Calilfornia Dreaming

The last time I was in San Fran, we took a day and went to Yosemite. It was well worth the effort -- take a camera if you go.

Also...

If you enjoy Jazz, you might like to catch the dinner show at Enrico’s Sidewalk Café. It’s on Broadway not far from the center of town. Emi and I had dinner there a couple of years ago and thoroughly enjoyed the show; the food was excellent too. If you’re interested, here is their website:

http://www.enricossf.com/

We made our reservation in advance and when we arrived I told the maître that I was from out of town – he gave us a great table right in front of the Band. That night the entertainer was Lavay Smith; a jazz singer that had a voice similar to Billie Holiday. It was great fun!

Thanks, Mike. I'm leaning toward Yosemite although another friend urged Big Sur. I don't think I can manage both. How difficult is the drive? Where did you stay? There is supposed to be some sort of platform tent hotel in Yosemite that sounds rather unique.

have fun on your trip

Hmmmm, the last (and only) time I was there was in 1971. I fell in love with it then.

be careful of those hills and sidewalks!

Thanks, Nyota. Last time, I walked up to Coit Tower for a look around. Up or down, some of those sidewalks are nearly impossible!

Oh, just toss a coin..any direction would be exceptional..
Big Sur a little to far? I do know a lot is burned so perhaps not that direction...
Wine is good and has great spas!

Oh the platform tent thing sounds Wonderful! I'd forgotten about reading article on it...

A coin toss is always good advice to the undecided. Swayed by pictures of the giant Sequoias, I kept tossing until it landed heads -- Yosemite.

Got my third choice in lodging as the first and second were booked already. I see you are a shutter bug, Jenn B. I will be sure to take the camera.

Now I need advice on day hikes.

TEN!!!

Something like:

"I'm not talking about moving in, and I don't want to change your life, but . . .

There's a warm wind blowing the stars around . . .

and I'd really love to see you tonight."

Am I right?

Back on point, though . . .

I know the City (San Francisco) quite well.

I know Yosemite quite well (have some property about 12 miles outside of it, that won't sell due to the real estate problem -- can you beleeeeeeeeve that. Yosemite is considered part of my old stomping grounds. A better person to speak to (although, it was one of our teenage hangouts growining up) is Lawrence H. (www.scifilarry.gather.com).

Tell him I sent you. He lives in Merced, which is the nearest "large" city to Yosemite. Now, Yosemite is not EXACTLY a hop, skip, and a jump from the City. I'd recommend renting an automobile for the trip. Don't do the "tour" thing. That's not as much fun.

As far as the Wine Country: Check out my buddy Jean (just the teensiest bit odd) F. Since the California fires, (and that area was hit hard), I have no idea what the area looks like, how the harvest took it, or anything. It's harvest season right now. I do know that George Bush was there last month surveying the area, because of the fires. Jean could definitely tell you more about the area since I haven't been there since the fires. I only know that the area was hit hard, and I'm definitely not wanting to go and see the devastation.

It just occurred to me -- I'm not dissuading you, I hope. You sound like a Bay Area person, who -- if you relocated here -- will feel like you died and went to Heaven!

There is soooo much to see and do here. The City alone would keep you busy.

San Francisco is incredibly multi-cultural, and has some of the best restaurants in the Country, and has the highest Asian population in the Country. Chinatown is -- I just cannot describe it, it's phenomenal, although you would need an insider to see the REAL Chinatown. There is also an excellent Japantown, and there is so much more -- too much to speak to in a bubble . . .

Also,

Check out this group

Californians on Gather at

www.californians.gather.com

Many Gatherers, and especially Jean write about California. You might get an idea . . .

I really should do articles on the Bay Area, just don't or haven't yet.

One thing that people may or may not know: never, ever, ever leave San Francisco without taking home some of our world famous sourdough bread. It's the bacteria used in the bread, that is only found here, that makes the bread "world famous", as well as healthy!

//Something like:

"I'm not talking about moving in, and I don't want to change your life, but . . .
There's a warm wind blowing the stars around . . .
and I'd really love to see you tonight."

