Los Angeles Vibes

A few years ago, Brian and I took an epic road trip from San Francisco, down the Pacific Coast Highway and which terminated in Los Angeles. (Click links to see blog posts from each part of our journey). Both our siblings live in L.A. so we have the opportunity to get to the City of Angels about once a year. Here are two great, although very different, activities we participated in with my brother and a list of a few others we’d like to do on future trips.

Getty Center

I originally visited the Getty Museum with my mom in 2004 so it was exciting to return with my husband and brother in 2016. It was as beautiful as I remembered it. The history of the center can be just as interesting to the visitor as the site itself. The space is a tribute to a billionaire’s love of art and architecture. As a perk, your visit is free as the Getty Trust always wanted the public to have access to the grounds (note, parking is not free).

 

The experience of getting to the museum is thrilling as you take a tram up to the property and your wonderment only builds as you get closer to the top. Truthfully, you could easily walk around aimlessly and completely enjoy yourself. We decided to take an architecture tour that lasted nearly an hour. We learned about the shapes and color that architect Richard Meier expertly chose and executed throughout the property. The guide also discussed the landscape architecture and how the buildings were placed purposefully to optimize views of the mountains and ocean. After the tour, we rambled through the interior museums and the exterior gardens. Put the Getty Center on your list, even if you have to drive to Brentwood to get there, and plan to spend a good 2-3 hours. Don’t worry they had a fairly decent cafeteria on premise.

Channel Islands National Park

I was thrilled to visit the Channel Islands as my eighth national park this fall. You need to book far in advance, because although the island is free to visit there is only one way to get there- by boat and the boat is very much not free. You’ll need to book on Island Packers to pick an island to visit. If you want to visit multiple islands (there are 8 total and 4 that the public can visit) then I suggest you plan to camp overnight. We chose to visit Santa Cruz as it was the closest and we only had the day. The boat ride takes approximately 1 hour and all reviews I read said that it’s a fairly calm trip and there are lots of opportunities to see wildlife. Unfortunately, we decided to visit the Channel Islands on what the boat crew called “one of the worst crossings they’ve ever had” meaning it was a wild ride both to and from Santa Cruz with swells easily reaching 10 feet. That being said this was highly atypical and I don’t want to scare anyone off from visiting. Just plan to bring some sort of anti-nausea medication, just in case, and sit in the back of the boat to minimize the rocking.

Once on the island, I had booked a kayak trip through Santa Barbara Adventure Company. However, the guides warned us that the trip would be difficult to a beginner kayaker so we opted to cancel our time at sea and hike instead. (The company was amazing and refunded us on the spot.) We chose to hike the 7.5-mile round trip route from Scorpion Beach to Smuggler’s Cove. The hike itself was moderate in difficulty but mostly because the wind was unrelenting. It was amazing to get to Smuggler’s Cove as it put us on the opposite side of Santa Cruz and we could see the other islands from a unique perspective. After hiking we checked out the small museums which gave an interesting history of the islands.

A highlight of visiting Santa Cruz is seeing the Channel Island fox. They are smaller than our woodland foxes and much more comfortable getting close to humans, so much so that you have to be careful they don’t nick your food right from your hand! We would have loved to be on the water to observe the sea life up close but we were happy to see a pod of dolphins on our wild boat ride. The takeaway from the Channel Islands is that I highly recommend going and I would even suggest camping out if you have the time. Just come prepared with a change of clothes, good shoes, and food since there’s nothing to buy once on land.

L.A. To Do List…

• The Broad Museum
• Nixon Presidential Library
• Los Angeles Conservatory Neighborhood Walking Tours

What else should we add to our list??

Summer Adventure Part 1

The blog is back! I’m so sorry for the gap in posts but I promise that I’m going to hit the ground running with lots of new destinations I’ve explored and want to share with you. Brian and I took a trip out west to visit my brother, Keith, in Reno, Nevada. We spent the majority of our time in Yosemite National Park and Lake Tahoe before giving Keith a big hug and flying to Portland for the last few days of the trip. This post will focus on the first portion of the vacation, Reno and Yosemite.

