San Francisco A City Guide
Introduction
The City and County of San Francisco is the fourth-largest city in the state of California, in the United States. A consolidated city-county, mainland San Francisco is located on the tip of the San Francisco Peninsula. Insular San Francisco includes several islands in the San Francisco Bay and the Golden Gate Strait, notably Alcatraz, Treasure Island, and the Farallon Islands 27 miles offshore in the Pacific Ocean and also most of the privately owned Red Rock Island near the Richmond-San Rafael Bridge.
History
San Francisco has a long history of events marking its growth from a small town to a big city
• In 1776, the Spanish were the first Europeans to settle in San Francisco
• In 1848, with the advent of the California gold rush the city entered a period of rapid growth
• In 1822, serious development by non-Spanish speakers began, when William Richardson, an English whaler redeveloped a section of Yerba Buena in what is now Portsmouth Square in Chinatown.
• In 1846, the Mexican-American War broke out.
• On January 30, 1847, a naval force under Commodore John D. Sloat claimed it in the name of the United States and renamed it “San Francisco”
• On April 18, 1906, a devastating earthquake resulted from the rupture of over 270 miles of the San Andreas Fault, from San Juan Bautista to Eureka, centered immediately offshore of San Francisco.
• The city was quickly rebuilt after the earthquake.
• The phoenix on the city’s flag represents San Francisco’s “rebirth” from the ashes of the fire that resulted from the quake.
• In the 1950s San Francisco hired Harvard graduate Justin Herman to head the redevelopment agency for the city and county.
• Justin Herman began an aggressive campaign to renew blighted areas of the city.
• His planning led to the creation of Embarcadero Center, the Embarcadero Freeway, Japan town, the Geary Street super blocks, and Yerba Buena Gardens.
Place of Interest
San Francisco’s parks, museums, tours, and landmarks are favorites for travelers the world over and offer an Array of activities to suit every visitor. But no particular activity or place makes the city one of the most popular destinations in the world. It’s San Francisco itself — its charm, its atmosphere, its perfect blend of big metropolis with small-town hospitality. Some of its main attractions are:
• Alcatraz Island
• Cable Cars
• California Academy of Sciences
• Coit Tower
• Ferry Building Marketplace (and Farmers’ Market)
• Fisherman’s Wharf
• Ghiradelli Square
• Golden Gate Bridge
• Lombard Street
• Pier 39
• The Cannery
• Yerba Buena Center for the Arts / Yerba Buena Gardens
Museums & Art Galleries
Notable San Francisco Museums include
• The Museum of Modern Art (SFMOMA),
• The Palace of the Legion of Honor,
• The M. H. de Young Memorial Museum,
• The Asian Art Museum.
Other museums include
• The International Museum of Women,
• The Museum of the African Diaspora,
• The Contemporary Jewish Museum,
• The Museum of Craft & Folk Art,
• The Mexican Museum.
In terms of performing arts, San Francisco boasts
• The San Francisco Symphony,
• The San Francisco Opera
• The San Francisco Ballet.
San Francisco’s Ballet and Opera are some of the oldest continuing performing arts companies in the United States.
Shopping
Like its population, San Francisco’s shopping is both worldly and intimate. Every persuasion, style, era, and fetish is represented, not in big, tacky shopping malls, but in hundreds of quaint, dramatically different boutiques scattered throughout the city. San Francisco has many shopping areas, but the following places are where one will find most of the actions:
• Union Square & Environs
• Chinatown
• Union Street
• Chestnut Street
• Fillmore Street
• Haight Street
• SoMa
• Hayes Valley
Food & Drink
San Francisco’s restaurants are so renowned that many people visit the city just to eat — and with good reason. The city’s brilliant chefs, combined with California’s abundance of organic produce, seafood, free-range meats, and Northern California wine, guarantee some of the world’s finest dining. San Francisco also has varied nightlife ranging from bars to lounges to clubs. Major areas of nightlife in San Francisco are North Beach, the Mission District, the Marina, the Castro, and South of Market. San Francisco also boasts of legendary pop music venues such as The Fillmore and The Warfield.
