After such a great experience on my day trip a few months ago, Alcatraz had become one of my favorite attractions in San Francisco. With hopes for another fun excursion, I booked tickets for a night tour of Alcatraz and brought along some friends who had never been before. We looked forward to a spooky(…)
San Francisco has been getting into the holiday spirit with festivities all around the city, including the annual tree lighting celebration at Pier 39. The two-day celebration took place on the weekend before Thanksgiving, featuring events throughout the day starting at noon and ending in a 6 pm show before the tree lighting. The spectacularly(…)
2016 Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremonies at Union Square, San Francisco CA In the middle of Union Square a Christmas tree stands 80 feet tall, decked with thousands of glittering white lights and huge red and gold baubles. At the very top is a 6 foot tall red star that resembles the Macy’s logo. That’s no(…)
Union Square is the heart of the holidays in San Francisco. Perfect as a meeting place for families to gather for a stay at one of the grand hotels on the square, Union Square is also a great place to shop for presents or ice skate on the open-air rink. With its giant Christmas tree(…)
The audio tour, a narrated self-guided walk through the cellhouse, is now included in the ferry ticket cost, which is a positive change from the last time I visited Alcatraz about 15 years ago, when a separate fee was charged. I saw a few people walking around the cellhouse without headphones, but the guide is(…)
Once we arrived on Alcatraz, we were free to explore the 22 acres of the island at our leisure. Ferries back to San Francisco depart every 30 minutes and we were free to take any of them before 6:30 pm. In the chaos off the boat, the rangers announced the day’s programs and directed us to note(…)
Review of Anchor & Hope Restaurant in San Francisco, California. Anchor & Hope Restaurant Review – A big part of what makes a high-end restaurant a good experience is the ambience. That’s why it’s part of these reviews. It’s very difficult to define, or really put a finger on, but the way the place makes(…)
On this visit to Chinatown, I stopped for a quick bite to eat at one of the popular take-out dim sum spots on Stockton Street. Good Mong Kok, a tiny hole-in-the wall, had a line outside the door and nowhere to eat inside. The shop was managed by three busy women behind the counter who(…)
I waited in line for three hours. It might have been the sunk cost fallacy – it gets me every time. Sure, the line was long, flowing out the door and curving back down the street. But it wasn’t that long. I’ve waited in long lines before without severe time loss. The problem was that(…)
