Young and Old Alike: Fun Abounds in San Francisco

San Francisco is one of those rare cities that offers almost timeless appeal. One of the greatest things that can be said about this great city is that the things that attract its youngest visitors are also quite often the things that bring in its older visitors.



In fact, the very museums that fascinate youngsters have lessons to teach their older visitors as well. Art is a common language among us all and the entertainment that can be found in this great city from opera, symphonies, concerts, plays, and musicals, to street entertainment are both top notch and appealing to people from all sorts of backgrounds and circumstances.



The diversity of this great city is as much a part of its appeal as are the attractions that are designed to bring in visitors. Perhaps one of the most attractive draws to this city for older audiences is the significant history of this city and its people. There are many places-museums and galleries, where you can learn about the history and tragedies that this city has endured, overcome, and now celebrate as part of its heritage.



The cultural diversity that this city offers is also a large draw to older populations. From the Asian history and culture, to the Latin history and culture, to the African American this city celebrates it all. I think that is my favorite thing about this city. It celebrates the good and the bad of its history side by side. Not many places on earth can do that, much less do it as effectively as San Francisco does.



In addition to all of these things, which are quite appealing in and of themselves, San Francisco has the trolley tours, Alcatraz Island tours, the Presidio, The conservatory of flowers at Golden Gate Park, Wine Tasting and winery tours, concerts and cultural events, plays and musicals, as well as Thoroughbred racing at Golden Gate Fields.



There are so many activities that are available in San Francisco that it is quite difficult to narrow them down to what you can actually do in the span of a few days. If you want to feel young again take a tour of Pier 39 at Fisherman's Wharf. Try taking a tour of Filoli Estates in order to see how the other half live. If you are feeling particularly playful head out for a day at the Exploratorium, this great place isn't only for kids.



You can also take a tour of Hearst Castle. This castle was the dream home of William Randolph Hearst, and whose dream wouldn't it be? With 165 rooms and 127 acres to explore this tour could be an excellent way to spend the day. One feature of the tour that will be sure to please is the film "Hearst Castle-Building the Dream" that tells a little more about the man and his castle.



Another really neat attraction for more mature audiences is the Old Faithful Geyser of California. This is a little off the beaten path as it is located around an hour and a half north of the city but if you like nature and serenity it is worth a detour.



If you like nature you may want to try one of the train tours offered by Roaring Camp Railroads, or both. There are two different tours offered you will want to be sure to check for times. Also keep in mind that during the month of December there is a special Holiday Train Lights Train and reservations must be made in advance for that special ride.



As I was saying, there is a little something for everyone in the great city of San Francisco and just because something appeals to a much younger crowd, in no way indicates that it can't appeal just as well to an older or young again crowd. I remember some of the things that fascinated me most as a child still spark those feelings of happiness and joy (we won't say how many) years later. The important thing is to choose the activities that appeal most to you and try to enjoy yourself as much as possible. It shouldn't be too hard!

Wine Country Offers Great Family Fun

If you are planning a visit to San Francisco and you love wine, you might seriously wish to consider taking a day trip to one or more of the many vineyards that are only a short drive away. In fact, many of these vineyards offer packages that leave you free to taste all the wine you can handle without worries about drinking and driving.



Even if you've never really tried many wines or don't really find the flavor of the wines you have tried in the past to be pleasant, you may find yourself pleasantly surprised to discover that you do in fact have a great palate for the excellent wines that can be found in California's Sonoma Valley and Napa Regions. The wines you will taste here are generally great quality wines and are specially selected to showcase the best that these vineyards have to offer. Regardless of whether you find yourself a reformed wine connoisseur or not, you will at least have gained a really good education about both the wine making process and the many varieties of wines that are available.



There are many companies that offer tours to different vineyards. Try one, or try a few. The drive is short if you want to go it alone-just be sure that the vineyard you are planning to visit doesn't require reservations before making the drive. The drive, should you choose this route, is quite beautiful and there are many things to see along the way. Be sure to have a designated driver for your wine tasting experience if you are going it alone. This detail alone could save one or many lives and is vitally important when planning your wine tasting adventure.



If bus tours aren't for you but you don't want to have to drive after visiting and tasting all of the delicious wines that you will be discovering, you should consider one of the smaller SUV tours that are available. These will be a little more costly but for many the personal attention is well worth a little extra money. Another great benefit of the smaller SUV tours is that your smaller group can be accommodated by smaller wineries that aren't always available for visits from large bus tours. These tours need to be planned a little ahead of time, most requiring at least one week advance notice for reservations so they can't be as spur of the moment as a larger bus tour which will generally have openings available at the last minute.



