Chris came back from McDonald's with our breakfast, $27 later (I knew CA was not cheap but GEEZ), and we made our way downstairs to meet our Uber to take us into San Francisco. TIP- We knew parking our rental car in downtown San Francisco would be an issue due to the numerous break-ins by the homeless and thugs, as well as the crazy parking prices near the tourist placeses like Fisherman's Wharf and Pier 39. After much research I decided Uber was the route to take. The Uber roundtrip with the tip was about $50 and parking at Fisherman's Wharf would have been $60 for all day. Be sure to do your research for San Francisco parking locations and costs.
The Double Tree San Francisco Airport NORTH!
This was a beautiful hotel with a gorgeous view... just not near ANYTHING!
Our first view of the Bay Bridge!
It gets overlooked by the GGB but this is an engineering beauty!
The Uber driver had us at the Tower Tours near Fisherman's Wharf before 8AM for a 9AM tour time. We were able to explore Fisherman's Wharf area before the crowds arrived which was an added bonus. We grabbed a coffee at the famous Boudin Bakery and then just walked around before checking in for our tour.
This coffee did not disappoint!
Hello Fisherman's Wharf!
You can see Alcatraz in the background!
Alcatraz... The fogginess of this morning made for a very eerie first glance!
The Tower Tours bus arrived and we got in line to board the bus but there was a little chaos as there were 3 different tours staring at the 9AM start time. Eventually it was all settled and we were on the bus and our way to Muir Woods. TIP- Muir Woods is $15 per person and $9 parking if you choose to do this on your own. BUT after seeing the road to get there... I would HIGHLY recommend the tour. This tour was part of a full day Muir Woods and Winery Tour for $169/ per person. However, the 3 hour Muir Woods tour is only $69 per person and well worth it! That road was NO JOKE and I am glad we didn't have to stress while coming and going from Muir Woods.
The tour allowed us 90 minutes on our own to explore this National Monument and it was absolutely gorgeous. I have NEVER seen anything like this in my entire life. These trees were 100s of years old and 200+ feet tall. I felt as if I was a tiny little ant in this HUGE forest! It was just breathtaking and one of those "You have to experience to truly understand" type of moments! We enjoyed our 90 minutes and took lots of pictures before boarding the bus to take us to Sausalito, CA for our lunch by the bay!
This is a MUST DO when in San Francisco area!
Happy 15th Anniversary!
I was in complete awe... I have never seen anything like this!
Trying to get a selfie was a chore (Haha)!
This picture doesn't even do it justice!
This was such a unique experience and so incredibly peaceful!
This was us for the next 90 minutes!
This is just a taste of what the Redwoods are all about!
This should be on your San Francisco/ Northern California Bucket list... TRUST ME!
There were even a few trees that had holes large enough for us to get inside!
The bus was a little delayed in dropping us off at Sausalito so instead of having 1 hour and 15 minutes for lunch, we only had about 50 minutes. We found a great hamburger place called Hamburgers right on the main road and the food was delicious. TIP- I was a little skittish with the round grill spinning in the front of the small restaurant but the food did not disappoint. These $11 hamburgers were surprisingly our cheapest lunch of the entire trip!
The place is literally called "Hamburgers"! If you weren't looking for it, you'd miss it!
They had a circular grill that cooked the burgers. It looked gross at first but this was one of the best hamburgers I have ever had!
These burgers were HUGE!
I couldn't even finish mine!
I love California! This place is just gorgeous!
The bay town of Sausilito, CA!
The song "Sitting on the Dock of the Bay" by Otis Redding was written about this little bay town. Can you hear it?
Hello Napa Valley... You are gorgeous!
This Napa Valley Tour included tastings at 2 premier wineries in the valley. TIP- This 1/2 day tour cost $99/ person and includes roundtrip transportation and tastings of 3-5 wines at 2 wineries. The first winery we toured was Madonna Estate Winery in Carneros, Napa Valley. We were greeted with a glass of Chardonnay and we were pleasantly surprised at the taste. We learned this is because this winery ages this Chardonnay in both wood and stainless steel barrels for a less "buttery" and more crisp taste. Then we were given a Pinot Noir, Cabernet Sauvignon and a bubbly Gewürztraminer. We were blown away with each and every one of these and Chris even thinks the Cab is better than his favorite, crazy expensive, Caymus! TIP- The guides at this winery were incredibly helpful and knowledgeable. (I felt like I was drinking with Niles and Frasier). This place was also VERY GENEROUS with their pours and offered unlimited refills of your favorite wine. Needless to say, we got our money's worth here! This was a real winner of a winery and we even became members of their Wine Club!
