Where in the World?

Not a huge task to figure out where D and I were last weekend, eh?  The Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco is probably one of the most recognizable structures - and one of the most striking.  I love the combination of the orange structure against the blue sky and the blue water. 

D and I had decided we needed a little "just for us" vacation.  He's been doing a ton of traveling, and we really hadn't taken much of a proper vacation this year - everything seemed to be wrapped up into other need-to-do things, like taking Zel up to Denver in May, or having family obligations.  The only good thing about his traveling for work was that we could schedule a little getaway and use up some of his hotel points in the process. 

Friday, we flew into San Fran, grabbed a rental car and headed up to Napa.  The wineries are done with their fall harvesting and it was pretty quiet, although that suited us JUST FINE.  We did a nice drive through the valley, stopped and did a few wine tastings along the way and then went out to an absolutely outstandingly fantastic dinner Friday night.  Saturday, we got up and did some more exploring and went to one of the champagne producing houses for a tasting to finish out our tour there.  (Sorry - no pictures.  Apparently I was thinking "wine" and not "camera" for these couple of days!).

We headed back into San Fran on Saturday afternoon and found our hotel downtown.  We wandered down to the waterfront to walk around Fisherman's Wharf.  I am not sure exactly what I expected, but I was sort of nonplussed. It was crowded and really... nothing to see that interested me.  I'm not really into the whole tourist T-shirt and Hard Rock Cafe thing.  I mean... you can see those pretty much anywhere, just a different place name on the T-shirts.   

Sunday a.m., however, we got up and decided to take a driving tour, which was well worth it.  We grabbed a city map and headed out to the Presidio, where we parked and got out and took a long walk along the water (along with a bunch of early morning runners!).  We then drove out to Lands End, which is a gorgeous area, and enjoyed more walks through unbelievably green woods (to us anyway... here in drought-ridden New Mexico) and walked out along what was the old trolley line to look at the sea. 

And another view of the Bridge - from the opposite viewing direction.

We headed back to NM on Monday to much colder temps, and back to work realities.  It was a really nice get-away, and one we definitely needed.  We had some wonderful food (probably no surprise there) and wine (not so much with the surprise there either!), and had a chance to enjoy two different areas.  I think for me, having become the church mouse these days, I much preferred Napa, although I'm sure it's busy during the height of wine season, and I think we'll wind up headed back there for another short vacay trip at some point.  D wants to road bike in the area, and there are several little local places we'd like to explore more fully.  

All for now.....

Comments

[Cheryl S.]

Lovely! Glad you had a nice getaway. Especially after the problems of the last one.

[Christina]

Vacations are the best! Looks like you guys had a really nice time.

[Mary Lou]

Yeah, Fisherman's Wharf is just a creepy tourist trap, isn't it? But a drive to Napa? I did it with my sisters last year and it was FUN.

[Teri S.]

We were there a number of years ago for the S.F. Marathon. Did you see the farmers market? It was on the wharf or Presidio or what-have-you and was fantastic! The variety, compared to what we have back East, was stunning. It sounds like you had a wonderful time on a much-needed break.

[Laurie]

Sounds like it was a wonderful time. I agree on Fisherman's Wharf....tourist crap, tourist food. The Ferry Building (wonder if that is the farmer's market that Teri is speaking of ) is wonderful and SO worth a trip. Saturday is the best day, I am told.

[Laura]

I know you don't know me from Adam, but that's no excuse. You should have called when you were planning a trip to San Francisco. I *love* the city, even got to live there for a few years or so. I would have steered you away from the wharf (unless you wanted a cracked crab and sour dough bread), and pointed you toward other spots. Glad you found some of them anyway. Hope you made it to Fort Point (that old brick thing under the SF end of the GG bridge). I *love* that spot. Then there's the wave organ near the St. Francis Yacht Club, the hang gliders, Coit Tower, the (unofficial) steepest street, the ruins of Sutro Baths, the California Academy of Sciences, the Exploratorium, lots of awesome museums, the Columbarium... Well, it's a city. There's a ton of cool stuff, but the real gems aren't in most guidebooks.

[Marji]

1. I cannot believe you had those clear blue sea/sky views of The Gate. As a native Californian (3rd generation!), I can tell you the gods were smiling on you. It is usually shrouded in fog.
2. Never, ever go to Fisherman's Wharf, unless you have reservations at Scoma's. It is Tourist Central.
3. Do not, I repeat do NOT, go to Napa during wine season. I was there in June and it is literally bumper-to-bumper on 29 from Napa to Calistoga -- and that's a LOT of cars.
4. Why didn't you tell me you were in California? I wouldn't have interrupted. Except for a short visit to Samovar Tea Lounge. Imagine wailing.
5. How are you holding up after the events of 2012?