Here are a few suggestions to help your wine tasting experience be all that you dare hope for and more. First of all, avoid wearing scents; the scents that you wear will compete with the wine for both fragrance and taste. You want the wine to make its own statement without competition from the perfumes, aftershaves, lotions, and potions that you or other guests on your tour may bring along. Hold your wine glass by the stem to avoid warming the wine. It's always a good idea to eat something bland like saltine crackers or French bread between wines in order to cleanse your palate.



Even if you've never tried a glass of wine before in your life, you will receive and excellent education about the various wines, the regions, the differences between the wines, what makes the wines of different vineyards unique and special, and suggestions on how to pair and serve the wines you're tasting. You will also receive and education about how to properly store the wines you may elect to purchase. This is very important knowledge in order to best maintain the integrity and flavor of the wines you choose.



From novices to experiences wine connoisseurs and for everyone in between, there is a little something to offer everyone who takes one of these tours. Keep in mind that while all ages are welcome on these tours, only guests that are 21 and over are able to partake of the delectable wines available for tasting. Most importantly, have a day of good fun, good food, and great spirits.

Walking Tours give Unique View of San Francisco History

If your boots were made for walking, then a walking tour of one of San Francisco's many fascinating neighborhoods or districts may be the perfect activity for you while visiting San Francisco. Even if you aren't all that into walking but enjoy learning about an area and the things that make that area unique, this is the tour for you.



Combining education and entertainment with physical activity is a great way to trick your body into getting out, getting a little sun, and having a lot of fun. The best thing about these tours for me is the fact that they are free. Don't get me wrong, I love learning about the history of the areas I visit. Even more than that, I love hearing about the great and quirky people that made the history; but I have to admit, I love doing things that provide entertainment and don't cost a great deal of money. A donation is recommended and I can honestly appreciate that much more than an overpriced amusement park ride (or worse paying that much just to walk through the gate and never actually riding a ride).



Not all walking tours of San Francisco are free, but the ones that are led by the San Francisco city guides are. You really should check them out at some point during your visit. They offer a great selection of walking tours each and every day that will appeal to a very diverse audience. In fact, there are tours that are geared towards specific groups of people so if you are with your family, it might be a good idea to allow each member of your family to select at least one of these walking tours that is of interest to him or her. That way, everyone is motivated to sit through the selections of the other in anticipation of the trip he or she selected.



The tours typically begin in easy to identify and very public places and most of them even meet near access to public transportation in order to accommodate visitors coming from other areas of the city. The tours go to great lengths to avoid being overly strenuous but the Streets of San Francisco are not always accommodating, as they are well known for their steep hills. I think taking one of the walking tours early in the day is a great way to start the day. You get to get a little fresh air, a little exercise, and you are enjoying these things before the day gets too terribly warm. Not to mention the fact that starting your day off with something that is fun and free is a really good way to start your day.



If you are among the really brave, you might want to try one of the many 'Ghost Walking Tours' that are available. There are ghost walks of City Hall and the Palace. If you prefer something a little mellower, there are plenty of walks from which to choose. Some of the more popular walks are the Golden Gate Bridge walking tour (this tour provides great insight into the mind of the man who dared to dream of this bridge and tells the story of what it took to build this bridge it is very much a tour worth taking if you have any love for the many great bridges of the world), the Ferry Building walking tour (recently renovated, this building was once of major importance to San Francisco, it has now been replaced by roads and bridges but remains an important component in the history of this great city), and the Coit Tower Murals walking tour (the tour allows peeks at murals that aren't always opened to the public as well as a glimpse into the murals that depict famous scenes from the 1930's).



While visiting San Francisco, there are few better ways to completely enjoy your trip than taking one of the many walking tours available in the city. Finding one of the many free walking tours is even better. You will not only get a unique insight into the city or for the icon you are touring, but you will also get a much better view than if you were simply driving by.

Trains aren't a lost art in San Francisco

One of the greatest things about visiting San Francisco is the close proximity to nearby attractions. You can stay in one city while visiting several. You can not only get the conveniences of being in the city, but the beauty of nature is not too far away from almost any point within the city. In fact, a short train ride will take you rather quickly to some nearby attractions that are definitely worth checking into.



One of the first train tours I'll mention isn't only a train tour but a bus and train tour. This tour goes from San Francisco to Yosemite Park. This trip requires transfers back and forth from bus to train but offers some beautiful scenery and the ability to enjoy it without the worry of driving, rest stops, and a need to simply stretch your legs. Sometimes a little inconvenience is worth a lot more convenience later in your trip. The train portion of the tour lasts about three hours and you get to spend three hours in Yosemite. For some it isn't worth the hassle and for others it is just what the doctor ordered-time to rest and relax while on the way. This is by far the most complicated of the train tours heading out from San Francisco, at least the tours I will be discussing.



