San Francisco

pawpaw · Mar 29, 2011, 05:26 PM

Quote from: br00ke on Mar 29, 2011, 10:05 AM
woah .. is that amy j. behind the 12 galaxies guy ?

No, that's Willie Mays! ;)

br00ke · Mar 29, 2011, 07:39 PM

ha, i mean the girl in the sunglasses & making the face .. directly behind mister 12 galaxies. i've known her for almost 9 years

ALady · May 19, 2011, 02:55 PM

Hey guys,

Can any of you recommend some good camping spots in the Bay area or Big Sur?

Thanks in advance :)

vespachick · May 19, 2011, 03:39 PM

Quote from: ALady on May 19, 2011, 02:55 PM
Hey guys,

Can any of you recommend some good camping spots in the Bay area or Big Sur?

Thanks in advance :)

I hear great things about Point Reyes.

Crispy · May 19, 2011, 03:44 PM

Quote from: ALady on May 19, 2011, 02:55 PM
Hey guys,

Can any of you recommend some good camping spots in the Bay area or Big Sur?

Thanks in advance :)

I camped at Big Basin Redwoods State Park when I was there last year. It was great, but LOTS of people.

woodnymph · May 19, 2011, 04:54 PM

Quote from: Crispy on May 19, 2011, 03:44 PM
Quote from: ALady on May 19, 2011, 02:55 PM
Hey guys,

Can any of you recommend some good camping spots in the Bay area or Big Sur?

Thanks in advance :)

I camped at Big Basin Redwoods State Park when I was there last year. It was great, but LOTS of people.

Crispy!! Seriously how in the hell did we miss eachother!!! Hahahahhah I totally camped there last year too!! Gorgeous park.... def. lots of peeple...

I found a really neat little trail that wound just outside of the campground, and upon turning a sharp switchback, I rounded on a COYOTE! (The 2nd out of 3 total that I encountered on that trip....) Don't let that deter you though! They're everywhere out there, but they stay away from people (as long as you don't go tromping on them!) And Big Basin truly is beautiful!

The Santa Cruz KOA was pricey but conveniently close to Santa Cruz and offers clean showers/laundry & wi-fi :)

If you're going with company though, I'd highly recommend checking out a more rugged, less populated spot (sadly I don't have any suggestions!)

On a quick search though, I did just find this! http://www.bigsurcamp.com/index.html Looks nice!! And this! http://www.riversidecampground.com/

Not sure what either is like, but thought I'd throw 'em out there! When ya headin that way??

Crispy · May 19, 2011, 05:12 PM

Woody, what the WHAT??? You were at Big Basin too?! Now if you tell me you were there on Sunday the 8th, I'm gonna freak. I'm sure you weren't, that was almost a week before the Outside Lands thingy.

Lady, I also enjoyed the Pescadero area, and it looks like there are several campgrounds up into the hills from there, of county and state variety, that would probably have less traffic. Still, Big Basin's great, and has those trees...

ALady · May 19, 2011, 05:58 PM

Thanks, guys - keep 'em coming! I'm taking notes.

pawpaw · May 19, 2011, 06:21 PM

You coming out for Phish?

Alright...the recommendations already given have been great! Big Basin is outstanding, and so is Pt. Reyes (though I think that there are only backpack camps at Pt. Reyes). Tomales Bay is right near Pt. Reyes, and has a small campground that I really like. Butano State Park is near Pescadero, and is also a really cool spot, much smaller than Big Basin.

Seacliff is a nice campground right south of Santa Cruz. It's a busy place, not much privacy, but it's convenient and has a nice beach. In Big Sur, I'd really recommend Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park.

The Marin Headlands is just north of San Francisco, and also has a few backpack camps. It's very close to the city.

Have fun! Pack warm clothes!

woodnymph · May 19, 2011, 06:48 PM

Quote from: Crispy on May 19, 2011, 05:12 PM
Woody, what the WHAT??? You were at Big Basin too?! Now if you tell me you were there on Sunday the 8th, I'm gonna freak. I'm sure you weren't, that was almost a week before the Outside Lands thingy.

Lady, I also enjoyed the Pescadero area, and it looks like there are several campgrounds up into the hills from there, of county and state variety, that would probably have less traffic. Still, Big Basin's great, and has those trees...

:o :o I was actually at Big Basin after Outside Lands (so more like the 16th or 17th :P) Hahahahah crazy parallel trips we had though! ;D

walterfredo · May 19, 2011, 07:47 PM

Quote from: bbill on May 19, 2011, 06:21 PM
In Big Sur, I'd really recommend Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park.

I second this notion.