Universities
San Francisco Unified School District and the Archdiocese of San Francisco’s dozens of Catholic elementary and high schools serve the city. Despite its limited geographical space, San Francisco is home to a multitude of Universities and Colleges. Public universities include:
• University of California, San Francisco, primarily a graduate level health-sciences school, located north of Forest Hill
• San Francisco State University located in the southwest corner of the city near Lake Merced
• University of California, Hastings College of the Law located downtown at its Civic Center
• City College of San Francisco, one of the largest community colleges in the country is located in the Ingleside, with several extension campuses.
• Private universities:
• The Jesuit-run University of San Francisco, one of the first universities established west of the Mississippi, located in the center of the city
• Golden Gate University, a business and law school located downtown
• California Culinary Academy Le Cordon Bleu program located in the Tenderloin
• Academy of Art University
• San Francisco School of Digital Filmmaking
• Alliant International University.
Sports
San Francisco is the home of many major league teams like
• The San Francisco 49ers National Football League team, who play at Monster Park
• The San Francisco Giants Major League Baseball team, who play at SBC Park
• MLB ’s Oakland Athletics
• NFL’s Oakland Raiders
• The National Basketball Association’s Golden State Warriors play across the bay in Oakland
• The regional National Hockey League team, the San Jose Sharks play in San Jose
The Warriors and Sharks were once based just south of San Francisco, at the Cow Palace, located several yards south of San Francisco, in Daly City. The city is also home to some famous golf courses, including the Harding Park Golf Course and the courses of the Olympic Club.
Hotels & Accommodation
Luxury Hotels
San Francisco has elegant and grand hotels in its possession. Westin St. Francis, Westin Saint Francis, Palace Hotel, Argent Hotel, Mark Hopkins Intercontinental, Hilton, Fairmont, W San Francisco, Pan Pacific, Park Hyatt, Hyatt Regency, Renaissance Parc 55, Ritz Carlton – are some of these big names.
All famous luxury hotels like Hilton, Hyatt, Palace Hotel, etc. have their branch in Fisherman Wharf.
Budget Hotels
If the visit to San Francisco is in a particularly busy season and booking in prominent hotels are over, here’s a list of moderate to very inexpensive alternatives – Alisa Hotel, Edward II Inn & Suites, Hotel Beresford Arms, King George Hotel, The Marina Inn, The San Remo Hotel.
Tours and Sightseeing
San Francisco has different type of organized tours they differ in the contents as well as the transport system. Tours are available by Bus, Boat, BART (Bay Area Rapid Transit) or on foot. The San Francisco Visitor Information Center, at Powell and Market streets, distributes free route maps. Blue & Gold Fleet and Red & White Fleet are two boat tours available. And Gray Line Bus tour is the San Francisco’s largest bus tour operator. The self-guided Private SUV tour, 49-mile drive is one easy way to grasp the beauty of San Francisco and its extraordinary location. Beginning in the city, it follows a rough circle around the bay and passes virtually all the best-known sights, from Chinatown to the Golden Gate Bridge, Ocean Beach, Seal Rocks, Golden Gate Park, and Twin Peaks.
Transport
San Francisco has the most extensive public transit system on the West Coast and one of the most diverse in the country. Muni is the city-owned public transit system, which operates the Muni Metro light rail system. BART (Bay Area Rapid Transit) is the regional transit system, which connects San Francisco with the East Bay, through an underwater tunnel, and Northern San Mateo County, California communities and San Francisco International Airport on the San Francisco Peninsula. In addition, a frequent commuter rail service, Caltrain, operates between San Francisco, San Jose, California and Gilroy, California.
San Francisco International Airport (SFO) is located 12.9 km (8 miles) south of the city in San Mateo County on a landfill extension into the San Francisco Bay. It is the only major international hub airport in California other than LAX in Los Angeles.
