quote:

Originally posted by Scuba Steve Sig:

How is Pinnacles NP? It’s only 2 hours south of San Francisco.

It’s been about 35 years since a Boy Scout trip. I remember Pinnacles being alright. Not close to Yosemite. I’d rather hit Muir Woods.

Pinnacles in June will be HOT. It’s a lot of steep trails to see the neat stuff (caves)

quote:

Originally posted by Scuba Steve Sig:
Right now I am thinking about getting an AirBNB around Outer Richmond area that has off street parking and there is a fair chance we won't even go into downtown SF.

Good gravy! Are you trying to get shot?

If you're going the AirBNB route outside of SF and want to take BART into town, may I just east of Oakland into Walnut Creek, Concord, etc.

Parking in Yosemite Valley can get a biatch, but just get an early start and get to the ranger station by 7 or 8am. Then you're GTG.

quote:

Originally posted by Russ59:

quote:

Originally posted by Scuba Steve Sig:
Right now I am thinking about getting an AirBNB around Outer Richmond area that has off street parking and there is a fair chance we won't even go into downtown SF.

Good gravy! Are you trying to get shot?

I'm talking the Outer Richmond neighborhood of SF, not Richmond, CA.

I might just pickup a tent at Target and spend a night in the Tenderloin to get away from the wife and kids though.

The Steinhart Aquarium at the Academy of sciences in Golden Gate Park is really cool. Your kids will love it. There’s a parking garage under the building that is easy and secure.

https://www.calacademy.org/exh...s/steinhart-aquarium

The State Railroad Museum in Sacramento is great too.

quote:

I'm talking the Outer Richmond neighborhood of SF, not Richmond, CA.

I might just pickup a tent at Target and spend a night in the Tenderloin to get away from the wife and kids though.

Make sure your quadruple boosted on tetanus and hep A etc…

quote:

Originally posted by HRK:
…head over to the Buena Vista for a real Irish Coffee, …

Thanks for bringing back some great memories! It’s gotta be pushing 40 years, but those were good times. Irish coffee (or two) at the Buena Vista, then head over to the now defunct Magic Pan in Ghirardelli Square.

I visited San Francisco 19 years ago and the most memorable parts were visits to Muir Woods, Alcatraz, and Carmel.

https://www.nps.gov/muwo/index.htm

quote:

Originally posted by Scuba Steve Sig:

quote:

Originally posted by Russ59:

quote:

Originally posted by Scuba Steve Sig:
Right now I am thinking about getting an AirBNB around Outer Richmond area that has off street parking and there is a fair chance we won't even go into downtown SF.

Good gravy! Are you trying to get shot?

I'm talking the Outer Richmond neighborhood of SF, not Richmond, CA.

I might just pickup a tent at Target and spend a night in the Tenderloin to get away from the wife and kids though.

You had me going, too, when I saw Richmond. I've only known that as the Richmond District. If you want good Chinese food, you don't have to go all the way to Chinatown. On the other side of the Golden Gate park is the Sunset District. Along Noriega St between Sunset Blvd and 19th Ave are several Chinese restaurants. I liked S&T Hong Kong Seafood myself on the corner of 33rd Ave.

If you go to where the old Cliff House was, you can walk down to the ruins of the old Sutro baths. You can come up close to where the waves are breaking and to the right there's a short tunnel underneath you can see the waves spray underneath real close.

And, as I said, you're in the 49 mile drive anyway and at least you can follow it through the Presidio and down underneath the Golden Gate Bridge. I think they call it Fort Point. It was an army base guarding the mouth of San Francisco Bay. You can visit the fort or park along in front of the sea wall, watching the waves break high with the Golden Gate bridge right in front of you.

I’ve only been once, and it was a long time ago. I enjoyed Sausalito and Marin County (Mount Tamalpais). Asking residents and former residents for Scuba Steve, is that still a cool place to go?

I grew up in Northern California and returned there to spend most of my life either in Sonoma County, Sacramento area, or the Peninsula south of San Francisco.
We used to take our kids to the Exploratorium a lot, also to the California Academy of Sciences and Aquarium in Golden Gate Park.
I have no recent experience in the city of San Francisco. From what I hear, I would not recommend going there--it sounds like whole city blocks in central SF have boarded up stores. Maybe an exaggeration, I don't know.

For us the prime attraction of California is its diversity of natural "wonders". That includes not only Yosemite--and I agree several days are needed, not one; but also the Pacific coast. Of places within driving distance, Monterey (the aquarium is fabulous), and especially Point Lobos State Natural Reserve near Carmel are really worthwhile, and unlike anything one can find on the east coast. One can do easy hikes around Point Lobos, expect to see sea otters and other interesting coastal wildlife.

Perhaps the most unique natural environment in California are the coastal redwoods. They can be experienced in Muir Woods; in Big Basin Redwoods State Park down near Santa Cruz; or in Sonoma County at Armstrong Grove outside Guerneville (but if not seeing wine country you probably wouldn't be going near there).

I strongly recommend light, rain resistant jackets and hats for all. It gets cold and wet almost daily in the City. And Sac is hot and miserable in June. Never cared for it. If you drive north, avoid stopping in Stockton at all costs. Even in '93 is was a very bad place to be. Don't know if it's still true, but meth makers used to produce on the turkey farms outside of Stockton, the turkeys covered the smell of manufacturing. I lived in the area for 9 years. If it tells you anything, I haven't been back since 95.

Regarding Pinnacles NP… it IS interesting and nice place for hiking… but pales in comparison to Yosemite in terms of grandeur. I’d choose time on the coast and Yosemite over Pinnacles.