San Francisco Columbus Day 2010 - Courtesy (www.jaunted.com)

Event Name: Columbus Day 2010

Event Date: Monday, 11th October, 2010

Event Time: 8:00 am to 10:00 pm

Event Venue: Fisherman’s Wharf

Celebrate the San Francisco Columbus Day on the second Monday 11th October 2010, which is a very significant day of America. The day commemorates the friendship between Italy and USA, as well as the mutual respect and co-operation between the two countries.

This day is celebrated with lot of fun and excitement and it pays tribute to the first journey to America by an Italian sailor Christopher Columbus in 1492. This day is also observed by many Italian-Americans as a celebration of Italian-American heritage.

Current Celebrations

The major highlights this year include dozens of handcrafted parade floats featuring Bay Area businesses, community groups, and Italian organizations. The 142nd Annual Italian Heritage Parade on Sunday, October 10, 2010, is the best tourist attraction and the Nation’s oldest Italian-American parade and community celebration.

Best part of the parade is that admissions to all parade activities-including the Ferrari Sportscar display in Washington Square Park and a variety of hands-on activities for children and families will be totally Free. This momentous parade will start from Fisherman’s Wharf to North Beach and will be bigger, better and more colorful than ever.

The participants for the Columbus Day are the local high school Italian clubs and marching bands. This event will offer special appearances by “Christopher Columbus” and Queen Isabella and Her Court. Visitors can enjoy the performances by a variety of traditional Italian musicians and performance artists.

This year’s event marks a special appearance by Bay Area and Italian-American celebrities. For the foodies it will be an ultimate treat with the festive open-air dining and Italian wine and food specials at North Beach restaurants lining the Parade route.

So what are you waiting for? Pack your bags and be ready to attend the San Francisco Columbus Day historic event beforehand. You can enjoy your stay at the luxurious hotels like the Sheraton Fishermans Wharf or Wharf Inn.

San Francisco Autumn Moon Festival 2010 - Courtesy (chuckcurrie.blogs.com)

Event Name: Autumn Moon Festival 2010 Chinatown San Francisco

Event Date: 18th – 19th Sept 2010 (annual)

Event Venue: Chinatown, San Francisco, USA

Event Time: Sat 11am-4pm; Sun 12pm-5pm

Event Presenter: The Chinatown Merchants Association

Be a part of the celebrations at the 20th Annual Autumn Moon Festival scheduled from 18th Sept to 19th Sept 2010 in San Francisco Chinatown. Don’t miss the fun and excitement and arrive early at the scheduled venue on Saturday 11:00 am till 4:00pm and on Sunday 12:00 pm till 5:00 pm.

Coming September, Chinatown will once again be the center of attraction where San Francisco’s Asian American community celebrates the 2010 Autumn Moon Festival to mark the fifteenth day of the eighth month in the lunar calendar, when the moon is full and at its brightest. Visitors at the event will surely get a taste of the many cultural assets and diversities of the Chinese community along with tons of entertainment, arts and crafts, food and drink, and parades.

The highlight of the event is the opening parade which will proceed from California and Grant with groups of costumed children and artisans holding American flags along with giant puppets, lion dancers, ribbon dancers, and marching bands and will end at the main stage on Washington street, where performers from various Pacific Rim countries will offer nonstop entertainment.

This pulsating event promises everything for everyone with Chinatown’s historic Grant Avenue being transformed into an Asian theme park with over 200 art and crafts booths, food concessions, and nonstop street and stage entertainment. Foodies are in for a treat as the event promises to offer the best Chinese cuisines including bubble tea drinks, moon cakes, tea sampling, and dim sum demonstrations.

So join in at this September festival’s celebration by being there and booking a hotel in advance at either Buena Vista Motor Inn or The Pickwick Hotel. Hurry up and make hotel reservations according to your convenience and budget at one of the cheap San Francisco hotels.

Cow Hollow Motor Inn

The Cow Hollow Motor Inn (415-921-5800; doubles from $79) offers large, affordable rooms and suites in a range of configurations to suit families. The hotel’s location near the Crissy Field recreation area and Fisherman’s Wharf makes this a good spot for travelers with children.

Laurel Inn

Many rooms at the Laurel Inn (800-552-8735; doubles from $159) come with kitchenettes; all offer complimentary continental breakfast. Rooms are equipped with 32-inch flat screen TVs; a DVD lending library is available. This hotel also allows pets.