Las Vegas – Best Place to Hang With Family
Going to Las Vegas: -
Las Vegas is known as the best holiday destination. That is why most of the people with their families come out here to spend their break time in an enthusiastic way. This city is famous for its number of casinos and dazzling nightlife and also there are number of activities that a person can enjoy with his family members. It is interesting to know that the casinos are recognized as the best place for families to spend their vacations. The main reason behind this is that the casinos are offering a lot of family activities along with the attractions of gambling.
Major attractions of the Las Vegas: -
i. One of the major attractions of the Las Vegas is the High Roller where people can have a lot of fun and adventure in their break time. At the Stratosphere Hotel, The High Roller is known for its 909 foot high roller coaster. Because of this amazing height, this is the highest roller coaster in the whole world. That is why it is the major attraction of the Las Vegas.
The High Roller comprises of more than 800 tracks and that too with the sharp banking turns that can raise the hair of any person because it turns at an amazing speed of 32 miles per hour. The cost for taking this exhilarating ride is 5$ and is open for public daily. As the ride on such roller coaster the ride is so steep and high, some of the restrictions are enforced on the height.
ii. Another activity where tourists can spend their good time with their kids is the zoo. The Nevada Zoological and Botanical Park is known as the biggest zoo in the world and hence attracting many people worldwide. Kids can have a great time at this place. In this zoo, there are exotic species of birds and animals which include emus, ostriches, wallabies and flamingoes. But the most famous and attractive fir the kids are the chimpanzees. The tricks and activities made by chimpanzees are even praised by the older kids.
iii. Another place to explore is the deserts of the Las Vegas. A half day or a full day eco-tour at the deserts can be a great fun learning experience. Children came to know about the different aspects and features of the desert.
Despite of having so many tourist attractions, Las Vegas is famous for its beauty and the life of the people. That is why this place is alluring many tourists to spend their time in their holidays.
San Diego Vacation Guide
San Diego is the southernmost city of California. On the west coast of San Deigo lies the Pacific Ocean while huge mountains dominate its eastern part. Due to the Pacific Ocean the climate of the place is warm, dry and pleasant all round the year.
San Diego is a famous and coveted tourist destination. It hosts more than 30 million tourists every year! The place is blessed with divinely beauty and other attractions. San Diego is worth visiting for young as well as the old. The countless water sports and such activities are a treat to the adults whereas the zoos and other parks are meant to lure kids.
San Diego is quite popular for its Balboa Park. The park is spread in 1200 acres and nestles the globally acclaimed Zoo and some wonderful and eminent museums. Balboa Park is also the cultural center of the city. It parades an incredible variety of flora that mesmerizes each and every visitor. The zoo in the park is a home for more than 4000 animals of various species. It is a habitat for some of the most exclusive or rare species of birds and animals on earth. Besides this the Balboa Park is swarming with people because of its fantastic museums. These museums are variously devoted to San Diego’s history, science, art, cars, railroads, mankind etc. For instance the San Diego Mueseum of Art is the largest museum of San Diego that displays the magnum opus of great artists. While the San Diego Natural history museum presents an exclusive collection of environmental habitats such as desert, ocean and shore habitats. Beautiful and sparkling gems and minerals can also be seen here. Apart from these a visit to the Reuben H. Fleet Space Theater and Science Center and the San Diego Aerospace Museum in the Balboa Park is also extremely informative.
For all the aqua lovers the Mission Bay area near the Pacific Ocean is an ideal place. The bay includes 27 miles of Bay Shore beaches and 17 miles of ocean front beaches. It is an amazing picnic spot for the residents as well as the visitors. But the most exciting place in the Mission Bay area is the SeaWorld. The SeaWorld San Diego is a mind-boggling joint. At SeaWorld a person not just gets the opportunity to confront beautiful dolphins and ferocious sharks but also touch and feed them. California’s gray whales, also known as killer whales can be watched at the San Diego harbor Excursion Whale Watching center.
