I'm a west coast girl. Actually, I'm a small town-country sort of girl, but if I visit the city I will take San Francisco every time! There is so much to see and do. The weather is usually nice. (Although I freeze at some point during the trip...even in the summer). I love the food, the people, the views, the shopping, and I really love visiting beautiful places outside the city.
Fortunately, I have been able to visit this magical city several times at various times of the year. However, we have done this specific summer trip about four times. It always involves some fun people, a yacht ride through the bay and McCovey Cove, and a Giants/Dbacks game. The last two years have included wine tastings and lunch at a vineyard in Napa. As much as I love the city, leaving the city for a day or two is a must! (Remember, I'm a country girl at heart).
We typically stay in the city. Favorite places to stay? The St. Francis in Union Square and Hotel Via right across from the ball park. If you want to be centrally located and surrounded by fabulous stores, St. Francis is the way to go. During the holiday season the center of the square is transformed into an ice skating rink. Nothing better than waking up Christmas morning and skating in the middle of this beautiful city!
(Christmas 2013)
If you are looking for less hustle and bustle, Hotel Via is a smaller boutique hotel. It sits right across from Giants Stadium and is walking distance from the wharf, the square, and all things to be seen!
On this recent trip we decided to do things differently and stay in Sausalito. We have taken the ferry over to Sausalito several times, but never stayed there. I love the slower pace and the beautiful homes. We stayed at the lovely and quaint Casa Madrona. It was perfectly located in the center of town. We walked to breakfast each morning and hit several restaurants, bars, and stores during the day. (Favorite breakfast place: Cibo). The weather was absolutely perfect. Sunny skies with temperatures hovering in the 70's.
On day two of this trip we were wined and dined in Napa. Some friends own a vineyard (Alpha Omega) and for the second year in a row they hosted a beautiful lunch for a group of us. (Friends and fellow AZ Diamondback Fantasy Campers).
It was lovely. Another gorgeous day with scrumptious food and wine.
We were hoping to catch some other wineries when we finished there, but most were closing. We had dinner reservations at the posh Press restaurant, but we were wined and dined out and decided to cancel and head back to Sausalito.
The next day was more wining and dining, but this time we were on a yacht. (Vineyard friends own the yacht too). We boarded in Sausalito and cruised to the city by the bay to pick up the rest of the group. We have been lucky enough to do this excursion for several years. It's a nice cruise around the bay. Golden Gate, Bay Bridge, Alcatraz, Pier 39, and Angel Island are all the sites we see.
It was a fabulous trip. Good food, great wine, lots of laughs with wonderful friends, but as always, I was over the moon happy to be home! (Nothing beats home with my loves).
xoxo
