Sunday, June 21, 2009
Thursday, June 18, 2009
Ding Ding Goes the Trolley
Derek and I just returned from a vacay in San Francisco. My mom, Mae Mae, flew in to watch Addison, while Derek and I enjoyed 4 days of "grown-up" time. We had a fabulous time, but could not wait to return home to see the princess.
Day 1
We got into San Fran pretty early and checked into our hotel, which was in Union Square aka downtown San Francisco. We were right across the street from the biggest mall I have ever seen (I was in heaven) and right next to the cable car route. We learned pretty early that all the tourist wait in line for the cable car at the "turn-around" and that by walking just one block up we could jump on the cable cars as we choose. D and I waited in line for about 45 minutes the first time before discovering this. After that, you would have thought we were old pros hopping on and off as we saw fit. The weather was a big adjustment for us. It stayed right between 50 and 60 degrees the entire time we there. Coming from 100+ weather in Austin, we were quite shell shocked. So back to our first day...we hopped on the trolley after waiting quite some time, and made our way down to Fisheman's Wharf. We stopped and ate pizza from a street side vendor, walked down Pier 39 checking out of the fun shops, restaurants, and adorable sea lions, and then relaxed with a glass of wine at a local wine store. After Fisherman's wharf we headed to Chinatown to check out the sites and sampled some dim sum (delicious). We were pretty wiped out after Chinatown, so we made our way back to the hotel for a quick nap and then got ready for dinner in North Beach (the Italian area of San Fran). On our way to North Beach we walked down Lombard Street (known as the "The Crookedest Street". We ate dinner at the Manga Rose and it was the best food I have had in a long time...I completely recommend this place if you are in the area. After dinner, we decided to make it a long night by getting some drinks at a local hangout, called the Gold Dust. Derek and I had fun mingling with the locals, listening to live music, and enjoying each others company.
Riding the BART from the airport to check into the hotel
The cable car "turn-around" where all the tourists wait to get on
Warming up with some coffee while waiting in line
Finally on the cable car
Of course we needed a pic like this!
Painted men and D at Fisherman's Wharf
The seals on Pier 39
Ghiradelli Square
Chinatown
The top of Lombard Street
View from the bottom of Lombard Street
The Gold Dust
Having some cocktails at The Gold Dust
Day 2
We started off our second day in by heading down to Fisherman's Wharf and having breakfast at the Bueno Vista Cafe. Derek jump started his day with an irish coffee, and was very surprised to find that whiskey was involved in the drink. After a night at the Gold Dust, I am not too sure it was a pleasant surprise. After that we rented bikes and biked 8 miles, along the bay, across the Golden Gate Bridge, and then down into Sausalito, where we later rode the Ferry back to the city. The ride was awesome and the views were amazing. When we got into Sausalito we had lunch at a local hamburger joint, did some shopping for Addie in boutiques along the waterfront, and the headed back on the Ferry. We got back to Union Square in the late afternoon, and decided to go watch The Hangover, upon the recommendation of numerous friends.....it was HILARIOUS and is definitely a "must-see". After the movie we picked up some sandwiches and headed back to the hotel for an early night.
The start of our biking adventure
Half way up the BIG hill before the bridge
Nice view of the Golden Gate Bridge
D and I in front of the bridge
Yummy burgers in Sausalito
View of Sausalito on the Ferry
View on San Fran from the Ferry
View of Alcatraz from the Ferry
Day 3
The tour bus arrived at our hotel bright and earlier to take us to Muir Woods, a national park filed with Redwoods or Coastal Sequoia trees. These trees were the biggest, tallest trees we have ever seen. They were beautiful. I felt like I was in fairy tale land walking around the park. After Muir Woods, the bus took us back to Sausalito, where we had lunch at the well-known Scoma's Seafood. This would have to be my 2nd favorite place we ate. As we ate, I noticed a bunch of employees from the restaurant next to us looking down at the water. We got up to check it out, and it was the cutest little baby seal, who had been abandoned by it's mother. The restaurant called the rescue services, but the seal was fun to look at in the interim. After lunch, we headed back on the Ferry again and relaxed at the hotel for a bit. Later that afternoon, we boarded another Ferry, this time headed for Alcatraz. Derek was SO excited! I will have to say that is was a VERY interesting tour. We got to walk around the island, and took a very informative guided tour inside the prison. After the tour we listened to a talk about Al Capone and then boarded the boat back to the city.
On the tour bus headed to Muir Woods
Pictures from inside Muir Woods
Eating lunch at Scoma's in Sausalito
Abondoned baby seal
View of Sausalito
Another view of Sausalito from the Ferry
"The Rock"
Pictures from our tour of Alcatraz
Day 4
We woke up and decided to visit the Ferry Building, which is a gourmet food marketplace and a farmer's market some days. We then headed bak to Chinatown, so Derek could buy some authentic chopsticks and browse some more shops. After Chinatown, we decided to do even a little more browsing/shopping and spent some time at the stores in Union Square. Derek was not used to all of this shopping, so we headed back to the hotel for another afternoon nap. After resting a bit, we headed back to North Beach (this was one of our favorite areas of San Fran). On the way, we stopped at Top of the Mark, a martini bar with one of the best views in the city. We ate dinner at a small restaurant and then went to another outdoor Italian bistro for wine and dessert.
