| LOCAL KNOWLEDGE:
TRIVIA INTEREST POINT:
Settled by the Spanish in 1776 and originally named St.
Francis, the madness of the gold rush days have now given
way to a booming San Francisco which is now the fourth largest
city in the U.S.A. S.F. has its’ own flag, which depicts
a Phoenix rising. Underneath the Phoenix is the motto “Gold
in Peace, Iron in War”. Some notable people who are
from S.F. include: Scottish 19th century author, Robert
Louis Stephenson, innovative dance star, Isadora Duncan,
photographers, Ansel Adams and Dorothea Lange. Baseball
star and husband to Marilyn Monroe, Joe Di Maggio, Publisher,
William Randolph Hearst, Co-founder of Intel Corporation
Gordon E. Moore and current boss, Paul Otellini.
FLIGHTS: San Francisco has frequent connections from all
mainland Europe, Asia and internal cities within the USA.
AIRPORTS:
San Francisco Airport, Airport Code SFO, is located 13 kilometers
south of S.F. in San Mateo County. It is the second major
hub airport in California. It has four terminals, which
handle multi domestic and international flights.
The airport is served by information services, restaurants,
cafes, shopping, currency exchange facilities, efficient
buses, car rentals, and private car & driver and taxi
services.
A secondary airport is situated in Oakland (OAK) 32 km east
of San Francisco.
TRANSPORTATION:
Roads: S.F. has extensive freeway systems. The main highways
in S.F. are Interstate 80 which begins at the Bay Bridge
and goes eastbound, and U.s. Route 101 which extends Interstate
80 south toward famous Silicon Valley.
Buses: Local bus transportation and The Greyhound Bus line
has your ‘ticket to anywhere’ in the U.S.A.
Railways: BART is the modern major railway system and Caltrain.
Car Hire: Major car hire agencies and many others serve
all city and inter-state requirements.
An extended choice of Limousines, Town Cars, SUV’s,
Classical and exotic vehicles are all available.
Bike Hire: Choice includes: The famous Harley Davidson Motor
bikes to cycles and RV’s
ACCOMMODATION:
San Francisco is one of the U.S.’s most attractive
& popular cities and it offers a vast range of various
accommodation possibilities to suit everyone’s tastes
and pockets. From the glitz and glamour of hotels such as;
The l895 roomed S.F. Hilton, Klimpton Hotels - The Monaco
Hotel & Hotel Palomar, The Fairmont Hotel, to the less
expensive such as; Boutique hotel, the Union Square Plaza
Hotel, Renaissance, Ramada, Travel Lodge, Motel 6, apartments;
Suites at Fisherman’s Wharf, B&B such as Ocean
Beach, hostels; good alternative is The Taylor Hotel.. And
much more.
SEASONS:
The best time to be in San Francisco is the more ‘Summer-like’
months of September (the warmest month), and October. With
very little rain and fog. November to March sees the rainy
months. Summer temperatures in San Francisco are significantly
lower than the inland locations the Bay Area and the Central
Valley for instance. Summer and early Fall sees the S.F.
fog. It is a phenomenon caused by the cold ocean temperatures
and the intense heat of the inland mainland.
CALENDAR HOLIDAYS: 2006
Jan. 1st New Years Day
16 Martin Luther King Day
Feb. 2 Ground Hog Day.
12 Lincoln’s Birthday
14 Valentine’s Day
20 Washington’s Birthday
Mar. 1 Ash Wednesday
17 St. Patrick’s Day
Apl. 2 Daylight Saving Begins
9 Palm Sunday
14 Good Friday
16 Easter
May. 5 Cinco de Mayo
14 Mother’s Day
19 Armed Forces Day
29 Memorial Day
June 14 Flag Day
18 Fathers’ Day
July 4 Independence Day/4th of July
Aug.
Sept. 4 Labour Day
Oct. 9 Columbus Day
29 Daylight Savings Ends
31 Halloween
Nov. 11 Veterans Day
23 Thanksgiving
Dec. 25 Christmas
FESTIVALS: EVENTS:
S.F. provides a cornucopia of events and parades that include
home grown American themes and many ethnic and exotic ones
also. From the famous American 4th of July parades, indoor
and outdoor concerts, picnics and beach parties to the much
attended S.F. Chinese Festivals, Latino, jazz and Cajun
& Reggae street festivals, to performing arts, art &
installation walks, including open studios and galleries
featuring sculpture, photography, art of all types, ceramics,
multi-media and more. Film festivals and celebrity events.
Harvest Home, The Mexican favourite, Cinco de Mayo Festival,
Earth Day, Hometown Fairs, Lobster, Seafood & Wine tasting,
Cowboy Festivals, and various Sporting Festivals all contribute
to a rich tourist tapestry of delights.
