Neat local flavor to take a look out…read more It's actually someone's house that they live in, so make sure to be mindful and polite when visiting (because I can't imagine how annoyed the neighbors would be with randos going in and out as well as just thinking this place is an eyesore with how rich and pretentious the neighborhood already seems). There are statues of the saber tooth there and Fred, some dinos. Lots of purple and orange colors. It's not only just Flintstones theme as there are bunnies, aliens, Terracotta warriors and an eclectic mix of decor. Neat, fun and interesting stop if you're nearby and on the way somewhere else.

Flintstones House Hillsborough CA Wed 4/12/23 ©…read moreLet me start by saying, this quirky house is not a tourist destination! For decades, this prominent feature in Hillsborough hills just off the scenic route Hwy 280 brought happy feelings to passers by! Of course it's been a curiosity for decades in existence... but wait! All it is, a wonderful single family residence, with a twist in a story full of intrigue & litigation! And it has its own Wikipedia page! I've told myself, Grey, you live close by, you've got to write about the Flintstones House! It's a curiosity worth noted, yet a source of controversy to its neighbors! A colorful authentically looking residence in the affluent Hillsborough community uniquely affected the inner moods within the neighborhood, while much of the story remained hidden from public eye. The listing wasn't on the Yelp maps until recently, a yelper put it on during the pandemic, the house itself has been gracing the hill for decades in existence. The Flintstones house has been renovated & changed hands some years ago... I believe it used to sport an off white stucco, at some point it got repainted bright orange & purple... sold in 2017 & that's when complaints began. As the storytelling goes, the original Flintstones suburban sprawl developed in real life! Much controversy to it in the recent years due to the current owner coloring it even brighter burnt color resembling the cave & decorating the yard even more...beauty is in the eye of the beholder! Neighbors considered yard decorations an eye sore! So they brought forth the law suits. The installations of dinosaurs became a point of contention. Maybe historic inaccuracies were getting on their nerves? :-) After all, all we know is that Fred & Wilma enjoyed the company of their pet dinosaur Dino, but were there many others in the Stone Age? What about a Giraffe, a woolly mammoth, and a Fred Flintstone himself?! I understand neighbors didn't want any attention in the affluent town they reside in. Well, the owner won the law suit! She gets to keep her dinosaurs! Not only that, but also $125K from the city for originating the architectural review in the first place! And we the public got to enjoy this amazing architectural creation for years to come! *Well, he packed his guitar and his bar-room tan, Gotta get some miles behind him as fast as he can, Another destination, some place else to play. *But as the night approaches, a change is in the air His heart is pumping fast, he's got no cares The music befriends him, it can take him anywhere It's a honky-tonk engagement But there's no better place to play His mind feels like crazy pavement He's getting crazed out every day [ Review #766 w 2 pix on May 2, 2023 ] Flintstones House! Hillsborough CA Wed 4/12/23 Yabba Dabba Doo! @Flintstones House Hillsborough CA Wed 4/19/23

A great walk/climb. Over 300 steps up and back down. The best part? You get to Coit Tower.read more

Such a treasured landmark in San Francisco, so much that it's maintained in pristine condition by…read morelocals and donors. This 163-step mosaic stairway was open to the public in 2005 and this community project was started by neighborhood residents Jessie Audette and Alice Yee Xavier with the collaboration of artists Aileen Barr and Colette Crutcher. Donated California native plants adorn these stairs. I'd say for the San Fran tourist, it's worth a visit especially if you have a car and you want to venture into SF neighborhoods (I used public transit and the Muni bus stop right next to it isn't the most reliable as when I was ready to leave here I saw the route bus zoom past the proposed bus stop seen on my GPS; I ended up having to walk a few blocks to another bus stop). Unsure about how crowded it would be on weekends, but when I visited on a weekday morning I had good chunks of time with the stairway all to myself!

Amazing! Great for kids! I went with my nephew and had so much fun! One of the cutest Christmas…read moreattractions in the neighborhood! So many things to look at :) definitely felt like Christmas.