The second tour is to wine country. The beauty of these tours is the fact that you can enjoy your wine tasting experience without the worry of who's going to drive. Everyone in your party can enjoy the outing equally. Even more than that however, is that many companies have made the train ride itself more the event than the wine tasting. With offerings such as 4 course meals and Murder Mystery Dinner Theatre for your enjoyment it is no wonder that this has become an event of choice for many San Francisco visitors. While this may be a more than moderately pricey option, it is well worth the expense. You can always cut costs elsewhere in San Francisco to make up for the expenditure.



Roaring Camp Railroads offers two train rides that are both equally appealing in vastly different ways. The first is a trip back in time. This is probably my favorite. On this trip you travel to the summit of Bear Mountain while hearing tales of Roaring Camp's history. This train tour lasts a total of one hour and is a great deal of fun, especially for any little ones you may have with you. The second offering by Roaring Camp Railroads is the Beach Train, which will take you to the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk. The round trip from Roaring Camp to Santa Cruz and back is about three hours and well worth every penny if you have a budding or future engineer among your young ones.



Perhaps the most magical of train tours is the Christmas Train Tour from Oakdale. This tour includes Santa, his elves, a little Christmas magic, and you can come in your jimmies. What more could you ask for? Well, I guess that depends on whether you made the naughty list or the nice list. This train ride is magic for everyone that partakes, young and old alike will enjoy the magic that only Christmas can bring.



Whether you are a big kid, a little kid, or somewhere in between, I'm willing to bet that the magic of a train ride hasn't been completely lost over the years. In fact, I'm willing to bet if you allow yourself to really sit back and enjoy yourself, you will find that there really is something to be said about sitting back, relaxing, and enjoying the journey. I can think of few better ways to enjoy the journey as much as the destination.

The Teen Scene in San Francisco Offers Many Opportunities for Fun

Teens are beautiful and unique creatures. At least this is what we as parents keep telling ourselves. The problem with teens is that their tastes and wants change almost hourly so it is quite difficult to determine at lunch what will appeal to them at dinner. Fortunately, if you are planning a visit to San Francisco, California, there is most likely something that will appeal to them no matter what mood they are in at the moment.



I always recommend allowing older children and teens (even younger children in a limited capacity) to have some voice in deciding what activities to do while on vacation. After all, it is their vacation too and just because we think they will like it doesn't necessarily mean they are remotely interested in it-this goes back to the beautiful and unique creature statement.



The great thing about San Francisco is that while your teen may swing in vicious cycles between being a child and thinking he or she is grown, there is quite a lot that will appeal to both sides of your teen's personality. Fisherman's Wharf is probably my favorite San Francisco destination. Pier 39 offers a great number of attractions for teens. From Frequent Flyers where your teen can experience the feeling of being air born to the Riptide Arcade, with shopping, sea lions, and entertainers in between there is a lot that this area has to offer the teen in your family. You can also rent a kayak and let your teen do the navigating, if you're really brave that is. Another attraction at Fisherman's Wharf that your teen might find more enjoyable than anyone else in the family is the Ripley's Believe it or Not Museum.



I think even a teenagers won't find trolley tours beneath them. In fact, your teenager might have a great deal of fun taking one of these tours as well as accidentally learning some small nugget of information about San Francisco history that will stay with them long after the vacation is over.



If you feel up for a ride, you might consider taking your teen to Paramount's Great America in San Jose. In fact, this is a trip that the entire family might enjoy. Little kids can enjoy the Nickelodeon characters and the rides that are designed especially with them in mind. Teens and adults can enjoy some of the more thrilling rides created for the adrenaline junkies in your life.



Your teen might get a kick out of a trip to the Wax Museum at Fisherman's Wharf. This museum offers realistic recreations of people, events, and horrors beyond imagination-well my imagination. This is definitely one of the more interesting destinations in San Francisco. Take a walk through history or onto the set of the latest horror movie. It all seems so real and the characters so life like.



Your teen may really enjoy one of the Alcatraz tours. They offer a day tour and an evening tour. I seriously recommend the evening tour if at all possible as there are more features than on the day tour and it makes a much more 'thrilling' experience. You may also wish to combine a tour to Angel Island with your trip to Alcatraz. Angel Island also has a rich history as well as some breathtaking views and great trails for hiking and biking. You could also consider making a day of your trip to Angel Island, especially if your teen enjoys either of these activities.



And then there's the shopping, a favorite pastime for teen girls and a potential bonding experience for mothers and daughters. Conversely, men can bond with teenaged sons and/or daughters over a nice sports game. The bay area offers many options for sports lovers.



No matter what your teenagers tastes at the moment, I have no doubt that you will find something in this great city that you can all agree on. Be sure to work in attractions that you wish to enjoy between the attractions of your teen. This will make the interests of the other more tolerable for everyone.

