Sacramento is the capital city of California and home to its Capitol Building, a classical revival style patterned after the U.S. Capitol in Washington D.C.  The Capitol Building and its grounds are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

At the center of the building is the rotunda, which divides the State Senate and Assembly into north and south wings.  The rotunda is 128 feet tall, from the basement of the building to the height of its inner dome.  The Rotunda serves as a ceremonial space, but also as the starting point for most visitors to the Capitol.

In this area you can sign up for a tour, enjoy a look at some of the decorative murals and interior décor, or look up at the beautifully detailed ceiling.

At the center of the rotund is Columbus’ Last Appeal to Queen Isabella, a massive statue carved out of Carrara marble.  Slightly larger than life, the statue was placed there in 1883.  While seeing it eye-to-eye is impressive, it’s worth the time to go to the second floor and see it from that angle as well.

The legislative bodies of the state of California are the State Assembly and the State Senate, both of which were patterned after British legislative bodies. The upper house, or State Senate, meets in a large red chamber, as does the British House of Lords. The chamber features Corinthian columns, high arched windows, and dark red curtains. Even the desks and seating area are red.

The lower house, or State Assembly, is  located at the opposite end of the building and is nearly identical in its style and decor – except that its chamber is green, patterned after the British House of Commons

Also housed in the State House is the Governor’s office, guarded by both a bear and a state trooper.

A walk through the Capitol Building is a lesson in state history, architecture, art, and politics.  Often contentious, usually serious, and sometimes whimsical, a stop off for a guided or self-guided tour is well worth an hour or so of your time.

The Capitol Building is located at 10th & L Street in Sacramento.  It’s open 8 am-5 pm weekdays, and 9 am-5 pm on weekends.  Admission is free.  Public tours are conducted daily (also free), on the hour, from 10 am-4 pm.  You can check on tours and sign up in the rotunda area.  Group tours (10 or more) are by reservations only.

Photo credits:  All from the personal collection of Mary Jo Manzanares

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Long before there were all these fancy martini drinks, the Irish Coffee was considered the upscale drink of choice.  An Irish Coffee is thought to be a variation of the classic hot toddy and is made with hot coffee, Irish whiskey and sugar, all stirred together, and is then topped with a thick layer of cream (not whipped cream).  You drink the strong liquored coffee through the cream for a smooth flavor.

The origin of the Irish Coffee is highly disputed, but I like the version that it was first served here in the United States at the Buena Vista Café in San Francisco.  Located at the corner of Hyde and Beach, the Buena Vista was once a boarding house before being converted into a saloon in 1916.  At the saloon one evening, Pulitzer Prize winner travel writer Stanton Delaplane worked with Buena Vista owenr Jack Koeppler to recreate a drink that Delaplane had sampled while at Shannon Airport in Ireland.  The two tried and tried to recreate the drink with the properly floating layer of cream on top, and it’s said that the two nearly passed out from the tastings until they got it right.

Today the Buena Vista, which is Spanish for “good view”, offers good views of the San Francisco Bay, as well as a full menu and that traditional Irish Coffee.  They’ve perfect the recipe and claim that while it may be copied, it’s never been equaled.  On a cold, dreary, San Francisco day, stop off for an Irish Coffee and see if you agree.

Location:  2765 Hyde St (at Beach), San Francisco.  There is also a location at the domestic terminal at San Francisco International Airport.

Hours:  Monday-Friday, 9 am-2 am; Weekends 8 am-2 am

Photo credit:  Dmitri Chekhter via flickr

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Channel your inner Al Capone or “Machine Gun” Kelly with a visit to Alcatraz Island on your next stay in San Francisco.  Located in the San Francisco Bay, about a mile offshore, the island served as a lighthouse and military site before becoming a Federal prison in 1963. Alcatraz operated as a federal penitentiary for 29 years, and during that time housed prisoners who had been problems at other locations.  Some of the most infamous criminals in history were housed there, and it is claimed that no prisoner ever successfully escaped.  Both Capone and Kelly were imprisoned on The Rock, which today is a historic site under the auspices of the National Park Service, and just like then, there is only one way on and off the island.