Now you can fly direct to Reno from New York on JetBlue! Honestly, we didn’t do much in Reno besides eat and buy supplies for our camping trip. Keith told us that Reno is trying to revitalize itself and some of its neighborhoods and that was clear to see as we drove through the city. We stayed at The Whitney Peak Hotel (http://www.whitneypeakhotel.com/) , Reno’s only non-smoking, non-casino hotel but it’s hard to escape the smell of cigarette smoke that still lingers in the hallway. That being said it wasn’t overpriced and it was centrally located. Here’s where we ate:

Two Chicks (http://twochicksreno.com/) Delicious brunch with gluten free options. Super cute spot in the Midtown neighborhood. My favorite meal in Reno.

Great Full Gardens (http://greatfullgardens.com/) Great breakfast and coffee. Keith and Brian enjoyed the Leige waffles that were decadent.  Also in Midtown.

The Depot (http://thedepotreno.com/) Impressive craft brewery and distillery. Our mains were pretty good but we probably should have ordered more small plates since that was our favorite part of the meal. I loved the building and the decor as well.

If you have extra time in Reno, Keith suggested also checking out the Nevada Museum of Art http://www.nevadaart.org/. We also would have used Thrillist’s suggestions http://www.thrillist.com/travel/new-york/a-new-yorkers-guide-to-reno. Overall Reno, America’s Biggest Little City, was a great jumping off point for the rest of our journey.

Domes on our Glen Aulin hike

Yosemite National Park 

This summer commemorates Yosemite’s 125th anniversary as our country’s third national park. President Benjamin Harrison signed the legislation that protects 1,500 square miles of awe inspiring land and water forms. We were overwhelmed by the beauty of the park and our time spent in Yosemite was the highlight of the trip. We camped for 3 nights. On April 15th, camping spots open up and you have to be fast to grab spots. The first night we camped at Tuolumne Meadows and the second and third nights we stayed at the Upper Pines campsite in Yosemite Valley. The experience of camping put me totally out of my element but it was wonderful and made me feel like we had an authentic back to nature vacation.

On the way to Yosemite we stopped to check out the views of Mono Lake and to grab food in Lee Vining so that the boys could eat fish tacos at the Whoa Nellie Deli (http://www.whoanelliedeli.com/). These tacos are named some of the best gas station food in the country!

From the summit of Thunder Dome

We went on three separate hikes. The first day we hiked 13 miles round trip to Glen Aulin Sierra Camp (http://www.yosemitehikes.com/tioga-road/glen-aulin/glen-aulin.htm) The hike was relatively flat but the vistas were spectacular. We went off course a bit to climb one of the domes to get some rock scrambling in and declared it Thunder Dome. The boys jumped in Tenaya Lake to cool off after the hike and we celebrated the Fourth of July with some beers by Keith’s pickup truck. Doesn’t get more American than that!

Vernal Falls

Our next hike on Day 2 was in the Valley. We hiked the busy and paved Mist Trail to the top of Vernal Falls (http://www.yosemitehikes.com/yosemite-valley/mist-trail/mist-trail.htm).  While the hike is only 3 miles round trip, it’s very steep (1,000 feet elevation in 1.5 miles). The waterfall is spectacular and we veered off the trail to get closer to really feel the mist. If you have more energy you can continue up another 2 miles (and another 1,000 feet) to the summit of Nevada Falls. But we decided to take it easy to rest up for our last and most extensive hike of the trip.

Admittedly I was nervous to hike Cloud’s Rest (http://www.yosemitehikes.com/tioga-road/clouds-rest/clouds-rest.htm) a 14.5 mile round trip hike that includes an intense mile of endless switchbacks and a ridge the width of sidewalk to the summit. The park ranger at the Visitor’s Center told us it was one of the top 3 hikes she’s ever completed. Despite being a bit scared and feeling unsure that I had enough endurance to make it, I totally rocked it and it was 100% worth it. The summit left us speechless. You end  at the East side of the valley with views of the entire valley including Half Dome, Yosemite Falls and even a bit of El Cap). Even with some hail on the hike down, it was an amazing hike!

Cloud’s Rest with Half Dome between my head and Keith’s head

The ridge to the summit of Cloud’s Rest

Some things to note: Yosemite Valley is much more touristy than Tuolumne Meadows. There are hotels, restaurants and pools. There’s even a bar where we watched the USA women’s team win the World Cup. There are lots of options for families and those that don’t want as much of an outdoorsy trip as we did. That being said don’t forget about the Meadows. They have much to offer and shouldn’t be missed.

