Admission - There are several ticket packages available. Except for scholarships, the least expensive option is an E-ticket which is currently going for $1595.
Arriving - Three airports are close enough to be used by WWDC visitors. If you arrive at San Francisco International, there are several ground transportation options for reaching your hotel in the city. There is a BART (Light Rail) station at the airport. A BART trip to downtown San Francisco costs about $5. A door-to-door shuttle van costs about $15 and a taxi, with tip, is around $30. Sometimes fares are a little less expensive if you fly in and out of Oakland. A third, less convenient option, is to fly into the headquarters airport for Silicone Valley, San Jose International.
Apple Campus - WWDC often includes a special event on the Apple Campus in Cupertino. None the less, some people make a special pilgrimage. If you're looking for logo wear, the Apple Company Store is worth the trip. Otherwise, it's a quick drive around Infinite Loop and back on the freeway. Unless you have an appointment with someone there, or are attending a special event, you won't be getting in. If you do make the trek, the giant Fry's stores nearby are worth a visit.
Apple Design Awards - This event recognizes the best of the bunch in 3rd party products. It's my favorite event of the week.
Apple Store - The closest Apple Retail store to the convention center is the flagship store at Stockton and Market
Berkeley - This east bay city is just a short BART ride away. Berkeley has more than it's share of great bookstores, music and food. Get off Bart at Shattuck Ave. for downdown Berkeley or Rockridge for another interesting neighborhood, more great restaurants and another bookstore.
Blogger Dinner - The WWDC Webloggers dinner has become one of the primere social events at the conference. Information hasn't been posted for the 2007 event, but stay tuned. You can find photos of last year's WWDC Weblogger Dinner (at the Thirsty Bear) on Flickr.
Books - This is a mecca for folks who like books. If you have even a small bit of literary interest, check out the City Lights Bookstore at the intersection of Chinatown and North Beach.
Business Cards - Bring lots of them.
Campus Bash/Beer Bash - A long standing tradition at WWDC is a party for attendees at the Apple Cupertino Campus that includes good beer (look for the beer station with the imports), good music, and a chance to chat with some very interesting people. Some photos of the 2005 Campus Bash can be found here.
City Transportation - Between walking, taxi cabs and the excellent public transportation system, there isn't much of a reason for an Expo visitor to have a rental car in the city. If you must drive your own car into the city, there is a parking garage next door to Moscone Center at 5th and Mission.
The San Francisco Municipal Railroad operates the bus, subway, tram and cable car network in San Francisco. For $24, you can buy a one week Muni tourist passport that is good on all of their lines. A less expense "weekly pass" is $15. It covers all the lines except for the cable cars. You can get the tourist passport at airport, or from the SF Visitors Bureau downstairs in the Hallidie Plaza transit station (Market Street and Powell Street). You can buy the less expensive weekly pass from the MUNI kiosk next to the cable car turntable on the street level.
Several readers have asked me to point out that the Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) is independent of the MUNI systems (although some stations on Market Street contain stations for both). The BART system provides high speed (think "metro") subway/surface transportation between downtown San Francisco, the SF Airport, and many of the surrounding surburban communities.
If you do decide to rent a car for a longer trip, Avis has a rental location in downtown San Francisco at 675 Post St. making it convenient to pick up or drop off a car if you're staying downtown.
Drinking - For me, it's all about the beer. The local legacy beer is Anchor Steam and is available almost everywhere. There are some interesting micro's that should be tried included Lagunitas which, by the way, is produced in a brewery that almost completely depends on Macs. There a pubs and bars of every variety. The Edinburgh Castle is a cultural experience of the UK variety and usually has a pretty good beer list. If traditional music is more your thing than Scottish poetry, The Plough and the Stars on Clement street has great music and weekly seisun's. The very best beer cafe in town is the Toronado on Haight Street. They are Belgian beer specialists, have proper glasses, and a wondrous list.
Eating - It's hard to go wrong eating in San Francisco. The concessions in Moscone are an exception to the rule. Like most convention food, it's usually overpriced and uninspired. There are some great choices close to the halls for those who can tear themselves away for a quick bite. If you're willing to walk a few blocks and can get past the dive decor, Tu Lan, at 8 6th Street (South of Market) serves tasty Vietnamese food.
