I have something excited to tell you.....

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   ryankettposted 12 years ago

   I was going to wait until nearer the time, but in a couple of weeks I will be heading out to the USA.
   
   Ultimately, I am going there because I want to go back to Las Vegas - me and the girlfriend went in 2008 whilst she was living in New York and had an incredible time (as you do, in Vegas).
   
   I want to see as much of the world as possible however, I have a bit of a thirst for travel (well, I feel under travelled to be honest) so I had a look at multi-centre packages (I prefer buying package trips, you pay the mark up but you benefit from convenience and somebody to hold accountable if it all goes wrong).
   
   In other words, I didn't just want to see Vegas, I wanted to see another city too. There were plenty of options, but I have seen a fair bit of the states already. The one which appealed to me most was San Francisco>Los Angeles>Las Vegas, but that would mean losing two nights from my Las Vegas trip (the whole point in going).
   
   So I was left with a clear choice between Los Angeles>Las Vegas, or San Francisco>Las Vegas.
   
   I plumped for San Francisco. And, as I am going to be in the area, it would be rude not to pop in and have a nosey around the Hubpages office.
   
   I have a small checklist of things that I want to explore, investigative journalism, in order to produce a Hubpage about the experience. I want to:
   
   1) Take a picture of the giant Hubpages logo.
   2) Try and accidentally bump into Jimmy Wales, founder of Wikipedia.
   3) Try and get a photo of me with Jimmy Wales, when I bump into him accidentally.
   4) I want to see if Paul Edmondson is really really tall.
   5) I want to see if Maddie Ruud is really really short.
   6) If 4 & 5 turn out to be true, I want to get a little and large photo for the Hubpage.
   7) I want to check my Amazon earnings from a Hubpages computer, just because I won't know my sales figures for the 2 days prior.
   8) I want to present Paul Deeds with a newspaper cut out which shows that the UK has the largest internet spend per capita than any other country in the world. Just because it would probably annoy him a little, after I kicked up a fuss about Amazon localisation. If he looks really angry, I will run away.
   9) If I haven't run away by this point then I want to steal something with the Hubpages logo on it. Hopefully I will find a Hubpages branded pen or mousepad. I would try and steal the Hubpages sign, only that looks huge, I can't afford the excess baggage charges.
   
   Does anybody have anything else that they think would benefit my Hubpage?

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      Pandoras Boxposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      Find the top-secret hubber score algorithm!
      
      (And if they leave you unattended for a bit, turn off the facebook recommendations box.)
      
      ((Oh, oh! Permanently delete the political and religious forums!))
      
      (((And I want a pen, too!)))
      
      Enjoy your trip!

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         kirstenblogposted 12 years agoin reply to this

         They are going to be watching him like a hawk now, because of us!
         Hide your pens staff!!

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            Aficionadaposted 12 years agoin reply to this

            Hahahaha, PB and kb!!! Ditto, ditto, ditto.

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      Pcunixposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      Yes.  Buy an iPad. Best computer ever for traveling. 10-12 hour genuine battery life. You can even reach your home PC through it if you really want to. Not a toy!

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         ryankettposted 12 years agoin reply to this

         Yeah right! This is a holiday! And that means my only 11 days without a computer in 2011, the only thing that I will have is a BlackBerry for emergencies - and it would cost me a fortune to use in the states so no surfing whatsoever. I am entirely internet free for the duration, no time for sitting around getting square eyes. I will take my old iPod for entertainment, nothing else!

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            Pcunixposted 12 years agoin reply to this

            So buy the ipad here. You can tie into wifi hotspots wherever you are if you only need occasional access.

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         Pandoras Boxposted 12 years agoin reply to this

         My husband does that. And he uses his iphone as a wifi station for it so he doesn't have to pay for additional service.

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   ryankettposted 12 years ago

   Aaaarrggghhh what is wrong with me. I am cursed.
   
   
   I have something exciting to tell you....

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   skyfireposted 12 years ago

   

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   ryankettposted 12 years ago

   How did this thread fail so miserably?

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      rebekahELLEposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      we were sleeping!
      
      sounds like a fun trip!  while in SF, take a trip over into Marin county and take some pics. it's beautiful!
      
      get a pic of Simone without her big bow.. and a few pics of the guys we never see..

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   Extinct Soulposted 12 years ago

   

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   Cheeky Girlposted 12 years ago

   Remember to get autographs too. And send postcards, that's important too. And pack a tooth brush.

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      ryankettposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      Autographs? Lol, in case Deeds and Edmondson are the bext Gates and Jobs?
      
      Actually, hell, I should defo be getting pics with these guys... just in case.
      
      The only famous person that I have a pic with is Gordon Ramsey as of yet!

