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| *Travel Tips>>>San Francisco Travel Tips |
I am curious about the Castro District in San Francisco? |
Travel Info I would like to vistit San Francisco I have never been west of New York (I am in the UK) so the west coast of the USA is completely after our trip back to Orlando next year I am planning my next holiday to San Francisco and am curious about the Castro Distric is it a safe place to visit I have read that it has some quaint bistro's and some nice restaurants and shops and bars I know the Castro is the gay part of SF I have seen it on travel shows on TV can you do a walking tour with someone who will tell you about the history of area. Also can you tell me about Fisherman Warfe and Nob Hill and Scott Street and Lombard Street what its like to drive down. I heard that Alcatras has been closed to the public is this true and given back to the Native Americans is this true also? Travel Tips "The Castro", as we call it here in San Francisco, is quite safe to walk around in. It is, indeed, the gay Mecca and, in keeping with the stereotype, has a lot of small, interesting restaurants and shops. To start, check out this Wiki site about the district: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/the_castro,... If you can time your trip to be here on Sunday, October 7, you can take in the annual Castro Street Fair, one of San Francisco's colorful gay-themed events with street performers, bands, and booths all along the streets in the area. See here for what to expect: http://www.castrostreetfair.org/about.ht... If you want a tour guide, check this website. As you'll read, there are also others offering these services all around the city. http://www.sallys-place.com/travel/san_f... As far as I know, Alcatraz is still open to tourists. It's part of Golden Gate National Recreation Area and is operated by the U.S. National Park Service. Here's the website: http://www.nps.gov/alcatraz/ The native Americans did "capture" the island in 1969 and held it for a couple of years. You can read about this on the Park Service website. Scroll down to "Indians of All Tribes" and click on WE HOLD THE ROCK. You can search the web for information on your other areas of interest. A place to start: http://www.sfcvb.org/ Others Go see all the places you mentioned. They are all interesting and safe. Including Alcatras, it is open with daily tours. Oh man you would love it in San Fransisco. It is so awesome, I went down there with some friends, It so cool. Alcatraz is not closed, it is a national park for anyone, it haunted thou. Lombard Street is San Francisco-- and America's crookedest street. What does this mean? The steep, hilly street was created with sharp curves to switchback down the one-way hill past beautiful Victorian mansions. The street is paved with bricks and is an amazing site. Fisherman's Wharf is San Francisco's most popular destination and features the Pier 39 shopping / restaurant mall. A long coastal row of seafood restaurants, street vendors, and souvenir stores is combined with a major fishing pier. The wharf can be reached by cable car from Union Square. Most ferry rides take off from here to scenic Marin County. While popular, you may want to avoid a stay of over a few hours in Fisherman's Wharf if you dislike crowds and "tourist traps". However, Fisherman's Wharf is great for a 1-2 hour (daytime) stop for fresh sourdough, seafood, and souvenirs for your friends back home. I also love riding on the $25 charter sail boats that leave from the wharf. You will love it down there! Lombard Crooked Street San Francisco.com, San Francisco's Fisherman's Wharf .com San Francisco sight seeing.com Castro - It's safe most of the year. The only time when it is decidedly unsafe is around Halloween, when all the hoodlums come out to settle old scores amid the drunken chaos. Nice neighborhood restuarants include Mecca, Chow, 2223 Restaurant, and Catch. For cheaper fare, good options include Firewood Cafe, Fuzio, Anchor Osyter Bar, Thailand House, Osaka Sushi, and Daimaru. Reservations for the Castro walking tour can be made here: http://www.cruisinthecastro.com/... Fisherman's Wharf - Very touristy, with the usual collection of "Carnival" attractions (Wax Museum, Submarine Tour, Aquarium, Motion Simulator, Midway Games, and so forth). It is also where you go to ride the ferries. Alcatraz Prison, Angel Island, Sausalito, Tiburon, and Six Flags Animal/Theme Park (Vallejo) are all within reach of the Wharf. NOTE: Alcatraz is usually sold-out days in advance, so you need to buy tickets as soon as you arrive in San Francisco. Likewise, Six Flags and Angel island are full-day excursions, so you might not get to go on the same day if you arrive late. See the schedules here: http://alcatrazcruises.com/ http://www.blueandgoldfleet.com/angel_is... http://www.blueandgoldfleet.com/six_flag... Alcatraz - No, the former prison is still owned by the National Park Service and open to the public. There was a brief Native American takeover in the 1970s (as part of a protest and civil disobedience movement), but the government has long since regained control of the place. Nob Hill - Home to lots of luxury hotels (Fairmont, Huntington, Stanford Court, Mark Hopkins, etc.) and San Francisco's Anglican Cathedral. Beautiful, but pretty much self-explanatory. http://www.gracecathedral.org/ Scott Street - The street itself is unremarkable. You're probably talking about Alamo Square, which is famous for its Victorian houses and skyline vista. Scott Street is only one of several streets that intersect with the square. They include: Fulton Street, Hayes Street, Steiner Street. Of these, Hayes Street is the best approach because it contains many interesting boutiques and restaurants. SF Dude is your one-stop shop for all things San Francisco! SF is safe. But it's a dirty city full of stuck up unfriendly people. Bring lots of cash... |
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