Seal Rock Inn

Just a few blocks from the beach and the pretty Sutro Heights Park, the Seal Rock Inn (415-752-8000; doubles begin at $120) features a sun deck, heated outdoor pool, and areas for ping-pong and badminton. All rooms come with a refrigerator and many have kitchenettes.

Hotel Del Sol

Conveniently located near the Crissy Field Recreation Area, Hotel Del Sol (415-921-5520; doubles from $129) offers a heated outdoor swimming pool, a children’s video library, free beach balls, sunglasses, and visors for kids, and complimentary fresh baked cookies every afternoon.

Clift Hotel

Conveniently located near downtown shopping and theaters, the Clift Hotel (415-775-4700; doubles from $395) features a Young Travelers Program for families with children. The hotel provides toys, games, high chairs, and other amenities; childcare services and room service are also available.

Hilton Hotel

The San Francisco Hilton (415-771-6807; doubles from $189) has a central location in Union Square near shops and transportation. The hotel boasts of a large outdoor pool, makes cribs and highchairs available to guests, and offers a children’s menu and activities. Rooms feature 28-inch flat screen TVs as well as movies and video games on demand. Roll-away beds and refrigerators are available on request. There is a coffee shop and bakery on site; room service is available.

Beresford Arms

The Beresford Arms (800-533-6533; doubles from $99) offers spacious junior, one- and two-bedroom suites as well as fully equipped kitchens or wet bars. The hotel provides complimentary tea and wine every afternoon.

Four Seasons Hotel

The Four Seasons San Francisco (415-633-3000; doubles from $395) provides kids with milk and cookies upon arrival, offers babysitting services, and can provide cribs and roll-away beds. Rooms feature child size bathrobes as well as toiletries for babies and kids. Complimentary pool access is provided to a nearby facility, and children under 18 get in free. A children’s menu is available through room service.

Winner of both the AAA Five-Diamond Award for hotels and the Mobil 5-Star designation, the Ritz-Carlton San Francisco appeals to hedonists. Prepare for an evening of amour by first calling upon the Ritz’s famous bath butler service. Your personal valet can conjure up a relaxing soak in a preferred essence. If you prefer taking your romantic elixirs internally, arrange to meet for a drink in the Ritz-Carlton lobby lounge. Made-to-order sushi is available before dinner time. To turn your romantic visit into an effortless feast, upgrade to the club level, where drinks and beverages are available throughout the day.

Four Seasons San Francisco

Among the prestigious Mobil 5-Star hotels, the Four Seasons is synonymous with excellence in decor, service, and dining. The hotel goes out of its way to turn dreams into reality, so if you have a special romantic notion — such as locating a charming place to propose or arranging a unique San Francisco experience — challenge the concierge staff to satisfy it.

Mandarin Oriental San Francisco

If you believe that hotels with great views are the most romantic places to nest, opt for the Mandarin Oriental San Francisco. All rooms and suites in this elegant aerie are high up on the 38th to 48th floors and the best views take in San Francisco Bay, the Golden Gate Bridge, and Alcatraz Island.

Hotel Vitale

Located on the Embarcadero across the Ferry Building, Hotel Vitale has a spectacular roof deck with a romantic, unobstructed view of the Bay Bridge. If you want to splurge, ask for the sixth floor circular suite. On weekends, the bar is a popular gathering place.

The InterContinental Mark Hopkins

Opened in 1926, the InterContinental Mark Hopkins stands at the top of Nob Hill. Its exceptional location — at the crossroads of three cable car lines and minutes from Chinatown and Union Square — makes it an ideal hotel for romantic jaunts. Tempting couples with its 100 martinis menu, the legendary Top of the Mark 19th floor bar further seduces with its near-360 degree vistas of San Francisco’s Golden Gate Bridge, Fisherman’s Wharf, and Alcatraz Island.

The St. Regis San Francisco

Another of the Mobil 5-Star hotels made for romantics, the San Francisco St. Regis is noteworthy for both Ame, its award-winning restaurant that specializes in elegant Japanese cuisine, and the hotel itself. Both are located inside a 40-story tower that is also home to the Museum of the African Diaspora.

The Fairmont San Francisco

One of San Francisco’s most recently restored hotels, the stately Fairmont is experienced in playing host to wedding parties as well as couples intent on a romantic getaway. Flat screen TVs, Frette linens, pillow-top beds, and MP3 docking stations are all part of this dowager’s attractive facelift. The Fairmont San Francisco provides a romantic panoramic view of the city and the bay from high atop Nob Hill.

