For those of you going to FINA Worlds this August looking for an interesting way to spend an afternoon away from the pool. I most strongly recommend the San Francisco Maritime National Historic Park: http://www.nps.gov/safr/
It's located right by Fishermans' Wharf. It has a museum and some preserved sailing vessels to tour. Best of all, the Park Rangers give discussions and presentations that are absolutely fascinating. I still remember a Ranger who could sing and play the fiddle explain how sea chanties were used as working songs to help the crew get various tasks done. Raising sails, weighing anchor, operating the bilge pumps, etc. After he was done with the talking part, he led us onto the deck and played the role of the chantyman while a crew of tourist volunteers raised a sail on one of the ships. Wonderful stuff if your a history buff or sailing enthusiast.
Matt
Matt,
That's really interesting. some how my father who grew up on a farm in flat Illinios learned ot sail. Frequently, he would drive us all night & into the next morning to the gulf to do about three days of sialing. Almost everyone thought that he was truly nuts. He would sing old sailing songs and tried to teach them to his kids. I was too young to remember and my older siblings could have cared less.
Craig
San Francisco is a great city, but I've seen the major sites there a few times. I think I'm going to drive down to Monterey on my off day this summer and visit the aquarium. Maybe stop in Santa Cruz on the way back. Oh yeah, I suppose I'll also catch a Giants game. I've seen a game at Candlestick, but haven't been to the new park yet.
I was just in SF in March and found the whole place beautiful and interesting. I would have liked to gone to the museum but the high school boys I was chaperoning wanted to do other things.
We really enjoyed the Muir woods, and going up to the Twin Peaks area that overlooked the city and the ocean. Alcatraz was interesting also.
We also got down to Stanford, but not for the pool. They had a jazz clinic with a professional musician there. The campus is very pretty.
Ooh! Monterey. Another excellent choice.
To say nothing of Napa to the north.
Let's face it, you could hardly miss going just about anywhere in the SF Bay area. I just wanted to point out the Maritime Park for those who are into that sort of thing.
Matt
I was talking to my oldest brother last night. I told him about this thread and about how many times I think of my father when I'm on this. He asked me ifI thought that it was weird that 3 of my 4 sisters married men inthe Navy (two officers and one enlisted). He thinks that it had some kind of basis on our childhood & going sailing. My father was never inthe Navy. Are there any physicologist who woudl liek to enter this discussion.
My brother was an Army officer and is a nurse.