I highly recommend spending time in Yosemite or at any national park. They are true treasures and everyone should enjoy what they have to offer. Next post I’ll fill you in on our time in Lake Tahoe and Portland.

Lake Placid Love

One of my favorite places on the planet is Lake Placid, New York. Nestled in the breathtaking Adirondack Park, Lake Placid is most famous for hosting the 1932 and 1980 winter Olympics. I love learning about the history upstate, so much so that my senior thesis at Barnard College was about Jewish Adirondack summer camps at the turn of 20th Century. If you want to learn more about the history of Lake Placid, check out this link: http://www.lakeplacid.com/do/history

As a tip of the hat to Ken Burns’ amazing PBS documentary, The Roosevelts: An Intimate Documentary (http://www.pbs.org/kenburns/films/the-roosevelts), did you know Teddy Roosevelt found out that President McKinley had died and that he would be succeeding him as president on top of Mount Marcy, the highest peak in the park?

The majority of my time spent upstate has been during the summer but last weekend I had the pleasure of visiting Lake Placid in the fall. Besides the fact that the weather was flawless, the trip was worth it simply for the foliage. Besides oohing and ahhing at the spectrum of colors on the trees, here’s what else we did:

We stayed at The Whiteface Lodge. It’s a little bit of a drive from the center of town (which is actually right on Mirror Lake) but it’s a wonderful hotel with well-appointed rooms, including kitchenettes  that are able to convey a rustic yet modern feel in the rooms. The views of Whiteface Mountain are spectacular and the grounds include an indoor/outdoor pool, lean-to’s to hang around in and bonfires to sit by and make s’mores. The breakfast each morning was hearty as well. http://www.thewhitefacelodge.com/

Friday night, Brian and I ate at the much buzzed about Chair 6. The food was very good but the ambiance is bizarre. It’s in a small house and while the menu seems plentiful, the majority of what we wanted to eat was sold out (by 7pm..hmmm) so we had to order the more expensive items off of the specials menu. I had heard so much about the restaurant and I’m happy we tried it but I probably won’t go back the next time I’m in town. http://chair6.com/

My dad and my brother are certified 46-er’s, which means they’ve climbed all 46 High Peaks in the Adirondacks. It also means that when the parking lot at the Adirondack Loj was filled we realized that climbing Phelps was not a possibility, my dad was quickly able to think of another great hike. We decided to climb up Round Mountain and after 2.3 miles we made it to the summit. It was the most amazing view of the Great Range. The real hero of the hike was my mom who reluctantly trekked all the way up and down just to spend time with us. She rocked it! For other great climbs, check out: http://www.lakeplacid.com/do/outdoors/summerfall/hiking/46-high-peaks 

Saturday night, we went to the Lake Placid Lodge for dinner. It is one of the premier resorts in the region and if you get there for sunset, grab a drink at the bar and relax by the lake. The dinner was long but delicious. The four courses were perfect Adirondack cuisine- fresh and delicious. http://www.lakeplacidlodge.com/

Sunday on our way back to the city we stopped at the Marcy Field farmer’s market in Keene Valley. If you stop, check out the stands for Asgaard Farms for some cheese (http://www.asgaardfarm.com/), Ausable Brewing Company for some beer (http://ausablebrewing.tumblr.com/) and Mase Chasm Farm for veggies and sandwiches (http://www.macechasmfarm.com/).  

For other fun activities to do and attractions to see, check out: http://images.data2gold.com/00411/latesummerattraction2014.pdf – I can vouch for the ski jump and the Adirondack Museum as great day activities.

Lake Placid always holds a special place in my heart. My parents started taking us up here when I was a young child. Then I spent my summers at sleep away camp in nearby Lake George and as an adult I continue to return to the scenery because it offers a respite from the busy city. I’m most myself among the peaks of the mountains, the blues of the lake and the plethora of stars at night.

 

California Love Part 3

And here’s the final installment of our California vacation! Part 3 consists of our time in Los Angeles. 

