tBlog - Weight Loss: Barefoot Inch Loss Blog

The excitement is building for the big celebration. I know my husband was conserned about the airport security issues that have happened over the last 24 hours, but I think overall we are all ready for our business trip break.

That is one of the benefits of owning your own business to be able to go one business trip and vacation at the same time and be able to write off lots of the expenses as a business expense.

I recieved lots of information on the different sight seeing tours available and thought I would share them with you just in case you will need a break from all the exciting 50th celebration activities.

Places to Visit in San Francisco

The tour of Alcatraz is one of the best tours. It departs from Pier 41. Blue and Gold Exclusive. 415-705-5555. You take the boat across to Alcatraz and then it is a walking tour. They go about every half hour. You'll XXXXXXX it.

Muir Woods, Giant Redwoods (wander through 100-year old giant redwood groves and visit Sausalito, a Mediterranean-style seaside village. $38 Adult, $36 Senior. 415-775-1200

Victorian Home Walk, This is really great. You meet under the clock in the lobby of the St. Francis Hotel, Union Square at 11 am any morning 7 days a week, rain or shine. The man is very nice and you will learn alot about the architecture of San Fran and it's history. 2 1/2 hours, No hills!! $20 per person.

The Winchester Mystery House in San Jose. This is very interesting. Sarah Winchester built a 160 room house with doors, stairs and passageways leading to nowhere. After her husband and child died, a fortune teller told her to move from Connecticut out west and buy a home and remodel it and she would not die. For 30 plus years, she had carpenters building round the clock until she died. You can take the bus to San Jose (about 30 minutes or rent a car and also go to Half Moon Bay and go to the Ritz Carlton and have a drink, it's where Roger took the Masters). 408-247-2101 tour

Beach Blanket Babylon at the Club Fugazi, 678 Green Street. This is a Review that has been playing in San Francisco for over thirty years. It is fabulous. I have seen it three times and it is different every time. They keep up with the times. You'll laugh til you can't breathe. The costumes are like you've never seen before. Go to the website beachblanketbabylon.com 415-421-4222. You must get tickets in advance because it is usually sold out. If you want to go, call now.

Half Price Theatre Tickets. At Union Square, across from the St. Francis on Powell St, is a place for half-price tickets for the theatre. You go the day of the play and they have a list of what is available. It is open from 11 am to 6 pm.

Some favorite restaurants are :

Max's at the Maxwell Hotel where many of you are staying. On the corner of Mason and Geary one block up from the Hilton. Food is fabulous and Hugh portions. Charlie and I usually share lunch.

Cafe' Tiramisu, 28 Belden Place, 415-421-7044, Italian cuisine, nestled in a cobblestone alley with other Italian and French restaurants; like being in Europe (go downstairs).

Plouf, 40 Belden Place, 415-986-6491, French restaurant that specializes in mussels served 10 ways and fresh fish.

Fior d' Italia, 2237 Mason Street, 415-986-1886, near Fisherman's Wharf and Club Fugazi (Beach Blanket).

Pano e Vine, 1715 Union St., 415-346-2111, quiet spot frequented by the locals, highly rated; near lots of boutique stores.

North Beach Restaurant, 1512 Stockton St., 415-392-1700, authentic, historic and good for people watching.

Franciscan Crab Restaurant, Pier 43 1/2, Fisherman's Wharf, 415,-362-7733. View of Golden Gate Bridge; Where the tourist go!