Things to do in LA and San Francisco in September

[Tifa DeLeone]

I'm going to the US in September! :)

I'll be in LA 8-13th and San Francisco 14th-23rd (and will have an amazing time at the Madonna Inn in between).

 

I'm looking for the classics like shops, but also pretty and amazing restaurants, clubs and other fun things.

I'll be there with my boyfriend so romantic things is appreciated :P

We also like movies so I think there are like studios and what not to visit in LA?

I'm a sucker for burlesque and rockabilly clubs but my bf is more of a http://www.dasbunker.org/ 

kinda guy. So places to go with that type of music is appreciated too!

 

Never been to these cities so any help is wanted!

 

[Miss Nikki Sin{★}]

Doll House BEtty is in SanFrancisco!! I've been meaning to go there myself!

http://www.dollhousebettie.com/contact-us/

however, I'm from the Central Valley, so I don't know many things to do there... however I bex Roxy has a list of awesome things you could do in both places!

Good luck darlin. <3

[californiafied]

Well, there is disneyland (impressive but expensive and close to LA), and Hollywood (which isn't as impressive as it used to be in the 80s) But you go north, where I grew up, I can help more. Of course, you have to see SF bridge, Muir woods across the bridge, china town in SF, you could go to Alcatraz, but there is usually a few month waiting list so you have to sign up early. You have to check out Big Basin, with trees you can literally walk around in, and spend a day in Los Gatos at a coffee shop enjoying the friendly people and quaint town. There is a hotel near by Los Gatos, its suppose to be haunted and it is really the most awesome place, it has a river running through the resturaunt, the whole place is like alice falling down the rabbit h***, and the place is called Brookdale Lodge.

If you want to check out the coolest place I have ever seen in the US, check out New Idrea, near the Hollister Hills, its worth the drive. Its a ghost town that was completly abandoned and they left everything in the stores, ect... you can Youtube New Idrea and see a few vids, I even posted a few. Its rather exciting to actually be there though.

Do the 17 mile drive to Spanish Bay, its worth the 10 bucks, but don't stop to eat or shop there, it is way too over priced.

Yosemite is Heaven on earth and about a four hour drive from the bay area, but you will never ever ever forget this place. I actually have a vid on youtube of a bear pooping in Yosemite. Everytime I go I see a bear.

 SF has an aquarium that is really awesome, the whole Golden Gate park is really neat, don't pass that up.

If you want to catch some waves, grab a wetsuit, unless you go to Santa Cruz, where it is a bit warmer and there is the boardwalk there, but stay away from the Grizzly ride unless you want to be on a rollercoaster that feels like its going to fall apart any minute. Last time they took a pic of me on the rollercoaster and I looked like I was seconds away from throwing up.

 In Monterey, you can rent a bike and take a cruise up the trail "Lovers point" remember to stop at the warf in Monterey and try all the free clam chowder you can get your hands on :-) They also have this place called bubba gumps shrimp resturaunt where a guy who looks EXACTLY like Tom Hanks in Forest Gump and you can take pics with him on the bench outside with his box of choclates LOL..

Hwy 1 to Big Sur is a drive, but an awesome one, or, you can go the other way, towards Goat Rock Beach, and beach hop along the way- each beach has its own unique beauty.

San Jose has an impressive Tech museum but I wouldn't waste too much time in San Jo. There is a trail that starts in San Jose and ends in Gilroy- if your up for a really, really long bike ride..it runs along hwy 101, but beware, I have seen, and rode past- mountain lions that were HUGE and always passed atleast a bobcat. Its called the Coyote creek trail but they should call it the mountain lion trail as I have never seen a Coyote. A more friendly bike route is Los Gatos trail, with a round trip of 10 miles..and no mountain lions.

 If you are in Los Gatos, go to Iron Skillet, they serve a cinamin roll thats the size of your head, and really good food and very reasonably priced. Brookdale Lodge also serves a buffet that is well worth the price and very tasty. If you do go to Yosemite, pack a lunch before you go. Food is yuck and too expensive, same with Disneyland. If your on your way too Yosemite, stop at Nations in Tracy, if you like hamburgers. Those are the size of your head too.. SF warf has really good clam chowder in a sourdough bowl that is inexpensive and sold at several different places. I did not find the aquarium at the warf as impressive as the one in Golden Gate Park, that one by far is the best. Well, hope this helps, and have fun!!

 

[californiafied]

Oh I forgot to add- if you are going clubbing, be very, very very careful and do not absolutley do not drink and drive. They will absolutley catch you. Always take a cab, no other state in the US is as strick as Cali is on drinking and driving, they really do look hard for it. I can't tell you too much about the clubs, because I gave up the club scene because you have to pay for a cab and friends at home with beer was just easier, as they are really hard on this. Even if you only have one drink- I am telling you...they took a lady for Dui for taking NYQUIL!! And don't walk in SF at night back to your hotel. You can do this clubbing in Los Gatos, but not SF. Be safe and take a cab, have a good time but be very careful clubbing in SF.

