123 San Francisco

If you plan to visit the Bay Area you need to make sure you allocate enough time to visit the historic Castro District which is the geographically defined symbol of the city’s lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender events and activism. Concentrated primarily in the business district located on Castro Street from Market Street to 19^th Street, the gayborhood extends down Market Street toward Church Street and on both sides of the Castro neighborhood from Church Street to Eureka Street. Named after Jose Castro (a leader in the Mexican opposition to the U.S. rule of California in the 19^th century) the neighborhood was created in 1887 and its current architecture is very reminiscent of the time.If you’ve seen the movie Milk starring Sean Penn, you’ve already gotten an inside glimpse into this tight knit but open community. In fact, you might want to stop into Harvey’s (named after Harvey Milk who was locally known as “The Mayor of Castro Street”) for a drink and a bite to eat since it has the same open and friendly personality as its namesake. And if you’re craving a seafood dinner (since you are on the coast, after all) make sure you put Catch Restaurant on your list of places to go. Catch has been voted “Best Seafood” restaurant in 2007 and 2008, and it’s definitely not resting on its laurels when I was there in 2010 it was still stellar. It’s casually elegant with a great vibe and the Miso Glazed Back Cod is to die for. I’m a happily married heterosexual woman and I love everything about the Castro district

One of the most infamous names in animation is Walt Disney. Whether it’s for the animated classics, such as Snow White and Mickey Mouse, or for the infamous Disneyland and Disney World, Disney is a worldwide success. The Disney family (Walt and Roy Disney) are the ones who brought the Disney Corporation to life, and now, you can learn about Walt Disney at the Walt Disney Family Museum.Located in San Francisco (the Presidio), the museum contains ten different galleries. Each exhibit is designed to travel through a stage of Walt Disney’s life. In the first gallery, “Beginnings,” you’ll find pictures of Walt Disney as a child all the way through to his teenage years. You’ll even see pictures of Disney as a WWI Red Cross member alongside a life size model of the ambulance that he drove during the war. (more…)

Since 1963, visitors have been awed by the lifelike figures at the Wax Museum. Located at Fisherman’s Wharf, the museum has six different exhibits, each with multiple subsections. From historical moments to film classics, the Wax Museum has a figure for them all.The two biggest exhibits are the “History” and “Sports and Entertainment” collections. The “History” showcase holds some of the world’s most well known figures. There are humanitarian models, such as Eleanor Roosevelt and Nelson Mandela, as well as verbal and visual artists, like William Shakespeare and Salvador Dali. However, in the “Sports and Entertainment” display, visitors can see replicas of past and present celebrities. Whether it’s Marilyn Monroe and Clark Gable, or modern day favorites Johnny Depp and Beyonce Knowles, the museum has both. There’s even a section for sports fans, with featured stars including Tiger Woods, Lance Armstrong, Barry Bonds, and Muhammad Ali. (more…)