san fran + los angeles - TravelPUNK Backpacker College Student Budget Travel Message Boards!



Go Back   TravelPUNK Backpacker College Student Budget Travel Message Boards! > Backpacker College Student Travel Message Boards > Where ya going? & Specific country info! > U.S.A.

U.S.A. Hollywood, NYC, baseball, The Grand Canyon, East coast vs West coast, Starbucks, The Dallas Cowboys Chearleaders, and more...

Raileurope.com: See Europe by train
Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
Old 02-05-2004, 01:48 PM   #1
TPunk Recognized
 
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Kent, UK
Posts: 226
Thanks: 0
Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Default

I just want to know what the 'must see's' are really. What you guys would reccomend (well, if you've been that is)..... Thanx!
***Beady*** is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-09-2004, 12:40 AM   #2
Admin
 
travelpunk's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: spiznain
Posts: 6,581
Thanks: 46
Thanked 13 Times in 11 Posts
Default

Hey Beady! Hmmmmm.....In San Fran, it's easy to get lost and discover lots of cool places and restaurants.
The Fishermans Wharf is a huge attraction, as is Alcatraz, Sausalito, The most crooked street in the US, it's unbelievable array of restaurants of all ethnic types
The clubbing scene was great, but it's been a while since I've been there.
This is just the tip of the iceberg, but since I haven't been there in a bit, I'm hoping that others can add more detailed tips.

Los Angeles- Hollywood, Beverly Hills, Santa Monica, Venice, all have eye candy for the tourist. Lot's of shops, restaurants, and things to do for out of towners. Santa Monica is always a cool place to hang out, even though I've been going to it for the past 9 years! The 3rd Street Promenade has three "blocked off" streets in a row of shops, cinemas, pubs, and restaurants to keep you entertained for days. It's right next to the beach which has a pier with carnival rides and yet, more shops and food establishments. They also filmed Baywatch there, and neighboring Venice beach.
On the sunset strip, there are lots of popular star studded hangouts like Cindy Crawfords-The Skybar, House of Blues, Dublins Irish pub, Miyagi's, Johnny Depps -The Viper Room, The Standard, The Comedy Store, Mels Diner, etc....
Go to the Coffee Bean on Sunset and sit there for a couple of hours...you're sure to see some celebrities walking through there...never fails
Clubs. Well, it's been a while since my mug has seen a dance floor in LA, but one of the big guns in late night clubbing (until 5 am. thats late here !)) is Giant Club. You can check out their site and find out when their next weekend event is as well as all of the other details.
Then, there's a 4hr drive northeast to Vegas, baby, Vegas! Vegas, well, speaks for itself!

hope some of this helps!
travelpunk is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-09-2004, 05:32 AM   #3
TPunk Emeritus
 
worldwidemike's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Columbus, Ohio USA
Posts: 3,390
Thanks: 0
Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Default

I know everyone does it, but when in San Fran, I highly recommend you rent a car and check out some of the wineries in Napa Valley or one of the others. It is such a cool place...very Mediterranean feel. Plus, you'll get a chance to see the city from the other side of the water, and it is a really pretty city.

Other than perhaps New Orleans (which I haven't been to, yet), San Fran is one of the US's most European feeling cities. At least, that is the way I feel...

worldwidemike
__________________
Check out my travel web page at:
Worldwidemike.com
"Life is not measured in the number of breaths we take, but by the places that take our breath away..."
worldwidemike is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-09-2004, 02:36 PM   #4
TPunk Recognized
 
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Kent, UK
Posts: 226
Thanks: 0
Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Default

Ah wow, thanks guys!! Looks like I'm going to be kept entertained! I really want to see Alcatraz! Soooo much to do there in san fran and la by the sounds of it.
I've been to New Orleans with my family when we lived in the us for about 3 months. We spent about 3-4 days in New Orleans. Loved that place alot!
***Beady*** is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-09-2004, 11:23 PM   #5
Members
 
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: Los Angeles
Posts: 24
Thanks: 0
Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Send a message via AIM to Sean
Default

Hey Beady,
You're gonna love SF (my favorite city) Make sure you check out:
China Town (largest chinese community outside of China and great food!)
North Beach and all the areas around telegraph hill and russian hill (awesome area)
Hang out down at the Marina
Golden Gate Park (go to the teagarden)
The Palace of Fine Arts (part of the world fair and absolutely beautiful)
Ocean Beach and the Cliff House
Haight-Ashbury (awesome SF neighborhood)
also check out the art museums and other awsome cultural resources the city has
Union Square if you're into the whole shopping thing
go for a hike on Mt. Tamalpais across the Golden Gate and check out Sausilito

for the best burritos in the world, go to Gordo's!