If you want to relish San Diego’s nightlife and shopping there are certain ideal joints to hit. The Room “La Jolla’s Exclusive Dance Loungeâ€, the Cannibal Bar-Catamaran Resort Hotel and the Have a Nice Day Café are some of the top centers to enjoy a thrilling nightlife. While Rio Vista Shopping Center, Horton Plaza and the Gaslamp Quarter etc. are amongst San Diego’s awesome shopping hubs.
Hotel review: Stratosphere, Las Vegas
The Stratosphere is an extremely good-value hotel with some of the best gambling odds on the Strip. It has paid the price for being located at the most northern point of the Strip just that little bit too far from the rest of the action and in a bit seedier part of town. Having faced bankruptcy, then received an injection of capital to provide a raft of new amenities, the Stratosphere finds itself offering party-time products in an environment that always looks as if it needs a lick of paint.
In its favour, though, are some real crowd-pleasers. XScream is the latest of a raft of thrill rides that, along with Big Shot! and The High Roller, attract the thrill seekers. Those with a less robust constitution can enjoy the observation deck in the tallest building in the city and enjoy a drink as the bar gently circles so you can see every dramatic view.
The restaurant scene is one of the hotel’s biggest hits. Its Top of the World Restaurant provides great food and an incomparable view of The Strip. The Crazy Armadillo, a fun Oyster Bar with live entertainment daily and singing and dancing Shooter Girls and bar staff, is a boon, as is the Tequila Sky Bar with its flair’ bartenders and tequila shots. Roxy’s Diner is another fun place. Set in the 1950s, it provides classic all-American dishes, while the waiters and waitresses sing and dance along to the rock ‘n’ roll music.
The headliner for the nightclub scene is the new Polly Esther’s, a popular nightclub chain that brings disco balls, Doc Martens and DeLoreans to the floor, opened in 2007. This complex is actually four night-clubs in one: Polly Esthers salutes the funky 70s; Culture Club brings back the 80s, Nerve Ana embraces the 90s while the ultra lounge Suite 2000 pounds with current club music.
Beach Club 25 was the first of the “European-Style Sunbathing” facilities in Las Vegas. It is a popular, secluded adult environment with table tennis, fitness equipment, water volleyball and fun parties, with fantastic views of the Strip from its 25th-floor location. It is also incredibly popular with cast members of the topless Bite show who frequent the facilities to perfect their tans and allow the males to drool.
Another chill-out zone is provided on the eighth floor of the tower block. The 67,000sq ft (6,030sq m) pool and recreation deck offers a huge pool, oversize spa, waterfall and private cabanas.
The competitively priced rooms are among the cheapest on the Strip, although they aren’t quite as good a value as first blush. The otherwise budget-priced hotel charges a sometimes pricey “resort fee” on top of your hotel bill, which makes the value go from amazingly cheap to merely very good.
Reservations: 702-380 7777
Website: www.stratospherehotel.com
Fax: 702-383 5334
Room rates: From $39 MonThurs; from $89 FriSun
Location: At the northern end of the Strip
Theme: Tallest building west of the Mississippi
Cost: $550 million
Rooms: 2,444
Shows: American Superstars and Bite
Nightlife: Polly Esthers, Crazy Armadillo Oyster Bar, Images Lounge, Top of the World Lounge and Tequila Sky Bar
Entertainment: Highest observation tower in America, world’s highest roller-coaster and world’s highest thrill ride, the Big Shot
Restaurants: 2 fine-dining experiences including the revolving Top of the World Restaurant on the 106th floor, plus 5 casual dining outlets
Chilling out: Beach Club 25 and pool and recreation deck and Roni Josef Salon Spa
Shopping: the Tower Shops
Other amenities: A wedding chapel and state-of-the-art video arcade
THE CALIFORNIA HOUSING MARKET STAGFLATION EFFECT ON POPULATION PROJECTIONS
A year ago, population projections for the Inland Empire and for the
Coachella Valley in particular were dynamic. The Coachella Valley
was growing at a rate of 29.5 percent compared to 9.7 percent for
California as a whole and 4.9 percent for the U.S. as a
whole.The Coachella Valley real estate was growing by 47 people per day. In the
Temecula Valley real estate, the rise in the past six years has been even
more dramatic, rising by 62.7 percent.
