Who's going to San Francisco?

[nockergeek]

This guy right here, that's who.

Friday, it was announced that I'd won our company's semi-annual President's Club contest. In this contest, everyone has to nominate another employee as exceptional every month and explain why they feel they're deserving of the award, and at the end of the half-year the results are tallied and a winner is selected. For July through December, apparently I was the one most nominated by my peers. I'm still happily shocked and humbled by the whole thing.

The prize has traditionally been a trip, and which trip is based on how the company did profit-wise for that time period. Usually, it's a trip out to one of the local lake resorts in Missouri, so that's what I was expecting. A private cabin for two on the lake, shared with my wife. That sounds nice. I could live with that.

However, I was called into the boss's assistant's office today, and her first question was, "How do you feel about flying?" Apparently, the trip is going to be out to San Francisco. Airfare, four-star hotel, rental car, meal allowance, the whole nine yards. Needless to say, I was (and still am) elated. The weekend of February 6th, Z and I get to fly out to the City by the Bay!

Comments

[telophase.livejournal.com]

Sweet! Congratulations! :D

[xvolph.livejournal.com]

Nice. Enjoy that, it's a fun city to visit. I can recommend some places to go.

[nockergeek.livejournal.com]

Please do! We've never been there.

[xvolph.livejournal.com]

Did they tell you where you're staying?

Right off the top of my head:

Japan Town - Lots of sushi, a great little grocery store, ramen places, a mall with enough stuff to keep any geek occupied, music and video stores, a theatre, and Hotel Tomo.

Pier 39 - Tourist trap, sure, but awesome shops, a view of both bridges, some terrific restaurants, and sea lions.

Meritime Museum and Ghirardelli's chocolate factory - A straight shot down from Pier 39 and quite possibly within walkable distance. There are more great shops along that stretch, and you can catch harbor tour boats nearby, if they're running at that time of year. When I was there, the boat tour I went on took me around Alcatraz and under the Golden Gate bridge.

Golden Gate park - Again, not sure how much of this will be open at that time of year. I went at the end of July. I suspect the rose gardens might not be open, but if you can, check out the Japanese tea garden. Wonderful place.

Union Square - Lots of high end shops. Needless to say, I didn't do more than pass through here. But if you want to ride the trolly, it runs from Union Square down by the Meritime Museum. So it's very easy to hit both ends in one day.

I don't know if your travel package includes car rental or not, but truth be told, you don't really need one. There is enough public transportation around the city that you can get to most places inexpensively and with ease. The exception might be Golden Gate park. I did have to take a cab part of the way.

And as the hotel clerks drilled into my head repeatedly within my first 15 minutes of checking in "Stay out of Oakland."

I envy you.

[reynardfox.livejournal.com]

Congrats! You're heading towards my neck of the woods. I don't know if I can get away to meet up (and city driving there scares the tar out of me), but it's an awesome city to visit. Congratulations on a job well done, too! :D

[katzchen.livejournal.com]

That is SO AWESOME OMG. Congrats :D

I'm sensing some Chinatown visiting, aren't I. :)

[rendertarget.livejournal.com]

Very cool. San Francisco rules.

[tim-almasy.livejournal.com]

Sweet, dude. Congrats on not only winning a trip, but on winning a COOL trip. :P

[plasticchimera.livejournal.com]

You lucky shit!

[wolfy-chan.livejournal.com]

that's fantastic! I live two hours away from San Francisco (Santa Cruz). :D How long are you staying? Maybe I can scream at someone to cart me over there (or I can just take the train) so we can meet up :> You'll love their Japan/China Town! it has a huge Kinokuniya bookstore, those amazingly ~*fabulous*~ photo sticker booths, music shops, video shops, etc, etc, etc.

San Fran is a pretty amusing city. Horrible as hell to find parking during the day, but has some of the most active night clubs and art studios by the dozens. <3

[the-buzzard.livejournal.com]

Holy shit that rules. Congrats!

[psychousagi.livejournal.com]

That's awesome!
Never been to San Fran, but last year me & the hubby spent a week in San Diego, which was FAB-u-LOUS! California is a welcome 80 degree treat this time of year :D