San Francisco Fleet Week

I have a feeling I've posted these photos before but if so I'm posting them again. They were taken at last year's Fleet Week in San Francisco.

I've just booked a trip to San Francisco (for a birthday celebration but I won't tell you how old;o), and it happens to coincide with the 2008 Fleet Week. Seeing as I've got similar kit to what was used to take the photos I'm hoping that I'll be able to take some great shots. If you've been to a past Fleet Week, have you got any tips on good vantage points? I'm going to be in the city for the practice shows and the air shows, are the practice shows similar to the actual air shows?

Whilst on the subject of San Francisco/California, is Santa Cruz worth a visit? I'm planning on driving further south for a few days after visiting San Francisco to visit Monterrey, Half Moon Bay and possibly Santa Cruz. Are there any other places in the area worth visiting?

Comments

[Fish]

Where ever this guy was, I think this is the best spot!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K7rAUu8djZ4

And yes, you posted this before. Good times.

[swill]

I've watched the show from the rocks on Treasure Island, down at the Marina, Coit Tower and a few roofs in North Beach. Gotta say, aside from the drunken rooftop parties, I enjoyed the rocks of Treasure Island the most. Smaller crowds for sure and the jets line up for their runs 100' over your head. Nothing quite like that at all on the SF side.

IMHO, south is nice but going north is better. Monterrey can feel a lot like Pier 39 (the aquarium is great if you have kids though) and Santa Cruz, unless you're staying at a beach house is actually kinda of a stoner paradise..and not in a good way. Like a really scummy version of Santa Barbara. The hiking down there is great though, especially down near Big Sur.

If you go north you get Pt Reyes (great hiking and whale watching), Mendocino (great B&B's, good seafood and a bit less touristy), Russian River (canoeing/wineries etc..), Sonoma (fewer crowds than Napa more local feel)...

My 2 cents from SF.

cymru am byth,

swill

[bevi]

Being a San Franciscan, I would suggest the Marina and along the piers. As for Santa Cruz, unless you are up for surfing, its really just a druggee/hippie town. There is Mystery Spot in Santa Cruz if you want to check out some paranormal/magnectic mishaps. Half Moon Bay has some great beaches, I recommend going to 'pebble beach' in Pescadero, NOT the golf course in Monterey. The one in Pescadero is actually all pebbles and no sand.
The piers at Monterey are nice but quite a replica of Pier 39 in San Francisco.

Enjoy the trip, be sure to each clam chowder bowls in San Francisco, and bring lots of wind jackets!

[Stephen]

It's probably out of the scope of your visit, but the couple hour drive east will put you in Yosemite National Park, probably one of the most beautiful places I've ever been and definitely a photographer's paradise.

[RW Rogers]

The Monterey peninsula is an easy drive from San Francisco and well worth it. Monterey itself has some great walking tours of various historic sites dating back to Spanish dominion. The Mission at Carmel is beautiful, as is Carmel itself (if a tad crowded with other tourists). Pacific Grove has beautiful ocean views through gnarled Monterey Pines just waiting for a photographer. A slight detour on the way would take you to the Steinbeck Museum in Salinas, with a good exhibition of his life and the times/places of his novels, largely set in the Salinas Valley. There is a good back road that I've taken in a '29 Ford Model A between Salinas and Monterey, but I can't recall it at the moment - nothing "special" just a delightful, peaceful drive through fields and countryside.

If you go south, take Highway 1, a gorgeous route hugging the cliffs above the ocean in a great many places. That will lead you to Santa Cruz first, and despite what others say, it could be worth a "look-see." The Boardwalk used to be something of a throwback to the 1920's era bach amusement parks. The roller coaster was built in 1924 and is still operational. Pacific Garden Mall, the former main street turned into a one way street to create ample walking and seating areas, has cafes and small shops. If it is a clear day when you pass through, the view from the Cowell College Dining Hall at the University of California is stunning - all of Monterey Bay spread out below you. (The campus is about 500' above sea level, much of it carved out of a redwood forest.) Big Basin Redwoods State Park is northeast of Santa Cruz in the Santa Cruz Mountains, as is Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park.

