so much. And yet there is an entire network of historical markers linking the are with that period in time. The National Parks Service even runs a website dedicated to the topic: <a href="http://www.cr.nps.gov/nr/travel/wwIIbayarea">http://www.cr.nps.gov/nr/travel/wwIIbayarea</a>. We recently visited the USS Hornet, a WWII era aircraft carrier now anchored in Alameda, just south of Oakland (<a href="http://www.uss-hornet.org/">www.uss-hornet.org</a>). <br />
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An added bonus: downtown Alameda includes several lively blocks of independent shops and restaurants, and with a network of bike paths along the shoreline you can easily turn your visit into a nice little day long getaway. Community Connectionshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05350940383735536679noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2092632469286675891.post-40892149128577154872011-06-21T20:50:00.001-07:002011-06-21T20:50:26.052-07:00Spring Skiing<div><div>Sun, slush and re-fuelling on the patio is what I think of when I think of spring skiing. And with record snowfalls keeping the resorts open through Memorial Day weekend, we thought this was the year to give spring skiing a go. We booked a wonderful condo suite right in Squaw Valley village for a great discounted rate, dug out our ski gear and headed out. At the last minute I threw in our winter jackets, and that proved to be a good move: this version of spring skiing was more like "Manuary" complete snow squalls, full winter gear and even a wonderful dump of powder. Squaw Valley proved to be a great choice with varied terrain to suit all skill levels and enough action in the village to keep everyone entertained at the end of the day. The outdoor pool and sauna at the top was open, and would be fabulous on a slightly warmer weekend...perhaps July 4? Many Tahoe area ski resorts are opening Independence Day weekend for one last blast of skiing (yes there really was that much snow) plus lots of other great activities. Ski and swim in the same day? You bet! </div></div>Community Connectionshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05350940383735536679noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2092632469286675891.post-58257319167983931062011-06-21T20:50:00.000-07:002011-06-21T20:50:12.012-07:00Yosemite<div>Most visitors to California have Yosemite National Park on their list of 'must dos'. It's so popular that accommodations start booking up a year in advance. But if you have the luxury of flexibility thanks to living just a four hour drive away, as those of us in the Bay Area do, an overnight trip is easy to fit in. Because while the on-line reservations often show the park fully booked months ahead, a generous cancellation policy means spots often open up, so start checking 7 to 10 days before you hope to go, and chances are you will find a spot. Spring is often considered the best time to visit, as the waterfalls are at their best. This year, thanks to a deep snow pack and a late spring melt, the waterfalls are still going strong. A word of warning: Yosemite Valley can get very hot in the summer. While there are some lodge-style accommodations within the park, the majority are either campng spots or 'tent cabins': basically a small wood frame canvas-covered tents, packed quite close together, that can really get cooking in the warm weather. If you spring for a signature tent cabin, you should be lucky enough to have an electrical socket included with your basic beds and small shelf, which not only proves handy for a fan or space heater, depending on the time of year, but also was used, I admit, to re-charge cell phones and our portable DVD players. (For the drive home only; they were off limits while in this spectacular park - although the boys did not even ask to watch them once, there were so many better things to do right outside our door). </div><div></div><div>We'd heard a few complaints about the quality of food in Curry Village, but found <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Degan's</span> Deli, a short walk or free shuttle bus ride away in Yosemite Village, to be just fine and surprisingly reasonable to boot. We will certainly be making a return visit to this lovely spot. Hikes range from flat and paved to steep and challenging; there are miles of flat bike trails; ranger shows that were both <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">humorous</span> and educational and many other special activities happening each day.</div>Community Connectionshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05350940383735536679noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2092632469286675891.post-76354706471414250682011-05-04T20:04:00.000-07:002011-05-04T21:30:55.631-07:00San Jose Giants - Play Ball!Baseball: the great American past time. At the major league level, you can catch an Oakland A's or San Francisco Giants game. However, for those trying to learn the game, kids or anyone watching their wallet, there is another option: the San <i>Jose </i>Giants. Entertaining, high quality, and at just $10 for seats that place you a few rows behind home plate, the price is hard to beat! Sitting so close not only helps newbies understand and follow the game - being on top of the action, combined with all the between innings antics, keeps kids and those with only a passing interest in the game happily entertained. www.sjgiants.comCommunity Connectionshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05350940383735536679noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2092632469286675891.post-83131454528887113142011-04-29T20:56:00.000-07:002011-04-29T21:04:21.304-07:00Mountain Winery Concert SeriesThere are many wonderful venues from which to take in concerts in the Bay Area. With the warmer weather, the options broaden to include outdoor venues