So what effect has the stagflation of the housing market in California
had on the Inland Empire and the Coachella Valley? These two
areas, both in the fast-growing area of the Inland Empire, now have so
much to offer, they are likely to keep growing just as rapidly if not
more so in the coming years.
For the two decades from 2000 to 2020, the Inland Empire’s population
is expected to rise from 3.26 million to 5.28 million, up more than 2
million people. This is more people than most entire states
expect to grow in the same period, and more than Los Angeles alone or
most of the other areas of Southern California combined.
So what is happening in the Inland Empire and in particular, in cities
such as Temecula which has risen from 57, 716 in the year 2000 to a
figure that may now be close to or exceeding 100,000 people? In
part, the Inland Empire’s population explosion is the result of the
fact that the area still has large amounts of undeveloped land, land
that other counties such as Orange County, have run out of, for the
most part. Land, space, housing, are all less expensive and
easier to get to. People will work for less in areas where they
don’t have to drive three hours through rush hour traffic and employers
recognizing this have started to make the move to the Inland Empire.
The Inland Empire has also become Southern California’s logistics
hub. Cargo flowing in and out of Southern California must, by
necessity pass through the Inland Empire either through the Cajon Pass,
the San Gorgonio Pass and through the area’s freeways.
The demand for rail shipments is reportedly forcing the BNSF Railroad
to double their capacity and Union Pacific Railroad may need to seek an
intermodal site in addition to its main switching yard in Colton.
Container traffic in the ports of Long Beach and Los Angeles is
soaring. Southern California’s trucking firms have their major
cargo sorting facilities in the Inland Empire. And UPS, Federal
Express Ground and DHL have major hubs now in Southern California at
Ontario International Airport, in Rialto and at March Air Force Base,
respectively.
Ontario International Airport is already the second largest cargo
airport in Southern California and March Air Reserve Base is expected
to rank third by 2030.
As areas such as San Diego feel the same growing pains and traffic
problems that Orange County suffered before them, cities such as
Temecula are reaping the rewards with its equally pleasant weather and
its setting among the wineries of the Temecula Valley. As with
other cities in the Inland Empire compared with San Diego County and
Orange County cities, Temecula offers an educated population and labor
force, lower lease rates for space, lower home costs, lower crime
rates, and less traffic congestion. While not as inexpensive as
it was before, land is still less expensive in the Inland Empire than
in San Diego or Orange County and the Inland Empire has a logistics
advantage being close to logistics hubs.
The Coachella Valley, once much more of a seasonal area, is now
comprised primarily of full-time residents. New buyers have made
the move either because of the lower cost of housing or because people
who previously purchased vacation homes in the Palm Springs area have
now moved there permanently.
The Coachella Valley has only begun to focus its attention on a younger
segment of the State’s population with its affordable wealth and as
more cutting edge developments, recreation and nightlife come to the
area such as the Hard Rock Hotel planned for Palm Springs and the large
scale casino developments with the entertainment and concerts they can
attract, the Coachella Valley will almost certainly continue to grow at
the same rapid pace if not faster. Further down valley, La Quinta
has perhaps the most spectacular mountain settings that are common to
all of the Coachella Valley cities, combined with new developments such
as the Griffin Ranch which offers equestrian estates to horse lovers.
Clearly, with population increases of nearly 30 percent in the last 6
years in the Coachella Valley and 62.7 percent in the Temecula Valley,
and with the advantages that these areas have to offer, certain areas
of the Inland Empire will continue to do extremely well, even in this
time of stagflation for the housing market in California. What
may also be common to each of these growing areas is the intangible
attraction of nature. In the Temecula Valley it is the natural
setting of the vineyards that gives the area it’s feeling of
peacefulness. In the Coachella Valley, it is the mountains
populated with bighorn sheep that offer both desert views and
snow-capped peaks in winter.
