In late spring 2014, Christine, Madison, Carson, and myself boarded a delta flight for a four day express trip of San Francisco and the bay area. Below are pictures and notes from our trip.
We arrived at 1pm local time on Saturday, May 31st.
When Christine and I travel to new cities, one of the first things that we like to do is take a bus tour of the area, to figure out what we want to do and not want to do.
See Carson on our double decker tour bus with Transamerica building in the behind him.
Madison and Carson on the other side of the bay.
After the tour bus dropped us off at Union Square, we walked to China Town.
Sunday June 1st, we got in the rental car to head back across the Golden Gate bridge to visit Point Bonita Lighthouse, Sausalito, and Muir Woods.
Our friends the Smiths, vacationed in San Francisco last year, and they highly recommended Point Bonita Lighthouse. The lighthouse is only open Saturdays, Sundays, and Mondays between 12:30pm and 3:30pm. We were lucky we went on a Sunday, however, we arrived at 10am, so we decided to get lunch in Sausalito, then comeback to visit the Lighthouse.
Sausilito is ranked as one of the top 20 destinations in the country, with scenic waterfront, panoramic
views, small town charm and Mediterranean character.
Madison, Carson, and I with the bay in the background.
One thing that was really nice about Sausalito is that you can walk on the docks. At the end of one dock was a Tug boat, that you could walk right up to.
Sausilito is also know for their floating houses. It hard to see but the homes behind Shaun are floating.
After lunch in Sausalito we got back in the car headed back to Point Bonita Lighthouse.
Just to get to the light house you have to walk down a step path, then through a tunnel.
The lighthouse is unexplainably beautiful, after the tunnel you walk across a suspension bridge to the lighthouse.
Christine walking across the bridge.
The four us after safely making it back across the bridge.
Carson scaling up the rocks near the lighthouse.
After the lighthouse, we piled back in the car to drive to the famous Muir Woods to check out the 'Star Wars' Redwoods.
The star attraction of the Muir Woods is the Coast Redwood. The tallest tree in the Muir Woods is close to 300 feet, aka a football field. The oldest is over 1,200 years old, aka a seedling six hundred years before Columbus discovered America.
Carson in the trees
Hopefully you can see the size and scale of the tress.
Monday June 2nd, Alcatraz, Pier 39, San Francisco Aquarium, Ghiradelli Square, and a surprise Mirror Maze:
Our first stop on Monday, was the boat ride to Alcatraz. One note, we wanted to do the night tour of Alcatraz but even when I tried to get tickets a month in advance they were sold out, so get your tickets in advance. Maddie and I on the boat to Alcatraz.
This is the last picture you will see of Carson on our Alcatraz trip. Carson was so excited about visiting Alcatraz, that he want to explore on his own and separated from us as soon as we got off the boat.
Christine as we approach Alcatraz.
Madison in one of the jail cells.
Christine visiting Shaun in Prison
Shaun in the prison yard with the Golden Gate Bridge behind him.
It is hard to see but behind Maddi and are the world famous Pier 39 Sea Lions and Walruses.
My favorite, plus low cost, surprise of Pier 39 was the Mirror Maze. For $5 a person you go through a hall of mirrors maze. We found the infinity maze on our walk from lunch to the Aquarium. See pictures of Maddie in the Maze
Madison outside the entrance to the aquarium.
Shaun by the Octopus
Christine, Madison, and Carson in the underwater tunnel through the aquarium.
Shaun inside one of the tanks.
Tuesday, June 3rd, our last full day in San Fran. Carson and I did a tour of the San Francisco Giants AT&T Park, then the four of us walked around San Francisco.
Carson in front of the Juan Marichal statue infront of AT&T Park.
Carson and I in the visitors locker room.
In the visitor dugout.
Shaun making a call to the bullpen.
Carson and Shaun on the field.
After walking around the city and dinner on Union Square, we flew home the next morning.