Am I right?//

You are so right Lady Neeetah. You win the slightly scratched 45 and my mood ring!

Seriously, thank you for the very generous advice and I can't think of a lovelier compliment than "you sound like a Bay Area person." That's a keeper. I am definitely planning to rent a car and am very much looking forward to this trip. I left the directions at the office but I'll post tomorrow how Google maps said to get there from S.F. It may not be the best way.

I can't imagine you'd go wrong on any dayhikes in the area, even though I've never been there. The images I've seen are fantastic.

Julia,
if you like folk/roots/bluegrass/acoustic music, check out who might be playing at Freight & Salvage in Berkeley at the time of your visit.

I really like folk/roots/bluegrass/acoustic music, especially live. Looks like I need to start a notebook.

So everything stays together and everyone can share, I'm posting this generous note which was a ping from "Jean, just the teensiest bit odd." (Sorry, I haven't learned how to post live links yet).

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A beautiful little bird told me that you are planning to come to my neck of the woods next month, Julia... "Wine Country"... Is your agenda completely full or do you have some flexibility to take in some of our lesser-known but definitely worth-it sights?

If you enjoy history or horticulture or both, may I suggest a short stop at Luther Burbank's Gold Ridge Farm in Sebastopol (western Sonoma County)? I've published several photo essays on it which you might want to take a look at:

Summer at Burbank's Farm

Spring at Burbank's Farm

Autumn at Burbank's Farm

Luther Burbank's Gold Ridge Farm

If you DO decide to visit Sebastopol, you'll see this artist's statues all over the place:

Amiot

A couple of other sites I might suggest are:
Armstrong Redwood Grove in Guerneville (on the Russian River), Korbel Champagne Winery on River Road near the town of Rio Nido, the coast from Bodega Bay north to Ft. Ross (and the Russian fort at Ft. Ross), the Sonoma mission in the town of Sonoma and Jack London's "Beauty Ranch" in the town of Glen Ellen...

Do let me know if I can supply you with any further information about our lovely home of Sonoma County and the surrounding area, won't you?

jean

Julia,

Don't forget --

YAAAAHOOOOOOOOOOO!!!

Monterey Jazz Festival is next month, too.

If you want me too, I'll get you the dates.

I haven't got my tickets yet, but I do plan to go, barring any unforeseen goings on!

Yosemite is really more than a day trip from San Francisco. It's 180 miles away, almost a three-hour drive in each direction. To allow time to see Yosemite's many sights, you should plan to stay overnight and at least 3 days that would be enough to see all the sites on the valley floor. That said i worked at yosemite from 1988 to 1998. I was a cook there. and it took me 3 years to see everthing in the way of sites and wonders of yosemite. take in to fact that i worked 5 to 6 days a week i only got to go site seeing on my days off.

Yosemite's tent cabins offer lower expenses of pitching a tent but without the bother. Because these facilities are more like a campground than a hotel, none of them offer maid service.

Housekeeping Camp, Curry Village: Located along the Merced River in Yosemite Valley, Housekeeping Camp has 266 units, each large enough to sleep six people. Each cabin has an outdoor grill and a firepit. These two-room cabins have a double bed, two single bunks, a table, chairs, mirror, electrical lights and outlets. Showers and restrooms are centrally located. Bring your own linens or rent them for a small fee per day.

If you plan to rent a Yosemite cabin, plan ahead. Yosemite cabin rentals fill up fast.

Yosemite is full of hiking trails, many of them suitable only for the ultra-fit hiker with lots of stamina and determination. However, there are some nice, short hikes in Yosemite Valley that almost anyone can manage. These are some of them:

Bridalveil Fall: 0.5 miles round trip, 20 minutes. In the afternoon, you may see rainbows in the spray. Starts from the parking area along Southside Drive.

Lower Yosemite Fall: 1 mile round trip, 20 minutes. Use the shuttle bus to get to the trailhead. You can see both falls from there. The trail goes to the base of the lower falls.

A must see?????