Day 8…

– First thing in the morning, we stopped at Clairmont Farms in Los Olivos. This lovely lavender farm has a small shop which was an excellent place to buy gifts. http://www.clairmontfarms.com/

– Ronald Reagan Presidential Library: If you didn’t already know, I’m a little in love with American history and I have a particular interest in presidential libraries. We detoured off Route 1 to Simi Valley to visit our 40th president’s library and museum. It was a comprehensive overview of his life with particular attention paid to his 8 years as commander in chief. The highlight was going inside Air Force One. This plane was the Flying White House for seven presidents up until George W. Bush. There is an audio guide but it wasn’t very good so skip it and do some reading instead. Also there was an interesting exhibit about the beginnings of baseball with tons of memorabilia including a Honus Wagner baseball card, which Brian tells me is a huge deal. The actual building and grounds are beautiful and we really enjoyed learning more about the Gipper! http://www.reaganfoundation.org/  

 

 

 

 

– We arrived in LA and were very excited to stay with Bonnie, Brian’s sister, for the next few days. She lives in the hip neighborhood of Los Feliz.

– Dinner at Ink. with Vari and Deep. Brian and I enjoy watching Top Chef so we were excited when our friends suggested we dine at winner Michael Voltaggio’s restaurant in West Hollywood. The menu was very amenable to my gluten free needs and the dishes were inventive and delicious for everyone at the table like the corn and housemade doritos or salt and charcoal potatoes. Everything is shared, the value is good and I highly recommend it! http://mvink.com/

Day 9…

– Because we had to drop off the rental car, we were in Burbank and Bonnie suggested a good spot for lunch, Tinhorn Flats. It had a big outdoor space so check it out if you’re in the neighborhood. http://www.tinhornflatshollywood.com/

– Fredrick R. Weisman Foundation: This was truly a highlight of the trip and it was recommended by my art savvy mama. In the Bel Air neighborhood of LA is the home of Fredrick R. Weisman, where we joined an amazing 90 minute tour of his personal 20th century art collection. The scope and the quantity, in addition to the home and landscaping, was so impressive we left with our jaws on the floor. From Lictensteins, Boteros, Rothkos and Harings you will be awed. Most unbelievable are the works by Andy Warhol which included pieces of Mr. Weisman in all his pop-art glory. Even if you don’t love art, you’ll love this tour. You must book in advance though, so make sure to call with plenty of time! http://www.weismanfoundation.org/

– Dinner at Gardens of Taxco: We loved this authentic Mexican meal in West Hollywood. There’s no menu but a very animated waiter will tell you the protein options and will give you samples or combine dishes if you can’t make up your mind. Once you choose, you’ll enjoy a variety of appetizers that the kitchen sends out. We were serenaded and we enjoyed some tasty margaritas. And when we got the check out at the end of the night we couldn’t believe how inexpensive it was for the amount of yummy food you get! If you want a great Mexican meal, come here and you won’t be disappointed. http://thegardensoftaxco.com/

– After dinner we had a drink at The Dresden. Any fans of the movie Swingers will love having a cocktail at the this LA classic. It’s loud so maybe not a great place to meet a group of friends though. http://www.thedresden.com/index.html

Day 10…

– We took a drive out to Manhattan Beach to have lunch with our family friends the Ginsburg’s.

– Lunch at The Strand House was lovely and Rich described it as the only place in Manhattan Beach where you actually have to look nice (which basically means no sweatpants). The view of the beach is great and everyone enjoyed their meal. http://www.thestrandhousemb.com/

– We spent the afternoon on the beach, despite the semi cloudy day. We rode bikes on the boardwalk and walked along the pier, where there was a small aquarium that we checked out. It was also great just to sit with our feet in the sand. We were very non-LA and even put our toes in the water and if it had been warmer outside, Brian had every intention to get in the Pacific Ocean! We loved Manhattan Beach and we would have loved exploring the cute shops in town.

– In the evening, we checked out a classic car show in Glendale and then had some Chinese food at Panda Inn with Bonnie and her friends. We also enjoyed some drinks at The Famous, which has a large collection of different whiskeys. http://www.thefamousglendale.com/

Day 11…

– Griffith Park and Observatory: We woke up early to get one last hike in. We walked to Griffith Park from Bonnie’s apartment and finally found the start of a trail that would lead us directly up to Griffith Observatory. The first start of the hike was steep but it leveled out in the mid section. The views of downtown LA and the Hollywood sign are spectacular and the observatory is worth the hike. We didn’t have much time so we walked quickly through the free exhibits but didn’t stay for the planetarium show (which had a cost). http://www.griffithobs.org/ 