Alcatraz Cruises is the only company authorized by the National Parks Service to operate tours of Alcatraz – so there really is only one way on and off the island.  Visitors reach the island by way of a 15 minute hybrid ferry ride.  The  an eco-friendly boat that is largely powered by solar panels, wind turbines, and grid electricity.  Most of the interior fixtures and decor are made with recycled and/or sustainable materials.  Tours include the boat ride to the island, a cellhouse audio tour, and other features depending on the specific Alcatraz tour you choose.  This is the only tour option that will take you onto Alcatraz Island, although there are other companies that offer narrated cruises and tours of San Francisco Bay and around (but not on) the island.

I find the Cellhouse Audio Tour particularly chilling as it tells both sides of prison life, with the voices and words of inmates and correctional officers who lived on the island.  The program has been updated and expanded from its original version, so if you haven’t heard it recently, you’ll want to listen again.  (The tour is available in multiple languages.)  If you don’t wish to take the Cellhouse Audio Tour (although I recommend that you do), let the people at the Cellhouse entrance know and they will give you a refund for that portion of the tour.

The cell block represents a rather primitive time, long before prison reform, so this historical look at the penal system is a bit creepy.  Keep it in historical perspective and serve as a reminder that you NEVER want to go to prison – except as a tourist!

Once you’ve finished at the Cellhouse, take advantage of the other guided programs provided by the National Park Service including some that take you into parts of the island that you otherwise wouldn’t see.  Stroll through the gardens, enjoy a look at some of the flora and fauna of the island, walk and hike some of the trails, all the while soaking up a great view of the city.  Bring your camera, as photo ops are plentiful.  Following your time on The Rock, you’ll catch the ferry back to Pier 33.

Alcatraz Island is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is a National Historic Landmark.  Allow about 3 hours for the excursion, audio tour, and time to explore the island.

Location:  The ferry departs from Pier 33; look for the Hornblower Alcatraz Landing.  Parking in the area is very limited, so I’d recommend you walk or use public transportation.

Departure Times:  The first ferry leaves Pier 33 at 9:10 am, with the last departure to the island at 3:55 pm.  Night tour departures are at 6:10 and 6:45 pm.  You can return on any scheduled ferry run that you wish; the last day time return is at 6:10 pm and the last night return is at 9:25 pm.

Tickets:  Prices start at $26 for adults and $16 for children.  Tickets can be purchases online or at the pier, and there are advantages to each option.  If you will  be visiting during the summer, high season in San Francisco, I’d recommend buying tickets in advance.  Nice days are a wonderful time to be out on the bay, so a little advance planning will go a long way toward avoiding disappointment.

Special considerations:  Department of Homeland Security guidelines are in effect for the ferry crossing, and no luggage, coolers, or large backpacks or packages are permitted.  Plan accordingly.  The ferry terminal and ferry itself is accessible, but most of Alcatraz Island is hilly.  Wear good walking shoes and be prepared for some climbing (the distance from the ferry dock to the prison is about a quarter mile uphill).  Take your time and enjoy the views, but proper footwear is essential for a comfortable experience.  Visitors unable to manage the climb up the hill to the prison can take advantage of an electric shuttle that runs twice per hour.

Photo credit: Ben Peoples via wikimedia (Alcatraz Island); public domain via wikimedia (cell block); Svein-Magne Tunli via wikimedia (flowers)

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I’ll be in San Francisco for nearly a week, the first time that I’ve spent that long in this city for many years.  For far too long, San Francisco has been a pass through city for me, somewhere I’ve stayed while en route to somewhere else, or somewhere for a quick little stop over.

I remember the first time I visited San Francisco.  I was a senior in high school on a bus trip with a bunch of other girls.  We had a quick overnight in the city, but even in that short time I was captivated by it.  It was so big, so busy, so full of energy.  It was unlike anything that I experienced at home, and I knew that my short stay was a mere introduction to a city that I would need to explore again and again.  On that first visit, and as the song goes, I left my heart in San Francisco.

A couple years later I returned for a few days, again on my way to somewhere else.  I was a college student on a budget and by necessity got a taste of the budget-minded side of the city.  I passed through San Francisco on my honeymoon, getting a chance to experience the romantic side of the city in one of those grand dame homes from the Victorian era.  Since then I’ve flitted in and out, sampling and tasting, looking, but never really seeing, what the city really has to offer.

