Day 5
I slept in after my epic day in Big Sur and didn't have to be at the Oakland Airport until noon to pick up my family. My solo adventures were at an end for this trip but it was quite alright. I had a splendid four days and was ready to enjoy some company and more adventuring at a slower pace.
I picked everyone up right on cue, and felt like a local to everyone who just flew in. Actually, my mom grew up in the Bay Area and told us about traveling to the city when she was a young teenager and about my grandpa experiencing the 1989 earthquake. My parents met and married in Sacramento so they have much more history in California than my 4 days.
We went straight to our hotel along Ocean Beach, the one with the child-sized toilets, you probably haven't heard of it. We dropped off our stuff and decided to head to the Sutro Baths area as recommended by my friends Michael and Sierra. They were more ruined than I was expecting but I had at least seen some historical photos on the internet to know more about what had been there before.
After Sutro Baths we walked around Golden Gate park a bit and just missed a chance to go into the Japanese Tea Gardens but we did see that the Botanical Gardens would be free first thing in the morning and we all got pretty pumped about that! As the day continued to fade we drove to some of my grandparent's old flats and caught the last moment of light at the Painted Ladies overlooking the skyline. After dark we found a random Vietnamese restaurant for a nice and spontaneous authentic dinner experience.
I slept in after my epic day in Big Sur and didn't have to be at the Oakland Airport until noon to pick up my family. My solo adventures were at an end for this trip but it was quite alright. I had a splendid four days and was ready to enjoy some company and more adventuring at a slower pace.
I picked everyone up right on cue, and felt like a local to everyone who just flew in. Actually, my mom grew up in the Bay Area and told us about traveling to the city when she was a young teenager and about my grandpa experiencing the 1989 earthquake. My parents met and married in Sacramento so they have much more history in California than my 4 days.
We went straight to our hotel along Ocean Beach, the one with the child-sized toilets, you probably haven't heard of it. We dropped off our stuff and decided to head to the Sutro Baths area as recommended by my friends Michael and Sierra. They were more ruined than I was expecting but I had at least seen some historical photos on the internet to know more about what had been there before.
After Sutro Baths we walked around Golden Gate park a bit and just missed a chance to go into the Japanese Tea Gardens but we did see that the Botanical Gardens would be free first thing in the morning and we all got pretty pumped about that! As the day continued to fade we drove to some of my grandparent's old flats and caught the last moment of light at the Painted Ladies overlooking the skyline. After dark we found a random Vietnamese restaurant for a nice and spontaneous authentic dinner experience.
Day 6
We got out bright and early to catch our free admission to the botanical gardens which were raved about by our friend's Lee and Katinka and we all thoroughly enjoyed it. I think my favorite part was the ancient/prehistoric plant section. The sun was gleaming through a sprinkler mist and created a great Lost World feel.
We got out bright and early to catch our free admission to the botanical gardens which were raved about by our friend's Lee and Katinka and we all thoroughly enjoyed it. I think my favorite part was the ancient/prehistoric plant section. The sun was gleaming through a sprinkler mist and created a great Lost World feel.
I felt super disappointed when my mom wasn't able to get in to the Japanese Tea Garden the prior evening so there was no way we could pass up this second opportunity. The $7 entry couldn't even dissuade this frugal family of ours because, what the hell, we're on vacation and these are the things money is worth spending on! (This is about half joking)
The tea garden was unlike anything I had seen before. I felt like a giant in a miniature world and all of the manicured plants were surprisingly satisfying to me, a person who likes to let the lawn run wild. There were a few nice hints of fall color that added to the viewing as well. We wrapped up our walk through the garden and went to the Spreckels Temple of Music to take a group selfie and witnessed dozens of Tai Chi students practicing across the grounds. It was very peaceful!
The tea garden was unlike anything I had seen before. I felt like a giant in a miniature world and all of the manicured plants were surprisingly satisfying to me, a person who likes to let the lawn run wild. There were a few nice hints of fall color that added to the viewing as well. We wrapped up our walk through the garden and went to the Spreckels Temple of Music to take a group selfie and witnessed dozens of Tai Chi students practicing across the grounds. It was very peaceful!
Our last mission was to get up the Coit Tower (another Carl Furry recommendation) and eat some authentic cuisine in Chinatown (Lauren's dream). So we did! While walking up the streets so steep they have stairs built in to the sidewalks my calves began to remind me about my big day in Big Sur! I suppose I'm not invincible. A couple notes on Coit Tower: The elevator rides with strangers are as awkward or fun as you choose! On the way up I asked if it had ever not made it up before, or something to that tune, and I think my sister-in-law was embarrassed. Sorry Lauren! The other funny moment was watching the school children lose a basketball over the fence and watch it bounce down the steep-ass street we had just walked up - I can't imagine growing up in a city like San Francisco.
After Coit Tower we yelped our way to Lai Hong Lounge where we were seated in hidden corner as far away from everyone and everything as possible. Us whities definitely got some looks and I'm sort of glad they hid us away instead of putting us front and center. It let us experience the confusion we called lunch without much pressure. Lauren ordered everything for us (shes been to China!) and it was a lot of fun. Great new experience.
Lastly we wanted to see the gate to Chinatown so we raced the clock on our parking meter a dozen blocks in the opposite direction. On the way back I was literally running up the streets of Chinatown to get to our car before the meter-maid. I think I made it 2-minutes after the buzzer and occupied the car to avoid any trouble. Family caught up and off we went to Santa Rosa where Best Western cookies were waiting for us!!
After Coit Tower we yelped our way to Lai Hong Lounge where we were seated in hidden corner as far away from everyone and everything as possible. Us whities definitely got some looks and I'm sort of glad they hid us away instead of putting us front and center. It let us experience the confusion we called lunch without much pressure. Lauren ordered everything for us (shes been to China!) and it was a lot of fun. Great new experience.
Lastly we wanted to see the gate to Chinatown so we raced the clock on our parking meter a dozen blocks in the opposite direction. On the way back I was literally running up the streets of Chinatown to get to our car before the meter-maid. I think I made it 2-minutes after the buzzer and occupied the car to avoid any trouble. Family caught up and off we went to Santa Rosa where Best Western cookies were waiting for us!!