Things to Do in Las Vegas With Friends
Discover all the fun and exciting things to do in Las Vegas. Grab your friends and have an awesome Sin City experience for your much-needed break from the ordinary.
The number of hotel choices in Las Vegas can be overwhelming. The best thing to do is choose one that offers the best deals. One of the most notable hotels in the city is Wynn Las Vegas. Room rates can be pricey, but not on weekdays. Book a 640 square foot-standard room at Wynn Las Vegas and enjoy all the luxurious amenities the hotel offers at an affordable price.
The first thing you should do in Las Vegas is to head to Stratosphere Tower, the tallest free-standing observation deck in the United States. At the top, you get to have a spectacular view of the entire Las Vegas Boulevard, popularly known as the Las Vegas Strip, glowing with all the colorful lights of the hotels and other surrounding establishments, the suburban communities, and even Mt. Charleston from a distance.
Liberace Museum is one of the most frequented attractions in Nevada and is often included in every visitor’s “things to do in Las Vegas” list. Visit the Liberace Museum and pay tribute to the man that helped put Las Vegas in the map. The museum is home to the world’s largest rhinestone along with Liberace’s collection of pianos, cars, costumes and more.
Gambling is undoubtedly the most popular of all things to do in Las Vegas. If you do not gamble or have no idea how these games of chance are played, Las Vegas Hilton holds gambling classes (also called gaming classes) for everyone who wants to learn the mechanisms of poker, baccarat and all the other table games. Be sure to check on the schedule and rates for these classes. More often than not, though, the gambling classes are free!
Las Vegas offers world-class shopping experience to both its residents and visitors. Check out the Forum Shops located in one of the buildings of Caesars Palace Hotel Casino. Upscale shops such as Jimmy Choo, Gucci and Versace all in an infrastructure reminiscent of ancient Roman architecture will surely entice people to make shopping one of the things to do in their Las Vegas itinerary. All the shopping will most certainly make you and your friends all worked up. Pamper yourselves with a foot or full body massage at The Spa in the Treasure Island. The amiable staff alone will make you feel relaxed. Other services offered are facials and body treatments, to name a few.
Las Vegas is a dining mecca. Whether you are looking for the all-American cuisine or you want to try something new, Las Vegas has a place for you. Emeril’s New Orleans Fish House at the MGM Grand, is a must-try. Reservations are not necessary, but highly-recommended. After the very filling meal at Emeril’s, go to Coyote Cafe for desserts, which is also located in the same hotel.
One thing you and your friends should definitely experience in Las Vegas is its incomparable nightlife. Dress up and hit the dance floor at Tao located in the Venetian Hotel. Chances are, you might be drinking, dancing and rubbing elbows with Hollywood’s party people.
This Las Vegas experience will make you realize why the city is coined the Entertainment Capital of the World. From morning to very late night, you will certainly find your hands full of all the interesting things to do in Las Vegas.
Restaurant profiles: Poly Esthers in Las Vegas, Nevada – Part 1
Location: At the Stratosphere Hotel and Casino.
2000 Las Vegas Blvd., South, Las Vegas, NV 89104
Tel: 702-889-1980
Email: Info@pollyesthers.com
Poly Esther’s is a nightclub covering 26,000 square feet and separated into four different rooms with four different eras, the 1970’s, 1980’s, 1990’s, and 2000’s. As well as dancing to the music on the themed dance floors you can reminisce with the celebrity scandals, technology and pop culture with interactive features.
Open Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday from 10pm-4am you must be aged 21+ to enter and be dressed to impress as the club has a dress code. A bottle service is available in any of the VIP areas Call for prices and details.
The 70’s Room.
Go back in time and find Charlie’s Angels Night, Disco Jam weekends and Hustle lessons. Groove to Abba, John Travolta, The Bee Gees and many more on the Saturday Night Fever dance floor complete with spinning disco ball and squares that light up in time to the music. Take a look at the Brady Bunch shrine, the ET lunch boxes and watch Sonny and Cher TV shows while you sip a Jaws cocktail or perhaps The Cher which has Amaretto, sour mix, Sprite and a lime wedge.
