Page 1 Page 2 Page 3 Page 4 Page 5 Page 6 Page 7 Page 8 Page 9 Page 10 Page 11 Page 12 Page 13 Page 14 Page 15 Page 16 Page 17 Page 18 Page 19 Page 20 Page 21 Page 22 Page 23 Page 24 Page 25 Page 26 Page 27 Page 28 Page 29 Page 30 Page 31 Page 3213–26 August 2016 7 *Conditions apply. Prices are based on per person (pp), twin share. Prices are correct as at 1 August 2016, but may fluctuate due to changes in availability, surcharges, fees, taxes or exchange rates. Advertised prices do not include porterage. Prices are based on RJTSHS9: 20 April 2017. Prices are inclusive of their stated monetary saving. A non-refundable deposit of $2,000 pp is due within seven days of booking. Final payment is due 100 days prior to departure. Offers may be withdrawn at any time, are strictly limited and are available on new bookings only. Offers cannot be combined with any other offer, unless specified. Offer is available until sold out. Offer cannot be redeemed for cash and is not transferable. Refer to pgs.18/19 of the Travelmarvel 2017 Great Rail Journeys brochure for more information. Australian Pacific Touring Pty Ltd ABN 44 004 684 619. ATAS accreditation #A10825. TM3086 travelmarvel.com.au/Goxplore or see your local travel agent 1300 301 076 ( Member of the APT family Order your free brochure today Embark on a premium escorted rail journey in 2017 and be transported back to a golden era of holidaying, when train travel travel was a highlight in itself. Committed to offering more choice, our partnership with award-winning Great Rail Journeys has expanded for 2017 with a selection of amazing experiences throughout the world. More Value • More Inclusions • More Choice ü The perfect balance of comprehensive inclusions, key sightseeing and free time to explore at your pace ü Premium escorted rail travel & premium accommodation ü Locally guided sightseeing, transfers and tipping Edinburgh Inverness Ballachulish Isle of Mull Loch Ness Fort William Mallaig Kyle of Lochalsh Oban Glasgow 3 3 2 West Highland Line Jacobite Steam Train Kyle Line RJTSHS9 Edinburgh, Highlands and Islands $2,995* 9 Days From PP Twin Share SALE ENDS 30 SEPTEMBER TRAVEL MORE SALE SAVE $1,000 PER COUPLE* GREAT RAIL JOURNEYS TM3086.indd 1 1/08/2016 4:13 PM district takes its name, dates from 1776, the same year as the Declaration of Independence. The tour is also a walk through the parallel roads and existences of the Mission. On the main strip, Valencia Street, it’s all now hipsters and bohemian store windows but on Mission Street semblances of the district’s grime remain. Back here the Mission has more character but less polish, with a hint of its rougher edges still in place. The district’s stories run just as deep inside its restaurants and cafes. We stop at a bakery, Craftsman and Wolves, run by a former lifeguard who used to hide cookbooks inside his surf magazines. An hour later we enter a former theatre which houses La Cumbre, a simple Mexican restaurant, which claims to be the birthplace of the burrito. Inside the taco-specific Tacolicious, we dine in a back room that was formerly a garage where, it’s rumoured, the beams for the Golden Gate Bridge were constructed. Like so much here, it’s the flavour of the Mission entwined with the history of San Francisco. And it tastes so much better now that I’ve well and truly walked up an appetite. Stepping out… 1Pay homage to the golden fire hydrant said to have saved the Mission from the 1906 fire that destroyed so much of San Francisco. 2Grab an eye patch or a pirate hook at the pirate supply store attached to the Mission’s non-profit youth literacy centre, 826 Valencia. 3Hear the “music” of the city’s Wave Organ, played by the amplified sound of wave action through pipes. 4Follow the buzz to the Good Vibrations Antique Vibrator Museum, showcasing exactly what the name on the tin suggests. 5Slink into a prohibition-style speakeasy at Bourbon and Branch. This bar operated illegally through the prohibition years. Bookings required. 6Seek galactic wisdom from the Yoda statue atop the fountain at the Letterman Digital Arts Centre in the Presidio. 7Most cities have a Chinatown, but San Francisco also has Japantown. Visit the Peace Pagoda, or come for the April Cherry Blossom Festival. 8Save yourself a trip to Yellowstone by checking out the bison wandering the Buffalo Paddock in Golden Gate Park. Fast facts FLY Qantas flies direct to San Francisco from Sydney. STAY Handlery Union Square Hotel, a third-generation family hotel that exudes a nostalgic sense of early 20th-century Americana. Rooms start from US$159 a night. sf.handlery.com EAT For an assortment of dining options, head to the Mission. DO Urban Hiker SF runs three hiking tours, including Urban Jungles and City Heights (US$49). urbanhikersf.com Avital Tours’ Mission District Food Tour is US$84, including all food. avitaltours.com