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.
Budweiser is owned and created by Anheuser-Bush. The process to make Budweiser takes several interesting steps. The first step starts with miling the barley and rice. Second step consists of the malt and water that are carefully mixed in the mash which is like a cooking pot. The special ingredients are stirred and heated at a controlled temperature and time. Third, they are brought to a rolling boil and the brewers add hops. For those of you who don't know what hops are, they are oils and resins. Fourth, the beer is sent to ferment and age. The liquid is first settled before beginning the fermentation and cooled. The liquid is cooled to approximately 29 degrees and is then ready for taste tests.
Complimentary tours guide you through the unique process of making Bud. These tours take place with a guide that shows you the modern technology and heritage that produces the world's greatest beers. Guests 21 years of age or older, are welcomed to sample our products in the Hospitality Room. You can choose from a variety of beers including traditional, seasonal, and new products.
Hours of operation are as follows: June - August Monday thru Saturday: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. September – May Tuesday thru Saturday: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.
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!
Alcatraz Island is one of the most popular tourist attractions in the Bay Area and just a few minutes away from San Francisco harbor. The island first was home for a lighthouse and became later a military fort before it served as probably the world's most famous prison from 1934 to 1963.
Nowadays you don't need to be Al Capone to go to Alcatraz Island which is meanwhile a National Park. Everyday Alcatraz Cruises is offering several trips to "The Rock". Of course, it is quite expensive (tickets start at $26) but Alcatraz is definitely worth the money. It is a great experience to walk around the cell blocks and the listen to stories of real Alcatraz prisoners through the audio tour (which is already included in the admission). Apart from that you have a phenomenal view of San Francisco, so don't forget to take your cameras.
A special tip is the night tour which is held Thursday through Monday: It is much less crowded than the day tours and the National Park Service is offering special guided tours and activities. Another tip is to book tickets far in advance: Especially during peak seasons and around holidays it is nearly impossible to get tickets at short notice.
Vikingshom Castle is a castle that was built by Mrs. Lora Josephine Knight in 1929. It is located at Emerald Bay, just minutes outside of Lake Tahoe, CA. It was the summer home to Mrs. Knight (who was the mother-in-law of Helen Fargo heiress to Wells Fargo bank). She purchased the property in 1928 for $250, 000. She designed and decorated every inch of the castle. She had a staff of 15 working at that castle. She threw extavagant parties at the castle every summer and when the summer was over she returned to her home in Santa Barbara.
Vikingsholm is about a 3 hour drive from the Bay Area. Tours are available 7 days a week from mid-June to the end of September from10 a.m. to 4 p.m. with the tours lasting 30 minutes each. The tour's admission price is $5.00 for adults, $3.00 for youth ages 6-17, and admission is free for children under age 6. There may be parking fees as well depending on which lot you park in (ranging form $0-$3.00). There is also a 1.7 mile hike on an upward and downward trail. So if you're feeling adventurous and you don't mind spending a little money to get out of the house, then Vikingholm is the place for you!! http://www.vikingholm.com
The Jelly Belly Factory is located in Fairfield, CA. It offers a FREE tour of the factory most days of the year from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. The factory offers restaurants, free candy, and other activities. During the tour (it is 40 minutes) you will learn the history of Jelly Belly, the different tastes (150 different ones!) that Jelly Belly has to offer, and a whole lot of fun!! . You will also be given the ingredients of how to make Jelly Bellies. Jelly beans are not the only thing that this factory makes. They also make taffy, chocolates and wild gummi critters. The best part of all is reservations are not needed. You can come and enjoy all the fun completely free!!! There is also a souvenir store conveniently located on the premises so you can purchase all of the souvenirs and candy you want! The factory is located just an hour away from San Francisco, which means if you live in the East Bay it's even closer! Tours begin every 15 minutes. The address to the factory is 1 Jelly Belly Lane Fairfield, CA 94533. So come and enjoy all the fun at the Jelly Belly Factory!! http://www.jellybelly.com
Nothing to do at the weekend? NorCal Tourist Spots provides you with exciting ideas about activities, places, bars and restaurants.
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