The 80’s Culture Club.
Dance to Duran Duran on the “Purple Rain” dance floor with a vintage DeLorean car suspended above you on the ceiling. Drink a Frozen Smurf, a Top Gun or a Ghost-buster cocktail whilst you take a look at the over-sized Rubik’s Cube.
The 90’s NerveAna Room.
Sip your Ricki Martini or Madonna cocktail with citrus vodka, midori, sour mix and lemon-lime soda whilst you take in the decor of the 90’s room featuring a Ford white bronco (O.J Simpson) and portraits of Sharon Stone in Basic Instinct. Dance the night away to Grunge, R&B and more.
Suite 2000.
Come back into the modern world and dance to hip-hop, Detroit funk, Soulful house and more. Imagine you’re in New York, LA or Miami in this spin-off room from the premier nightclub Suiteone8one in San
Francisco.
You can travel back and forwards in time, visiting the different rooms as many times as you want in a night. Perfect if you like the music of today but your guy is still stuck in the 80’s! You could even go with your parents and leave them in the 70’s room while you chill out in the cool and modern Suite 2000!
Resources:
http://vipnite.com/Nightlife/N ightclubs/nightclubs.php
http://www.showslasvegas.com/T ickets/Night-Clubs/Polly-Esthe rs-Stratosphere-Las-Vegas/
http://www.pollyestherslv.com/ index_flash.html
Best areas to stay in San Diego, California – Part 2
Planning a trip to America’s Finest City? Awesome (yeah you’ll need to sound like a local so try saying it). But where to stay? With hundreds of hotels in a city of over a million people, there’s a lot to choose from. Allow me, your local guide, to help guide your decision.
Your choice of where to stay while in San Diego largely depends on what type of vacation you’re seeking, your disposable income, and what daily activities you’d like to engage in. Here are some recommendations for the family traveler, the upscale traveler, and the party animal.
If you are seeking the wholesome family experience, traveling with children, or simply wish to see most of the mainstream tourist attractions, your best choice is Mission Valley. Mission Valley is at the junction of the I-5 and I-8 freeways, and is less than a fifteen minute drive from the airport, Sea World, The San Diego Zoo, Balboa Park, Old Town, The Gaslamp Quarter, and downtown San Diego. Mission Valley is filled with reasonably priced, family friendly chain hotel/motels and offers easy freeway access and plentiful moderately priced dining options.
Seeking the upscale San Diego experience? Lucky for you there are many hotels, restaurants, and shops that are happy to take your money. Staying in either La Jolla or downtown San Diego will offer the absolute best of what the city has to offer. La Jolla is located on a bluff twenty minutes north of downtown and is filled with five star restaurants, boutique shops, high end nightclubs, and stunning panoramas of the Pacific Ocean and La Jolla Cove all located in a pedestrian friendly space. Downtown San Diego has a plethora of new boutique hotels, dozens of fine dining options, and Horton Plaza perhaps the best collection of upscale shops in town.
For the “social” vacationer, San Diego has plenty of party on the beach locations sure to demonstrate the best of local nightlife. Stay in Pacific Beach, Mission Beach, or Ocean Beach for a party hearty atmosphere and plenty of local bars that are “staggering back to the hotel at 2:00am” distance away. All three of these areas are right on the beach, chock full of young outgoing locals and visitors ready and willing to party the night away.
San Diego has an incredible amount of attractions, dining, and sightseeing options, and there’s no way to see it all in one trip. Your choice of where to stay while in town can certainly help ensure the vacation experience you desire.
Things to do other than gamble in Las Vegas, Nevada – Part 1
Las Vegas. The gambling capital of the world. Poker tables, roulette, and slot machines dominate the city. But for the non-gambler, fear not, there are plenty things to do in Vegas other than bet your money against the house. In a city where the money is flowing, people let loose, and time is irrelevant, possibilities are endless. You’ll never get to see and do all Vegas offers, but if you want to explore some different options, here are some ideas.