The Huntington Hotel San Francisco

Couples treasure the Huntington Hotel for its old-world charm, as evidenced by the bountiful floral arrangements that perfume the lobby. In its Nob Hill Spa, the half-day Serenity couples package begins with a champagne toast and snack in the premier suite overlooking Huntington Park. The suite has a private living room, dining room, and bath and treatment area. A romantic 50-minute couples’ massage is included in the two-hour experience.

The Westin St. Francis

Arrange to meet your lover at the Clock Bar cocktail lounge in the St. Francis on Union Square, San Francisco’s toniest shopping area. Afterwards, treat yourselves to a romantic gourmet meal of innovatively prepared seafood served at Michael Mina’s award-winning restaurant, which also features a 3,000 bottle wine cellar.

Cavallo Point Lodge

Cross the Golden Gate Bridge to Cavallo Point Lodge in Sausalito. The Bay Area’s first national park lodge, Cavallo Point accommodations overlook San Francisco, the water, and the Golden Gate Bridge from most rooms. A complimentary shuttle transports guests into the city, but you may resist leaving the fireplace in your room, the spa (which features couples treatments), and the magical, romantic views of the City by the Bay.

4. Cornell Hotel de France
Reminiscent of a small Parisian hotel, the Cornell Hotel de France has been family-run for more than 40 years. Built in 1910, the building’s period decor features gilded mirrors, chandeliers, and original moldings. Rooms are done in a single color scheme and feature traditional decor with matching bedspreads and curtains. Full breakfast is included. The location near Union Square is convenient for shopping, theater-going, and public transportation.

5. Andrews Hotel
Beautiful arched windows define the gracious feel of this hotel housed in an Italianate Victorian building. The lobby features book-lined walls and clubby chairs; complimentary wine is served here in the evenings. Rooms are traditionally decorated with leather chairs and matching bedspreads and curtains; all feature convenient bedside lamps, flat screen TVs and private baths. The staff is happy to book theater tickets or make restaurant reservations; continental breakfast is included.
6. Monte Cristo
The Monte Cristo has an appealing, though out-of-the-way location between two lovely residential neighborhoods known for grand houses and elegant shopping. A former saloon and bordello, the Monte Cristo has preserved its Victorian atmosphere with authentic antiques and fabrics. The antiques-filled rooms also feature wallpaper and oriental rugs as well as modernized baths and flat screen TVs; some have downtown views.

7. Hotel Diva
This ultra modern hotel has a stylish, high-tech feel, with monochromatic rooms done in greys and blues and black leather furnishings. Edgy art and glass paneled doors define the look of the lobby; rooms are spacious and clean lined, with down comforters and designer lighting. This centrally located hotel near Union Square is a good choice for business travelers; the hotel’s business center is open 24/7, and the restaurant provides room service.

8. Cow Hollow Motor Inn
A good choice for families, the Cow Hollow Motor inn offers clean, generic rooms at excellent rates. A few steps from Chrissy Field and convenient to Ghiradelli Square and Fisherman’s Wharf, this no-frills lodging offers conveniences like free parking, individually controlled heat and air conditioning, and free Internet access. Rooms come in many configurations to suit those traveling with children.

Most famous among the hotels located in the heart of San Francisco’s famous Fisherman’s Wharf, it is just blocks from world-class shopping and bustling art and theater districts, is within walking distance to attractions such as Pier 39 and ferries to Alcatraz ,minutes from the Financial District and Moscone Convention Center, less than an hour from Oakland International Airport, has 585 elegantly decorated rooms and suites, complimentary wireless Internet access in all rooms and public areas, covered and secured guest parking ($35/day plus tax) , seven meeting rooms with more than 4,500 square feet of function space, the Pacific Ballroom that can accommodate up to 350 people, Bristol Bar & Grill featuring cooked-to-order buffets, Denny’s, onsite, serving meals 24-hours a day, onsite fitness center, 24-hour business center with fax, copying, printing, and computer services, and free weekday limousine service to the Financial District for those staying on our Executive Club Floor.

Spoil yourself with the spacious guest rooms, excellent room service, and heated outdoor pool, one of the few offered by Wharf hotels.

At the Holiday Inn San Francisco Fisherman’s Wharf, you can delight in the city’s playful side while enjoying unrivaled convenience and affordability. Situated among world-renowned shops, attractions, and restaurants, this deluxe San Francisco hotel provides a host of tasty dining options. From traditional seafood to avant-garde dishes, this elegant Fisherman’s Wharf hotel showcases cuisine as classic as the City by the Bay.

