A brief tour of California

California Comments (32)

Is going solo in an unknown area the right way to go, or are you wanting a tour guide to show you the highlights? I believe that you can blend the 2 ways in one trip and have the best of two worlds.

One trip we took a while back was to Washington D.C. We knew beforehand which Smithsonian building we would have liked to see, if the Washington Monument was open to visitors and if you wished to get an advance ticket to take a tour of the government or visit the Capital Building. It permitted us to plan our 3 days in the town and see all that we would have liked to see. Individual tours to such landmarks as Ford’s Theater and Arlington Graveyard were tours we were happy we acquired. The tour guides for these locations knew titbits and items of interest that we wouldn’t ever have found out on our own.

Let’s take a look at the San Francisco Bay Area which is another one of my favourite holiday spots and my folks have many pleasing and chuffed memories of many trips there after their short flights to los angeles. Some areas are so familiar to travellers that it is definitely possible to view the attractions on your own. That lets you take some time and go at your own speed. Fisherman’s Quay and Pier39 are good examples. Just by walking one or two blocks you can tour Aquarium of the Bay, take a cruise of San Francisco Bay, visit the famous Ripley’s Believe It or Not Museum and spend some down time at the Riptide Arcade on Pier 39. The antique carousel is a gorgeous site and an attraction for every age. This special buy will give you tickets to 5 attractions, unlimited rides on the Wire Vehicles and a choice ticket to use at the Legion of Honour or Academy of Science & Steinhart Aquarium.

You are authorized 9 days from when you first begin to use your CityPass to go to each attraction and a week for limitless Wire Vehicle rides. I’d advocate the live tour guides. I have gone all 3 ways, and I received more delight by somebody telling me items of interest I know that I had missed on prior tours.

It gives you a backstage look of colourful Chinatown.

The tour covers, history, traditions of the area folk and culture that you almost certainly would not know or see by traveling by yourself. The lions at the entrance of Chinatown are amazing to see! San Francisco also offers over thirty fun and free walking tours of San Francisco. For more info on these free tours, go to www.sfcityguides.org.

The same applies with Napa valley tours. It is definitely possible to get some cheap airfares and drive to the area and go solo, but you will need to take steered tours of some of the vineyards and wine tasting rooms. If you’re driving and just taking your relaxed time, I’d suggest this way to see the stunning sights of the wine country. Another driving tour that’s preferred is the 17-mile drive down the coast. It winds around giving you glances of gorgeous mansions and impressive perspectives. It’s found in San Jose, a simple drive from San Francisco and Oakland and is actually worth the ticket cost. This weird house can be toured many times and with each tour guide, you’ll learn something new about the eccentric Mrs. Winchester who thought the spirits told her to have the sound of continuing construction happening in her home to avoid death. This led straight to many affectations and funny sights in the house since Mrs. Winchester served as her very own designer. She kept crews busy twenty-four hours per day, 365 days a year for several years. I liked the steps leading to nowhere, and the built in magnifying glass in the window looking out over the garden. I have seen it 4 times, and will often go back. Rumour has it, there had been a wine basement that was boarded up and sealed away. I suggest both.

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admin @ April 16, 2010