July 30 - California: San Francisco

Photo of the Golden Gate Bridge.  We drove over on our way into the city last night.

San Francisco is incredible!! I LOVE this city!!

Josh and I had vastly different of ideas on how to enjoy our day in the city. He wanted to fish and rent a car to drive the city's hills. I wanted to do parks, shopping, and museums. So, we decided to split for the day. He took the kids with him to fish. I went off to see the sights.

I had a full day! I started my morning at the flagship Nordstrom's store downtown. In front of the store is the Hyde-Powell Streetcar turn-around.

San Fran Streetcar

They have to manually turn the streetcar around to send it back the other way.

Pushing it back onto the track

Riding Streetcar to Fisherman's Warf

I hopped on the streetcar and headed to Fisherman's Warf. At the harbor, I visited the National Martime Museum, saw a vintage boat being refurbished, visited the ship that 'Rosie the Riveter' built during the war, watched the seals play between the boats, and enjoyed a super yummy lunch at a restaurant in the docks. I visited the famous Pier 1 and 39. The restaurant was serving a lunch special that had my name all over it --- Fresh Crab Salad Stuffed Avacado with Coleslaw and a Fruity Champagne Drink, a Valatini. I think I could eat that daily for the rest of my life!

Restoring an old wooden boat

The Cannery District

San Fran Bay

Ghirardelli Chocolate Factory

After the Warf, I took the streetcar to Lombard Street, the crookedest street in the world. Eight beautifully gardened switchbacks get you down the super steep hillside. I visited the neighborhood to enjoy the "Victorian Ladies", the classic San Fran architecture.

Lombard Street -- The crookedest street in the world.  There are 8 switchbacks to get you down the steep grade.

I hopped back on another car line to take me a few blocks over to Chinatown. Normally, you could just walk, but the giant hills make even a few blocks an arduous task!

Chinatown was fascinating. I stopped in a tea shop for a free tea tasting, Next, I spent some time exploring a great store filled with Chinese delicacies and herbs. They had them displayed in open bins and huge glass apothecary jars. Everything from shark fins, to dried seahorses, exotic and enormous mushrooms, dried animal penises, sinew, bones, and a loads of things that I couldn't identify (all labeled in Chinese). I also popped into an import store that sold incredible silks, kimonos, and lace.

Chinatown borders the Financial District

Leaving Chinatown, I took a quick bus ride to the financial district to have a look-see. From there, I grabbed a bus to the Golden Gate State Park. What an unbelievable city park!!! It is enormous; filled with a museum, science center, outdoor concert venue, botanical garden, conservatory, polo fields, fly fishing ponds, playgrounds, dog area, bike paths, equestrian arenas, and the Japanese Tea Garden. I stopped in for an afternoon tea and snack. The finely manicured garden was exquisite! I had also planned to see the Picasso exhibit at the park's museum, but to my surprise, they closed at 5. So I was 15 minutes too late in buying tickets which were sold until 4 p.m.

The Financial District

Clothes Hanging to Dry in an Alley

Japanese Tea Garden

Golden Gate Park

Golden Gate Park

Wildflowers, Golden Gate Park

Wildflowers, Golden Gate Park

From the park, I walked to the beautiful Ocean Beach and watched the surfers and kite flyers (and gave my feet a rest). At the beach, I caught the bus back into the city. I ate an incredible meal at Little Delhi, walked the streets to soak in the last bit of a bustling San Fran fixing to enjoy a Saturday night, and caught the final 10 p.m. shuttle back to our campground.

Ocean Beach

Josh and the kids didn't end up fishing, but the had a great time driving around the city (and up and down the hills) in their rented Challenger.

Easton called it "The Hot Wheels Car"

Shirt I bought for Easton.  Appropriate, no?

San Francisco was amazing, and there is lots I couldn't fit in. I'll be back, San Fran! Girls' weekend, anyone???