The four mile strip is lined with casinos competing in extravagance which you’ll definitely want to check out. On the South end of the strip lies Mandalay Bay, where you can visit a 1.6 million gallon shark reef aquarium. Admission is $16.95, which allows you to view some of the worlds most fascinating creatures from sharks of all kinds, piranhas, sea turtles, rare golden crocodiles and more. Mandalay Bay is also known for its spectacular pools, consistently rated the best Vegas has to offer.
Next door you’ll find the Luxor, the Egyptian themed pyramid casino which is best viewed at night when the worlds most powerful light beams from the top of the building. Inside the Luxor you’ll find one of the more reasonably priced buffets and a variety of entertainment. Current shows include comedian Carrot Top, Fantasy, an adult revue, and Criss Angel, a magic themed Cirque Du Soleil production.
The brightly colored castles are hard to miss at the Excalibur, next in line. A great spot for kids and adults, the world famous Excalibur Midway features arcade and carnival games for the young at heart. Across the street is the Tropicana, a staple in Vegas history. The Follies Bergere, the longest running stage production in Vegas takes place here.
The MGM Grand, next to the Tropicana, welcomes tourists with their massive golden lions erected at the front of the casino. Inside, you can catch a glimpse of the real live thing in their lion habitat. The MGM is a great hangout for nightlife, hosting some of the hippest nightclubs, performances and special events.
If you continue to walk along the strip, you’ll get an eyeful of free shows and entertainment. The fountains come to life in the dazzling water and sound show outside the Bellagio. See an erupting volcano at the Mirage. Watch sword fighting, dancing, and explosions in an actioned packed battle at Treasure Island. Step into a whirlwind of flying trapeze artists inside Circus Circus.
Travel vicariously to Paris, Venice or New York without leaving Las Vegas Boulevard.
A visitors guide to Anaheim, California
Welcome to Anaheim. The one-time Bavarian delight along the Santa Ana River and previously filled with great citrus and walnut trees is now nearly half Hispanic and an established center of a metropolitan region in its own right.
Disneyland
Yes, it is a staple of visiting the Southland and you are obligated to visit if you’re in the area and haven’t been before. California Adventure is adjacent to the park and is just a pretty waste of time, so I recommend saving your money and going to see the real things the state has to offer. If you’re limited on time and want the best of the rides, head first to the Matterhorn to wake you up and help get you pumped for the remainder of your day. Run over to Space Mountain and soar through the stars and try to think of Michael Jackson when he wasn’t so odd.
Stop off at the Caf Orleans for a yummy crepe or sandwich. Mosey on down to the Pirates of the Caribbean cruise and relax, enjoy a boat ride while your food settles. Don’t move too fast, you can take a fascinating show of outer space while sitting in the theater in Star Tours be careful, your seats do move in correspondence with the show. You’ll come outside and the difference between an air-conditioned theater and the Southern California heat will hit you. Skip over to Splash Mountain for a refreshing cool down and be careful, you will get wet!
Cruise through Autopia and let a breeze dry you off a bit, and then hit the Indiana Jones adventure for a shaky Jeep ride. It’s now time for a little meet and greet with some characters, which is best done in Toon Town (my favorite part as a child). Minnie’s house is a little girl’s dream and the boys should really enjoy the Chip n’Dale Tree House.
All the sugar and candy is done (and don’t forget to buy some edible and non-edible treats at the Gag Factory before you leave), dusk should be hitting, and there’s some sort of eerie feel as the breeze of the Santa Ana winds hit you and you wonder where the sun has gone. Well, it’s the perfect timing for the trip to the Haunted Mansion. Will you see a ghost? Once you get over being spooked, run to Fronteirland for a place close to the water to get the best view of the Fantasmic special effects show performed on the lake. The showing should be at about 9, and following it will be a spectacular firework show. You should head back to your hotel room after this get some rest and instruct the baby sitter because now it’s time to party!
Map of the park’s location
Nightlife
