🚀 go-pugleaf

A few answers on things to do and see, with luck this will start a
flood...

First, I don't live near San Jose, I live on the other coast (Boston),
but I do travel there frequently and have for a decade and therefore
have done more sightseeing than, for example, I have done in Boston,
so I assume my observations have some merit even if only because they
are naive.

1. Berkeley is in Berkeley, CA. That is about 50 miles (80km) from San
Jose. There is a train system (CalTrain) but you might want to arrange
to have an automobile, particularly if you might be travelling odd
hours. San Francisco is roughly the same distance from San Jose
(probably 40 mi / 65 km). San Jose is south of SF and Berkeley, in the
Silicon Valley area. The obvious road between them is Rte 101 (get a
map), to get to Berkeley follow the signs as you get to SF to the
Oakland Bay-Bridge, cross the bridge and follow the main road to
Berkeley, get off at University Ave I guess, the Berkeley Campus exit
is marked on the highway (pardon me, easterner here, FREEWAY not
highway.)

2. My favorite sightseeing spots, in no particular order:

A) The Exploratorium (San Francisco, near Golden Gate Bridge, very
near, there's a .83 chance you will drive over the bridge the first
time you try to get there but that's ok it's a fine thing to do, great
view, turn around in Sausalito and drive back).

The Exploratorium is sort of for kids, but don't be fooled, it's great
fun and a favorite venue for big computer conference parties (they'll
rent the whole place for the evening.) It's a very large open building
with all sorts of very clever "science fair" experiments, most of them
designed to be played with ("turn the crank fast and see what
happens", "cover one eye and look at the man thru the mirror, now
cover the other eye, amazing!"). Every display demonstrates some
principle of science, electricity, magnetism, lasers, etc.

It's great fun, trust me (have I ever lied to you before?), great
place to pick up some souvenirs in their gift shop, science-y
gimcracks rather than the usual junk, go for the spheres you slam
together which make an exploding sound, wonderfully obnoxious thing to
have in an office environment.

B) Drive across the Golden Gate to Muir Woods (get a sightseeing map,
it's maybe 15 minutes past the bridge?) Plan to spend the afternoon or
morning. You'll see some huge redwoods and generally a wonderful,
heavily wooded park, a very peaceful place. Bring walking shoes and a
jacket, it can get cool.

C) Drive down Rte 1 south to Monterey, along the coast, expect to
spend at least 2 hours each way. Bring a camera, stop along the way
(there are places to pull over) to take in the breathtaking ocean
views every few miles as you get south of the Salinas Valley. Have
lunch in Monterey, wander around the pier, head back, you'll be ready
to see the coast again. Stop in Gilroy, garlic capital of the world,
if you want a side trip and buy some garlic wine etc.

D) Go to Land's End (on the coast but in San Francisco, a bit south of
the Golden Gate) a couple of hours before sunset. Make a reservation
at the Cliff House restaurant for a window seat at sunset if possible.

Wander around the cliffs and caves, visit the camera obscura and sign
their petition to keep it there, look at the seals etc, have dinner at
sunset or just go down to the beach, it's a lovely place. Might be
good to pair with visiting Golden Gate park which is relatively close
by.

E) Go down by the waterfront, Ghiradelli and all that, in San
Francisco, be impressed that the cheap tourism trade is alive and well
in the US and wonder why so many people are wandering around here to
look at the restaurants and junk souvenir shops.

F) Drive or walk down Lombard Street, at the end near the waterfront,
where it's "the world's crookedest street". It's corny, but the first
time you see it you'll laugh, particularly if you're driving. This can
be combined with (E) easily.

That's my list, I'm sure I've forgotten something, probably something
I've never done. If you want a strange place to visit in San Jose try
the Rosicrucian Museum, the hotel will know where it is or hop a cab.
Lots of nifty Egyptology, mummies and all that, really not a bad small
collection, all wrapped in what can properly be labelled "Weird
Religion". Be sure to pick up some of the proselytizing literature on
your way out for your stranger friends back home.

-- 
        -Barry Shein

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