Super Bowl 50 Tailgate of 2 cities

By MICHELLE LOCKE

Associated Press

SAN FRANCISCO

Super Bowl 50 will be a tailgate of two cities.

The fan village and other activities are set in San Francisco, but the game will be played about 40 miles south in Santa Clara, home to Levi’s Stadium and the San Francisco 49ers.

Here are some tips to help you get your game on.

ABOUT SANTA CLARA

The official website – www.nfl.com/superbowl/50 – lists options for reaching the stadium on Game Day. The Road to 50 app available for smartphones and other devices also is a terrific source of information, news and directions. The Fan Express, $55 round-trip, will shuttle fans to the stadium on Game Day with multiple pick-up and drop-off locations.

A show at Santa Clara’s Triton Museum of Art, “Gridiron Glory: The Best of the Pro Football Hall of Fame,” features exhibits on legends such as Johnny Unitas and Joe Namath. Visitors can check out vintage pads and jerseys and compare them to modern equipment.

NFL EXPERIENCE

This interactive theme park will be at Moscone Center, 800 Howard St., San Francisco, through next Sunday, open from 3 p.m. weekdays and 10 a.m. weekends to 10 p.m. most evenings. Tickets are $35 ($25 for age 12 and younger). Highlights include interactive games that let you pass the ball or try to kick a game-winning field goal. Also planned: autograph sessions with NFL players past and present, an exhibit of Super Bowl championship rings and a chance to take a photograph with the Vince Lombardi Trophy.

SUPER BOWL CITY

Set in San Francisco’s Justin Herman Plaza, where Market Street meets the Embarcadero, this free fan village runs through next Sunday, from 11 a.m. to 9 or 10 p.m. Attractions include the Fan Dome, a 40-foot-tall space offering an interactive experience via motion detectors and giant screens.

PARTIES AND MORE

Taste of the NFL, an annual event featuring a chef from each NFL city serving a signature dish alongside a current or alumni player, will take place Saturday at San Francisco’s Cow Palace arena. Dishes will be paired with wines from California’s E.&J. Gallo Winery, which has been a sponsor of the event for 21 years. Go to www.tasteofthenfl.com.

The San Francisco Symphony teams with NFL Films for its Concert of Champions on Wednesday and Thursday at 8 p.m. at Davies Symphony Hall, hosted by NFL Hall of Fame running back Marcus Allen. A selection of short documentaries will be projected on stage accompanied live by the orchestra, which will round out the program with other works. A VIP dinner package is available before the Wednesday performance with tickets starting at $1,000. Proceeds benefit the symphony’s educational and community programs. Tickets for the concert alone start at $50. Go to www.sfsymphony.org/NFL.

SAN FRANCISCO STANDARDS

While football may be the name of the game, there are plenty of things to do off the gridiron.

The Golden Gate Bridge is always ready for its close-up, with good selfie spots at the vista point at the south end of the bridge or Fort Point, beneath the south anchorage.

Another famous bit of pavement is Lombard Street’s crooked block, between Leavenworth and Hyde streets; for a good angle, shoot looking up from Leavenworth.

Ferry rides to Alcatraz Island fill up fast, but as of mid-January, there still were openings for Super Bowl week; see www.alcatrazcruises.com. Fisherman’s Wharf is kitschy, sure, but fun kitsch. Eat a fresh crab cocktail and stroll down to Pier 39 to see the basking sea lions. Learn more about them at the Sea Lion Center operated by Aquarium of the Bay.

NEARBY

Don’t forget that San Francisco is just a 45-minute drive from the Napa Valley. A number of wine country places are offering Super Bowl specials: www.visitnapavalley.com/super—bowl—50.

The Napa Valley Wine Train is running a special Big Game Train Wednesday featuring lunch, wines and meet-and-greets with stars such as former NFL coach Dick Vermeil (now a Napa Valley vintner). Tickets are $189-$249 per person.

Of course, you don’t have to drive to the Napa Valley to enjoy fine wine. California wines are available at Levi’s Stadium.