This visit, however, I’ll be staying in the city for the entire week.  I’ll be catching up with friends (hello Jen, hello Andy, hello Chris, hello Nancy), making new ones, and learning a little bit about what’s ahead in travel.  I’ll also get the joy of exploring the city and surrounding area – from wine tasting in Sonoma to a tour of Alcatraz, from neighborhood culinary discoveries to a visit to Pier 39, from a party at City Hall to an opportunity to explore the new California Arts & Sciences complex in Golden Gate Park.  It’s a chance for me to take full measure of the city, both the tourist and local side of it, and to discover, or re-discover, why this city is such a popular destination for travelers.

Do you have a favorite attraction or special spot?  Maybe a neighborhood has charmed you?  A restaurant or bar or shop that you go back to every time you visit?  Please leave a comment and tell me what you love about the city by the bay.  What made you leave your heart in San Francisco?

Photo credits:  All courtesy of San Francisco Convention & Visitor Bureau.  Photographers:  Lewis Sommer (Golden Gate Bridge); Craig Buchanan (Victorian houses); SFCVB Staff (street signs)

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In the middle of San Francisco’s Walter S. Johnson Park, sits the Palace of Fine Arts, an easily recognizable piece of San Francisco architecture.  You’ve likely seen it in many photographs, with attractive shots both by day and by night.

The Palace was designed as part of the 1915, Panama Pacific Exposition, an event hosted by San Francisco to celebrate the completion of the Panama Canal.  It was also seen as an opportunity for San Francisco to rise from the ashes of the devastating 1906 earthquake and fire.

A site was chosen in what is now known as the Marina District, and architect Bernard Maybeck designed the Roman-themed/Greek-styled Palace of Fine Arts.  Exposition exhibits are temporary, and therefore made with collapsible materials, so the Palace was never built to last.  However the popularity of the Palace resulted in fund raising efforts to duplicate and preserve it with lasting permanent materials.  The fund raising was successful, and the Palace eventually became part of the San Francisco City Park system.

During WWII, the Palace was used as an Army motor pool.  Looking at its stately bearings today, it is hard to imagine vehicles running roughshod over the grounds.

After the war it was returned the city, and began a slow deterioration from misuse and disuse.  It was eventually declared a public hazard, again a hard thing to imagine looking at it today.

Fund raising rescued the Palace once again, with a reconstruction completed in 1967, and some additional columns added in 1975.

The Palace of Fine Arts today features a performing theater, and has been the site of many televised events, including the 1976 Presidential Debate, as well as a variety of concerts, lectures, and corporate events.  The Rotunda, shown in the pictures here, is available for wedding and special events.

This is also home to the Exploratorium, a museum founded by Dr. Frank Oppenheimer of the Manhattan Project.  This museum of science, art, and human perceptions hosts an array of hands-on exhibits focusing on science, nature, art, and technology.  It’s a great stop for kids of all ages, engaging them in some amazing ways, and draw lots of visitors to the city as well as local kids on field trips.

Although the Palace of Fine Arts and its grounds are still in need of a little tender loving care, it is a popular with both visitors and locals.  It’s a favorite spot for wedding and engagement photos, popular with photographers of all skill levels, and it’s wonderful place to wander on a sunny afternoon.  Families should keep the Exploratorium in mind if the weather turns bad.  It’s a great option for some indoor time without having to stay in their hotel rooms (speaking of, consider staying in one of San Francisco’s best kid-friendly hotels.

Put it on your San Francisco to-visit list!

Location:  3301 Lyon Street, Walter S. Johnson Park, in the Marina District of San Francisco.

Hours:  The Exploratorium is open Tuesday – Sunday, 10 am-5 pm.

Admission:  FREE to the park, $10-15 for the Exploratorium.

Getting there:  If you have a car, I’d recommend driving.  The park covers some substantial area, and although parking can be difficult to find (the parking area is often full), it gives you more flexibility and freedom.  If you’re using public transportation, the easiest way is on the #30 Stockton bus from Fisherman’s Wharf.  A bus may not be directly available from your San Francisco hotel, although a number of Muni Buses and Golden Gate Transit buses stop nearby the park.

Photo credit:  Courtesy of Shutterstock.

Note:  This post is part of the Oyster blogger program.

