San Francisco: Touring the City

On our second day in the city, we got out our bikes (and jackets) and spent the day trying to hit a couple of the big time highlights. Just in case you don't know, San Francisco is incredibly hilly, and so we were very worn out at the end of the day. Also, in case you don't know, San Francisco has a lot of car traffic, so we were almost run over on several occasions (none of them our fault of course.)

I'll try to run through these pretty quick, just to give you a taste of what we saw:

After riding through the Presidio, we went to GOLDEN GATE PARK.
It  was very, very cold there and most of the museums inside were closed because it was Monday. I mean, come on, who stays open on Monday anymore?!? (Wait, what?)

Golden Gate Park
(Court frustrated by the museum closings.)

 We decided to skip checking at the bison in the west end of the park--because we already saw all the bison I ever want to see in my lifetime in Yellowstone--and headed straight up towards the Golden Gate Bridge.

First views of the bridge and our FIRST view of the MIGHTY Pacific ocean as well...

Dodging foreigners on the bridge
(Bikes are supposed to have the right of way, by the way.)

After biking the bridge, we headed down to Sausalito, which is a smaller resort town across the bridge. After eating an over-priced meal, we hopped on the over-priced ferry back to Fisherman's Wharf (and past Alcatraz.) We really wanted to go to Alcatraz, but the tours cost 5 billion dollars, and you have to book them decades in advance, so, strangely enough, it didn't work out.

Sausalito (very pretty)

Court napping on a bench waiting for the ferry. (Classic.)

Alca-Alca-Alcatrazzzzzz
("What do they call the corridors in Alcatraz?"
"Alca-halls!" Get it?)

View of San Fran from a ferry cold ferry

 After dropping our bikes off at the hotel, we decided to walk up-down-up-down-up to China Town and Union Square. It's quite a hike, and the hills in the city are mega-steep. Check it out:

Megasteep with a street car (Classic.)

The famous "crookedest street"
Cars were backed up for blocks to drive down it. Can you imagine living here? No thanks.

Me and an Asian tourist

 We had been pumped about seeing China Town, and one of our friends had advised us to check out the dumplings, so we traveled there next.

China Town entrance

Court found animals (Go figure!)

Typical street in Beijing

Typical dumpling-eating tourist in Beijing

Dad, I was gonna get you a fart bag, but they were pretty pricey-$0.25

 From China Town, we walked a few blocks to Union Square where Courtney looked at clothes that I will never be able to afford or willing to buy ;-o.

No chance you're getting one.

Union Square square

At the end of our time in the city, we had to drive to reach a few places we missed on our bike/foot travels. And, trust me, these were some gems!

So, this is Castro street, which really is the epicenter of LGBT activism and community in San Francisco (according to our travel guide.) It was a pretty neat experience. In fact, except for the rainbow flags all over the place, it basically just looked like the rest of the city.

OK, well, there were some unique shops and restaurants....

 NEXT, we headed over to somewhere that I have been wanting to go since the first time I heard Sgt. Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band with my Dad when I was 8.....Haight-Ashbury! If you don't know, The Haight was the center of the "Summer of Love" in 1968. I wasn't there for it, but heard it was hoppin'.

Nowadays, it's just kind of a hipster hangout with vintage clothes shops

 Finally, we went to the set of Full House and hung out with Danny, Joey, Michelle and the gang!!! Actually, they're just fictional, so we really just went to "Postcard Row" or "The Painted Ladies," depending on which guide book you're reading.

Anyway, we had a great visit to the other City by the Bay, and we got to meet some great people as well. Next, we're off to Monterey and Carmel by the Sea. So long for now!