I visited this free holiday attraction on Friday, and even with the freezing winter temperatures, I…read moreenjoyed my time here. I arrived around opening time (6:00pm), and there was just a short line for entry. With so much to see and admire about this place, the walk thru was much longer than I expected, though that's partly cuz I didn't know you could pass people till I reached the mid-point. It's only one-way through the various pathways and illuminated tunnels that make up this experience, but if people stop and block foot traffic for long periods of time (for instance, families telling their toddler to look at every single doll and figurine in the windows and displays, or having them pose to take pictures like tourists), there's enough space to just pass them. Widmer World presents a range of themes and collections, including Disney (mickey mouse, toy story, disney princesses, etc), Minions, Snoopy, Santa, Abominable Snowman, geese, penguins, and stuffed animals galore. Cardboard cutouts with artwork, inflatables in various characters, moving props and decor, and animated xmas figures. Detailed miniature displays of various scenes including a charming village, a carnival with ferris wheels, roller coasters, and hot air balloons, and a festive model railroad with multiple trains moving along the tracks. It's so much more than a light show lined with impressive displays all around. It's a whimsical wonderland with lots of moving parts and interactive exhibits to delight guests of all ages. There's a scavenger hunt to find 12 gnomes, as well as a Mr. Potato Head coin toss game, and at the end of the walk thru, there's a guest book you can sign. In the front of the house, a giant chair is available for photo ops, along with more holiday lights and decorations. There are also signs directing visitors on where to find street parking (since you can't park in the court where this event is located).

Had the chance to visit this art installation during my work trip in San Francisco! It's a…read morebeautiful piece of art that captures the night and great for a walking date in Golden Gate Park. It's an installation that turns off at 9:30 pm until late April, 2024. It's near peacock meadows, so be careful if you're taking an Uber/Lyft there as Golden Gate Park as your intended destination will bring you to the other side, which is what I experienced! Great attraction for families, couples, and all ages!

All Man, The Entwined Lighted Festival is FIRE. You have to come check out the vibes and beauty…read morehere of the forest and lights. Its like a scene in a Fairy Tale. Its not far from the Golden Gate Bridge, but it is a joy to see and be around. I took plenty of photos that I will have our every chance I get. It was just a scene to see for me. I will visit again.

When it comes to this time of year, I always remember my visits here…read more My friend took me here over twenty years ago a week or two before Christmas. Didn't know what the big deal was. We parked the car about two blocks away on a side street and walked up the slight hill to another side street. There was a bright glow from all of the shimmering and colorful lights. As we walked in, my mouth opened in amazement in seeing the line of houses, all decorated with a variety of Christmas and contemporary themed caricatures. My first visit included greetings from the Simpsons, Flintstones, the Jetson, Peanuts characters and Garfield; did I say family?! We came on a weeknight about ten to twelve days before Christmas. As it gets closer to the day, the traffic and parking become a bear with traffic enforcement guiding visitors. Kudos to the neighborhood community for perpetuating this tradition. It's wonderful to see the Christmas spirit alive and well! Merry Christmas, everyone!

I think they are not doing it now we went just before and after Christmas and there were no signs…read moreor anything that was the like the one I remember from before. We saw some people turning around and being disappointed because they didn't find anything.

I went by myself and walked through it was an amazing seeing all the different decorations and all…read morethe time it must have taken to complete all the amazing things to see I would recommend everyone to go see the beautiful displays.

Such amazing spirit and joy that go into the Christmas decorations every year in honor helping…read morefamilies that are dealing with cancer. It's open all month of December every year. You can drive it or walk it.

The glass elevators at the Westin St. Francis are key-card protected and not open to public…read moreanymore. You need a hotel key card to access one of the glass elevators, and I think it's used to be one of free things for locals and tourists years ago.

Wheee! What a fun way to see the city! This elevator is in…read morethe St Regis overlooking Union Square. If you act like you know where you're going, and just jump in with some random guest, you'll get to see a great view of the city for free! The glass elevators are constantly zipping up and down. You need a guest's key to get the elevator to work, so be sure to hop on with someone going to their room, and just start mashing the highest numbers on the keypad. It's kinda thrilling to know that they put in a card reader to keep out the public, but this is totally worth the trip if you don't stay here. Unfortunately, this Glass Elevator is not like the one written about in the sequel to Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. Unlike the one in Willie Wonka's Chocolate Factory, this one doesn't go sideways, through the roof, or upside down at all.

Got to see my friend perform here tonight on a Saturday! Super fun! Like 6 benches that fit about 5…read moreppl on each. One stage and lots of lightbulbs for shows at night!

