We got there the week before St. Patrick's Day by chance. I had no clue prior to planning our trip that it was so close to this holiday. We had one heck of a road trip that's for sure. My mom didn't go along with us this year so I had to try to keep my 2 year as content as possible on a 9 hour drive. Sounds harder than it was. Amazingly she did really well at keeping herself entertained. With the occasional singing in the backseat and asking for snacks. It was a nice a drive both ways.(The Pacific ocean on our drive)
When we arrived at our hotel it was close to eight so we decided to just stay in instead of wandering the streets of San Fran. The hotel room felt like our home away from home. We love it here and wish we could live up here as a second home. Too bad we weren't born millionaires. I hear houses over here start at about a million dollars, ouch. After we finished unpacking we did take a stroll down to our favorite pizza shop on the corner where my hubby always gets a slice of his favorite pizza. I accidentally ordered the wrong sub for myself. Boo! Oh well, the minestrone soup was really good and their garlic bread too.
The fallowing morning we had a bunch of appointments to go to so I'll fast forward. Got back to our room at about 6 or so. Again didn't really feel like exploring. We were jet lagged big time and beginning to really feel it this day. We again took a walk down to the pizza shop and actually got some really good grub this night. The Italian sub I had originally wanted the day before and pasta this time with cheese garlic bread. Yum! One of the best meals we had all week while we were there.
Next morning we had to rush for more appointments but lucky fro us we got off early. The downside- it was starting to rain. Yeah, San Fran has that sorta weather. Rain. Rain. And more rain. This time we were getting out, rain or shine!
It took a bit of navigating thanks in part to my savvy husband and hes skillful driving skills that we were able to find our way through the city and find the Japan Center. Really awesome and inexpensive oriental mall. Literally 1.50 or more inside a few of the stores. Daiso being one of them. I must have walked out with 4 large bags and only paid under 50 bucks. Good times:) (Japan Center in the rain)
Afterwards we did our usual run of Fisherman's Wharf. Bought a bunch of souvenirs for all our loved ones to bring back to the O.C. Had dinner and all that tourist jazz. Got back to our room at about 10 or so. We had a major snack attack before bed. Chips galore and Pepsi max. Nom nom nom!
Our final day there we were trying to decide what to do. We were planning on checking the aquarium of the pacific but plans changed. While we were loading our stuff into our car I over heard another hotel visitor talking to the checkout clark about getting a shuttle to near museum. It was pouring outside worse than the day before and I started feeling bad for them. She ended up sitting by us and I started talking to her and asking how long they'd been here visiting for. Small talk, just to see how they were doing. She had a daughter as well but she was about 10 or 11. Eventually I offered them ride. How could I not. It was pouring outside and they didn't have a ride, when we have a car with nothing else to do.
My husband walked by and looked shocked when I explained to him about giving them a ride. Lol. It was still a shock to him since we didn't know them. Eventually he got why I offered them a ride. Being a good samaritan feels good. When you do something good for someone and it's within your own means, why not? Wouldn't you appropriate the help if you were in their shoes. I know I would.
We dropped them off at the museum of science and we went on our merry little way. Of course we got lost trying to find the freeway to get back on the road. San Fran has some crazy streets and if your not aware of the one way streets you'll be in a mess trying to find where your going.
I'm starting to feel a little nervous about our trip heading back up there that's coming up soon. It's not the actual traveling but the idea of being in a city so far away from home. It will not be our first time going and hopefully not our last. We plan on making this our family tradition for the years to come.
I'm starting to make a list of all the things we'll be needing like clothes, accessories, etc. And also, since were driving up there, the thought of being in a car with a 2 year old for 8 hours does not sound fun. And by not being fun I mean it's freaking me out to think that my daughter will be very uncomfortable sitting in a car seat off and on for 8 hours driving to get up to San Francisco :(
I know it will all be worth it. We'll have a good time, bring back a bunch of souvenirs, take a bunch of pictures of all the neat things we did. I just have to shake off these jitters!
(Right now shes drawling with a pen on my arm as I type)
Our all time favorite thing to do while being there is visiting fisherman's wharf. What tourist isn't guilty of going there? I'm not a local and am not ashamed of admitting I enjoy walking down that strip of overly overpriced made in china souvenir stores. I really hope we can check out china town and japan town this time. We always tend to run short on time when we go there. I want to try their real Chinese food and dumplings- yum!
Will post pictures of our trip later on.