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Many cities with large Chinese and Chinese-American communities have fortune cookie factories, and many provide tours.  If you are in San Francisco’s Chinatown, you can find a fortune cookie factory tour at the Golden Gate Fortune Cookie Factory, in an alley historically known for its brothels and gambling.  You can smell the fortune cookies being made, so just follow the wafting smell of sugar wafer, and you won’t be able to miss the fortune cookie factory.

At the factory, the cookies are still made the old fashioned way — by hand. The cookies themselves are formed by batter poured into a mold, making a flat, 3-inch wafer.  After they cook on a griddle-like, rotating machine, they are picked up either by hand, or with chop sticks, and a fortune is inserted into the center of the wafer.   They are then folded, and placed in cup-like holders to cool. The work room is loud, filled with general noise and the back and forth chatter of the workers.

Although it is a simple process, it is rather hard to explain, so take a look and see how it works:

While one of the rituals of ordering Chinese food is the opening of the fortune cookie following the meal, the tradition is an American invention dating back to the early 1900′s.  Although fortune cookies are now also made in China (since 1993), they are advertised and sold as “Genuine American Fortune Cookies.”

Here are a few bits of trivia about the fortune cookie:

• The Joy Luck Club (a novel by Amy Tan and later a movie) poked fun at the non-Chinese aspect of the fortune cookie by depicting Chinese immigrant women working in a fortune cookie factory in America.
• A large Powerball jackpot payout in New York City was thought to be fraud, but it was later discovered that the numbers picked were found in a fortune cookie.
• It is believed that you must eat the entire fortune cookie in order for the fortune to come true.  Conversely, if it’s a negative fortune, you should not eat the cookie at all.
• A common way to “spice” up the fortune with an adult connotation is to add the phrase “in bed” or “between the sheets” at the end of fortune.

Location:  56 Ross Alley (Ross at Jackson), San Francisco

Tours:  FREE, and you get to taste the cookies, too.  The tour lasts about 15-30 minutes, depending on the crowd, and is suitable for both kids and adults.

San Francisco Vacations

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A guest post for today, Black Friday, as I take a long weekend off to enjoy time with family and friends.  With these great ideas to get you thinking, there’s no reasons not to get away from San Francisco for a fun day trip.

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San Francisco is a wonderful place to visit not only because of all the things to see in the city, but because there are plenty of day trips you can take as well. San Francisco is located within 2-3 hours of many other must-see Northern California attractions. Here are five ideas for awesome day trips from San Francisco that will be sure to please visitors with a variety of interests.

1. Napa Valley – Located in Napa County north of San Francisco, Napa Valley is one of the top wine regions in the United States. It is an incredibly popular spot for travelers, with around 4.5 million people visiting each year. Most people go to Napa Valley to sample wine produced at the 450 wineries located here. If you’ve had enough wine, other interesting things to check out include hot-air balloon rides, gourmet restaurants, golfing and museums.
2. Sacramento – The capital of California is located around two hours away from San Francisco. You can take a free tour of the Capitol building and learn all about the architecture of the building and history of the governors of California. If you visit during the right time of year, you can watch the legislature in session from a viewing balcony. Sacramento also has more than 600 pieces of public art, so taking an art tour is a great way to see the art and learn about different areas of the city.
3. Monterey – This oceanside city is filled with history and marine life. Two hours south of San Francisco, Monterey is home to one of the largest aquariums in North America, the Monterey Bay Aquarium.  The area is a favorite for scuba divers due to the variety of sea life in the ocean. Monterey also has plenty of museums and more than thirty carefully preserved historic buildings to visit.
4. Santa Cruz – Most famous for its beautiful beaches and redwood forests, Santa Cruz is also only a two hour drive south from San Francisco. Many people consider Santa Cruz to be one of the best places to surf in California, but if surfing is not your thing, you can also go sailing, paddling or swimming. Other things to do include visiting UC Santa Cruz, the Santa Cruz Boardwalk (seen at night in the photo above) and the Mystery Spot, a supposed gravitational anomaly.
5. Sonoma – The city of Sonoma is an hour north of San Francisco. Sonoma may not be as well known for its wines as Napa Valley, but it’s still a great place for wine lovers to visit. You can also visit El Pueblo de Sonoma, the largest historic plaza in California. This plaza is surrounded by several historic buildings such as the Mission San Francisco Solona and the Presidio of Sonoma.

