Any Advice!!!!!

[CaptainJack]

Ok heres the deal guys and gals, next year i'm planning to go Stateside to one state i have always wanted to see since my folks showed me endless pics of it when i was younger and now a friend has invited me to go with her.....San Fran....now the only problem is, well i have never ever stepped foot on a plane...i'm beyond terrified...not of flying but of what the planes are made of and from here in the UK it's gonna be a 10/11hr flight...of course i'm only doing this one way...i'm being clever that way as i'm sailing back from New York by QM2 and am getting to NY by Amtrak (3/4 days can't be that bad...can be no worse than the Underground over here ) So i was wondering has anyone got any flying tips or advice as my mate is gonna have hell when i get on with her...if i make it onboard that is, has anyone been over to San Fran...what's the weather and air currents like cos if i get turberlence i think i'll have a heart attack......can anyone tell i'm nervous as hell already Any tips would be greatly received.

[RWLinda]

Lol, there's no reason to be scared or terrified.
I live in Europe and fly to SF at least once a year, sometimes twice a year. I flew in again 2 weeks ago and am gonna stay 2 more weeks.

Maybe it's easier to use email instead of this board. I can give you tons of info about the city. It's my absolute favorite city and (without sounding too corny I hope) the only place where I feel truly home.

[CaptainJack]

That would be cool....do you have access to my email through this site...i'm guessing ya do as you got to have it for me to sign up.... Lots of info will be grand...already taking Robin's interview hints with the Fairmont hotel...ok it's expensive but what's an adventure if you can't go mad...

[RWLinda]

Wow, you're gonna stay at one of those fancy hotels?! Good for you. I used to go for hostels all the time, great for meeting people. Now I'm staying with friends, very cool!
Anyway, you can email questions to linda@robin-williams.net and I'll tell you everything, well, almost everything I know . I don't know where to begin, so maybe it's best you just fire a few questions my way.

[CaptainJack]

Yep i'm gonna stay in a fancy hotel...read Robins interview on here before i went hotel looking and Fairmont just screamed pick meeeeeeeee so i thought why the heck not...i shall get cracking on questions to ask....it's more a case of putting them onto virtual paper first but i do have alot.

[Soozcat]

Hey, CaptainJack.

I've always tried to think of turbulence as similar to driving a Jeep over a rutted road--it's not really life-threatening if you jounce around a little, it's just a bump.

Wow, the Fairmont. Fancy-pantsy! I lived in the Bay Area for many years and have never stayed in the Fairmont... at least in part because my relatives would probably all gang up on me and kill me if I didn't stay with them instead. But it has a very good reputation.

What are you planning on doing as part of your trip? Any particular places you intend to go? San Francisco has loads of things to do, depending on what interests you.

[CaptainJack]

Hey Soozcat,

I'm quite looking forward to stepping into that hotel, really want to see how hotels of that standard compare to those over here...needless to say it looks miles better than most of our London hotels

What do i have planned....well technically i'll be there for filming purposes but i run the schedule so i'll pretty much be filming and then trekking off on some random jaunts to see and do things......i'm never a person to really plan, i just like to see where the days and nights will take me.....i do like to get alot of ideas from people though as to what's around and what's unmissable though....although i kinda live by the motto that some of the most amazing things happen when you don't plan them... and as for what i'm into...well i'm into everything and i truly do mean everything....this whole planet fascinates me so i'm off for the ride of a lifetime.

[Soozcat]

I agree with you that many of life's best adventures are spontaneous and serendipitous. However, in your wanderings, a handful of places you might want to see if you find yourself in the neighborhood:

Green Apple Books & Music on Clement St. is a small shrine to the cult of bibliomania. Clement in general is a fun place, but Green Apple is my favorite.

I don't know if you'll be there when all the trees are in bloom, but even if you're not, there's something very special about the Palace of Fine Arts. Also, if you want to release the inner kid, a visit to the Exploratorium is always fun.

There are numerous beaches, all of which have their followers. I used to frequent Stinson Beach for swimming and big ol' Ocean Beach to scrounge for sand dollars.

All sorts of interesting sights are to be had in Golden Gate Park. I'm not sure whether Steinhart Aquarium is back up and running (it was closed for renovation the last time I was there), but it's fun. The Japanese garden in the same general area is lovely--good for some quiet, meditative strolling.

Walking or biking across the Golden Gate Bridge should probably be on that list of things to do before you die.

If you're a live theater fan (and who isn't?), you should see what's playing at the ACT (American Conservatory Theater) while you're there.

Buy a cheap kite and let fly!

Hope something here proves to be of use. San Francisco is a great place; I think you'll love it.

[Miss Lilly]

Hope you have a safe and fun trip.