SAN FRANCISCO WEEKEND
Somewhere we had never been, somewhere we had always wanted to go, and a place that Tony Bennett sang to the world…..
A mother/daughter getaway
San Fran is the 13th largest city in the United States, and the 4th largest city in California. It is as famous for its restaurants and food trends as it is for the Golden Gate Bridge and cable cars. Among the unique or regionally typical foods to be sampled in San Francisco are abalone, Dungeness crab, sand dabs, bay shrimp and crusty sourdough French bread. All are fantastic, and none will disappoint.
One way to see this city is a guided tour. A San Francusco Hop On Hop Off bus from Union Square cost us $49.50 US each. A short walk down the hill from our hotel provided us with a great opportunity to learn about the city and tourist attractions. There are over 4000 restaurants providing plenty of options for food and libation. The tour provided great views and incredible Instagram opportunities. Our route took us to 20 different stops – Alamo Square, Haight Ashbury, Golden Gate Park, Golden Gate Bridge, Palace of Fine Arts, Lombard Street, Pier 39 and Chinatown to name a few. We could not possibly explore all these incredible places, which made it clear that we would certainly be back... and soon.
My daughter and I embraced the first day, excited to explore this dynamic city and learned very quickly that short walks downhill in this city also equate to a walk back uphill! Famous trolley/streetcars are available all over the city to assist with those grueling uphill climbs for tired tourists and locals.
It was early, and the warm sun felt great on our backs as we walked in the direction of Pier 39 and came across The Buena Vista – famous home of the first Irish Coffee served in 1952! It was 815 am but that was totally irrelevant. We conversed and giggled with the bartender as he pointed out that they had already served over a hundred Irish Coffees that morning. As the old saying goes, “When in Rome do as the Romans”, and the rest need not be said! The Irish Coffee was delicious, as were the quaint details of the bar restaurant and an incredibly engaging staff.
Next stop was Fisherman’s Wharf, one of the city’s busiest tourist areas. Souvenir shops and vendors selling crab and clam chowder in sourdough bread bowls were abundant; as were priceless photo opportunities with views of the Bay, Golden Gate and Alcatraz. The sea lions are amazing to watch and their bantering back and forth was mesmerizing to all watching as we wondered what they were saying to each other in their high-pitched tones!
The famous Lombard Street was our next stop. It looks treacherous however Lombard Street’s switchbacks, or hair pin turns were built to increase the safety of the street, as the natural steep grade of Potrero Hill was thought to be too dangerous. We were on foot, but we found ourselves at the bottom looking up and feeling excited to make the trek up. Once we ascended, the view from the top was lovely and watching the cars come down was almost comical.
The painted ladies are Victorian and Edwardian structures, residential and otherwise, that have been repainted. San Francisco is full of these beauties, giving the city a unique style. The details and colors on the front doors and garage doors had us wanting to pose for a photo in front of each one. The “Seven Sisters” are a row of colorful Victorian houses located across from Alamo Square. This is where tourists flock to see those which have been used in movie sets and TV shows. As you sit in the park across the street, one cannot stop thinking that perhaps the cast of Full
House may at any moment run down the stairs of one of the houses, or that Mrs.Doubtfire may show up to babysit!
No matter where you stand in this magnificent city, the Golden Gate Bridge can be seen. She stands proud and regal calling everyone to come and experience her grandeur which connects San Francisco Bay and the Pacific Ocean via a one-mile long suspension bridge. Although red in color, the Bridge is named for the Golden Gate Strait, the narrow entrance between the Pacific Ocean and the San Francisco Bay.
A trip to Ghiradelli Square is a must. Rich, interesting history and lots of chocolate and ice cream in every imaginable flavor - a stop that should not be missed. Our luggage on the flight back had several pounds of this magnificent chocolate, as many friends asked for samples. I can now see why!
Thank you, San Francisco! We did leave our hearts with you and know we shall return. Our next visit will include a visit to the famous Alcatraz – will we escape?
"San Francisco has only one drawback: 'tis hard to leave." — Rudyard Kipling