The Shows of San Francisco

When visiting San Francisco, finding a way to unwind at the end of a long day of sight seeing isn't always the easiest thing in the world to do. After dinner the choices for entertainment often seem limited because you don't really want to become too wired from your activities to find peaceful sleep later. Perhaps this is why most shows are shown in the evening. San Francisco certainly has quite a few options for shows to see.



If you like old musicals, then 42nd Street Moon is a great place for you to look for your entertainment. They like to take old Broadway musicals that haven't been over performed and rehash them to the delight of the audience and the cast. By breathing new life into these sometimes lost classics they are doing a service to both the original masters of these musicals and to the audiences they now play for.



If you need something a little less rowdy and rambunctious to see you into your night time routine, then perhaps the Smuin Ballet will have something that is more in line with your needs. This ballet company is bringing new appreciation to the art of dance and delighting audiences in the process. By bridging the gap between traditional ballet and modern dance this company is reaching a much broader audience than many dance troupes that have come before and since. Really and truly if you have the opportunity to see one of their performances I highly recommend that you do so. You just might find that you are their newest fan.



If you have varied or eclectic tastes, then Old First Concerts may be a great place for you to unwind after a long day of shopping, sight seeing, and touring wine country. This interesting venue presents concerts of many colors and voices it would seem. There is no one particular style of music that is allowed or disallowed here, rather the professional quality of the musical style is more important than the actual style of the music. I think that this very fact alone makes it quite unique and worth a listen. You might hear something you've never heard before and leave with an appreciation you would have never discovered had you not dropped in.



If you haven't guessed, I'm a huge fan of trying things that are different and slightly outside the realm of the mundane. I have no problems stepping away from the conventions of normal society and wearing many different hats. Perhaps that is the reason that I find my next suggestion so appealing and fun! Beach Blanket Babylon is the perfect way to mock societal norms. The costumes are outrageous and the hats are bigger than a tall tale and it's all in the name of good clean fun. I seriously recommend this show to anyone who has ever had even the slightest hint of a sense of humor.



We all know that it is often difficult to unwind in a new city where you only know those that you are traveling with, you aren't sleeping in your own bed, and you are missing some of the comforts of home (like a work day and a commute to exhaust you). For those of us who have been there and done that, it is much easier to unwind after enjoying a nice show or entertainment along similar lines. It could be something as simple as taking in a movie that you might have wanted to see but never find the time to at home. A vacation is your time to rest and relax, make the most of it.

The Incredible History of San Francisco

I grew up watching cowboy movies and tales of the old Wild West on weekend television with my dad. I can't help but think of those old black and white movies whenever I think of San Francisco or California in general. Whenever I think of visiting San Francisco there is a part of me that visualizes the San Francisco of old, long before the earthquake of 1906, or not so long before actually.



If you share my vision of a Wild West San Francisco or just wonder what it would have been like to walk down the streets of old, then perhaps one of these museums will help give you a taste of the good ole west without the outhouses (the one thing I never really could wrap my mind around). Even if you can handle a world without indoor plumbing, the idea of enjoying the greatest of the past while still experiencing the comforts of modern existence is quite appealing to me.



That being said, the first Museum on my list is an outdoor museum known as The Gold Rush Trail. To walk The Gold Rush Trail is literally to follow in the footsteps of history. Even though it isn't a museum that is filled with relics of the past, if you close your eyes and listen intently perhaps you can hear the ghosts of yesterday as they tell you the story of how this fair city began and what it has become today.



The next point of interest is The Society of California Pioneers. The society offers not only a museum but a library as well that are both open to the public and feature programs that focus on California. If you need snapshots of the vibrant history of California as well as San Francisco this is a good place to begin your search. If you don't find what you are looking for in the museum check out the library and see if they have something that will quench your thirst for historical knowledge.



The Museum of the City of San Francisco is next on my list of places that offer a glimpse into the past of this phenomenal city. If you haven't found what you are looking for on your first two stops, then perhaps this museum will provide the answers, or simply the moment in time, that you are seeking. This is by far my favorite for learning about the history of San Francisco specifically. With exhibits dedicated to events such as the Gold Rush, the earthquake of 1906, and the building of the Golden Gate Bridge, there is no doubt that you are getting the history of this city, not the state, and not the country. I think there is a lot to be said about history and how it always seems to have such a profound effect upon the future. If you are able to visit this museum I would certainly recommend it above most others in the area for an authentically San Francisco ambiance at the very least.



The history of any city is a vital ingredient in what makes that city the success or failure that it has become. Not only do the events in a cities history have a significant impact on the future of a city, but also the people of a city. It is the people of any city that recover, rebuild, and remain or pack up and leave. Isn't it incredible that we have the opportunity to learn about these great people?