– Before we had to rush off to LAX, we grabbed brunch around the corner from Bonnie’s apartment at the Alcove. We were joined by Brian’s college friend, Alex, and Dahmer, Bonnie’s dog (Albert Fish, Bonnie’s cat, had to stay at home). The food was yummy but it was very hectic and they forgot our order initially. It’s a trendy spot, so unless you want to go there specifically, you can probably find a less frantic spot nearby. http://www.alcovecafe.com/

That pretty much wraps up our wonderful summer vacation. Brian and I had a great time exploring San Fran, the coast and La La Land. I highly recommend this trip to anyone considering a getaway. Next time we get to the west coast, I’d love to head north from San Francisco to wine country and beyond as recommended by the New York Times 52 Places to Go in 2014 or check out Yosemite National Park. Guess it’s time to plan another trip!

California Love Part 2

Part 2 focuses on our drive from San Fran to Los Angeles, primarily on the Pacific Coast Highway.

Day 5…

– Breakfast at Dottie’s: It was recommended by many, especially Dara and Andrew, and it was worth the 30 minute wait, in the sun, surrounded by bums. Dishes are huge and Brian thought their jalapeno jelly on cornbread should not be missed.. http://dotties.biz/

– We took US 1 from SF to Monterey. It was about a 3 hour drive. It’s faster if you take the freeway.

– Monterey Bay Aquarium: Admission was a part of the CityPass and it was highly suggested. We were a little underwhelmed but probably because we had been spoiled by the aquarium at the California Academy of Science. The highlights of the aquarium were the kelp forest, which is filled with bay water that is continuously pumped through the exhibit, the deep sea tank with large tuna, sunfish and hammerheads, and the otters, who were playful and mesmerizing to watch. There are movie presentations and feeding times each day as well. http://www.montereybayaquarium.org/ 

– We drove to Carmel and stayed at the Carmel Lodge. It was a simple place and conveniently located within the adorable town of Carmel by the Sea. http://www.carmellodge.com/

 

– Dinner at Flaherty’s: The reviews online were great but the hotel cautioned against the restaurant because previous hotel guests had complained about the terrible service. We went anyways and were pleasantly surprised. There were tons of gluten free options and the food was really good. Fine dining is plentiful in Carmel and we were told it’s hard to pick a bad place to eat. http://www.flahertysseafood.com/home

– If we could do it again, we’d get on the road earlier and take the freeway to the aquarium. Monterey is one big tourist trap so we’d leave the city and take 17 Mile drive through Pacific Grove and Pebble Beach to Carmel. Then we’d spend time walking around the town of Carmel before dinner. They had great shops but we ran out of time to see everything this quaint town had to offer.

Day 6…

– Breakfast at Katy’s: It was exactly the type of brunch you want before hitting the road; hearty and tasty. Gluten free pancakes to boot! http://www.katysplacecarmel.com/

– Carmel: We walked around the town a bit and bought some gifts. There’s so much to buy! I  wish we had more time though because it’s supposed to be beautiful and romantic!

– Drive down the PCH: Now this is what we were waiting for. The drive is spectacular. We wanted to pull off at every vista point but you have to be choosy if you’re ever going to make it to your destination. Bixby Bridge and Hurricane Point were two of our favorites. Don’t forget to bring binoculars! We were not aware of this but everyone we met let us borrow theirs as we all noticed a pod of dolphins and whales near shore. It was spectacular. We also saw otters and heard sea lions barking. The drive through Big Sur is breathtaking as you make your way along the windy roads of the coast and the steep incline though the redwoods of Los Padres National Forest.

 

 

 

 

– Limekiln State Park: We stopped off at this state park for a quick hike as recommended by my dear friend Laura who recently did the drive. It was perfect because it only took us about 20 minutes to hike to a waterfall. There were other paths we would have loved to explore but we just ran out of time. Also, the park goes right to the ocean and we it had great campgrounds. http://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=577

– Elephant Seal Rookery: Right as we entered San Simeon, we pulled off the highway and saw a beach-ful of elephant seals! They are tremendous and hilarious and you won’t believe how many seals are snoring on the beach! We were told that if you want to see more action and less sleeping, that you should visit the rookery earlier in the day. http://www.elephantseal.org/Rookery/where.html