(Mirror Lake: 2 miles round trip, 1 hour. Guidebooks say this is a fairly flat, two-mile trail leads to a calm lake just below Half Dome. Some may also mention that for much of the year this "lake" is really a meadow. None will tell you that the trail is littered with horse-poop. If you want to go, the best way to get to the trailhead is to take the Valley Shuttle bus to the Mirror Lake Trail stop.)

Vernal Fall Footbridge: 1.4 miles round trip, 1 to 2 hours. This first section of the more difficult Mist Trail gains 400 feet in elevation. Continue to the top of the falls if you're up to the strenuous climb, for a total distance of 3 miles. The easiest way to get to the trialhead is by the shuttle bus, getting off at the Happy Isles stop.

short drives,

It's a 32-mile drive from the Yosemite Valley to Glacier Point, even though the two are separated by only a few miles as the proverbial crow flies. It's well worth the trip for views of the valley floor 3,214 feet below and Half Dome in profile.
Glacier Point is open from late spring through early fall. Ranger programs are held at Glacier Point in the summer. You'll find a small gift shop and snack area at Glacier Point. To get to Glacier Point from the Yosemite Valley, you'll have to hike or drive or take a paid tour. Take an extra layer of clothing along; it's always colder at Glacier Point than in the Valley.

The granite rock that forms Half Dome is 87 million years old, the youngest plutonic rock (rock formed under the earth's surface) in Yosemite Valley. It towers 5,000 feet above the Yosemite Valley floor and its elevation is 8,842 feet at the top.

Viewing Half Dome
The best place to get a good look at Half Dome is from Glacier Point, but there are plenty of other places to see and photograph it. They include Tunnel View, Sentinel Bridge, Cook's Meadow and Mirror Lake. you can also see Half Dome from a different direction from Olmstead Point on Tioga Road.

Thanks Californians! I really appreciate all the insider information and more importantly, your generous spirits. I can see I'll be pondering this until I get there and will need to go back!

You sure got a lot of useful information...cool

Have fun! I'm jealous because we don't expect to travel until after the election.

As all have said, you can't go wrong, Julia.

If I had a few days I'd go south, stay in Carmel, hike Point Lobos, Monterey aquarium etc.

John is correct about the Carmel area. I was in Santa Cruz on Friday -- had sooo much fun. Santa Cruz isn't far from the Monterey/Carmel area, and is about 35 to 40 minutes from where I live.

The truth of the matter is, California is just plain fun, period. A guy told us once:

"You people out here in California are on vacation."

You know what, Julia? He was RIGHT. It seems that no matter WHERE you go, it's a vacation. Don't let John fool you, either. Sausalito is considered a tourist spot, too. It's also a very beautiful, and a nice area.

Julia,

You seem to be sooooo in love with California, that the spirit of it was contagious, and I could feel it, too. YOU are what California is all about. Eventually -- I've no doubt -- you'll become one of us. That's why I extended you an invitation to the group. A rarity -- yes! But I am indoctrinating YOU!!!

You are so very sweet. I took it as a supreme compliment. I think I'm also an honorary Minnesotan. This is making me wonder . . . In truth -- I try to be in love with life. Some days are easier than others.

Julia, Are you there now???

I'll be in San Francisco in November - also on business. It's a great city.

Next Saturday I'm off to Spain, that's a business trip too. I do love to travel, but not so much for the experience of the place itself, but more for the different perspective you have on your life when you get home...

:) Leaving soon.

I'm jealous you are off to Spain. We saw JulieChristinaBarcelona or whatever it's called, the latest Woody Allen angst, and it did make me want to go and meet some interesting Spaniards and see some art. Penelope Cruz saves the movie from being a waste of time. I'm not a fan of voice over and the scenery seemed muted. It seemed it was filmed on cloudy days or looked like an old home movie that had aged and washed the film.

I did go to Yosemite. I loved everything except the drive. I will definitely keep you in mind, Colin, if I ever go back.

After I get unpacked and settled in here a bit, I hope to post a sort of scrap book in the California group that I'm an honorary member of and I'll include a link here.