Most of the tour companies focus on the most prominent wineries of Napa valley. There are many reasons wherein you can take up a tour to the wine country on your own, similarly there are number of reasons for which you need to take a guided tour. Major attractions of people who are visiting the beautiful city of San Francisco have only a day and a half to visit the famous wine country. So it is important to remember the fact that a guided tour through a limousine or a bus will help you easily to work on your time easily and it is also convenient. The guided tours are also known to the people to taste the wines with their companions.

There are a number of factors that have to be considered while you are in the process of selecting a wine tour. The tours have the duration of anywhere between four to ten hours so it is important that you choose the tour company as per your time and budget constraints. A major number of tours will almost take you to about three to six wineries during the course of the day. There are few factors that you need to keep in mind while selecting your wine tours.

The first consideration is the mode of transportation when you are considering picking up a wine tour. The tour companies offer the wine country trips in a number of modes like coach/bus, mini-bus, van, sedan, limousine, and some of the most upscale stretch limos. There are several companies that will make a number of arrangements to conveniently pick up at the respective hotel and they will also ensure that they provide you with the drop facilities at the respected point.

The next factor that will help you in the choice of the tour is the group. Tour buses as we all know are the most economical and they are also known for the accommodation of larger groups. Tour buses are also a very good option for singles, two or three people or even for a pack of people of the same region or have a kind of similarity with them. The large bus tours are known to offer services like welcoming the masses and they are also known for offering parking facilities to handle the large coaches that appear in packs. With these kinds of wine tours, it is important to note the fact that you do not expect any small, intimate or quaint boutique wineries.

There are other factors like are you going to select a wine tour that has fixed or flexible itineraries, you can also look for some of the wine tours that offer only wine-tasting or a mixed venue. Just to give a proper conclusion the wine tours in San Francisco is filled with loads of fun and scenic beauty along with a learning experience.

Luxurious Aaccommodations

If you are looking for the ultimate luxury hotel that can offer you the best pampering right in the middle of San Francisco’s colourful, energetic downtown area, then Le Méridien may be the best accommodation for you. Le Méridien is located near everything that makes San Francisco the spunky West Coast city that it is: the Embarcadero Center, Bay Bridge, Chinatown, Ghirardelli Square, Fisherman’s Wharf, Union Square, and all the best the city can offer.

Le Méridien has 360 guest rooms and suites for you to choose from. During the peak season, the lowest rates can go up to as high as US $399.00, but for the rest of the year, the rooms are as affordable as US $199.00 every one-night stay. Le Méridien’s guest rooms are the most comfortable San Francisco can offer, with walls painted with warm, earth hues and the most gorgeous views of the San Francisco skyline. You can choose from one king-sized bed or two double beds topped with the softest, plushest, cosiest sheets, pillows, blankets, and comforters.

Each guest room also includes its own turndown service, a stereo system, wired or wireless Internet access for a minimal charge, a plasma television, an iron board, baby cribs, an in-room safe for your valuables, a hairdryer, a private shower and bath, and a 24-hour room service. All Le Méridien rooms are also smoke-free, assuring you the healthiest atmosphere that can be offered in San Francisco. Additionally, smokers can enjoy a cigarette or two in the smoking areas provided specifically for them. For additional fees, you can choose to have a dual-line cordless phone, a city-view room, bay-view room, refrigerator, climate control, rollaway beds for additional persons, your own Jacuzzi, and handicapped-friendly rooms.

Le Méridien is also a top choice for corporate meetings, conferences, and gatherings for its meeting and function rooms. It has 14 meeting rooms that can seat 100 guests, four executive boardrooms for top management gatherings, and function rooms for weddings and cocktail parties. All meeting rooms are equipped with leather chairs, marble tables, air-conditioning, sound system, telephones, microphone outlets, lighting effects, and audio-visual facilities.

Le Méridien promises luxurious pampering and top-of-the-line service wherever you are. It has a multi-lingual staff that can cater to the needs of every individual, no matter what language he speaks and what culture he lives. With its Braille elevator buttons and handicapped-accessible rooms, Le Méridien takes into the consideration the needs of everybody who steps foot into the hotel. Le Méridien also offers additional services such as laundry and dry-cleaning, car rentals, luggage storage, shoe shine service, and covered and valet parking services.

