SF with Teen son who loves military

Help! I am taking my son for his 13th birthday to SF for the weekend. He is obsessed with all things military and I would like to tap into that interest. Thought about Angel Island but wonder if there is anything to really see there? We will be travelling Nov 17-20. How about the Presidio? He is extremely knowledgeable, so looking at barracks is probably not going to wow him. Any other ideas for a single mom who is trying to have fun with a difficult-to-please teen? (We have been to SF several times and have done GG bridge, wharf, and other touristy stuff.) Any assistance is greatly appreciated.

SF with Teen son who loves military

I can%26#39;t help wiht SanFrancisco but perhaps next time take him a little further south to SanDiego. There he could visit the USS Midway aircraft carrier and a Russian submarine.

SF with Teen son who loves military

That%26#39;s an awesome idea. I hadn%26#39;t even thought of that. Thanks!

Don%26#39;t know which weekend, but Oct 6-9, is Fleet Week, with parade of ships, Blue Angel airshow, tour ships,and more.

THE ultimate for someone with a military interest.

http://fleetweek.us/fleetweek

Tour a WW2 submarine

http://www.maritime.org/pamphome.htm

Tour Fort Point, under GG Bridge, open on Fri-Sun.

There are old shore batteries that you can explore, just west of the toll plaza. They were for the defense of the coastline.

http://www.nps.gov/fopo/

In the Presidio, visit visitor center for historical data

nps.gov/prsf/鈥residio-visitor-center.htm

Battery Chamberlin at Baker%26#39;s Beach has a disappearing gun demo on first full weekend of the month

nps.gov/prsf/鈥attery-chamberlin.htm

In Marin, how about a former Nike missile site (if you have a car)

www.nps.gov/archive/goga/nike/index.htm

More batteries in the Marin Headlands to explore

albionmonitor.com/11-14-95/marinheadlands.ht鈥?/a>

In Marin Ft Baker

http://www.militarymuseum.org/FtBaker.html

In Alameda, USS Hornet aircraft carrier museum

http://www.uss-hornet.org/

Bear in mind that most all of the forts and military garrisons have reverted to public use, so imagination is a key element. Regardless, they will have great views and/or tranquility for you as well.

I would definitely take him to visit the SS Hornet, an aircraft carrier permanently docked in Alameda. It is a fascinating place with lots of knowledgable docents on hand to answer questions. It served during World War II and also was on hand to pick up some of our astronauts after their trip to the moon.

If you go to the Presidio and Fort Point, visit the SS Jeremiah O%26#39;Brien at Fort Mason, the last operable WWII Liberty Ship, restored and maintained in perfect sea-worthy condition. Tours are given by docents who are very knowledgeable--ex-Navy and other seafarers. As one of the ships that backed up the D-Day landing, she sailed across the Atlantic to Normandy in 1995 for the 50th anniversary ceremonies and was honored as the only ship from D-Day to make it back.

Treasure Island is no longer a naval base, but some of the old buildings, hangars, etc. are still there. TI was originally the 1939 World Fair site, so you%26#39;ll see many ornate Deco type buildings that were later put to a different usage by the Navy.

If you%26#39;ll be on 101 and have time for a little detour west from King City, maybe treat him to a night at a hotel that was once William Randolph Hearst%26#39;s country estate. The appeal for your son is that it is within an Army post (Fort Hunter Liggett). It%26#39;s Federal property by a private concessioner runs the hotel. Here is my review of it from elsewhere.

tripadvisor.com/ShowTopic-g32559-i8370-k5343鈥?/a>

Hunter Liggett is a major training base with many personnel living there (actually almost next door to the hotel). When you walk around, or go to the restaurant, you will probably be totally outnumbered by soldiers. Your son will be thrilled %26amp; it%26#39;ll probably the b%26#39;day he%26#39;ll never forget!

1. Board the S.S. Jeremiah O%26#39;Brien down at Fisherman%26#39;s Wharf

for a tour or scheduled cruise.

http://www.ssjeremiahobrien.org/

2. Impressive is a visit to Golden Gate National Cemetery in San

Bruno about a 9-mile drive from mid-city or the National

Cemetery in the Presidio.

All the previous posters have listed the top ideas -- USS Hornet, Presidio, SS Jeremiah O%26#39;Brien, Golden Gate National Cemetery...

Only one left that I can think of is the USS Pampanito, the WWII submarine, which gets more traffic than the Hornet, but only because it%26#39;s on a major tourist thoroughfare, that is Fisherman%26#39;s Wharf:

http://www.maritime.org/pamphome.htm

The Marine Memorial also has some military artifacts

http://www.marineclub.com/about.htm

There is a statue of the ';Lone Sailor'; on at the north end of the Golden Gate bridge.

http://www.lonesailor.org/sf/index.htm

Lots of good ideas right in San Fran. Don%26#39;t know if you are renting a car. Another cool sight is the Mothball Fleet maybe an hours drive from the city. Here is one website that describes it. Photos don%26#39;t do it justice.

http://www-personal.umich.edu/~bgoodsel/post911/2005/01/mothball-fleet.htm