Thank you for letting us share our pictures with you. If you have any questions, please email Shaun Priest at shaun@closerq.com.
We arrived at 1pm local time on Saturday, May 31st.
See Carson on our double decker tour bus with Transamerica building in the behind him.
See Christine and Madison as the bus crosses over the Golden Gate Bridge. San Fran was cold and three of us were way under-dressed for the bus tour, but we still cross the golden gate bride on the top of the bus.
Madison and Carson on the other side of the bay.
After the tour bus dropped us off at Union Square, we walked to China Town.
Sunday June 1st, we got in the rental car to head back across the Golden Gate bridge to visit Point Bonita Lighthouse, Sausalito, and Muir Woods.
Our friends the Smiths, vacationed in San Francisco last year, and they highly recommended Point Bonita Lighthouse. The lighthouse is only open Saturdays, Sundays, and Mondays between 12:30pm and 3:30pm. We were lucky we went on a Sunday, however, we arrived at 10am, so we decided to get lunch in Sausalito, then comeback to visit the Lighthouse.
Sausilito is ranked as one of the top 20 destinations in the country, with scenic waterfront, panoramic
views, small town charm and Mediterranean character. Madison, Carson, and I with the bay in the background.
One thing that was really nice about Sausalito is that you can walk on the docks. At the end of one dock was a Tug boat, that you could walk right up to.
Sausilito is also know for their floating houses. It hard to see but the homes behind Shaun are floating.
Just to get to the light house you have to walk down a step path, then through a tunnel.
The lighthouse is unexplainably beautiful, after the tunnel you walk across a suspension bridge to the lighthouse.
Christine walking across the bridge.
The four us after safely making it back across the bridge.
Carson scaling up the rocks near the lighthouse.
After the lighthouse, we piled back in the car to drive to the famous Muir Woods to check out the 'Star Wars' Redwoods.
The star attraction of the Muir Woods is the Coast Redwood. The tallest tree in the Muir Woods is close to 300 feet, aka a football field. The oldest is over 1,200 years old, aka a seedling six hundred years before Columbus discovered America. Carson in the trees
Hopefully you can see the size and scale of the tress.
Monday June 2nd, Alcatraz, Pier 39, San Francisco Aquarium, Ghiradelli Square, and a surprise Mirror Maze:
Our first stop on Monday, was the boat ride to Alcatraz. One note, we wanted to do the night tour of Alcatraz but even when I tried to get tickets a month in advance they were sold out, so get your tickets in advance. Maddie and I on the boat to Alcatraz. Christine as we approach Alcatraz.
Madison in one of the jail cells.
Christine visiting Shaun in Prison
Shaun in the prison yard with the Golden Gate Bridge behind him.
After returning from Alcatraz to Pier 33, we made the short walk to Pier 39 for lunch.
It is hard to see but behind Maddi and are the world famous Pier 39 Sea Lions and Walruses.
My favorite, plus low cost, surprise of Pier 39 was the Mirror Maze. For $5 a person you go through a hall of mirrors maze. We found the infinity maze on our walk from lunch to the Aquarium. See pictures of Maddie in the Maze
Madison outside the entrance to the aquarium.
Shaun by the Octopus
Christine, Madison, and Carson in the underwater tunnel through the aquarium.
Shaun inside one of the tanks.
Tuesday, June 3rd, our last full day in San Fran. Carson and I did a tour of the San Francisco Giants AT&T Park, then the four of us walked around San Francisco.
Carson in front of the Juan Marichal statue infront of AT&T Park.
Carson and I in the visitors locker room.
In the visitor dugout.
Shaun making a call to the bullpen.
Carson and Shaun on the field.
After walking around the city and dinner on Union Square, we flew home the next morning.
Thank you for letting us share our pictures with you. If you have any questions, please email Shaun Priest at shaun@closerq.com.
Comments
- Garett
California short term rentals to stay in. Know any place that's affordable?