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   ryankettposted 12 years ago

   

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      Kathryn LJposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      Most of the interesting people who would enjoy this thread are obviously else where right now, otherwise this thread should have gone nuclear.  I am excited for you.

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         zampanoposted 12 years agoin reply to this

         I'm here, I'm here.
         I'll be looking forward to read all those exploits.
         It's a great idea sharing your trip.

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   habeeposted 12 years ago

   I think you should visit Florida!!

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      ryankettposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      Already done Florida, ticked off of my list!
      
      Won't be heading back there until I have brats, for the theme parks!

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   WoodsmensPostposted 12 years ago

   

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    simeonvisserposted 12 years ago

    Great thread I'm looking forward to the hub that results from this!

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    Mutiny92posted 12 years ago

    or you could talk about life after the restraining order to stop you from stalking!  ;-)
    
    ***Runs to check the keyword research on Restraining Orders***
    
    
    Have fun in SF!  It is a blast!

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    Mikeydoesposted 12 years ago

    I wish I had money to travel.
    
    Funny thread.
    
    I was going to say try Chicago and Navy Pier ETC. But it is way too cold right now.

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       ryankettposted 12 years agoin reply to this

       Believe it or not, I've already done that too!
       
       And, it was also very cold when I went, there was still snow around and stuff! Not that the cold would affect me all that much, seeing as I live in the UK

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    kirstenblogposted 12 years ago

    Sounds like you are going to have a blast! Would you steal me a pen too?

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    Spacey Graceyposted 12 years ago

    I AM SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO JEALOUS!!!!!!!
    
    For my honeymoon we flew to LA and stayed in Hollywood for a week, then drove to Las Vegas for a few nights, then to a little town called Mamouth Lakes for one night (July 4th), then up to San Fransisco for another 5 days.
    
    It was fantastic. And cost about twice as much as our wedding
    
    Please send me a really naff postcode of the Golden Gate bridge and a bag of fortune cookies from China Town.

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    prettydarkhorseposted 12 years ago

    Have fun Ryan! I can feel the excitement YOOHOO! I will definitely check your hub once it is there..post the pics!

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    Kangaroo_Jaseposted 12 years ago

    Have a video interview with Simone. There has not been a HubPages employee / HubPages writer interview as yet (the three interviews done are on the Blog), and wanted to know how REALLY big Simone's bow in her hair is, I hear it's as big as the HubPages sign outside the office.......

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       Pandoras Boxposted 12 years agoin reply to this

       Hah!

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    Bill Manningposted 12 years ago

    I'm sure you'll have a good time in California. You started this thread when it's like 3:00 AM here in the states, which is why not many have responded yet.
    
    In fact over in California it's still only around 5:30 AM. I heard they are getting lots of rain and storms right now however.
    
    Yeah get down here to Florida again, I'll take you on a theme park tour!

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    tritrainposted 12 years ago

    You'll probably be flying over Minnesota. 
    
    Please wave as you go by!
    
    I promise I'll wave back.

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    Daniel Carterposted 12 years ago

    Ryan, at Bellagio in Vegas is a restaurant called Picasso. It's where Steve Wynn keeps several of his Picasso paintings, and has a great atmosphere. It's very pricey, but instead of ordering a meal, go after dark and sit on the patio and get a table next to the fountain and order drinks. While there, make sure you have your server take pics of you as the fountain and music are going. You get some of the famous Vegas strip in the background, it's one of my most favorite things to do! I have a few cherished pics of friends and I and they are great memories.
    
    If you have time, check out Spring Preserve on the west side of Vegas. I've been meaning to write a hub about it, but just don't have any time. It's a green space in the desert, and it's very cool. Make sure you head out to the west mountains and do a bit of hiking over at Red Rock. Unique and amazing geological formations!!
    
    In SF, Pier 39 is a good place, with some good eats and shops there. If you can, rent a car and go to Napa Valley to wine country. It's rather spectacular no matter what time of year. It's one of my favorite places on the planet!
    
    To the north of Vegas is Zion's National Park, which has some of the most amazing scenery in the country. A bit cold to do this time of year, but maybe another trip.
    
    I'm jealous too!! I'm kind of overbooked with moving at present, then hitting Sundance Film Festival in a week or so.
    
    Hope you have a fab time! Can't wait to read about it all!

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    frogdroppingposted 12 years ago

    Ryan looking at when you posted I was asleep so that's my excuse for missing your thread.
    
    I'd like to see if you can ask the Hub team one question (individually but the same question) and they all have to give a one sentence answer. You know - like a tagline.
    
    A quote from the horses mouth.
    