Big Basin is awesome, but you really need to hike back a ways to get out of the crowds. At Juia Pfeiffer, you're going to be around people no matter what, but you have easy access to tons of hikes and trails where you won't be around crowds. I really love Big Sur.

DejaView2011 · May 24, 2011, 08:23 AM

Quote from: tdb810 on Mar 15, 2011, 03:00 PM
I went in 1998 and did all of the touristy things, and loved every minute of it. here were my highlights, not in any particular order:

muir woods

tour of alcatraz with the little audio tour thingy

cable cars (kodak moment)

ghirardelli square in the evening

harvey's in the castro for brunch http://www.harveyssf.com/Eat-brunch.html (named in memory of harvey milk)

bus tour of napa (we visited three wineries and woooooo hoooo was that fun)

bus trip to carmel/monterey (we had a week, and this was a perfect way for me to split off from the group for a day to myself, and this was magical. technically not SF, but in the region. BONUS: you get to drive down through the 17 mile drive from Pacific Grove to Pebble Beach, Lone Cypress Tree etc) BREATHTAKING. Do this if you can.

sea lions

haight Ashbury to check out the shops

Visit to Berkely campus (we had a friend there so we toured the campus and had a lunch)

if you have a car, drive lombard street

if you have a flat stanley, don't lose it on the golden gate bridge :)

bring your sneakers...the hills are no joke! have a wonderful trip!

The sneaker advice was spot on! Whew! My legs and feet were so sore from those hills! Some seem to go straight up. But your calves will get a great workout. Enjoy the city and have a beautiful time!

ALady · May 25, 2011, 06:14 PM

Thanks for all the suggestions, you guys! The trip is coming together, bit by bit. My best friend and I are hoping to go out there for a week or so late September/early October, hit up Hardly Strictly Bluegrass, do some camping, some beer/wine tasting, etc. :)

DejaView2011 · May 25, 2011, 06:20 PM

Quote from: ALady on May 25, 2011, 06:14 PM
Thanks for all the suggestions, you guys! The trip is coming together, bit by bit. My best friend and I are hoping to go out there for a week or so late September/early October, hit up Hardly Strictly Bluegrass, do some camping, some beer/wine tasting, etc. :)

That sounds like a wonderful time all the way around!! Enjoy and soak it all in.

ALady · May 25, 2011, 06:25 PM

I shall try :) I've only ever spent about 36 hours there, right after T5 last year...so I don't remember much, only that I liked it. A lot. ;D

DejaView2011 · May 25, 2011, 08:03 PM

Quote from: ALady on May 25, 2011, 06:25 PM
I shall try :) I've only ever spent about 36 hours there, right after T5 last year...so I don't remember much, only that I liked it. A lot. ;D

And why is your memory so hazy ALady?? ::)

ALady · May 25, 2011, 08:33 PM

Honestly just lack of sleep from the T5 week + cross country flight. I was running on fumes at that point ;D

ALady · Aug 19, 2011, 01:58 PM

Hey all,

So after a few fits and starts....looks like it won't be Hardly Strictly, but rather Ryan Adams at the Henry Miller that brings me back to the Bay Area :)

I don't think the camping is going to work out, but can anyone recommend hotels and/or hiking around Big Sur? Also, Google Maps says I can take public transport out there...is that crazy, or am I gonna have to learn to drive again?

Thanks all. Excited to hear your suggestions! :)

walterfredo · Aug 29, 2011, 10:16 PM

If you come across any extra tickets for Ryan Adams let me know, I completely spaced the on sale for several hours.

We just attended a wedding at the big sur river inn, didn't stay there but peeked in a room and they looked decent. There are some extrely nice, high end resorts/hotels in the area, but they come with a hefty price tag, and most are a 2 night minimum stay. Not sure about the public transport, I suppose theres a bus that goes down there. But if you want to explore a car would be your best bet.

If you're in big sur on a weekend go to the Fernwood tavern, they usually have a bunch of local old dudes on stage tearing up really bad cover songs.

ALady · Aug 30, 2011, 11:42 AM

It's looking like I may have an extra, fredo...my friend bailed and I'm trying to talk my brother into going, but I can't seem to give this thing away :P

I checked out the River Inn, it looked pretty cool. Glen Oaks Big Sur and Deetjens look good too. It looks like the bus is a seasonal thing and haven't driven in about 12 years...and all my friends out there tell me this is not the trip/route to relearn how to drive ;D So I'll be at the mercy of whichever of them I catch a ride with. I hope they'll want to stop and smell the flowers, but who knows...

The Fernwood looks awesome, thanks for the heads up! I'll likely be back in SF that weekend for Treasure Island fest, but I'm just gonna take this thing as it comes.