Photo credit:  Shutterstock

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This is a guest post from Ryan Embly for Car Rental Express (CRX).  CRX can help you find cheap car rentals all across North America including the San Francisco Bay area.

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Mission Santa Barbara also known as Queen of the Missions for its graceful beauty.

In honor of Buy Nothing Day, Friday, November 26th, this post will try to convince you that the best things in life are free – even when it comes to travel!  So let go of your need for expensive 5-star hotels, gourmet meals, and spa treatments.  While there’s nothing wrong with enjoying those delectable luxuries (and I do enjoy them), sometimes you need to get back in touch with reality by traveling on the cheap – or free.

There are plenty of things to do and see for FREE, even though you might be traveling to an expensive part of the country.  With its beautiful location on the ocean, and its lovely temperate weather, Santa Barbara is often referred to as the American Riviera, and common sense tells you that’s not going to come cheap.  Still, this seaside community located about 90 miles from Los Angeles, can provide a charming combination of history, the arts, and an enjoyable pace of travel for FREE.

Here are 30 FREE experiences for experiencing this city on the Pacific (some are seasonal):

1. Visit the Old Mission Santa Barbara (in the summer you can check out the roses in the Mission Rose Garden)
2. Experience local culture on State Street
3. Enjoy the 360-degree views of downtown from the Santa Barbara County Courthouse clock tower
4. Enjoy the city’s oldest park, Alameda Park, home to Kid’s World playground, designed for and by kids
5. Play or watch volleyball at East Beach
6. Stop off at Chumash Painted Cave State Historic Park, for a look at preserved cave paintings depicting the life and times of the local Chumash Indians hundreds of years ago
7. Stroll Stearns Wharf, the oldest working pier on the west coast, and check out the day’s catch
8. Learn about riding the rails at the South Coast Railroad Museum in nearby Goleta
9. Meet the artists at the Sunday Arts & Crafts Show
10. Learn about the city’s Spanish roots at El Presidio de Santa Barbara State Historic Park
11. Go bird watching at Andree Clark Bird Refuge
12. Whale watching from Shoreline Park where you have a view of the migratory path
13. Enjoy the atmosphere of the downtown Farmer’s Market (and a small price to pick up some delicious food for lunch)
14. Have a Zen experience at Alice Keck Memorial Park Gardens
15. Visit Quicksilver Miniature Horse Ranch for a look at some remarkable 34-inch horses
16. Walk, jog, or bike the Cabrillo Bikeway
17. Relax and enjoy the American Riviera Franceschi Park
18. Enjoy a day trip to Nojoqui Falls and a 15-minute uphill walk to see the waterfall
19. Let history come alive at the Historical Museum
20. Drive the scenic Highway 154 to the Santa Barbara Wine Country (enjoy the scenery, but watch out for wine purchases that can quickly add up)
21. Walk the nature trails at Elings Park
22. Try out your moves at Skater’s Point with its bowls, rails, and ramps
23. Enjoy sunset from the Douglas Family Preserve bluffs
24. Visit Lil Orphan Hammies, a rescue farm for over 100 potbelly pigs (it still counts as FREE if you decide to leave a donation for their continuing care)
25. Play on the Guadalupe Dunes
26. Visit with exotic ostriches and OstrichLand USA, a zoo-like farm that is home to both ostriches and emus.  (Feeding them does have an additional fee)
27. Take a look at the Monarch at the Coronado Butterfly Preserve (November through March is prime viewing season for the Monarch butterflies)
28. Enjoy oceanfront Carpinteria State Beach Park
29. Visit Carpineria Sea Sanctuary (open December-May) and watch this frisky fellas romp along the shoreline
30. Get a taste of the wild west with a visit to the Santa Barbara Carriage and Western Arts Museum

BONUS:  Some additional FREE things to do for the holiday season:

• Enjoy the Downtown Holiday Parade on December 3rd
• Watch the Harbor Parade of LIghts on December 12th
• Drive to Solvang for the annual Julefest Celebration, complete with holiday decorations and celebrations

Other articles for Buy Nothing Day worth a read:

