ninjatutle
Premium
join:2006-01-02
San Ramon, CA
 ·Sprint Mobile Broa..
| reply to Goober
Re: San Francisco - Where is it better to stay?
I would just stick to SF and maybe have the family meet you over there. You'll waste half a day getting to Berkeley and back. Or meet up with the family at HS Lordship restaurant at the Berkeley marina. »www.hslordships.com/index.html
Great place to fly a kite afterwards with great views of SF. If you seen the movie The Kite Flyer, the last seen is at the Berkeley marina where they are at the hill flying the kites. They have a giant kite festival there each year. July 25th is the next one.
Oakland is not a tourist destination. They ranked in the top 5 for murders in the nation. |
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Goober
Premium
join:2000-12-17
Naperville, IL
 ·Comcast
·WOW Internet and C..
1 edit | We'll reach SF at about 1:00 p.m. on the 25th. Maybe worth checking that out if it goes on into the afternoon.
As for Oakland (and ony other city, regardless of where we travel) I'll do a check to see where things are located and check for other safety matters. I do it regardless of where we go. Thanks.
edit: I see the Kite Festival is on for the 25th and 26th. My younger son is a huge fan of kites. |
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ninjatutle
Premium
join:2006-01-02
San Ramon, CA | Have the family meet you there and make a picnic out of it. You could check meeting with the family out of the way. |
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Goober
Premium
join:2000-12-17
Naperville, IL | That's an excellent idea. It seems like a car is the best way to go too. |
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DavisPhotog
Flyingphotog
Premium,MVM
join:2001-08-26
Oakland, CA
clubs:
| 1/2 day to get to Berkeley and back? What a load of....
Ninjatutle, all you're doing to Oakland is driving people away who might otherwise have a good time. There are good neighborhoods and bad neighborhoods, and many of the bad ones are actually out of the way for this poor guy.
Don't spread your infectious fear from your cushy suburb.
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I am the Flying Photog, see my website accordingly named Flyingphotog.com. User known formerly as zakooldude. |
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grendal
Mmm Donuts
Premium
join:2001-10-10
Fremont, CA
clubs: | reply to Goober
another place for kids in oakland.
»www.oaklandzoo.org/ |
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Fat City
Premium
join:2003-03-10
Freedonia | Another one for kids in Oakland:
»chabotspace.org/
And I've always been a big fan of the Oakland Museum of California:
»museumca.org/ |
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Goober
Premium
join:2000-12-17
Naperville, IL | Thanks for all the Oakland references. Realistically though, I have a feeling that we won't have the time to do more than a day or so there. |
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RR Conductor
RailRoadDude
Premium
join:2002-04-02
Redwood Valley, CA
·Comcast
| reply to Goober
Re: San Francisco - Where is it better to stay?
I'd suggest staying outside of SF, in San Bruno, Redwood City or one of the suburbs, then riding Caltrain or BART into SF, then riding MUNI around, driving in downtown SF is a HEADACHE, and parking is a nightmare, not to mention EXPENSIVE (but then, most of SF is $$$ lol).
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You've got to stand for something, or you'll fall for anything. |
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Goober
Premium
join:2000-12-17
Naperville, IL | Is there a benefit to staying outside SF? I chose downtown for the convenience of not having to drive around. We aren't going to rent a car either, so parking shouldn't be an issue. |
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PrntRhd
join:2004-11-03
Fairfield, CA
·Comcast
·Comcast Formerly ..
2 edits | RRC is a big transit guy, he seems to recommend trains regardless.
It depends on how much "city life" you wish to experience. You can get there either way.
North Beach and Chinatown are unique experiences and should be experienced on foot. Same with the Golden Gate Bridge, walking on it is awesome vs looking at it from afar.
Dress in layers, the weather changes quickly. |
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RR Conductor
RailRoadDude
Premium
join:2002-04-02
Redwood Valley, CA
·Comcast
3 edits | reply to Goober
said by Goober  :Is there a benefit to staying outside SF? I chose downtown for the convenience of not having to drive around. We aren't going to rent a car either, so parking shouldn't be an issue. Accomodations are cheaper, a bit less crowding and traffic. We stayed in Redwood City (I live in Redwood Valley, it's 120 miles northwest of SF up here in Mendocino County) last summer for a couple of weeks on work in the Bay, and it worked out great, we drove some, but used Caltrain, BART and MUNI a lot. No offense to the Bay Areaites, but the drivers there are, well, less than stellar 
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You've got to stand for something, or you'll fall for anything. |
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RR Conductor
RailRoadDude
Premium
join:2002-04-02
Redwood Valley, CA
·Comcast
| reply to PrntRhd
said by PrntRhd :RRC is a big transit guy, Yep, I am, especially in SF, they have about the best transit system in the US, might as well take advantage of it if at all possible  Like I said, driving and parking in the downtown area is a headache, avoid it if you can.
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You've got to stand for something, or you'll fall for anything. |
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Goober
Premium
join:2000-12-17
Naperville, IL
·Comcast
·WOW Internet and C..
| reply to RR Conductor
Like I mentioned, we're not really on a budget, so I'm not too concerned about the price of accomodations. For us, though, we need to be close as possible to the main attractions. It's hard to get going with the kids and we just can't afford the transit time is what my feeling is. |
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sfromsf
join:2001-03-03
Sacramento, CA
clubs: | reply to Goober
You made the right call in staying at Union Square. If you were on a tighter budget, staying out of SF would be a good idea. Enjoy your stays, ignore ninja turtle.
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Tough times do not last, tough people do | |
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Fat City
Premium
join:2003-03-10
Freedonia
| reply to Goober
said by Goober :...For us, though, we need to be close as possible to the main attractions. It's hard to get going with the kids and we just can't afford the transit time is what my feeling is. Good thinking! Make it easy on yourself and the family.
Spend your time sightseeing, not commuting.
Hope your week here is an enjoyable one.
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He was determined to live forever or die in the attempt.
- Joseph Heller (1923 - 1999)
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ninjatutle
Premium
join:2006-01-02
San Ramon, CA
·Sprint Mobile Broa..
| reply to ninjatutle
I didn't realize you had already planned on a private coach service when I said private limo. Good choice to make.
When you rent the car, treat yellow lights as if they are red lights. The cops in Frisco will ticket you. Try to study your route to and from Berkeley. A lot of streets are one way, lanes aren't clearly marked, etc. Also the bridge have cash only lanes, carpool only, fast track only, etc.
But maybe you shouldn't listen to my suggestions since everyone says I'm wrong  There's hella love for Oakland on this place for some reason. |
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DavisPhotog
Flyingphotog
Premium,MVM
join:2001-08-26
Oakland, CA
clubs:
| Um, treat a yellow light like you would anywhere else. As long as your front axle crosses the intersection lines before the light turns red, you're in the clear, just like anywhere else. I spent a few hours driving in SF ("Frisco," really???) yesterday and never saw anyone pulled over.
As you get closer to campus there are lots of one-way streets in Berkeley, but all of the main N-S roads, San Pablo, Telegraph, Shattuck are two-way for the better part.
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I am the Flying Photog, see my website accordingly named Flyingphotog.com. User known formerly as zakooldude. |
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