SPECIAL INTEREST ATTRACTIONS:
S.F. is a lot of fun for the whole family, or a lot of fun
for singles. Some of the special attractions that draw the
visitors are:
The California Academy of Sciences.
Take a Walking Tour of the many interesting places and
areas.
Take a personalized Street car – the trams have Colourful
and informative drivers.
Check out Alamo Square, where you can enjoy views of the
city and the Victorian houses affectionately called the
‘Painted Ladies’.
Alcatraz Island.
Lake Merced which is a large fresh water lake in the S.W.
corner of the city.
Museums in the S.F. Area.
San Francisco Opera
San Francisco 49ers Football team.
The Golden Gate Bridge and surrounding Golden Gate National
Park, which also contains the Presidio Museum, where the
military barracks used to be.
* Interesting to note George Lucas of ‘Star Wars’
fame, has now moved his companies Lucas Film, and Industrial
Light and Magic, Lucas Arts to the Presideo.
The San Francisco Zoo
The Port of S.F.
Fort Point National Historic Site
San Francisco Ballet
The Exploratorium.
Wells Fargo History Museum.
Aquariums.
Fisherman’s’ Wharf. Fun for shopping, restaurants
and people watching.
SPORTS: S.F. stages the famous Bay to Breakers marathon,
possibly the largest footrace in the world. Home to the
San Francisco 49ers National Football League football team
who play at Monster Park. For golfing enthusiasts, S.F.
has the famous Harding Park Golf Course and the courses
of the Olympic Club. Some of the most popular sports are:
American football, (The Super Bowl), The L.A. Marathon,
Baseball, Basketball, Ice Hockey, Surfing, Windsurfing,
Hang Gliding, Equestrienne, Skiing, Car Racing, Bike Racing,
Skateboarding, Rollerblading, Hang Gliding, Hiking, Rock
Climbing, Rodeo, Soccer, and Lacrosse. Many world competitions
are held in the various venues available.
CUISINE: The march worldwide of individual specialist coffee
shops and cafes evolved here, together with Seattle. Living
room type furniture and furnishings, ELEGANT CUISINE, SPECIAL
INTEREST & THEME RESTAURANTS, CAFÉ’S, COFFEE
SHOPS, ICE CREAM PARLOURS, KIOSKS, LOCAL STREET DELIGHTS:
While celebrity chefs and creative fusion restaurants create
fantasies for the well heeled, there are a large amount
of individual & fun restaurants and cafes that cater
for visitors’ tastes. Famous for seafood, meats, wines
and dairy products, the San Franciscan local produce is
well established on international tables. Soft-shell crabs
in season, all sorts of naughty deserts, ice cream, confectionery
and many other delights await the gourmet eater.
Restaurants: Upscale; – Fleur de Lys, Palio D’Asti,
Masa’s, Gary Danko, Aqua, La Folie, Julius Castle.
Prime Steakhouse: Alfred’s Steakhouse
Classic Grills: John’s Grill since 1908,
California Cuisine: Postrio, Boulevard, Rue Lepic, Acme
Chop House, Jiana, Kulto’s, Kelys Mission Rock, City
Tavery.
Cajun food is very popular in San Francisco – recommended:
Barbecued shrimp with hot butter pepper sauce, pork with
apple ginger butter, and more.
Opening all the time, S.F. is a taster’s paradise
with exotic, fashionable and exciting, fun décor
type restaurants.
NIGHTLIFE: There are many clubs, winebars, and line dancing
karoke venues, exotica and more. Some of the current popular
clubs and bars; Club Six, Tonga Room, Top of the Mark, Bimbo’s
365 Club, DNA Lounge, Ruby Skye, Mezzanine, Harris’
Restaurant Carnelian Room, The End UP, Café Cocomo,
Cat Club, Slims, Café Du Nord, Punch Line Comedy
club .. And much, much more.
You might want to check out clubzone.com or clubvibes.com
for hotspots to enjoy.
S.F. is renowned for its concerts by leading artists in
all types of music.
SHOPPING: DUTY FREE: Airport and downtown centers provide
a vast assortment of goods for the shopper. Watch out for
the fun shopping at Fisherman’s Wharf, and Union Station.
CITY DEPARTMENT OF TOURISM . The official Tourism Office
will be delighted to provide maps, personal insight and
advice.
ENTRY VISA REQUIREMENT FOR THE UNITED STATES:
If you are traveling to the United States for 90 days or
less, traveling for business, pleasure or transit only,
United Kingdom citizens can travel on the ‘Visa Waiver
Programme’, providing they carry a British passport
that is machine readable and they do not have a criminal
record. Other exemptions do apply. The Visa Waiver Programme
form is supplied on-board the aircraft and is known as a
I-94W form.
|