So I live at 23rd and Harrison and there happens to be a garden between 23rd and 24th, closer to…read more23rd. There is a little sign that says "Secret Garden", in a little alley enclosed by a white fence between two homes. I've passed this sign millions of times but every time the fence has been closed! Finally, this past Saturday the gate was ajar! We diverted and went inside the garden! Suspense! Someone's back was turned towards the vegetables, there was human in the "Secret Garden". I said "Hello". I was greeted warmly by an older gentlemen. He says his name is "Tree". How fitting :). Anyways, Tree tells us the history of the 23rd and Harrison garden. It was supposed to be a common space for all the houses in the area, then it became a crack den and the parks people sealed it off. Supposedly everyone in the neighborhood had keys before it was closed. Now only Tree and someone else that runs a gardening program for kids has a key. He uses the park for his urban farming project. Tree used to hope he could feed all the homeless with his urban farms, he has a few. There is one at 23rd and Treat st., I don't know where his others are. With the produce he gardens he gives it all away at his food stand in the mission for low income and homeless folks. How cool is that? Amazing to have people like Tree in SF. I've heard he also had something to do with the trees that line Folsom, I'm not sure about that rumor. Here is a link to his blog: http://freefarmstand.blogspot.com/

Huge selection of bean to bar chocolate and other chocolate related treats but heavily focused on…read morethe bars. Service was helpful and accommodating and kind but not intrusive. A fantastic stop for any bean to bar fanatic.

What a gorgeous, unique shop! The sheer scale of chocolate selections here is impressive. The…read moremoment I stepped in the store, my jaw dropped. Right off the bat, the decor is so eye catching. I loved looking at the tins fixed on the wall with a variety of street names, chocolate brands, and landmarks. It makes for a very visually fun store. The chocolate choices here are unmatched. Every single chocolate I saw looked divine, and there are so many chocolate brands to choose from. There are also individual truffles for purchase. I visited on a Monday evening, and the store was completely empty, so I could take my time looking around. The brand Fossa caught my eye - they had chocolate bars with flavors like spicy mala, salted egg cereal, and satay sauce. Not only were there fascinating flavors, the packaging of every single bar I saw belonged in a museum. This felt like a store with high-quality, artisanal options, and I loved my visit!

I had watched numerous documentaries and videos and read plenty of articles about this ghost town…read moremonths ago, and became extremely interested since this place is so close to home.  I finally made it here, after a last-minute decision during my run at Alviso Marina park. I always thought that the distance would be too far of a run, since the address/location is listed as Fremont, however, coming from San Jose (Alviso specifically), it was only about 2 and 1/2 miles. So it really wasn't that bad. Of course that's just one-way. I was pleasantly surprised to find that google maps directions leads you directly to a lookout point, so it's really easy to find and access from Alviso (even though there are plenty of "Do not enter" signs along the way, even toward Mallard Slough Trail, which is interesting since SF Bay Wildlife Society states that it is legal to enter this area. https://www.sfbws.com/drawbridge). On my way there, I passed by a run down "bridge" made up of broken planks (see my photo) with a sign post making it clear that entry beyond that point was prohibited. That bridge actually connected to the railway, which was interesting because although I know people have illegally biked/hiked to the old town via that railway, why is this bridge here?!? Are they encouraging bad behavior, or was this connected to something else in the past? That bridge, crossing the marsh was about a mile away from Drawbridge, so I didn't feel comfortable trying to balance on those unstable beams (illegally), then risking my life on the railway trying to access the ghost town, while expending energy (I mean c'mon, I still had to run back to Alviso, and then home). An entire mile, not knowing when to expect a train! I wonder if it's a shorter distance coming from the Fremont side. Either way, I think the view from the lookout point was worth it, and the videos and photos you see online provide sufficient up close shots of the homes that barely still stand. It looks like just old burnt moldy wooden skeletons of 3-4 small homes/cabins, lonely in the middle of nowhere (still can't believe this exists here within the busy metropolitan bay area). The vista point was actually quite nice, peaceful, isolated and lots of open space, surrounded by water and plant life. There is also informative signage describing the history and timeline of this quaint town, as well a bike rack and bench to relax and enjoy the view on a nice sunny day. The whole time I was there, starting with my run from Alviso at 6:15pm, I only saw one train come by (Amtrak, at exactly 7:05pm on a Saturday). And I only crossed a few pedestrians/bikers on my way there and back. If you're looking for a place to be alone with your thoughts and be surrounded by nature while taking in a piece of history, this is a place worth checking out.

Cool ghost town visible from train - San Jose to Sacramento…read more It was so fun discovering this small ghost town in the middle of the South at wetlands. A raucous history clings to Drawbridge - hunting and maybe gambling at one time or another. Built in the 1870s and it became 'ghostly' after the last person left in 1979. I like the background of the town and how it spices up the history of the southern part of San Francisco Bay.