North in Marin County, as someone already said, Pt. Reyes National Seashore is beautiful. Sausalito is a picturesque small town with a bay view of San Francisco. It is a toss-up between catching the ferry to get there or driving across the Golden Gate. You can rent a bike and ride across it but be warned about the time it takes. John Muir Woods is not far away from Sausalito and the easiest way to get up close and personal with giant coastal redwoods. Further up the coast is Bodega Bay - rather quiet place, all things considered. Many of the buildings used in Hitchcock's "The Birds" are still standing there. Not sure it is worth the substantial detour, though.

I agree with the comment that Yosemite is a great place to go, but the drive is 4+ hours. Anyway, it all really depends on the kind of things you like to do. Some people love hiking or walking tours and others dread them. Old-fashioned roadside attractions, like the Mystery Spot near Santa Cruz, are barrels of fun for some and bore others to tears.

Have fun!

[John]

I don't have any advice, I've never been to SF (but I always wanted to go!). I do know you have to have their sour dough bread. I hear that's really yummy.

Hurry up and get back. I want to see your photographs!

I hope you have a fun time there. I live on a navy base in Japan and we have an aircraft carrier here. But I never get to see the planes:(

[Bruce]

If you make it to Atlanta, GA. Email me.

[Robert Gale]

Thanks to everyone who has commented. You've all given me plenty of information about the area. I think I'm going to head south but I'm still going to consider heading north.

Santa Cruz seems like a place to pass-through but not worth a stay.

[Brandon Katcher]

There are some very nice

Napa - Don't miss is if you are only going to be here once.
in Marin, go to the top of Mt. Tam. Amazing sunsets from up there, and you can see 360° around you.
and Muir Woods (close by) is worth a look.
Brandon

[r3tr0]

If you are lucky enough to have a really clear day during your visit, you could also drive to the top of Mount Diablo, near Walnut Creek. The drive itself is fun, and there's an observatory at the top where you will be able to see all of the Bay Area sights.

Even on the foggy day I did it, we could still see the Golden Gate.

I also highly recommend going north. Point Reyes is a great place to stroll the beach, but there are spots closer than that as well.

[Charlie]

Amazing pictures! Havnt seen it before. Thanks a lot for a great post!!

[Fish]

I say go to Mexico and re-enter the US illegally. Good times.

[Tzeboruko]

Yosemite National Park, but by all means stay away from the hotels!

[Bear]

I'm surprised no one mentioned the 17 mile scenic drive from Monterey to Carmel. Breathtaking. I'm an ex-pat from London living in the bay area, and whenever I get friends or relatives visiting that is always on the must do list. The other thing of course is to catch a ballgame in the best stadium in the country (Packbell park or whatever it's called nowadays). It's a pity the Giants suck but maybe there will be a good team visiting when you are here. I hope you are staying in San Francisco, the last time I went to Fleet Week I was stuck in a three hour traffic jam to get out of town back to the East Bay. Good luck and have fun.

[JasonSTL]

I'll reiterate on the Napa/Sonoma Valley. Only an hour north of San Fran. Fantastic wines and beautiful countyside.

[Larktavia]

Rob; if you bring me some Brains, I will take you to dinner. (or compensate you accordingly!) I am dead serious. I can't get Brains in the US. They don't distribute. Email me if you can!
-Stephanie

[john griffith]

The best spot in town is the roof of the San Francisco Art Institute on Chestnut St., they even have a cheap restaurant. Get down to Big Sur and the Monterey Bay Aquarium, google for the aquarium's web site you may need reservations. Have a good time and stay away from Fisherman's Wharf at all costs.

[Michael]

Not much to see in Santa Cruz in my opinion. I have lived in the San Francisco bay area (currently in SF itself) and would recommend spending more time in this great city instead.

[Keith]

look me up and we'll hit the bars

[ben grill]

hey bro, if you like ssmoking marijuana, than SC has got the kind herbs. i.ve lived here for about threee years, i would say that there is a lot of great hiking spots, like nisene marks, which is epic and old. stop at a natural foods market and get some kombucha. great beaches, hot women, get drunk, get the fuck out. good drink specials during the week downtown, wed at the avenue, $4 domestic pitchers. call me up man, we'll play some disc golf at delaveaga, so fun.

Santa Cruz, I love it here!

[ben grill]

oh, head down to big sur. and sc has better beaches and weather than 1/2moonbay, mavericks isn't even goin off right now. you like surfing? sc = surf city