Golden Gate Park
In 2006, San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom made Golden Gate Park officially car-free
on summertime weekends. According to the citys own report, recreational attendance at
the park has doubled and tripled on these healthy weekends. More than twelve million
people had already been visiting in a typical year.
Golden Gate Park is a rectangular strip of land slightly larger than New York Citys
Central Park; its 3 miles long and half a mile wide. The park was proposed in the late
1860s when San Franciscos rapid urban growth was leaving little green space. In 1868,
San Franciscos Board of Supervisors approved converting the citys Outside Lands
sand dunes along the seashore — into miles of lush green space. They hoped this would
provide a natural haven for city dwellers while drawing realty investment to the mostly
uninhabited western part of the city.
However, supervisors were presented with two obstacles: 1) squatters who were already
living on the dunes, and 2) the sandy soil and harsh ocean winds. After a long legal battle,
resistant squatters relinquished 10% of their claimed landholdings. This allowed the city
enough land to proceed with park development.
After these homesteaders turned the land over to the city, some people insisted that the
land was too salty, sandy, and windy for vegetation. A newspaper editorial smirked, A
blade of grass cannot be raised without four posts to keep it from blowing away.
Nevertheless, under the guidance of engineer William Ham Hall and Scottish-trained
gardener John McLaren, the citys workers persisted and vegetation took root. A
barricade was erected to block wind from Ocean Beach, and by 1879 about 150,000 trees
were helping to stabilize the dunes. These trees were mostly eucalyptus, pine, and
cypress. McLaren eventually diversified the park by collecting plants from almost every
country in the world. In 1903 two windmills were installed to help water the greenery.
Hollands Queen Wilhelmina later presented the park with a flower garden including
tulips from the Netherlands; her park is adjacent to one of the Dutch-style mills.
McLaren designed the park to look rustic, or as much like a natural woodlands as
possible. Gently winding roads allowed for carriages, pedestrians, and bikers to
comfortably enjoy the scenery. Nine lakes and ponds were scattered about for nature
lovers. Theres also wildlife to be seen throughout the park, from ducklings to a herd of
buffalo.
The commitment to a natural-looking park meant that buildings would be limited. A
conservatory was erected in 1877 and a music stand was completed five years later. A
few more structures came in 1894 when the park was showcased in Californias first
Midwinter Fair. This exposition and carnival was meant to boost tourism and the general
economy. Horse stables and a five-acre Japanese Tea Garden were constructed to impress
visitors.
The M. H. de Young art museum appeared by 1895; it later underwent quakeproofing and
other major renovations, and it re-opened in 2005. The top floor of the museum offers a
spectacular view of the city through all-glass walls. On a clear day, observers can see the
Golden Gate Bridge, the Marin headlands, Coit Tower, and surrounding residential
neighborhoods.
By 1886, a typical San Francisco weekend would include tens of thousands of people
traveling to the park by streetcar. Ever since then, Golden Gate Park has been a popular
destination for picnics, playgrounds, and strolls. A parking lot across from Sixth Avenue
is traditionally claimed by roller skaters with boom-boxes. The park also has many areas
reserved for sports as diverse as archery, fly-fishing, disc golf, and volleyball.
Golden Gate Park also has a tradition of large public gatherings, many of them free. The
1967 Summer of Love took place mainly in the park and the nearby Haight Ashbury
neighborhood. The Speedway Meadow has long been a popular concert venue, and
nowadays a large free bluegrass festival is held in the park every October.
The San Francisco Parks Trust offers free walking tours of Golden Gate Park year-round.
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Month: January 2009
The Chartering of a Privately Owned Yacht: Perfect for
The Chartering of a Privately Owned Yacht: Perfect for Business Meetings
Are you a business owner? If so, do you regularly have business meetings with your staff or even with your clients? If so, where do you have those meetings? If you are like many business owners, you may rent a conference room at a well-known venue, like a popular hotel. While this is more than possible to do, you may want to think about taking a different approach. Whether you want to reward your employees or wow your clients, you may want to think about having some of your business meetings aboard a privately chartered yacht.
What is nice about having your business meetings aboard a privately chartered yacht is that there are a number of different yacht chartering companies that you can do business with. Many of these companies allow individuals, just like you, to rent one of their yachts for as long as a few weeks, but for as little as a few hours. This is great, as many of your business meetings will not last a whole day.
