San Francisco is NOT a car friendly city for many reasons; it is a very difficult city to drive in. In general, drivers in San Francisco tend to be aggressive and quick to honk. There are numerous hills and many are extremely steep. Space is at a premium in San Francisco - especially on the streets. Some streets do not allow parallel curb parking. They are so steep that you must park your car perpendicular to the curb. There are quite a few … [Read more...]
San Francisco, CA – Shopping
There are an incredible array of shopping centers, malls, and shopping districts in San Francisco. There are vast tourist shopping areas selling everything from electronic equipment to post cards. When I play tourist south of Union square, Chinatown, and south of Market street, I am often amazed by the great number of shops all selling similar items. As you walk through these shopping sections soon every store almost looks the same. You will … [Read more...]
San Francisco, CA – Accommodations
The following is only a partial list of lodging options in San Francisco. A wide range of hotels are listed that accommodate various budgets. Prices range from the low (single occupancy/off season) to the high (double occupancy/high season) and are subject to change at any time. The downtown/financial district tends to be quite expensive and crowded. For budget travelers recommended lodging is in the outskirts of San Francisco - for example a … [Read more...]
San Francisco, CA – More Info
There are many sources to find information about San Francisco and the Bay area. Because San Francisco is such a well known city the problem is not in finding information but is in finding useful information. San Francisco packs an amazing amount into its 7x7 square mile area and so does this book. A must have for anyone planning a trip to this unique city. San Francisco City Guide The San Francisco Visitor Info Center 900 … [Read more...]
Vancouver, Canada – Shopping
When visiting, we always enjoy the numerous shopping opportunities in Vancouver. Here are a select few: Chinatown Eaton's is located at 701 Granville Street in the large Pacific Centre. This Centre includes over 200 stores. Gastown - besides being known for its shopping, Gastown is the birthplace of Vancouver in 1867. Gastown was originally called Gassy's, named after saloon owner Gassy Jack Deighton. The town site was nicknamed … [Read more...]
Vancouver, Canada – Annual Events
While these events are annual, the specific dates may change. It is best to visit the website or call for information. The area code for all phone numbers is 604. January -Polar Bear Swim Phone Number: 732-2304 February -Chinese New Year Celebration Phone Number: 687-0729 -Chutzpah Festival: www.chutzpahfestival.com -Lunar Fest - contemporary expression of Asian arts & culture: www.lunarfest.org -Push, … [Read more...]
Vancouver, Canada – Victoria
Victoria is accessible via ferry from Vancouver or from select areas in the state of Washington. Victoria is the capital of British Columbia. It is a very quaint city. It also has among the more mild climates in Canada, and often times when the rest of Canada is covered with snow, Victoria is cold, but free of snow. The ferry ride from Vancouver to Victoria takes about 2 hours. It is a beautiful ride especially in the summer months and on a … [Read more...]
Santa Rosa, CA – Shopping
Coddingtown is one of two primary malls in Santa Rosa and is the city's oldest mall. It continues to undergo a number of select remodels over the years with parts of the mall torn down and then rebuilt from the ground up. Originally founded by Hugh Codding in 1962 as an open-air mall it was later enclosed in 1979. The name Codding is a long time prominent family in town - Hugh Codding developed a number of shopping centers in town as well as … [Read more...]
Santa Rosa, CA – Specialty Farms
Note: Much of Sonoma County typically is not a good place to grow stone fruits or melons – exception to this are the Crane Melons which need certain micro climates. Any fruit or vegetable that requires a lot of heat will typically not do well in most of Sonoma County – especially West county and near Santa Rosa/Petaluma. Leafy green things you can eat – grow best in the mild growing conditions of this country. Some farms, ranches, and orchards … [Read more...]
Santa Rosa, CA – Farmers Markets
Numerous farmer's markets are located throughout Sonoma County. Unlike in the southern part of the state where year round farmer's markets are the norm, seasonal farmers markets far outnumber the year round ones up here. Seasonal smaller markets tends to have live music while the year round (often larger markets) do not always use music to liven up your shopping experiences. We have visited all of the farmers' markets in Santa Rosa and Sonoma … [Read more...]