    And if not just make sure that Maddie bakes on your day of arrival. I reckon she makes top notch cookies
    
    Have a great time when you get over there

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    lrohnerposted 12 years ago

    Ryan - I'm sure you'll visit all of the touristy things, like the Golden Gate Bridge, riding the cable cars, visiting Alcatraz (they have a night tour that's pretty cool), Fisherman's Wharf, lunch in Chinatown, blah, blah, blah.
    
    But be sure to drive down Lombard Street, known as the crookedest street in the country and be SURE to head to Daly City just south of the city limits for dinner at Koi Palace -- absolutely the best dim sum in the world!
    
    Get some pics of the sea lions that hang out at Pier 39 (they were gone for a while, but I'm pretty sure they're back). And if you have a free day, you should really take a drive up into California's wine country. It's just a couple of hours north of the city. Read my hub about it. Let me know if you're heading up there. I've been out of the biz for a while, but might be able to wrangle a private tour in one of the wineries or another.

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    Aficionadaposted 12 years ago

    This:
    
    
    This:
    
    
    This:
    
    
    This:
    
    
    And mostly this:
    
    
    
    [What's a naff postcard?] - Don't forget to take an umbrella, JIC. 

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       Spacey Graceyposted 12 years agoin reply to this

       Naff postcard would be a really cheesy or tacky one - nice picture of the Golden Gate bridge photo-shopped to look like it is made of blinging gold would do nicely.

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    Pandoras Boxposted 12 years ago

    Or the golden gate bridge shown with Ryan running across it carrying a giant HubPages sign in his arms.
    
    Okay now someone's gotta create that for us. I wanna see that.

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    Spacey Graceyposted 12 years ago

    That would be great. Come on you graphically talented hubbers - where are you - mock us up a Ryan postcard.

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    mathereseposted 12 years ago

    I got excited when i saw you have something excited to tell us. To be honest I go disapointed as i think you need to publish it.

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    waynetposted 12 years ago

    I too would very much like to visit the Hubpages office....maybe once in the not too distant future....Good luck Ryan! Have already got a hubpages mug and t-shirt so a pen would do nicely! cheers!

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    sagebrush_mamaposted 12 years ago

    Hope you have a great trip!

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    Richieb799posted 12 years ago

    Im surprised Paul and Maddie havent dropped in to this thread!

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    cookingdivaposted 12 years ago

    In addition to your already fun filled trip here are a few more;
    
    Have fun!
    Meet other hubbers from area!
    Check out golden gate bridge
    Fisherman's wharf, eat Ghiradeli chocolate
    go to mystery spot (south of SF), where gravity acts strange
    17 miles drive, pebble beach
    Alcatraz island ferry
    Bring your jacket, SF is always more cold
    Check out the foggy SF in early morning
    Take cable car drive
    Eat at hundreds of gourmet California cuisine restaurants
    
    Have great fun! You'll love it. Vegas and LA is cool too.

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       ryankettposted 12 years agoin reply to this

       Cheers for this little checklist!
       
       We are only in San Fran for 4 nights, Las Vegas for 5 nights, we are not doing LA.
       
       I already had golden gate bridge, Alcatraz, the spare jacket, and the cable car down that windey street on the list.
       
       Not enough time to eat at hundreds of restaurants but we will check out one or two! A friend has pointed us into the direction of a seafood restaurant on Fisherman's wharf, so we will be eating their after we disembark from the Alcatraz ferry.
       
       We also have to eat at a Cheesecake Factory one night, as opposed to a posh restaurant, as my girlfiend was crazy for that stuff whilst living in America (we don't have those here).
       
       We are going to take a hire car for one day to check out Napa Valley after a suggestion by another hubber above, so maybe if we wake early enough we can check out that beach.
       
       I am much more excited about getting dazed and confused in Vegas, if I am 100% honest!

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    emievilposted 12 years ago

    Wow! Just saw this thread. I love San Francisco, unfortunately, not used to the cold there .
    
    Other than the places stated already in this thread, one of the places we visited there was the Japanese park. Also my cousin took me to a trip up a certain mountain where there is a nature park near the top (or at the top). Unfortunately, I forgot the name of the mountain but it's just outside San Francisco.
    
    If you're in Napa, and you like the Godfather, suggest that you go to the winery owned by Francis Coppola where there is a mini - museum showing stuff used in his former movie and those of his nephew, Nicolas Cage as well.

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    thisisoliposted 12 years ago

    The Hubpages team are great, I am sure you will have a really fun time!
    
    SF was pretty cold in September, so you might want to wrap up!
    
    Why are you not coming to Austin, the greatest city in America?

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       ryankettposted 12 years agoin reply to this

       I would love to go to Austin someday, however finances dictated that just the two stops were viable this time around There is the annual leave thing for my girlfriend!

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