San Francisco: 3-day whirlwind

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A May 2006 trip to San Francisco by karameister

Golden Gate Bridge Photo - San Francisco, California

Quote: San Francisco is one of those places you have to visit to truly experience. We spent 3 fantastic days trying to cram everything in.

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San Francisco: 3-day whirlwind

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Overview

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There are so many things to do in San Francisco that a list of highlights would not do it justice! The typical highlights seem to be Union Square, Fisherman's Wharf, Alcatraz, riding the cable cars, Lombard Street, and Castro. But don't forget to stop at Twin Peaks and wander into some of the lesser-known areas of the city.It becomes hard to pack everything you want to do into a short space of time—it is definitely worth it to spend a week or so wandering around and hitting up the "tourist" spots. I definitely enjoyed Fisherman's Wharf, because of the fantastic views as opposed to the kitschy shopping.Quick Tips: Try to get out of the city for at least one day of your ...Read More

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Han's Coffee Shop

Restaurant | "Han's"

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Han's is just like every other greasy spoon: a tiny corner shop that serves coffee and closes by 4 in the afternoon. What separates this eatery from others is just how tiny it is and the value you will get for your money.I cannot emphasize how small this place really is! There are no more than 8 tables, and 3 seats at the counter. The cash register is crushed between part of the kitchen and the coffee maker. And if you need to go to the bathroom, well, good luck. The bathroom is up a narrow, steep set of stairs.That's not really the important part of Han's, though. The value is the key to their success. The food is average breakfast and subs, but it's so cheap! Their main break...Read More

Member Rating 3 out of 5 on June 8, 2006

Han's Coffee Shop
900 Sutter St.
San Francisco, California 94109
(415) 776-7875

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Tian Sing

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Restaurant

The mysterious dragon Photo - Tian Sing, San Francisco, California

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The enormous dragon that is visible from the street is the sole reason I wish to go to Tian Sing. Our friends have never dined at the place before, and wish to give it a taste. I am more than willing, because I want to see how they created the dragon masterpiece.Tian Sing is a very narrow and long restaurant, perhaps three tables wide at its maximum, but at least 30 tables long. The dragon on the wall is made out of some sort of cut out metal that showcases the brick wall behind.The food here matches the decor—interesting, but very good. The dishes are a bit expensive for your average Chinese restaurant, weighing in at around $10 to $12 for a main course. But it's well worth it...Read More

Member Rating 4 out of 5 on June 15, 2006

Tian Sing
138 Cyril Magnin St.
San Francisco, California 94102
(415) 398-1338

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Muir Woods

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Attraction | "Muir Woods National Monument"

Stream Photo - Muir Woods, San Francisco, California

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Just a few short miles from the crowded city streets, you'll find one of the most peaceful and rejuvenating places I've ever visited. Muir Woods is so quiet and so natural, you'll be afraid to talk.The roads leading to Muir Woods wind you through some fantastic scenery, over the Golden Gate Bridge and along valleys. The park is a mere $3 to get into, making it the best value in the San Francisco area. There is one small drawback to the park, in that parking can be difficult to find and quite a hike from the entrance. We had to park almost half a mile away from the entrance.Even our parking woes could not deter from the wonderful majesty of the woods. Immediately upon entering...Read More

Member Rating 5 out of 5 on June 13, 2006

Muir Woods
Muir Woods National Monument
Mill Valley, CA 94941-2696
(415) 561-4700

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Winchester Mystery House

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Attraction

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A small detour from San Francisco led us to the wonderful city of San Jose. Just a 30-minute drive from downtown San Francisco, the Winchester Mystery House is located just off of several highways.

The mansion was built by Sarah Winchester, wife to the famous rifle company owner. This oddity was created by her after her husband died. A fateful trip to a psychic led Sarah to believe that unless she built room to house all of the spirits killed by way of Winchester rifles, she would be haunted for the rest of her life.

Sarah then began to build. The building was helter-skelter, 24-hour a day work, and continued until the day she died - 38 years later.

With that bit of history out of the way - the mansion is fascinating! All of the television specials in the world could not have properly shown off this beauty. While only part of the original mansion stands (the rest was lost in the 1906 earthquake), what remains is monstrous. Sarah Winchester was a crazy genius, and it shows through in much of the architecture. As an example, the garden room floors slope slightly downward, plus the tiles can be removed so water can be collected and reused elsewhere after the plants have been watered.

A lot of the wild building has been showcased again and again, but some of the highlights include the repeated use of the number 13 throughout the house (13 drain holes in the kitchen drains), the "door to nowhere" and the staircase to the ceiling. Winchester also had a custom-created stained glass window that is absolutely stunning, but she continued to build around it, so no light ever shines through the window.

Overall, the mansion may be pricey, it is well worth the price. I would also recommend taking the behind the scenes tour as part of the "Grand Mansion" package. It's not worth the cost by itself, but for the extra $5 as the package, go ahead and splurge!

Visit the Winchester Mystery House website for directions and details. Read Less

Member Rating 5 out of 5 on October 17, 2006

Winchester Mystery House
525 South Winchester Blvd.
San Jose, California 95128
(408) 247-2101