Mini Road Trip to San Fran!

We have been dying to visit San Francisco ever since we moved to Northern California. After our visit with Mike Brooks and getting some advice on where to go and what to do, we mapped out our journey! Tanner was debriefing with his boss and mentioned we were taking some time away this weekend to spend some much needed time together as a family and he offered to pay for our hotel! What a generous gift! It made the trip SO much better. We felt like kings at the Fairmont!

We started off early Saturday morning and took the scenic route to the Muir Beach Overlook. We actually weren't planning on stopping at the overlook but we all had to use the restroom so we decided to pull off and it was such a pleasant surprise! It was absolutely breathtaking! We took the little pathway down to the edge of the cliff and it was super narrow. Parker and I had the heebie jeebies. Obviously Tanner was fine, hanging off the edge taking pictures. It was really cool and a great first stop on our mini road trip!

From there we drove through the beautiful forest down to Stinson Beach. We grabbed an early lunch at a sea side cafe and ate it down on the beach. It was such a perfect day! The sun was shining! The birds were chirping! Wait, actually the birds were attacking our food! (Parker took a picture of the perpetrators) We walked down to the water's edge and the baby LOVED it! We are definitely looking forward to many beach days this summer!

We love seeing the green mountains behind us and the blue water in front. Such a beautiful world we live in.

After lunch we headed over to Sausalito for a little window shopping and ice cream! It was hopping! It was totally different from when we went to Sausaltio during the winter! The ice cream shop was packed. But it was totally worth it. We were so happy skipping around the quaint, little town.

On the way driving to our hotel we were accosted by a pack of naked bike riders! Apparently they were protesting the use of gas. It. Was. Gross. How is it even possible to ride a bike in the nude? But we were thrilled to pull up to our decadent hotel. Every president since Teddy Roosevelt has stayed at the hotel and many international leaders. The hotel is truly historic and it was a joy to stay there. We were so comfortable and felt so pampered. We had a wonderful view from atop Nob Hill!  

That evening we had the concierge make us a reservation at Fog Harbor on Peir 39. We ate delicious dinner and then cruised over to Ghirardelli Square for dessert. Parker was way tired when we made our way over to the iconic chocolate factory but soon perked up when we realized they were handing out chocolate for free. We showed him the old chocolate making machine and enjoyed some sweets before heading back to the hotel for the night.

We had Parker sleep on the chair/ottoman provided and made him believe it was a little bed just for him. This kid is so awesome. He's such a good boy. He felt so lucky to have his own little "bed" and slept like a rock.

The next morning we enjoyed the most delicious and decadent breakfast buffet we've ever had. It cost us over $100! (Thanks Plum!) My Mom told me that when they were newly weds living in Santa Barbara, they met my Aunt Kaylynne and Uncle Dick in San Francisco on New Years Eve. They were both celebrating wedding anniversaries so they thought it would fun to celebrate with some dessert at the Fairmont. They were starving students and couldn't afford a full dinner at the fancy hotel but surely they could share a nice dessert. They walked into the restaurant, sat down, looked at the menu and were shocked to see the extravagant prices! They humbly folded their menus and walked out. I just cracked up when I heard that story! It was totally over priced but so, so good.

The most expensive chocolate chip pancakes you've ever had.

The night before there were 2 weddings.  One was with a Japanese couple and one was an Indian couple. Each wedding party was dressed in traditional garb and, from the smells, ate traditional food. We walked into one of the ballrooms the next day and it looked like it was quite the raging party that probably ended somewhere in the early morning hours. There were rose petals all over the floor. Tanner asked Rayleigh if she would accept this rose.

We were sad to say goodbye to the Fairmont but all good things must come to an end. We enjoyed the valet service too! Parking in the city is a joke. We have never been to Golden Gate Park so we headed that direction. I had no idea how large the park actually was. We began our experience in the Japanese Tea Garden but quickly realized that there was no way to walk the entire park in the small amount of time we allotted to "see Golden Gate Park". So we headed back to the car and drove down to PCH and cruised the coast down to Pacifica Beach.

We weren't too hungry but we had set our minds on Taco Bell for lunch. The restaurant sits right on the beach so we thought it would be fun. And it was! It was such a cool area! I love the beach!

We continued our journey south to Half Moon Bay and stopped at the Ritz Carlton. We valeted our car and felt cool. We used the restroom, which was the nicest bathroom you've ever used on a road trip, and walked around the resort. We embarrassed ourselves by walking on the green of the golf course in an attempt to reach the beach. We were quickly escorted off the grass and shown the correct direction to take to get to the there. It was quite a hike down the cliff to get to the sand so we opted to stay up above and simply enjoy the view. I made Tanner promise to take me back there some day to spend a night or 2 at the Ritz. It was so beautiful. We are so lucky to live in such a gorgeous state!

From Half Moon Bay we headed back home. We had to cross over the Bay Bridge, much to Parker's delight, and made it home before 6. We had such a wonderful time. We really know how to party as a family of 4. I'm so glad my kids are such good little travelers and that we take the time to get out of town and see some new places together. We made some great memories that will surely last us a lifetime.