Not-so-touristy things to do in the SF Bay area?

[Pablo]

Originally Posted By: Gary Allan
Quote:
Don't accidentally walk into the porn district.



What happens there, O ye wise one of the carnal distractions??

I just remember once in about 1984 or so, prewife and I were hiking the back streets going to the old fashion Italian deli's and walking down one street and I look up and there was a huge sign: Gary Allan NUDE on stage with six burros

 

[Gary Allan]

HE-HAWays says that.

 

[nthach]

Originally Posted By: Pablo
Don't accidentally walk into the porn district.

Do see Chinatown.

Find a good restaurant two or three streets off the main drags.

Find mori's house.

Strip Club Row and Chinatown are basically right by each other.

I say hop on BART and go catch a A's game in Oakland. San Francisco is a good shopping city, Union Square/Downtown/the Marina have a eclectic selection of shops. I think I saw my mom almost drop a few bills at Louis Vuitton at Union Square years ago.

Oakland's got a good food scene too - Chinatown and Rockridge have plenty of places to eat at. I HIGHLY recommend Fenton's Creamery on Piedmont Ave.

 

[nthach]

Originally Posted By: PandaBear
C
If you like massive liberal movement, check out critical mass on the last Friday of every month. To some it is very cool, to the commuters that have to go through it, pain in the but.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Critical_Mass



As a rule of thumb, check Yelp for restaurant reviews.


Or if you wan't want to intermingle around extreme liberals and drunk frat boys from SFSU or USF at Critical Mass, go rent a Prius and drive into Berkeley if you really, really want to experience liberalism at its finest.

Yelp is usually dead-on restaurant reviews, I use it from time to time.

 

[tonycarguy]

In SF there's the Palace of Fine Arts and Twin Peaks and zoo.

In San Jose there's the Tech Museum, Rose Garden and a Japanese Botanical Garden somewhere. If you like random drives through the hills, take HWY 130 toward Mt Hamilton. I prefer doing that in spring because the hills are green; right now they're brown. There are also reservoirs all around the Bay Area if you like boating, fishing or hiking along a man-made water front.

Vasona Park in Los Gatos is nice too.

If you like strolling around small-town shopping districts, go to Palo Alto's or San Mateo's downtowns. If you like young and trendy, Santana Row in SJ.

 

[paulo57509]

Originally Posted By: StormRider
If you like Prime Rib, go to the House of Prime Rib in 'Frisco. I don't know exactly where it is in the city, cause I've never driven when we went, but it has really good Prime Rib, and you can ask for seconds....its a fancy restaurant and a little pricey but its worth it to go at least once..

If you like the nightclub scene, the Starlight room (in Frisco) is a notable location as it is on top of (I think) one of the oldest hotels in the city.


DO NOT call the city "'Frisco" when you're there. Natives do not like the term and you will be shunned in a NY minute.

 

[paulo57509]

I'm into FOOD.

In SF:

Gaspare's Pizza House on Geary near 20th Ave is reasonable and very good. Home style cooking. One of my favorites. I've never been to the San Rafael location.

http://www.gasparespizza.com/index.html

Fisherman's Grotto on Pier 9 is another one of my favorites. My favorite is spaghetti with their Dungeness crab meat marinara.

http://www.oldfishermansgrotto.com/

Walnut Creek:

Pricey, but if you want a great steak try Vic Stewart's. I don't know how it compares to a Ruth's Chris or those other famous places because I've never been to any of those other places.

http://www.vicstewarts.com/

In Monterey:

The Monterey Fish House. Period. Make reservations.

In San Jose:

Henry's High Life for steak and ribs. I haven't been there in years. Back in the day, you'd take a number in the bar. When they call your number, you'd give the guy your order and your name. When they call your name, they lead you into the back room and your table and meal is ready.

http://www.henryshilife.com/index.htm

Original Joe's.

http://www.originaljoes.com/index.htm

 

[tom slick]

Thanks for the info and keep it coming.

I was in SF this weekend and watched the fireworks along with visiting the Academy of Science. The A. of S. is a definite must see.

Point reyes is on the list. There is a liberty ship and sub I'll probably go see next time. I'm also going to visit Yoda in the Presidio.

 

[moribundman]

The USS Jeremiah O'Brien is one of only two functional Liberty ships. You will find her at Pier 45. Occasionally they offer a short cruise around the Bay. The USS Pampanito, , the Baleo class submarine, is also on Pier 45.

The Yoda fountain at Lucasfilm's Letterman Digital Arts Center is hysterical. Imagine what future archaeologists will think when they unearth Yoda! You may go inside the lobby right behind the Yoda fountain and take a look at several Star Wars props and browse the library, but ask the receptionist if you may do so. They don't like people to just walk in and look around. You may not go past the lobby without an invite from Lucasfilm and without an official LF chaperone. From the outside, look into the windows of the various buildings, and you will lots of props that are casually on display.

 

[nthach]

Originally Posted By: paulo57509


Pricey, but if you want a great steak try Vic Stewart's. I don't know how it compares to a Ruth's Chris or those other famous places because I've never been to any of those other places.

http://www.vicstewarts.com/


I pass by there and Nordy's when I'm in the 'creek. I need to try them out.

 

[nthach]

Broadway Plaza and the surrounding areas of Walnut Creek too has more boutiques and trendy shops you can shake a stick at - Nordstrom, Juicy Couture, Brighton, J. Crew, lululemon, Urban Outfitters, Sephora, Apple, and the list goes on...