The entrance gate of Chinatown
Pics of the view of San Fran from the Top of the Mark
View of the Coit Tower in North Beach
Day 1
We got into San Fran pretty early and checked into our hotel, which was in Union Square aka downtown San Francisco. We were right across the street from the biggest mall I have ever seen (I was in heaven) and right next to the cable car route. We learned pretty early that all the tourist wait in line for the cable car at the "turn-around" and that by walking just one block up we could jump on the cable cars as we choose. D and I waited in line for about 45 minutes the first time before discovering this. After that, you would have thought we were old pros hopping on and off as we saw fit. The weather was a big adjustment for us. It stayed right between 50 and 60 degrees the entire time we there. Coming from 100+ weather in Austin, we were quite shell shocked. So back to our first day...we hopped on the trolley after waiting quite some time, and made our way down to Fisheman's Wharf. We stopped and ate pizza from a street side vendor, walked down Pier 39 checking out of the fun shops, restaurants, and adorable sea lions, and then relaxed with a glass of wine at a local wine store. After Fisherman's wharf we headed to Chinatown to check out the sites and sampled some dim sum (delicious). We were pretty wiped out after Chinatown, so we made our way back to the hotel for a quick nap and then got ready for dinner in North Beach (the Italian area of San Fran). On our way to North Beach we walked down Lombard Street (known as the "The Crookedest Street". We ate dinner at the Manga Rose and it was the best food I have had in a long time...I completely recommend this place if you are in the area. After dinner, we decided to make it a long night by getting some drinks at a local hangout, called the Gold Dust. Derek and I had fun mingling with the locals, listening to live music, and enjoying each others company.
Riding the BART from the airport to check into the hotel
The cable car "turn-around" where all the tourists wait to get on
Warming up with some coffee while waiting in line
Finally on the cable car
Of course we needed a pic like this!
Painted men and D at Fisherman's Wharf
The seals on Pier 39
Ghiradelli Square
Chinatown
The top of Lombard Street
View from the bottom of Lombard Street
The Gold Dust
Having some cocktails at The Gold Dust
Day 2
We started off our second day in by heading down to Fisherman's Wharf and having breakfast at the Bueno Vista Cafe. Derek jump started his day with an irish coffee, and was very surprised to find that whiskey was involved in the drink. After a night at the Gold Dust, I am not too sure it was a pleasant surprise. After that we rented bikes and biked 8 miles, along the bay, across the Golden Gate Bridge, and then down into Sausalito, where we later rode the Ferry back to the city. The ride was awesome and the views were amazing. When we got into Sausalito we had lunch at a local hamburger joint, did some shopping for Addie in boutiques along the waterfront, and the headed back on the Ferry. We got back to Union Square in the late afternoon, and decided to go watch The Hangover, upon the recommendation of numerous friends.....it was HILARIOUS and is definitely a "must-see". After the movie we picked up some sandwiches and headed back to the hotel for an early night.
The start of our biking adventure
Half way up the BIG hill before the bridge
Nice view of the Golden Gate Bridge
D and I in front of the bridge
Yummy burgers in Sausalito
View of Sausalito on the Ferry
View on San Fran from the Ferry
View of Alcatraz from the Ferry
Day 3
The tour bus arrived at our hotel bright and earlier to take us to Muir Woods, a national park filed with Redwoods or Coastal Sequoia trees. These trees were the biggest, tallest trees we have ever seen. They were beautiful. I felt like I was in fairy tale land walking around the park. After Muir Woods, the bus took us back to Sausalito, where we had lunch at the well-known Scoma's Seafood. This would have to be my 2nd favorite place we ate. As we ate, I noticed a bunch of employees from the restaurant next to us looking down at the water. We got up to check it out, and it was the cutest little baby seal, who had been abandoned by it's mother. The restaurant called the rescue services, but the seal was fun to look at in the interim. After lunch, we headed back on the Ferry again and relaxed at the hotel for a bit. Later that afternoon, we boarded another Ferry, this time headed for Alcatraz. Derek was SO excited! I will have to say that is was a VERY interesting tour. We got to walk around the island, and took a very informative guided tour inside the prison. After the tour we listened to a talk about Al Capone and then boarded the boat back to the city.
On the tour bus headed to Muir Woods
Pictures from inside Muir Woods
Eating lunch at Scoma's in Sausalito
Abondoned baby seal
View of Sausalito
Another view of Sausalito from the Ferry
"The Rock"
Pictures from our tour of Alcatraz
Day 4
We woke up and decided to visit the Ferry Building, which is a gourmet food marketplace and a farmer's market some days. We then headed bak to Chinatown, so Derek could buy some authentic chopsticks and browse some more shops. After Chinatown, we decided to do even a little more browsing/shopping and spent some time at the stores in Union Square. Derek was not used to all of this shopping, so we headed back to the hotel for another afternoon nap. After resting a bit, we headed back to North Beach (this was one of our favorite areas of San Fran). On the way, we stopped at Top of the Mark, a martini bar with one of the best views in the city. We ate dinner at a small restaurant and then went to another outdoor Italian bistro for wine and dessert.
The entrance gate of Chinatown
Pics of the view of San Fran from the Top of the Mark
View of the Coit Tower in North Beach
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