Blogs from San Francisco, California, United States, North America - page 7

Today I decided i would wonder around the city and go to Golden Gate Park. I finished packing, left my bags at reception, ate breakfast at Lori's and then got a bus from Market Street to Alamo Square. From here I wondered through the square and down to Haight Street which is where the hippy revolution started! The houses around here are great forms of architecture and beautifully painted, some are called the painted ladies for their beauty. From here I wondered to Golden Gate park and spent the next 2 hrs wondering lonely as a cloud down towards the coast. This is a huge park with a many gardens and areas of green space including a small island in the middle of a lake. Overall I walked around 2 miles until I reached the beach, ... read more

Today was a big day of exploring the wonders of San Francisco! I headed out at 9.30am and asked the reception for some advice on breakfast and if I could hold my bags there the next day, before I flew out. Tony the doorman was very helpful and said he would book me a shuttle and gave me some discount vouchers for Lori's Diner at the end of the street. It was a nice 50's style diner and I had a great cooked breakfast of Egg's Benedict with good old OJ. I headed down to Market Street to get the F line trolley up to Fisherman's Wharf. As i approached the road I saw a massive queue and was worried that this would be where I would spend my morning. However this was a queue of ... read more

San Francisco is a city of lights and shadows. In the morning, the dense fog rolls in from the Pacific, chill and atmospheric, the skyscrapers half-imagined forms that loom out of mist-draped piers lolling with sea lions. You walk through an ever-emerging landscape, damp and trying not to shiver, and imagine how this coast appeared to the hopeful gold-hunters who disembarked here in their millions desperate for the lucky find that would strike it big. Then, by 11.30am, the fog disappears, the sun burns brightly, you remove several layers, and start seeking shade in the shadows that have suddenly materialised. Sunny California, the land where dreams are made, appears as if by magic. *** The city is made of neighbourhoods. There’s North Beach, the Beat-poet hangout that retains its cool with alternative bookstores and independent cafes, ... read more

Today was our busiest day yet. We had an early rise and were down at Pier 33by 9am for our Alcatraz Tour. The city, in true San Francisco style was shrouded with fog, making the trip out to Alcatraz an unusual one. The captain had to sound his horn every few minutes, as it was impossible to see more than a few metres in front of the boat. Thankfully it had lifted slightly by the time we disembarked, but still no view back to the city. The tour of the cell block was amazing. It was self-guided with each of us having a headset with a recording of the history of The Rock so we could travel through at our own pace, pausing the recording when we felt like it. Only difficulty for us was trying ... read more

Well the trip over proved to be even easier than we had imagined. For a start we had a tail wind which meant we arrived 30 minutes earlier than expected. I managed 5 hours sleep and the kids between 4 and 5 hours, so we were all well rested. Brett unfortunately was not so lucky, though he did watch 4 movies so he was happy. Catching the BART from the airport was easy, and we were so energetic we ended up walking from Embarcadero Station all the way up California Street to our Hotel. The last two blocks were nearly vertical, but hey - we are fit and young (or pretending to be) so all good! Spent the afternoon wandering around Chinatown, and getting our bearings. Had lunch in China town at the Floating Sushi Boat ... read more

After a wee sleep in until around 8.30am we rose, showered and made our way down to Fisherman's Wharf for our Trip across the Golden Gate Bridge in a 1955 Mac open top fire engine. Had our first trip on a cable car and even had time to take in the cable car museum before we hopped on the fire engine. Our tour took us around briefly around parts of the city before taking us across the bridge and over to Salsalito township on the other side. Definitely a fun way to cross the bridge and the tour guide was hilarious! We spent the afternoon exploring the sites of Fishermans Wharf, including the seals on Pier 39. Kids had a ride on a two storey carousel (which I believe the Creahans are familiar with), and we ... read more

This morning we set off bright and early to ride the famous cable cars of San Fran (so to avoid the queues which can be up to an hour or longer later in the day). They were really cool and the girls and I stood at the back so we could see the streets of the city including Lombard street (the crookedest street in the world). We then headed to the airport and flew to Vegas by Virgin America. Even thought it is a domestic flight they suggest you get there 90-120 mins before due to all the security checks. We made it in plenty of time and even managed to head to the yoga room and the girls and I did our own little yoga session. VEGAS!!!! Well it is everything you imagine but BIGGER!! ... read more

San Fran was cold...about 16 to 18 degrees most of the day with a cold wind blowing almost constantly. A perfect day in some respects to take a trip across the bay to the Rock: Alcrataz. The tour itself was very well done in terms of facilities. It also was well received by all of the grls including Greta. The audio tour was particularly useful and I even think Greta took in some of what was being said. She was keen to understand that it was a jail and was also keen to relate it to the Monopoly game. Madi as expected probably got the most out of it from the kids perspective but I also think Lola understood what the place was all about. The pictures on the day's blog relate to the Alcatraz tour. ... read more