San Francisco Luxury Hotel

Hotel Nikko is one of the hundreds of hotels you can choose from in San Francisco. The difference from every other hotel? Hotel Nikko is found right in the middle of the city’s busy, bustling streets. This may be a good one for you, if you love being right in the middle of everyday action. So if you want the quickest way to step right into San Francisco the moment you step out of your hotel, visit Hotel Nikko. On the other hand, if you love serenity, peace, and quite, Hotel Nikko’s proximity to honking buses and groaning vehicles may not be for you.

Hotel Nikko is very affordable for the average American, only about $180 for a one-night stay in one of its deluxe rooms. There are 533 rooms to choose from so, unless it is peak season, you won’t have much difficulty finding one. You can choose from deluxe rooms, its wide variety of suites (Junior, Executive, Essex, Japanese, or Imperial), or its Imperial Club rooms located at the topmost floors. Each room has at least one 42-inch flat-panel television, the plushest Subarashee Yume beds and bed accessories, Frette linens, wireless Internet access, stereos and CD players, at least three desks, and a bathtub, whirlpool tub, private sauna, or a Japanese soaking tub, depending on your room of choice.

Hotel Nikko also has its own atrium-covered swimming pool located in its fifth floor. For an additional daily fee of $10.00, you can enjoy the combination of the warm atrium-filtered rays of the sun and the cool waters of the indoor swimming pool. The Hotel Nikko swimming pool is open from 5:00 AM to 10:00 PM everyday. You can also lounge around in their comfortable poolside chairs and chaises and enjoy a variety of snacks available from Hotel Nikko’s in-house room service.

Other amenities include a 24-hour health club with the latest exercise facilities and equipment, which you can access anytime of the day, any day of the week for a $10.00 fee per stay. This fee includes access to the relaxing Japanese meditation rooms and health spas where you can actually forget that you are right in the heart of San Francisco. There is also a beauty salon open at the lower lobby, so if you’re looking for some beauty pampering before a big event, Hotel Nikko’s Nicolas Salon is just one elevator ride away.

Other amenities include a business center offering color copying, printing, binding, faxing, packing and shipping, and even secretarial and translation services if you need them; the Rrazz Room Nightclub featuring artists like the American Idols, Keely Smith, Bobby Caldwell and Mary Wilson of the Supremes, Ashford & Simpson, Chita Rivera, and more; and more than 20 function rooms to choose from if you have a corporate meeting or a cocktail party coming up.

San Francisco Attraction

If you’re still not convinced, here are a few more reasons why San Francisco is worth spending your next vacation in. Once we get through skimming the list of places to go and things to do in this warm city full of diverse peoples, I’ll bet you’ll be on your way to your travel agent to have him book the next flight to the West Coast.

D. Downtown San Francisco. Downtown San Francisco alone already offers a variety of activities you can do while visiting the city. First stop, take a sip of California’s world-famous red wines produced right in the heart of Napa Valley, just north of the Bay Area. After all, it’s not everyday you get to taste the best wines made from the highest quality of grapes in the country. Or, if you’re the type who loves basking in museums and the classic arts, you can visit San Francisco’s several museums and performing arts theatres. There are so many of them to choose from I’ll doubt you’ll be able to see them all in one visit. For starters, you might want to visit the California Academy of Sciences, the only museum in the entire world where you can find a natural history museum, planetarium, and aquarium under one roof. And Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Museum, Fisherman’s Wharf, Pier 39, Presidio, etc. Need I say more?

E. Embarcadero Center. Now one of the most desirable places to build an office, Embarcadero Center is located right in the heart of San Francisco’s Downtown Waterfront area. Presently, it has four Embarcadero towers where about 14,000 San Francisco citizens go to work everyday and enjoy a diverse collection of restaurants offering different cuisines, cinemas, and retail shops. Embarcadero Center has not always been what it is today. It went from an entry point for ships that carried treasure hunters who heard of the California Gold Rush in the nineteenth century, to a haven of thieves and prostitutes in the 1920s, to San Francisco’s Produce District later on. Today, after massive development efforts, Embarcadero Center is now one of the most sought after sites in San Francisco.

F. Fort Point. Built in 1784 by Spaniards who wanted to protect their settlement against British and Russian encroachment, Fort Point was originally called Castillo de San Joaquin. Apparently, Fort Point no longer offers any military value, but it still is a preservation of the art and architecture prevalent during the eighteenth century. Fort Point is located at the southern side of the Golden Gate Bridge. Before the construction of the Bridge, many wanted the fort abolished since it no longer served military purpose. It was President Richard Nixon who allocated the funds for its preservation.