and one of my favorites is the Mountain Winery. Nestled in the Santa Cruz mountains just beyond Saratoga, the setting is spectacular and the line up is always fun and varied. Just remember to bring a blanket - even the warmest summer days turn into chilly nights in the mountains! Check out www.mountainwinery.com/concertsCommunity Connectionshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05350940383735536679noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2092632469286675891.post-15828073213481887612011-04-23T12:18:00.000-07:002011-04-23T14:01:08.877-07:00Weekend Getaway: The Central CoastWhen I consulted the travel sites before our trip to the Central Coast, it seemed like a pretty low key place - lots of spots of hiking, biking, enjoying the views and wildlife and, I was surprised to see, eating. Well, turns out it was an accurate summary. <div><br /></div><div>With scenic highway 1 still closed in spots due to earlier mud slides, we headed down the 101 and peeled off at highway 46 which, it turns out, it chock a block full of wineries. You could easily park your car and walk to a handful right off the main road. With kids in tow we skipped this option and headed straight toward Hearst Castle, which is certainly worth a stop. As we were a bit early for our tour (you are wise to pre-book), we drove about three miles past the Castle to a beach famous for its sea lions, and were rewarded with an impressive display: hundreds of sea lions, their fur molting, flipping sand over themselves, wiggling about on the beach and making the occasional bellow. </div><div><br /></div><div>Following out highlights tour of Hearst, we got our fix of highway 1, driving less than an hour down to Avila Beach. About five years ago a major oil spill led to a massive clean up of Avila Beach, including the rebuilding of the entire 3 block beach strip and all new sand being trucked in. The result is a charming, low key spot, perfect for hanging at the beach, walking on the pier, grabbing a bite to eat on a patio and generally relaxing. About 10 miles down the road is the larger and in our opinion not nearly as enticing town of Pismo Beach. In summer the Central Coast tends to be fogged in for a good chunk of the morning, so unless you like to sleep half your vacation day away, it may be best to visit other than in July or August. We had lovely sun and temperatures, but if the weather did not co-operate there would not have been a great deal to amuse us, as most things are centered on the outdoors.</div><div><br /></div><div>For our final day took a short drive to Morro Bay, perhaps best known for the enormous rock that greets you. sitting just off the coast of this small fishing village. If you drive out to the rock, you may be lucky enough to find the tiny, perfect beach at the end of the road completely deserted. The Morro Bay Museum of Natural History, part of Morro Bay State Park, is also worth the detour. </div><div><br /></div><div>As for eats, we were three generations and still managed to find choices with which everyone was happy: the Galley Seafood Grill and Bar and the Bayside Cafe both served up great food and views in Morro Bay, while Del's in Shell Beach had lovely pastas and pizzas. So the Central Coast served us up a little history, a little nature, a lot of sun and some good noshing - no complaints here!</div>Community Connectionshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05350940383735536679noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2092632469286675891.post-85762198654848519072011-04-10T21:01:00.001-07:002011-04-10T21:14:11.073-07:00Geek Silicon ValleyWhile many things may spring to mind, <i>Geek Silicon Valley</i> is actually the title of a book. It is a good read for anyone interested in getting a handle on how Silicon Valley came to be. Organized geographically, <i>Geek Silicon Valley</i> travels from San Francisco to San Jose, and all points in between, stopping to highlight the whos and wheres that made Silicon Valley what it is today. Easy to read and somewhat quirky, author Ashlee Vance covers not only the current heavy weights, but many of the little start ups that new ground but never quite became household names.Community Connectionshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05350940383735536679noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2092632469286675891.post-8672583450113193982011-04-03T21:44:00.000-07:002011-04-03T22:49:28.395-07:00The Piers of SFPier 39 and Fisherman's Wharf are what usually come to mind when you mention the piers in San Francisco; or perhaps Pier 33; where the ferry to Alcatraz departs. But starting just past AT&T Park on the Embarcadero and sweeping all the way around to Chrissy Field, just shy of the Golden Gate Bridge, the piers of San Francisco are in fact many and varied. Yes, some are now parking garages, but from food to fashion to history to outright tourist kitsch, the piers offer a bit of everything. Tucked away along Pier 45, for example, the SS Jeremiah O'Brien and the submarine USS Pampanito are both well worth a tour. Just to the west, the Hyde Street Pier is part of the city's Maritime National Historic Park tells the story of Pacific maritime history; Pier 24 by the Bay Bridge houses a contemporary photography gallery; the Ferry Building near Pier 14 has shopping, dining and a farmer's market; Pier 7 is a picturesque fishing pier...you get the idea. <div><br /></div><div>While the food choices can be overwhelming, especially in the Fisherman's Wharf area, I would recommend the tiny Hollywood Cafe for a tasty and casual breakfast or lunch, and after a day of wandering, a well deserved ice cream at Norman's in Del Monte Square, in the old Cannery complex, certainly hit the spot. </div>Community Connectionshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05350940383735536679noreply@blogger.com0