Further afield, there are a ton of great restaurants. I have a few favorites. Yuet Lee is always good and (unusual for Chinatown) open late. I can personally recommend the salt and pepper prawns. If you're a fan of Mexican cuisine, the city is full of taquerias. On of my favorite is Azteca Taqueria (235 Church Street - on the edge of the Mission). Another excellent option for great Mexican food is El Toro; on Valencia in the Mission.
Back to Asian cuisine. Take a walk down Stockton street and buy some dim sum from any of the many bakeries. If you are food shy, ask for "Har Gow". You'll get three little steamed shrimp dumplings (in a translucent wrapper) and will pay about $1.25. A nice munch to keep up your energy as you walk.
Exhibit Venue - Moscone Center
Excursions - Take at least one day off and go for a walk. A great stroll from Union Square is to walk up Stockton Street, through the tunnel, and past the groceries and bakeries of Chinatown. This is the market street for the area, and you'll see some amazing things. When you get to Broadway, hang a right. Make a left on Columbus Street and you're in North Beach with it's Italian heritage, great restaurants and bakeries. If you want the quintessential tourist experience, take Grant street instead of Stockton.
Interesting Places - The Exploratorium is the prototype hands-on science museum. Started by Frank Oppenheimer (of the Manhatten Project), the Exploratorium is an amazing place that appeals to the inner kid. SF Muni Bus #45 leaves from just outside of the convention center (3rd and Howard) and takes you to the Museum.
Right across the street from Moscone is the SF Museum of Modern Art. Even if you don't have time to visit the museum, take a quick stroll through the museum store.
Golden Gate Park is a great destination on a nice day. There's a wonderful Buddha in the Japanese Tea Garden and the Museum of the California Academy of Sciences is one of my favorites.
Lodging - You have to have a place to stay, and lucky for you, San Francisco has lots of choices. When I want to splurge, or when someone else is paying the per diem, my first choice is a room in the original (historic building) of the St. Francis Hotel. These days it's a Westin. Be sure to book a room in the historic building and not in the tower building. Rooms in the tower building are first class modern rooms like you will find in any top end hotel in the world. The historic building was built in the early 1900's and the rooms, while modernized, maintain the charm and elegance of that era.
Slightly more humble accommodations are available at my favorite San Francisco Bed and Breakfast, a Country Cottage. Staying at the Country Cottage is for me, a good remedy to the hustle and bustle of the Expo. It's located in the Mission District close to some incredible restaurants. The 4 guest rooms are comfortable, have free WiFi, and include a nice cooked breakfast. The J Church tram stops 3 blocks away and takes you within a couple of blocks of the convention center. Another option is the historic F line, made up of restored street cars from around the world.
Reader Randy F suggested that we mention the San Remo hotel. If you don't mind public transportation (it's a walk from Moscone), the San Remo Hotel is at least as historic as the St. Francis and a whole lot less expensive. The rooms are mostly small, the hallways narrow, and while there is a hand basin in each room, bathrooms and down the hall and shared. I've stayed at the San Remo and it's charming in it's own low key way. The guests are international and friendly. People who are a little timid may be slightly nervous when walking the last two blocks to the hotel down a quiet residential street.
If you're looking for the lowest end, San Francisco offers several hostels. The best is the Hostelling Internation hostel located at Fort Mason and bills itself as the Fisherman's Wharf Youth Hostel. It's a bit far from the fun at Moscone but a safe and clean place. For attendees with a bit more of a sense of adventure, the Adelaide Hostel/Hotel has both dorms and private rooms. Bathrooms are down the hall and it's a bit shopworn. However, the price is right, the location (on Isadora Duncan Lane) is a two block walk from Union Square.
Scholarships - If you're a student, and want to attend WWDC, you may be eligible for an Apple scholarship to the event. You can find out more by clicking here. The deadline for applications is April 28th, 2006.
Shopping - Lots of bargains are to found in Chinatown. The thrift shops of the city are fun and often rewarding for folks who like that sort of thing. If you're looking for high end, poke around Union Square.
Stump - One of the more popular events at WWDC, it's the Apple guys vs. the developers in a game of stump the chump.
Transit Info - If you are using public transit in the SF Bay area, and have access to a computer, www.511.org provides a trip planner. You enter the address you're leaving from, the address you're going, and when you want to travel. The site provides detailed information for the trip including what time the bus/train is scheduled to be at your stop..
Wireless - In recent years there has been free wifi available throughout Moscone during WWDC. For open hotspots elsewhere in San Francisco, look here, here and here.
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