Back from SAN FRANCISCO…what a great city!
November 7, 2012 | Filed under: Uncategorized
I have just returned from San Francisco after being there for 6 days with my daughter and 10 year old grandson. It was a great trip…..warm and sunny weather (mid 20’s), excellent food, good accommodations, and definitely lots to do for everyone. Plus the city is a visual delight.
We had a list of activities that we were going to pursue and I think got through our list. My grandson & I visited the Exploratorium which is an interactive space which occupied him for a few hours. We rode the cable car, took an open bus city tour, visited China Town & the Mission neighborhood, went to the Aquarium which had a display of jelly fish….they were so beautiful to see…in different colours – some almost lace like but oh so dangerous! While at Fisherman’s Wharf, we went to the Musee Mechaniques which is filled with antique and vintage slot machines. What was special here was that you could play the machines…whether it was a pinball machine or Whac a Mole (with a rubber hammer and I might say that my grandson got a very high score) or a fortune telling one…lots of games. The machines were fascinating. Some were automotans and quite old.
We also walked down the “Crooked Street” which is the steepest street in S.F. It has gardens arranged in such a way that cars can only go about 5 miles an hour as they go around the gardens. China town was a great spot where we had dim sum, plus a Chinese meal at the R & G restaurant which was Michelin recommended in 2010. I think, though, that the hi light was a Foodie tour of the Mission neighborhood. It was led by Chris Milano who is the founder of Foodie Adventures. When he said that we would be so stuffed, we wouldn’t be able to eat for the rest of the day, he was absolutely right. Along with food samplings, we got a history of the Mission district which is primarily Latino, and met a lot of locals. Chris is highly entertaining and made every experience so much fun that we can’t wait to go on another foodie tour. The Mission neighborhood is also known for its graffiti and there are tours that focus on that. I could see myself staying there….lots of character, good food and very friendly people.
S.F. is divided into neighborhoods that have distinct characteristics. Mission is primarily Latino, there is North Beach which is Italian, the Tenderloin which it is best to circumvent, China Town which is the largest in the U.S., Nob Hill which is well known, plus many more. We stayed in a hotel at Union Square and spent most of our time around there and in Mission and China Town and we were there for 6 days. So there is much more to do. And S.F. is child friendly with several museums that are interactive as well as playgrounds.
On Sunday we drove to Muir Woods which has redwood and sequoia trees. The tallest redwood in Muir woods measures at over 259 feet. So this trip was truly amazing. We hiked for over 2 hours and enjoyed every minute (well almost….there were some steep climbs).
S.F.’s population is quite ethnically diverse. This was interesting for my grandson to see. We are not quite so diverse in Dundas.
So I definitely recommend S.F. One thing I must mention is that all the waiters and any service staff we encountered were absolutely superb. Made our stay truly enjoyable.
Now I did find some beautiful gemstones which I am anxious to start working with. My Christmas Open House is coming up……so off to work!