– Hearst Castle: We booked the last tour of the day about a week before we went on the trip. The website suggested The Grand Rooms Tour for first time visitors and I thought it was a great choice. It gave you a great overview of the history of the house and Hearst. After the 45 minute tour you can explore the pools and grounds. There were many docents spread out over the property who were knowledgeable and answered our many questions. Just be prepared to be awed. This castle, is just that, a castle and after 28 years of working with architect Julia Morgan on the home, Hearst felt it was only 50% finished! http://hearstcastle.org/

 

 

 

 

– We stayed at the Madonna Inn in San Luis Obispo. Each room at this infamous hotel is uniquely decorated with just the right amount of kitsch and fun. We stayed in a room called Floral Fantasy and it was floor to ceiling pink and red. We worried that the hotel would be old, dirty and dated but we were pleasantly surprised with how nice it was. It was a hoot to stay there and a perfect stopping point after a long day on the road. http://www.madonnainn.com/

Our room at the Madonna Inn

– The only thing we’d change about Day 6 is that we’d stretch it out over a few days and probably camp. There’s so many vista points we wanted to stop at and so many places we would have hiked, that it would have been great to feel less in a rush as we made our way down US 1.

Day 7…

– Los Olivos: We headed directly to the town of Los Olivos and met up with Brian’s sister, Bonnie, for a fun day of wine tasting. We visited 3 wineries: Alexander and Wayne, Arthur Earl and Carhartt. My favorite was Carhartt because their wine was delicious and they had a beautiful outdoor patio space to enjoy the drinks. (http://www.arthurearl.com/AW http://www.arthurearl.com/ http://www.carharttvineyard.com/) 

– Lunch at Panino: Delicious sandwiches (I did mine wrapped in lettuce). Bonnie said that on the weekend this place is packed and we could see why. (http://www.paninorestaurants.com/index.php)

– We stayed at the Hadsten House in Solvang. The hotel was great, especially for the price. Upon arrival you receive a complimentary wine pass to local wineries. The town of Solvang is a Danish enclave in the middle of California. All the buildings make you feel like you are in Denmark, windmills and all! We dined at Root 246. It was a delicious meal in a beautiful building. (http://www.hadstenhouse.com/ http://www.root-246.com/)

Day 8 starts with our final leg of the drive to Los Angeles, with a stop at the Reagan Presidential Library along the way. If you want to see great photographs of the highway being built check out this link: http://www.kcet.org/updaily/socal_focus/history/la-as-subject/from-the-roosevelt-highway-to-the-one-a-brief-history-of-pacific-coast-highway.html.

The takeaway from the drive was that it was fantastic and we wished it was longer. Between the scenery, the wildlife and the sights along the way, it’s no wonder that the Pacific Coast Highway is one of the best drives in America. What would you add to our drive? We heard Pismo Beach would have been a great stop!

California Love Part 1

The gap in posting can be explained by my amazing 10 day California adventure with my boyfriend, Brian. The trip can easily be broken down into 3 parts: San Francisco, Central Coast and Los Angeles. So I’ll give a day by day primer of the highlights in 3 installments.

San Francisco was originally established by the Spanish and later the Mexicans. In 1846, the United States conquered the city and not long after, the Gold Rush brought an influx of men to the Bay area, including a large population of Chinese. The 1906 earthquake ravished the city and it was forced to rebuild. By the 1950’s and 1960’s, the city became a breeding ground for the counterculture movements. The tech boom of the 80’s and 90’s led to the bars, restaurants and high price of living. From little frontier town to metropolis, San Francisco offers something for everyone! 

Day 1…

– We flew to San Fran. My brother, Keith, met us at the airport and we drove to my aunt and uncle’s home in Mill Valley (Marin County, about an hour from the airport). We were grateful to have them host us and provide us with a fantastic, paleo/g-free/dairy-free meal.

Day 2…

– Climb Mount Tamalpais: We decided to take the steep Zig Zag trail up the mountain and descended via the Panoramic and Oceanview trails.