This winery was a real winner!
The very first Chardonnay I have ever enjoyed!
Well done Madonna Estates!
Unfortunately, it was not picking season so the grapes we actually saw were tiny!
After over an hour at this winery, we loaded the bus and were taken to another, much larger winery in Napa Valley. Keiu Hoang Winery did not disappoint. The beauty of this winery and host home were just perfect. We were greeted, once again, with a glass of Chardonnay. During the course of our tour we also tasted a Pinot Noir and a Cabernet Sauvignon with our paid tasting. TIP- This winery was a little more stingy with both the original pours and the refills but the guide did pull a few extra bottles of other various flavors for us to try. Overall we enjoyed the actual wines from Madonna Estates better but the beauty of the acreage of the winery of the Kei Hoang.
The beauty of this winery was a memory I will never forget!
I felt as if we were in a movie! Just completely picture PERFECT!
Happy 15th Anniversary!
We loved this winery!
Having fun as we sipped and walked down the aisles and aisles of grapes!
Well done!
Check out this GORGEOUS estate and winery!
That's a wrap... We had our fun! Time to head back to SFO!
Once we all had our fun, and the bus was loud and tipsy, we headed back across the Golden Gate Bridge and back into San Francisco. The bus dropped us off at Fisherman's Wharf just in time for the Saturday evening dinner crowds. We quickly tipped our guide and then made our way to the Chowder Hut in the center of the Northern Fisherman's Wharf area. This is a place that is world famous for its Clam and Crab Chowder. Unfortunately, they were out of the fresh crab for sandwiches and salads but we came for the chowder. We both got the Crab Chowder in a famous Boudin Bakery sourdough bread bowl. TIP- Get there early if you want something other than soup! Also, this is a CHEAP meal at Fisherman's Wharf at only $12-15 per plate. This was delicious and one of my favorite meals of the trip!
Another view of Sausalito, CA... full of houseboats!
Welcome (BACK) to Fisherman's Wharf... Let's EAT!
The Chowder Hut menu!
This is so family friendly and BUDGET friendly (without sacrificing taste or experience).
I HIGHLY recommend this place!
This may look like a lite meal but the richness of the soup and the sourdough made for a very hefty meal! I LOVED IT!
This was a very picturesque tourist trap!
The menu was extensive and EXPENSIVE but as I mentioned above... YOLO!
We enjoyed our $15 sundaes and I would say it was worth it!
Chris got the hot fudge Sundae and I got the Gold Rush (Caramel) sundae!
We needed to walk off the massive amount of calories so we walked over a mile back to Pier 39 at the main Fisherman's Wharf. During the walk we stumbled onto Umbrella Ally on Beach Street. TIP- This is a completely free mural ally that offers GREAT picture backdrops!
Be sure to check this out if you are in the area... IT IS FREE!
And makes for some fabulous "post card worthy" pictures!
We were even able to see the artists as they were touching up a different wall!
When we finally arrived at Pier 39, it was flooded with tourists. TIP- The state of California just opened up to 100% capacity from Covid restrictions about 1 week prior and you could tell. Everyone was out and about and it was a very crowded. We made our way to the back of the pier to see the sea lions... All THREE of them. This was the biggest disappointment of our trip! I have always wanted to see the hundreds of sea lions. TIP- I have learned from a college friend who lives in San Francisco that in late June and early July, these sea lions travel north to mate and then will return in late July!
Well hello there... Where are your friends?
The guy on the bottom was so funny! He had enough and was just done!
I kinda felt like him... Between the walking and the sundae and the post- Covid fatigue, this was ME TOO!
We enjoyed this view and not a lot of people, since not a lot of sea lions!
By now it was after 8:30PM and it was getting dark and we were exhausted from a very long day, so we ordered an Uber and got back to our hotel around 9:30PM. TIP- This was some of the worst traffic we experienced during the trip and our driver said it was because the route we had to take was "The Embarcado" near the east side of the San Francisco near the Bay Bridge.
Our day began and ended with a view of the Bay Bridge!
She is such a beauty!
Once we got back to our hotel, we called the kids who were 3 time zones away in Tampa Bay, Florida with my parents. They had spent the day driving and exploring Florida so they were just as tired as we were! We then had a few drinks at the bar before calling it a night.
Our bodies were tired and exhausted but our hearts were full. It was a GREAT day full of California adventures and memories!
UP NEXT... DAY 3 and my MLB Bucket list!
Thanks for following along! We appreciate your support!
God is good... ALL THE TIME!
DID YOU MISS A DAY? Get caught up below:
Day 1- Do You Know the Way to San Jose
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