[Roxy Tart {PL Team / Comm. Mgr}]

Wow, californiafied has the list handled! I've live here my whole life and never done some of those things.

 

Tifa, if you are a Disney fan and don't make it to Disneyland while you are in SoCal (although you should), we have the Disney museum up here in San Francisco, and sometimes I can score free tickets (I have a friend on the board). Pier 39 and Alcatraz are must see's, and China Town, Japan Town and North Beach are great places to eat and shop. The DNA lounge is a good club, and there always have something different going on, so check their website. They have a good range of scenes. Edson might be back here by then, maybe we could all get together one day, we can show you the sites, and I'm sure Edson can find us a killer club.Dependng on how far out of the city you want to go will dictate what you'll get to see and do.

 

In SoCal you must go to Hollywood and Beverly Hills! The history there makes it worth it, and there is so much to do and see, but you can do it all in one day, so that's nice. You might want to take a tour of the stars homes , it's silly but fun, and they have a haunted tour of all the dead movie star's homes from the golden era of Hollywood. It's my favorite. Universal Studios, Disneyland and Knotts Berry Farm are all a lot of fun, and it's worth picking at least one to do.

 

Hope you have a great time, and maybe we'll get to see you while you're here!

[The Trousseau]

There are a few burlesque shoes in town, if you want, I can find them for you.  You might want to check out BaGG-- it is actually much calmer than it wants you to think it is.  It is open every Wednesday night. Go late. 

 

For a truly San Francisco, can't get it anywhere else experience, check out Polly Pandimonium's place.  She is a San Francisco original. 

 

What kind of restaurants do you want?  Cheap and good?  Expensive?  Local flavor?  Simply cool?

 

Where are you staying?  Do you need recommendations for that? 

[Veronica Virgo]

for the relaxed nights, there are hookah bars in SF & LA. you can find good shows in either city pretty much any night of the week. Hollywood & Hollywood Blvd is a must. You can check out the Hollywood sign from Griffith Park area. Haight St in SF is definitely worth checking out. Lucky 13 is a cool bar in SF, but not a club. & AWESOME restaurants abound in both cities, just depends what you are looking for. HAVE FUN!

[Time Machine Studios{★}]

The most romantic club I've gone to is Maxwell DeMille's Cicada Club.  It's architecture is breathtaking and food and specialty cocktails are sooooo good! Everyone is dressed to the nines with authentic clothing from the roaring 20's to the swingin' 40's.  It truly feels like you've stepped back in time. A MUST see! :D Also, check out Jenifer Keith and the High Society Boys! 

[Tifa DeLeone]

Thank you so much all of you! I'm printing this out as a guide! :D

 

Any more tips, let me know! I'm leaving in a week!

[californiafied]

Sure, one last tip: Bring some warm clothes. I know its summer, but somedays you would think it was winter in SF. Weather is wierd. In the mornings and at night its cold too. If you take one of those boat tours around the bay bridge, be sure to dress really warm as well. As a famous dude once said: The coldest winter I ever experienced was a summer in SF.

[Tifa DeLeone]

Thank's, just looked up the weather now and it seems like it's very close to the weather we have here in Sweden right now!

 

And LA seems like it's boiling! :O Will be two different suitcases ;)

 

In LA we'll be staying at http://www.millenniumhotels.com/millenniumlosangeles/index.html

It's supposedly in Downtown, and I hear so many bad things about there. Should I worry?

The hotel itself is amazing.

Places nearby that are fun?

 

Then we are staying at http://www.madonnainn.com/

On the way to SF just for fun, anyone recommend a certain route for the drive?

 

In SF we are staying in a apartment at http://www.steinharthotel.com/

Special tips for that area?

 

 

[californiafied]

When your in SF, I suggest using the trolley as much as possible. You will find it is really difficult to drive around SF as it is really hilly and gets quite confusing. Cabs are a bit expensive, so be prepared for that. Downtown LA is dangerous, be careful. And if anyone claims they are a modeling agency, and want you to work for them, ignore them, they are probably a pimp. Hold on to your purse tightly and try not to wonder around downtown LA. Avoid talking to strangers, just ignore them, (downtown LA) If you talk to them, they will know you are not from there and you will become a target. You will see lots of homeless people screaming obsenities and talking to themselves, this is normal for LA and even a few parts of SF. These guys are not as dangerous as the ones walking around with baggy jeans, white tank top, and gang related tatoos. Be careful about wearing red or blue in downtown LA. These colors signify gangs and people non-gang related have been shot for wearing red or blue. ( this is rare, but has happened) The trip from LA to SF is about 8 hours. Try to by-pass the rush hour traffic and just use the straight shot there (hwy 5). Do not get lost in LA. Downtown is bad, but east LA is worse. I wish you wern't staying downtown LA, but stick to the tourist route, and you should be safe. Have fun!