San Fran/Los angeles

[Tj hooker]

1 minute ago, Bjornebye said:

As compulsory as lube but I doubt you'll need any after Alcatraz........ 

 

 

 

Jealous though. That will be some trip that mate. 

To say I'm looking forward to it would be a major understatement I've always wanted to go especially Alcatraz , nearly headed down in 86 but instead we ventured to Vancouver which we found Brilliant. 

[neko]

Sounds like a fun trip.

 

Here are a few tips aside from the obvious tourist attractions in SF, although I admit it's been 20 years since I lived there.

 

If you're staying downtown (Union Square) and not adverse to walking, start out on the waterfront at the Embarcadaro and walk as far as you can along Fisherman's wharf all the way out to the Golden Gate bridge. It's a big walk, but lots to see. Some of the nieghbourhoods just back from the water are great to see as well - Coit Tower, Lombard Street, Marina district, Presidio.

 

If you walk straight up Mission (or the Market street tram) from downtown, you'll end up at the mission district (gay area). Watched Euro 2000 there.

 

If you go from the end of Market out to the Golden Gate park, you'll pass through some great neighbourhoods again (Haight Ashbury - 60's hippy zone). Lots to do out at the park.

 

I lived in Berkeley during my time there, so I can also suggest a couple of alternatives. If you're interested in a bit of war history, you can visit the USS Hornet at Alameda, or spend some time in Berkeley hiking the hills and going to the Botanical gardens. Maybe finish with dinner at Chez Panisse... https://www.chezpanisse.com/1/  That would be a winner on the Foodie thread.

 

Make sure to be some place high up around 5:00pm to see the fog roll in from the west (Berkeley hills or better yet one of the rooftop bar/restaurants downtown)...it's awesome.

 

By the way, when you mention baseball I assume you meant the SF Giants. Do not go to Oakland. You'll love the area around Oracle Park. You wouldn't like Oakland much.

 

 

[polymerpunkah]

I found LA a tough city for a tourist without a vehicle. Very spread out, and the transit system isn't great.

 

SF is a great city for walking, as Neko points out, though it's a rough city, with all sorts of homeless, drug users, etc. I never felt threatened, but I did keep my head up. Alcatraz, for sure, Golden Gate Bridge, and a ball game sounds good.

 

Went to the baseball in both SF and LA, and enjoyed both. 

 

Griffith Park Observatory at night is a good way to see LA. And the Santa Monica pier and the surrounding beaches are a great place to see all sorts of Angelinos. 

 

I loved Las Vegas, even though I don't drink or gamble. There's just a lot going on, either down-town or on the strip--people having a good time, lights, noise, etc. It's too hot to walk much, but do try to get away from the strip, as the contrast between it and the rest of the city is quite something.

 

You can walk up and down the strip in the casinos, though, and not get too far from the air conditioning. And it's a compact city, so Uber is fairly cheap and easy to use.

 

If you're in Vegas and want to watch a certain sport, McMullan's Irish Pub shows the matches and serves a decent full English breakfast to boot.

 

Have a good time, they are three very different cities.

 

 

 

 

[Tj hooker]

Thanks very much @neko and @polymerpunkah for the tips its much appreciated 

[Red74]

Defo do Alcatraz and book and pay for it now. 
 

if you’re thinking of walking the Golden Gate Bridge, that place that looks like a bus stop on the other side surprisingly is nothing of the sort and it’s a long walk back.

 

Oh, and pack warm clothes for SF. We went in the august and it was fucking freezing.

 

As others have said. LA is massive. Get a motor. We stayed at universal studios as the kids were younger then and it was ideal.

[Remmie]

Only been to SF, I really enjoyed a restaurant called the stinking rose, its gimmick is that everything has loads of garlic in it, including the delicious ice cream and pleasant enough wine. 

 

The california institute of sciences turns into a nightclub once a month I think, very surreal to see penguins swimming about whilst music is pumping out. Ask for the off menu cake at the cheesecake factory 

[jonnyp]

SF is a good walking city but as mentioned gets a bit rough around the edges at night, so do be aware.

 

Harbour tour with Alcatraz tour is worth it but gets booked out well in advance so get on the case asap.

 

You can also rent bikes down at the waterfront and follow a cycle path that goes along the water, up over the GG Bridge and down into Sausalito which is well worth it. Rather than cycle back, you can take the ferry back from there with your bikes to SF waterfront. Lots of people do it, so its well catered for by having plenty of monitored places to lock your bikes up for a small fee, as well as regular ferries. The queues can get big for the ferry though, so make sure you've got your tickets bought and you don't leave it too late to get in the queue.

 

If you have access to a car, a drive over to Muir Woods for a walk amongst the RedWoods is a great day out too. You'll recognise the entrance to it from Planet of the Apes.

 

A drive down to Carmel-by-the-Sea is a nice place to visit for a great pacific ocean beach and pleasant walkable village.

 

A drive up to Calistoga is also worthwhile. Still quite the 'cowboy' type town but lots of vineyards to tour and/or sit down and sample. Sterling Vineyard is worth a look due to its own hilltop of which you get a great view, drinks and food. There is lots of natural hydro-thermal activity in that area, so stop at the funky Calistoga Motor Lodge & Spa that has its own natural spring-fed swimming pool and thermal hot pool. Even the Cal-Mart supermarket in town does great coffees and breakfasts in their deli and all the fresh produce is great. Especially fruits and cheeses to go with the wine you're gulping by the pool.

