To get to the Redwoods, we flew into Oakland and rented a car to do a little road trip. To get to the Redwoods you have to go through San Francisco, so of course, we gave ourselves a day to spend exploring San Francisco. If you have never been and don’t mind driving to the Redwoods at night this is easily done. Chris, my hubby, had already been to San Francisco years ago. My dad's family is from the area, but I haven't been since I was 1, and of course, I remember nothing. So it was a perfect opportunity to explore the city and get reconnected to that side of my family to see where they grew-up.
Chinatown was the only thing I would not negotiate on. It is such a historic area and I wanted to chow down on some good food. We found BEST food I have ever had at Z & Y. When you google it the first thing that comes up is that President Barack Obama ate there. Everything we had was so flavorful and mouthwateringly good. I have been craving it again ever since. Walking through Chinatown to get to our next stop I was soaking in the colorful architecture, amazing street art, and tasty smells.
We walked to Lombard Street, and I have to be honest I was a little disappointed. It looks so much bigger in pictures. It was cool to see, however, I was enjoying the killer workout by just walking up the hills. This is something you have to experience. Wherever you go WALK. We kept joking that it was a warm-up for the next day of hiking in the Redwoods. I adore walking in new cities, you see more and can feel the vibe. Being stuck in a car you are blocked from the sounds and smells that make each city unique.
You have to see Fisherman's Wharf while you are there. It is extremely touristy, but it is a historic part of San Francisco and it's fun to see. I was disappointed in the food. But to be fair, I had just come from the best Chinese food I have ever had in my life. We stopped at the Aquarium of the Bay, I have a thing for aquariums. It is the one thing I will spend way too much money on and not feel guilty. I love watching fish, otters, and octopus swim around. This was a cool aquarium because there was a tunnel you walked through and could see sharks, sting rays, and huge fish swim above and around you. But of course, no trip to San Francisco is complete without an obligatory photo in front of the Golden Gate Bridge.
I enjoyed San Francisco and I am sure there is SO much more you can explore. But I was satisfied with our day trip and think you could easily do it. There is so much to see and so little time!
What You Want to Know:
Where to Stay:
I know there are great deals on AirBnB's. Things are pretty close together and walkable, so any neighborhood would be great. Most of my friends stay in the financial district.
What to Do: Chinatown is an absolute must, it is so beautiful and great food.
Fisherman's Wharf, you have to!
Golden Gate Bridge, there are many ways to see the bridge. I think if we had more time I would have liked to rent a bike and explore the area.
There is so much more you can do, these are just my suggestions if you have a few hours.
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