For this year’s Spring Break, we decided to do make our way to California for an epic road trip. We had a goal to end our road trip in San Diego where Jason planned to join over hundreds of people in a mass hair donation fundraiser. We decided to start our road trip in San Francisco, a city I’ve been curious to visit since I was a young girl watching Full House with my family on Friday nights.
Our day in San Francisco began with a walk to the iconic Alamo Square, where we took in the stunning sight of the Painted Ladies, a perfect postcard view of the city’s famous Victorian and Edwardian architecture. These homes, with their ornate details and pastel hues, are prime examples of the “Queen Anne” style, a subgenre of Victorian architecture known for its decorative flair. The boys enjoyed playing in the park, while Jason and I enjoyed the views of the beautiful houses. Of course, we had to sit on the hill pretending to have a picnic just like in the opening scene of Full House. It was a quintessential San Francisco moment, with the city skyline as our backdrop.
From there, we set off on a long walk towards the Golden Gate Park, a vast green space in the heart of the city that stretches over 1,000 acres. Fun fact: the park is actually 20% larger than New York City’s Central Park! As we made our way through the city streets, we stopped to admire several famous homes, including the Grateful Dead House and Janis Joplin’s pink house in Haight-Ashbury. The neighborhood was alive with color and energy, and we couldn’t resist popping into several resale shops. We all ended up with funky sunglasses, perfect for embracing the area’s eclectic vibe.
Golden Gate Park was a dream for the boys, who ran off their energy as soon as we arrived. We rode the historic carousel, a charming relic from 1914, and marveled at the towering redwoods that seemed almost out of place in the middle of the city. The park is truly a sanctuary, with its botanical gardens, lakes, and hidden paths, offering a peaceful retreat from the urban hustle.
After our park adventure, we headed to a local brewery where Jason discovered some rare whiskey to try, an unexpected find in a city known for its craft beer. We then made our way to Chinatown, one of the oldest and most established Chinatowns in the U.S. Here, we found the famous Fortune Cookie Factory, where we watched as these delightful treats were made by hand. The boys were fascinated, and we left with a bag full of warm, freshly made cookies.
As the day began to wind down, we drove over the iconic Golden Gate Bridge, making our way to Battery Spencer just in time for sunset. The views were absolutely stunning, with the bridge glowing in the soft evening light against the backdrop of the bay and the city. It was one of those moments that felt almost surreal, a perfect end to a day of exploring.
The next morning, we woke up early and made our way to the pier to catch a ferry to Alcatraz. Walking the halls of the old prison was an eerie experience, and the boys found it all wonderfully spooky. I loved searching for birds throughout the island and exploring the beautiful gardens that thrive despite the harsh conditions.
When we returned to the mainland, we were starving. We walked over to Pier 39. Despite the area being packed with chain restaurants and tourist traps, we stumbled upon an amazing seafood restaurant that exceeded all our expectations. We feasted on fresh, delicious seafood, savoring every bite. E loved the clams in a white wine sauce. Before heading back, we stopped to watch the famous sea lions lounging on the docks, just another quintessential San Francisco experience that delighted the kids.
As we left the city to continue our California adventure, I reflected on our time in San Francisco. It’s an eclectic and friendly place, full of surprises and rich with history. One of my favorite things about the city was seeing all the people walking their dogs. San Francisco is definitely a dog city, through and through. The city had won us over, and I found myself already looking forward to our next visit.
Until next time,