 

Vegas is Vegas, Casino world, with restaurants and bars. Book tickets for a show if one takes your fancy. Getting out of Vegas for a bit you can take a helicopter tour of the grand canyon, which isn't expensive but is hot sitting in a flying greenhouse with an engine. 

[A Red]

We did the walk from Fishermans Wharf in San Francisco to and over the Golden Gate Bridge, really enjoyed it. The car park on the other side was a bit mental with cars being broken in to in broad daylight.

 

For me, Los Angeles is a shit hole. Sunset Boulevard is about as appealing as Holderness Road in Hull. Typical American, give it fantastic sounding name and don't deliver. Malibu is another one, lovely beach but backed by a 6 lane motor way.

 

Follow me for more useful travel destination tips.

[Tj hooker]

Thanks everybody for the great recommendations so far , Alcatraz is already booked for the 24th didn't want to miss out on that at all .

[Bruce Spanner]

The SF MoMA is great.

 

It's an ambling city really and just wanderng around is good as there's things you'll recognise off the tellybox.

 

One thing to keep in mind though is that it's a very expensive city to live in so a lot of character has been lost due to all the SV tech bros moving in and pricing everyone out.

 

Get up to Haight/Ashbury and get smashed with a load of dead heads.

 

The homelessness though, bleak.

 

Can second the shout on Calistoga as well, very 'American' part of the world in a good way.

[tokyojoe]

1 hour ago, Bruce Spanner said:

The SF MoMA is great.

 

It's an ambling city really and just wanderng around is good as there's things you'll recognise off the tellybox.

 

One thing to keep in mind though is that it's a very expensive city to live in so a lot of character has been lost due to all the SV tech bros moving in and pricing everyone out.

 

Get up to Haight/Ashbury and get smashed with a load of dead heads.

 

The homelessness though, bleak.

 

Can second the shout on Calistoga as well, very 'American' part of the world in a good way.

Brilliant.

[Harry Squatter]

Been to LA twice and planning on going back as my daughter would love to go. We've been looking at things to do and I've joined a few LA Facebook pages. 

 

If you are in the Downtown area try Spire 73. It is a bar at the top of the Intercontinental hotel and the tallest bar in the west of the USA. There is a Metro station right outside the hotel (7th street Metro Centre). 

 

You can also go to the Bradbury Building nearby (Blade Runner). The Flight of Angels (a funicular)

 

https://www.angelsflight.org/

 

This is one of LA's most historical landmarks and over the road from the Grand Central Market. Bit like the Baltic Market but about 10 times bigger. 

 

You can go up to the observation deck at LA City Hall which is currently free.

https://www.lamayor.org/free-city-hall-tours

 

Also, the Millenium Biltmore Hotel is opposite the Pershing Square Metro station and is famous for being in films such as Ghostbusters and Beverly Hills Cop. Their bar is fantastic and the architecture of the hotel is amazing. 

 

I stayed in a hotel by Westlake/Mccarthur Park. Its a bit dodgy round there at night but if you like Mexican food and Mariachi bands try La Fonda. Food and atmosphere was great. 

 

If you stay by Hollywood try Musso and Frank. It is in a lot of scenes in Once Upon a time in Hollywood. 

https://mussoandfrank.com/

 

Also, El Coyote has a lot of celebrity history with Sharon Tate having her last meal there. The place has not been altered since it opened.

 

http://elcoyotecafe.com/

 

Not far from either is a place called Dan Tana's. Opened by a former Yugoslavian footballer and is another 60s style retro Italian place. Apparently Al Pacino eats there quite a bit. 

 

https://dantanasrestaurant.com/

 

 

Spire 73

 

 

 

 

[Harry Squatter]

Spire 73

[Harry Squatter]

Bradbury Building 

[Harry Squatter]

Angels flight

[Harry Squatter]

LA City Hall Observation deck 

 

 

[Harry Squatter]

Millenium Biltmore Hotel. Gallery Bar and Cognac room.

 

[Mudface]

8 minutes ago, Harry Squatter said:

Angels flight

Good Bosch book/ series, that. Be really cool to see it in real life.

 

[Harry Squatter]

Dan Tana's West Hollywood 

[Harry Squatter]

Elysian Park & Echo Park are not far from Downtown. Went into Bob's Market in Angelino Heights without realising it was a location for LA Confidential and Fast & Furious.

[Harry Squatter]

You can get the boat from Long Beach to Catalina Island which looks like a place in Italy or Portugal. You can get the blue line metro to Long Beach. The ferry to Catalina takes an hour.

 

[VladimirIlyich]

25 minutes ago, Mudface said:

Good Bosch book/ series, that. Be really cool to see it in real life.

 

I was going to mention Bosch as soon as I saw that.

[Harry Squatter]

If you are a Tarantino fan then have breakfast in Pat & Lorraine's coffee shop in Eagle Rock. It's where the opening scene in Reservoir Dogs was filmed. 

 

Nearest Metro is Highland Park Station (Gold Line). Which is where Mr Orange gets shot in the stomach. 

 

[polymerpunkah]

Don't forget to tip the waitress.

 

They're counting on your tips to live.

 

 

 

 

[Harry Squatter]

46 minutes ago, polymerpunkah said:

Don't forget to tip the waitress.

 

They're counting on your tips to live.

 

 

 

 

She wasn't anything special

 

What's special?. Take you in the back and suck your dick?

 

I'd go over 12 per cent for that.