Charles Chocolate Factory

6529 Hollis St
Emeryville CA
(510) 652-4412
11:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m.
Wed., Fri., Sat. and Sun



Many people eat chocolates but they have no idea how they're made. Especially when it comes to handmade chocolates. Thanks to Charles Siegel chocoholics can increase their chocolate knowledge with a tour of his Charles Chocolates factory in Emeryville.

When you walk in, you are summoned to a chocolate bar. It has a comfy couch and a row of stools with an eye level view of the company's factory floor. There, several highly trained white suited chocolatiers filling molding trays and performing other very important chocolate making tasks.

Siegel and the others on his staff who give the tour promise of a free raspberry truffle as a reward for making it to the end of the half-hour show. This is the only artisanal chocolate factory in the country to offer one. Anyone can view the chocolate making without a tour during regular business hours.

During the tour, Siegel asks the assembled to slow down, and bite the morsel in half and then compare the thinness of the walls of his handmade "Rolo". When you compare it to the machine made version, there's no question that the shell on Siegel's product is much thinner. Making them by hand allows him to create a thinner shell. Segal says that the shell is really just a delivery vehicle to get a soft filling into your mouth. Which I would say are very rich and good.

Fisherman's Wharf Attractions San Francisco, Ca.

San Francisco's most popular vacation destination Fisherman's Wharf offers many types of activities. Fisherman's Wharf offers different attractions, lodging, nightlife, restaurants, shopping, tours, and services.

Attractions include:

Anchorage Square
Address: Jefferson and Jones Streets
Phone: 415-775-6000
Anchorage Square offers biking, touring, shopping, and dining. Some of the most popular places to visit are Bike and Roll, Bay Quackers, In-N-Out Burger, Coldstone Creamery, Starbucks, Hidden Plunder, Crazy Shirts, Courtyard by Marriott, Hertz, and Avis. Anchorage Square has convenient validated parking available on Anchorage Square Parking Garage located on Beach Street.

Aquarium of the Bay
Address: Pier 39, The Embarcadero at Beach
A marine center full of over 20,000 aquatic animals from the San Francisco Bay. The aquarium has 300 feet of crystal clear tunnels just inches from sharks, skates, octopus, bat rays, and other aquatic animals. This aquarium is open year round except December 25. Summer and holiday hours of operation are: 9am to 8pm and other times of the year the aquarium is open 10am to 6pm.

AT&T Park
Address: 24 Willie Mays Plaza
Phone: 415-972-2400
AT&T park is home to the baseball team San Francisco Giants. At this stadium home runs become splash hits as they hit the Bay water. Also, you can take behind the scene tours of the AT&T Park. You get to visit the dugout, indoor batting cage, and possibly the Visitors' Clubhouse. Tours last about 1 hour and 30 minutes and run almost everyday at 10:30am and 12:30pm.


The Cannery
Address: 2801 Leavenworth Street
Phone: 415-771-3112
The Cannery at Del Monte Square is one of San Francisco's most treasured places. The Cannery was originally built in 1907 and was the largest peach cannery in the world. Today, The Cannery is a waterfront marketplace with shops, restaurants, offices, and live entertainment.


Ghirardelli Square
Address: 900 North Point Street
Phone: 415-775-5500
Ghirardelli Square offers wine tasting, dining, shopping, and delicious chocolate treats. If you'd like a breath-taking view of the Bay, Ghirardelli Square is the place to be.




Ripley's Believe It or Not! Museum
Address: 175 Jefferson Street
Phone: 415-771-6188
San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park
Address: Bldg. E, Room 265, Lower Fort Mason
Phone: 415-561-7006

The Wax Museum at Fisherman's Wharf
Address: 145 Jefferson Street
Phone: 415-202-0402
The Wax Museum has more than 250 life-like personalities. The museum has different scenes including horror and disbelief, religion, and the most popular Gallery of Fame. The Gallery of Fame has sports heroes, royalty, scientist, U.S. Presidents, historical personalities, and entertainment idols. The most recent personalities to be added to the museum are Jennifer Lopez, Angelina Jolie, Brad Pitt, and George Clooney. Hours of operations are weekdays 10am to 9pm; and weekends from 9am to 11pm.

Pier 39
Address: Beach Street & The Embarcadero
Phone: 415-705-5500
Pier 39 is located at the northern end of The Embarcadero, with stunning San Francisco views. Pier 39 is a two-story marketplace with about 110 shops and 13 restaurants with Bay views. Also, there are several street performers and musicians performing daily. Other attractions at Pier 39 are Carousel, game arcade, Blue and Gold Fleet Bay Cruises and more.


Sea Lions
Located at Pier 39 behind the two-story shopping marketplace lies my favorite part of Fisherman's Wharf, the sea lions. These sea lions lounge on these floating wooden platforms daily at almost anytime of the day. This attractions is amazing, you won't believe your eyes as you see hundreds of sea lions on platforms laying, playing, groaning, sleeping, and even sometimes fighting. At night time they fight for a place on the platforms to sleep. This attraction is simply mind blowing, you must see it for yourself. Adults and children will love it!

Kai's Japanese Restaurant

Kai's is located in the Old Oakland Neighborhood in Down Town Oakland. The food is great and the prices are cheap. They also have a full bar. My favorite plate is the Chicken Teriyaki Bento Box. It comes with chicken triyaki, stem rice, noddles, and a salad (this plate is under $5). They also have a full sushi bar. I don't really like raw fish so my favorite one is the California roll. They give complementary soup and tea while you wait for your food. The service is great and fast. I love the atmosphere. So, if your a student and you love good food this is the place for you. You will not be disappointed.