Staircase at the Westin St. Francis Hotel

Address:335 Powell Street, San Francisco, California 94102

Staircase at the Westin St. Francis Hotel. So narrow and need to turn every 5 steps. Got sooooo dizzy after walking down the 12 flights of stairs

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Chrismas Lights in Hyatt Regency

Address: Hyatt Regency, 5 Embarcadero Center, San Francisco

Went to Hyatt Regency during lunch today. Totally amazed by the beautiful blue lights that shower down the 17-story high atrium - an atrium that is recorded in Guinness World Records as the largest hotel lobby in the world. There were also a few sets of mini town fully decorated with X'mas lights and motorized parts. The atrium is located two floors above the street level entrance of the hotel.

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Temple, Space Center and Resort

Address:

Mormon Temple: 4770 Lincoln Ave, Oakland, CA

Chabot Space & Science Center: 10000 Skyline Blvd. - Oakland, CA

Claremont Spa & Resort: 41 Tunnel Rd, Berkeley, CA

Visited Oakland Mormon Temple today. We've seen it shines at night in the middle of the Oakland Hill for years and have always been curious about it. The temple is quite a big structure with an impressive garden as well as view of Oakland. It's quite smoggy today so didn't take any pic of Oakland from there. Saw a sign for Chabot Space Center on the way to the Temple so we went further up the hill to see the space center as well. We didn't go inside but figure it would be a great place for kids. The observatory is free for public access on Fridays and Saturdays from 7:30pm - 10:30pm. We will come back again to view the stars some day. Ended our day touring Claremont Spa and Resort -- the big white building on Berkeley Hill which you can easily spot from afar. Could be a good place for wedding reception.

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Oakland Mormon Temple

Chabot Space and Science Center

Sundail at the entrace of Chabot Space and Science Center

Observatory at Chabot Space and Science Center

Claremont Spa and Resort

Palace Hotel

Address: 2 New Montgomery Street, San Francisco

Just came back from a business trip to Austin where we stayed at the haunted Driskill Hotel. Although we didn't encounter anything "real" I did feel some presence there. While searching for creepy info about Driskill I found that Palace Hotel in San Francisco was built in the same period (1800's) and is haunted as well. Mesmerized by the photos of its beautiful Garden Court, I decided to pay Palace Hotel a visit. I didn't feel the same creepiness as I did with the Driskill when I walked down its main corridor. I actually dare to venture inside the building alone. I ran into a very nice gentleman (I think he's one of the hotel managers) who showed me a second floor dining room where I can view the Garden Court from above through one of the semi-circle stained glass windows. What a gorgeous view! The Garden Court is said to be crowned by a $7-million stained-glass dome and chandeliers that are made of the finest Austrian crystal. I shall return for tea one day.

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Corridor inside Palace Hotel. Runs from Market Street to Mission Street. Garden Court is along the way.

One of the stained glass windows in the second floor dining room which opens to the Garden Court.

View of Palace Hotel Garden Court from second floor dining room. Garden Court is famous for its stained glass doom and shimmering chandeliers. It's consider one of the world's most beautiful dining room.

A closer look at part of the dome and trimmings of the Garden Court.

Garden Court view from first floor.