– Muir Woods: This national monument is not to be missed. It’s very manageable to navigate so you can explore every humongous tree. You’ll marvel at their age and size and learn a lot along the well maintained paths. You can drive to the park if you do not want to hike to it. http://www.nps.gov/muwo/index.htm 

 

 

 

 

– Lunch at the Mountain Home Inn: Hit the spot after a long morning of hiking. The views weren’t half bad either. http://www.mtnhomeinn.com/

– Giants game at AT&T Park: We got great tickets in the View Reserve Right Field section with views of the Bay Bridge. We took the Muni out to the game, which was fast and easy. I was able to enjoy a gluten free beer and hot dog. The three of us had to try the infamous Gilroy garlic fries, which were as expected…garlic and fries (nothing special). It does get chilly at the stadium so remember to dress warmly. http://sanfrancisco.giants.mlb.com 

– For our three nights in San Fran we stayed at the Hilton in Union Square. The location is ideal for getting all around the city but it borders the Tenderloin neighborhood which is very seedy, dirty and smelly. The hotel room was nice but we felt that the bathroom was particularly small. http://www3.hilton.com/en/hotels/california/hilton-san-francisco-union-square-SFOFHHH/index.html

Day 3…

– CityPass: Keith found this amazing deal for the CityPass which we picked up at the Visitor’s Center. You can order the CityPass online ahead of time and it’s available in many other cities. You get half off access to great museums and unlimited use of public transportation. http://www.citypass.com/san-francisco

– de Young Museum: We took the bus to Golden Gate Park and walked right up to the museum. If you do not buy a CityPass, you can tell them that you took public transportation and get $2 off your admission fee. The museum has an impressive collection of art from America, Africa and Oceania. My favorite parts of the museum were the outdoor sculptures and the architecture of the museum itself. We took the elevator up to observatory level and enjoyed an amazing view of the city. https://deyoung.famsf.org/

– California Academy of Sciences: In one word – amazing. We explored the rain forest, aquarium and special exhibit about skulls for nearly 2 and half hours. We decided to catch the planetarium show, which was terrible (so terrible in fact, that Keith slept through it). By the time it was over the museum was closed and we still hadn’t seen everything. Do not miss out and leave yourself lots of time. http://www.calacademy.org/ 

– Haight Ashbury: We walked through Golden Gate Park towards the former center of the hippie movement. Unfortunately walking along Haight street is grimy and feels more like a relic rather than a tribute to the Summer of Love.

– Alamo Square: We continued our walk to the park so that we can snap a photo with the Victorian homes featured in the opening credits of Full House. 

– Dinner at Coi: My birthday is around the corner and my boyfriend spoiled me with a delicious meal at this James Beard award winning restaurant. We both agreed the food was yummy, service was impeccable and they were very accommodating of my gluten free needs. However, the tasting menu is quite pricey for what you get. But it was such a special meal that I really have no complaints and I would recommend it. Also, it’s not pronounced /koi/ like the fish, rather it’s pronounced /qua/. http://coirestaurant.com/

Day 4…

– Mission District: We spent the majority of the day in this very trendy neighborhood. Our goal was to try lots of cheap and delicious food. The only problem was that we showed up before the restaurants opened (11am). We only had time to chow down on an arepa at Pica Pica (http://www.picapica.com/) before we went to West of Pecos (http://westofpecos.com/) to watch the World Cup finals with friends. After lunch Brian enjoyed a burrito and we wandered Valencia street, weaving in and out of a few cute shops. 

 

 

 

 

– Blue and Gold Fleet Cruise: The CityPass included a 1 hour boat ride on the bay. We wanted a great view so we stood at the bow, with wind in our hair and the dream of an extra sweater on my mind, and enjoyed our trip from Pier 39. The ride went under the Golden Gate Bridge and then around Alcatraz, which was great because we weren’t able to make it to the jail due to the need to order tickets over a month in advance. You get some great San Francisco history if you can hear the recording over the wind. We were bummed that the sea lions weren’t out when we docked though. http://www.blueandgoldfleet.com/ 

– Dinner at Slanted Door: This was my second time at the restaurant and it was significantly better than I remembered. Really interesting modern Vietnamese food but be careful not to over order; portions are large. The restaurant is located within the ferry building which has lots of great food options to try out! Think a less hectic Chelsea Market. http://www.slanteddoor.com/

 

Day 5 begins with our trip down the Pacific Coast Highway and I’ll post that soon.  Overall, there is so much to see, eat and do in San Francisco. However, the beauty of much of the city is ruined by a sense of grime that seems to overwhelm. Despite some smelly blocks, the highlight of our time in the city was exploring the Bay Area with my brother and every time I leave San Fran, I have more I want to see like Alcatraz, Lombard Street, Coit Tower and the Castro. What else should we add to the list?