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

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Besides stalking mori and trying to catch a ride (nap?) with crown vic man any suggestions on stuff to do around the San Jose/San Francisco that isn't the typical tourist stuff?
 
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.
 
Have lunch with PandaBear (just kidding, I pack my own lunch)

Gold Mountain restaurant in SF China town has great dim sum for a reasonable price.
 
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I don't know into what you are.

Have you checked the Hiller Aviation Museum in Mountain View yet? It's small but nice. You should also check the USS Hornet in Alamada. The Oakland Aviation museum has the Short Solent Mark III Flying Boat, which was featured in Raiders of the Lost Ark. If you go to Treasure Island, you will find the building which doubled for the Berlin airport in Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade. You can have a decent meal at John's Grill, home of the Maltese Falcon. You may want to check some of the old coastal fortifications around the Bay Area.

The Hakone Estate & Gardens in Saratoga is a nice getaway for a few hours, especially if you enjoy watching koi. Memories of a Geisha was filmed there a few years ago. It can be crowded and entrance is not free.

If you drive up to Marin, definitely check the Bolinas Ridge Road in the mountains above Stinson Beach in the early evening -- you have seen this road in hundreds of car commercials.

If you want to get away from it all for half a day, check the Point Reyes National Seashore. Expect to spend at least 5 hours exploring the peninsula.

If you take 92 to the coast, the shoreline around Pescadero is great. If you got something in the trunk that needs to be buried, and if you like the deep, dark woods, go for a ride on King's Mountain Road in the Woodside area. Say hello to Neil Young and Michelle Pfeiffer, who own houses there.

I suggest you check on Google Earth what looks interesting. I use Google Earth all the time to find interesting spots that I would have otherwise never discovered.
 
Originally Posted By: PandaBear
Have lunch with PandaBear (just kidding, I pack my own lunch)


I'd have lunch with you, I'm working over on Mathilda.
 
Originally Posted By: moribundman
You should also check the USS Hornet in Alameda.


I spent the night on the USS Hornet and I didn't see any ghosts.
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But I did get lost trying to find my bunk, that was scary(right after listening to ghost story's)...
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Do the obligatory visit to Fisherman's Wharf and smack a latex painted mime for me because they drive me nuts. Then grab some granola and roll through Muir Woods http://www.nps.gov/muwo/. After that you can't go wrong rolling up Point Reyes...absolutely beautiful views. I always like visiting the lookout bunkers from WWII while I roll up the coastal highway. It's a really unique part of our country.
 
Originally Posted By: pickled
Do the obligatory visit to Fisherman's Wharf and smack a latex painted mime for me because they drive me nuts.


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You mean the silver colored guy? He's funny to watch. :)

There is also a guy on the street that makes these awesome paintings with spray paint. It's really neat to watch.


Also, see if you can find the bushman. He scared the @#*@ out of me.
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BushMan
 
Yes that silver colored guy and his gold colored nemesis...both need a beat down :)!! Spray paint guy is cool, but I think that he'll die early due to all those wonderful solvents he's inhaling. Now the bushman is great!! I never ran into him when I was in town.
 
I haven't seen the bushman in years. Maybe he's got a new bush and I just didn't recognize him.
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Catch a Giants / 49ers / Raiders / A's game if you are into sport.

Check out Fry's Electronics if you are into computer stuff.

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

Parks around the Shorelines, like the Rengstorff House's lake is very nice (I got married there last year).

Half moon bay during the weekend if you are into cloudy beaches.

El Camino Real along Santa Clara has lots of Korean food and super market if you are into weird Asian stuff.

Dave and Buster if you are into sport's bar with video games. Sort of like an Adult Chuckie Cheese.

Great America if you are into roller coaster. Six Flag Marine world in Vallejo if you are into theme park with animals. Not as good as the theme parks in Florida or So Cal, however.



As a rule of thumb, check Yelp for restaurant reviews.
 
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I remember the bushman last time I was there! It's been a while since I've been there, but I really enjoyed the street musician scene along the wharf. Found a great musician playing a chapman stick, and a band playing native instruments from Peru (i think) who were really good. Never came accross any hippy drum circles or I would have found a way to jump in.
 
I guess I need to clarify. I've been to SF several times and done the obligotory tourist stuff, fisherman's wharf, exploratorium, chinatown, Alcatraz... I'm just looking for something different to do in addition to those. I like parks/gardens, museums, old military stuff, hiking/exploring, photography, odd stores, food, good beer, tea...


Bush man was hilarious!
 
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Don't accidentally walk into the porn district.



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