As it was mentioned above, having your business meetings aboard a privately chartered yacht may seem as it were a reward to your employees. In fact, it could actually serve as one. Depending on the type of business that you run, your employees could be spending all of their days dealing with customers, and not always happy ones, or sitting in front of a computer. It is no secret that doing the same thing day in and day out can get boring and tiring. A business meeting aboard a privately chartered yacht is the perfect way to express your appreciation for your employees and all of their hard work.
Also, as it was mentioned above, you can also use a privately charted yacht to hold business meetings with your clients. No matter what type of business you run, your clients are important. Without them, you might not be running a successful business. To make your clients feel needed and important, you may want to go the extra step and that step may include the chartering of a private yacht. It is also important to note what the chartering of a private yacht can do for your chances of obtaining new clients. By using a privately charted yacht to host a business meeting with prospective clients, your clients know that you are putting forth the extra energy to please them or make a sale. In the eyes of your client, this may go a long way.
Now that you know how you can go about chartering a private yacht to host a business meeting and in what instances you may want to do so, you may be wondering why it is a good idea to charter a privately owned yacht. One of those reasons involves a change of scenery. As it was stated above, your employees may be bored with the traditional business setting. Getting them aboard a privately chartered yacht for a business meeting may be the extra push that they need. It is also important to note that your staff may be able to brainstorm better or come up with better ideas because they are in a more casual, relaxing environment.
It is also important to mention the cost of privately chartering a yacht for one of your business meetings. With a little bit of research, you should be able to find a yacht chartering company that has affordable rates. In all honesty, no matter how much you have to pay, the chartering of a private yacht will likely work out to your advantage in the end.
TopThe Benefits of Chartering a Private Yacht
Are you interested in taking a beautiful destination getaway? If so, have you chosen your destination yet? If you have yet to do so, you may want to think about chartering a private yacht. Yes, a private yacht. Over the past few years, the popularity of private yacht charters has increased and there is a good reason for that; an unlimited number of benefits. Just a few of those benefits are outlined below.
One of the biggest benefits or advantages to chartering a private yacht for your next vacation or trip is privacy. As you likely assumed with the name private yacht, you are given your own private yacht. Besides your predetermined passengers, the only other individuals onboard should be the yacht crew or staff. This might not only include a captain and other onboard hands, but it may also include a maid or a private chef! Unlike many other popular vacation destinations, such as amusement parks, beaches, or cruise ships, you are given the ultimate level of privacy aboard a private yacht.
As it was mentioned above, chartering a private yacht is perfect for any vacation or trip. In fact, that is one of the many other benefits to doing so, the uses. Private yachts are ideal for small business parties, casual business meetings, romantic getaways, honeymoons, weddings, and even family vacations. No matter whom you are traveling with or what your travel goals are, chartering a private yacht may be the perfect choice or location for you. Private yacht rentals or charters, literally, can be used for an unlimited number of different things or purposes.
The fact that you are given your own private yacht crew is just another one of the many benefits to chartering your own private yacht. If you were to rent a small boat, you might not only be lacking the space that you need, but you would also have to do all of the work yourself. This is not the case with the chartering of a private yacht. As it was previously mentioned, you will be given your own private yacht crew. These highly trained and experienced individuals will be able to offer you travel assistance, as well as handle any emergencies, such as a mechanical issue, should any arise. For many individuals, this provides great comfort.
The cost of chartering a private not is another benefit to doing so. While there are a large number of individuals who consider of cost of chartering a private yacht expensive, it is important to remember what you are getting, particularly the privacy. This, in itself, is enough to make the cost of a private yacht charter more than worth it. It is also important to note the alternative. If you would like to take an extended trip aboard a yacht your only other alternative is to buy your own. Unfortunately, for many a private yacht is not financially within their reach, but the chartering of one is.
The activities that you can enjoy, while chartering a private yacht, are just another one of the many benefits to doing so. When chartering a private yacht, your activities are literally unlimited. On board, you may be able to watch television, listen to music, enjoy a fine dining meal, dance, sightsee, or even play cards; the decision is yours to make. In addition to an unlimited number of onboard activities, there are also a number of off-board activities that you can also participate in, such as water activities. Depending on the private yacht company that you choose and their restrictions or guidelines, you could easily go swimming, scuba diving, or snorkeling.
The cost, onboard and off-board activities, privacy, lack of work, freedom, and the unlimited number of uses are just a few of the many benefits to chartering a private yacht. Whether you are looking for something unique, peaceful, beautiful, or luxurious, the chartering of a private yacht can give you just what you were hoping for.
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