• Jessie at Wandering Educators:  Top Ten Tips for Integrating Buy Nothing Day into Your Travels
• Jennifer at The Vacation Gals:  Thanksgiving, Buy Nothing Day and Budget Travel
• Beth at Wanderlust and Lipstick:  6 Tips to Make Solo Travel Cheap
• Wil at Spot Cool Stuff:  4 Cool Ideas for Short Term Work Abroad

Photo credits:  Kevin Cole via flickr (interior of Mission); Mike Baird via flickr (migrating whale); Gabriel Millos via flickr (sunset)

Santa Barbara Vacations

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Long the classic date, dinner and a movie usually requires delicate timing.  And early dinner and a late movie?  Or an early movie and a late dinner?  With both choices fraught with potential for timing disasters and arguments, why not do both at the same time — at San Francisco’s Foreign Cinema.

Movies, which start at dusk, are screened in the covered outdoor courtyard.  Seating is available in the courtyard, inside by the fire, and upstairs in the semi-private mezzanine that overlooks the dining room.  In addition to the dining room, cocktails and a complete menu are served in the main bar and on the patio.  The menu and wine list, which changes daily, are heavy on California-Mediterranean cuisine, and features a good selection of plates suitable for sharing.

If you’re not ready to call it a night after dinner and a movie, step next to the Laszlo.  With its warehouse, industrial chic design, and an outstanding line up of DJ’s, it’s a great way to extend your date until the wee hours (open until 2 am nightly).

Location:  2534 Mission, between 21st and 22nd, in the heart of the Mission District.

Hours:  Dinner is served Monday – Thursday 6 – 10 pm, Friday & Saturday 5:30 – 11 pm, and Sunday 5:30 – 10 pm.  Brunch is served on Saturday 11 am – 3 pm, and on Sunday 11 am – 3:30 pm.

Reservations:  Strongly suggested.  Make reservations online through Open Table.

Parking:  Valet parking available for $10.

Movie:  The Saddest Music in the World, a 2003 Canadian film starring Isabella Rossellini is playing through November 28th, 2010.  Future films are listed on the website.

Photo credit:  Adam Jackson via flickr

San Francisco Vacations

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Olvera Street, also known as El Pueblo Historic Monument, is the birthplace of the City of Los Angeles.  The block-long street, one of the oldest in the city, features historic buildings lining a traditional Mexican style plaza, and is home to one of the most colorful marketplaces that you’ll ever see.

The street was originally a short lane called Wine Street.  The lane was eventually extended, and the name changed to honor Agustin Olvera, the first county judge of Los Angeles.  Although it became a dirty, unused alley for a period of time, the area was eventually rehabilitated, closed off to vehicles, trees were planted, and a large wooden cross was put up at the south end of the street.

Olvera Street officially opened on Easter Sunday 1930, and provided a place for Mexican American vendors to sell their goods and preserve their customs and culture.  The first restaurant in the city to sell authentic Mexican food opened that same year, and is still there today.  Stop off and give La Golondrina a try.

In 1953 Olvera Street was designated as a California State Historic Landmark, and today it has evolved into a center of Mexican commerce, culture and tourism, attracting over two million visitors a year.

As you wander the market, you’ll find shops carrying the typical wares that you’d find in a market in Mexico.  You’ll also find numerous restaurants and outdoor cafe serving traditional, and authentic, Mexican food. Check out the merchant directory to get an idea what to expect.

On weekends the plaza is full of entertaining musicians and dancers.  It’s also a great place to be for many of the important annual fiestas, including the Blessing of the Animals, Mardi Gras, Cinco de Mayo, and upcoming Dia De Los Muertos.

When planning a visit, I’d recommend allowing a couple hours.  There are lots of great photos opportunities, and you’ll want to spend some time wandering through the various stalls and shops, enjoying the sun and soaking up the culture.

Be sure to allow time for a bite to eat.  You’ll be tempted by all the delicious aromas wafting the through the plaza, and you’ll regret it if you don’t have time to succumb to that temptation.

Olvera Street is located at 845 North Alameda Street, Los Angeles.  It is open daily from 10 am – 7 pm, although some stores keep different hours.  It is free to wander through.

Photo credit:  All via flickr.  Marcy Reiford (building); Ray (street scene); Jason Lam (tacos pastor)

Los Angeles Vacations

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