Have fun!
__________________
We are all in the gutter, but some of us are looking at the stars.
Sean is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-10-2004, 05:33 AM   #6
Members
 
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Boston, MA, USA
Posts: 178
Thanks: 0
Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Send a message via AIM to iamlindoro
Default

Hah! At last a discussion of my home town!

How can you talk about San Francisco without mentioning Ghirardelli?? If you want some amazing chocolate (probably the best produced in the US) and you want it fresh, go there. I also recommend trying their ice cream parlor-- all made from scratch and within sight.

Alcatraz is cool, but one of those things you only have to do once. I was a bit bored by it even the first time I ever went.

If you can make it to Monterey, go to the Bay Aquarium there, definitely worthwhile. You can see John Steinbeck's Cannery Row. Also try to fit in Carmel-- maybe you'll catch Clint Eastwood, who was once mayor.

When are you going to be there (SF)? I will be in town mid next week for about nine days, and would be happy to take you on a day trip.
__________________
Iamlindoro
iamlindoro is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-12-2004, 01:25 PM   #7
TPunk Recognized
 
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Kent, UK
Posts: 226
Thanks: 0
Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Default

San Fran sounds like a really cool place! I cant wait to go! I'm going the end of my trip which starts in May. And so I'll probably be in the US sometime in April 2005!!!! Which is ages and ages away!
Chocolate AND chinese food........I can see I'm going to love this place!
***Beady*** is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-14-2004, 11:02 PM   #8
Admin
 
travelpunk's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: spiznain
Posts: 6,581
Thanks: 46
Thanked 13 Times in 11 Posts
Default

As far as transportation goes within both cities...

Sanf Fran has the infamous BART system (Bay Area Rapid Transit) that'll take you throughout the city and the outskirts of San Fran as well. Also, they have the Muni that will transport you within downtown SF.

Here's more info- San Fran Transit

There is a link to the Los Angeles train system on that site too.

In Los Angeles, though, you will definitely need a rental car to get anywhere and everywhere
travelpunk is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-15-2004, 07:24 AM   #9
TPunk Recognized
 
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Kent, UK
Posts: 226
Thanks: 0
Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Default

That links really helpfull! thanx TP! Looks like I'm gonna be kinda stuck when I go to LA, ah well, I'm sure I'll sort something out.
I bought a little book on SF, looks like a really wonderful city. Oooohh, itchy feet...can't wait to go!
***Beady*** is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-15-2004, 08:48 PM   #10
TPunk Emeritus
 
Somnambulation's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: California
Posts: 1,692
Thanks: 0
Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post
Default

Yeah LA's public transportation system is pretty non-existant. The evil automobile companies got thier way and had the train system replaced with the freeway system. Basically its the plotline of Who Framed Roger Rabbit, minus the talking cartoon characters.
Somnambulation is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-04-2004, 04:13 PM   #11
Members
 
Join Date: Mar 2004
Posts: 3
Thanks: 0
Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Red face

Lovely Los Angeles....there is SO much!

Yes, the beaches are a must see...and great atmospheres to be in...Santa Monica has a cool pier with performers/vendors, etc. and a Promenade (on 3rd Street) full of restaurants, shopping (big name stores and little shops alike)...even more performers (especially at night) and vendors on the street. It's wonderful! ...Venice is just a few miles away too...

Nightlife...not far from there is Hollywood...here you've got Hollywood Blvd., lots of sights to see, the 'walk of fame', the wax museum, Ripley's Believe it Or Not Museum, movie theaters, etc. and of course, ample nightlife on the weekends... Not to mention City Walk (just outside of Universal Studios)...more clubs, Hard Rock Cafe, shopping, people, music, fun, and ice cream

It's true, public transportation can be a little hard to maneuver, but is not impossible within city limits...it'll even take you down to San Diego Beaches and other bigger spots...it's when you have a more specific itinerary that you'll be thankful for your own vehicle --- then the traffic is another battle

It's all worth it, I promise!
quietman303 is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply






Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off


Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
San Fran meet up ! TheWills TPunk Meet Ups 8 01-10-2006 04:51 PM
San Fran Hostels Matt Payne North America Hostels Recommeded 1 03-28-2005 02:00 AM
San Fran, CA blinkchick2134 Companions Wanted 3 07-28-2004 06:20 PM


All times are GMT -7. The time now is 08:50 AM.



 

Search Engine Friendly URLs by vBSEO 3.2.0 (Unregistered)

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 80 81 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 100 101 102 103 104 105 106 107 108 109 110 111 112 113 114 115 116 117 118 119 120 121