CALIFORNIA: Hiking Above the Redwood Forest

Muir Woods National Monument is a must-see for anyone visiting San Francisco. Having briefly visited the forest in previous travels, we planned to spend a bit more time exploring one of the hiking trails in the area. We took on The Sun Trail - a 4.7 mile loop that provides views from within redwood canyons and above the canopies. This was an excellent way to spend our morning after a long plane ride, and we would highly recommend it!

The path that we took included a somewhat steep incline at the onset, which was bearable but definitely a workout for us Floridians (very accustomed to flat land). What we loved about this trail is that it offers variety, which keeps things interesting.

A couple tips: 

• Dress in layers! The ground of the redwood forest is very cool, but up above it is super sunny (at least during August - when we visited). We ended up going from sweaters to t-shirts within a few hours. 
• Bring sunscreen. Up top there is no shade and therefore no protection from the sun. 
• Get there early. It is nearly impossible to find any parking near the woods by 10am due to the popularity of the park. 

We've started a tradition of taking goofy photos at pretty places.

These little guys were in the sunny spots!

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CALIFORNIA: San Francisco | Part 2

Haight & Ashbury 

One of the most famous cross streets in the USA is Haight & Ashbury. This area is well known for it's history - having a part in the origin of the hippie movement. While the hippie movement is no longer as present, this is still a rather artsy, bohemian spot. There's plenty of vintage or thrift shops, along with record stores and other small businesses. You can spot a lot of creative graffiti throughout the city, but we saw quite a lot around this area in particular. If you like unique one of a kind shops this is a great destination. 

Pier 39 - The Fisherman's Wharf

The most tourist-centric area in all of San Fransisco is spread out around Pier 39 - aka The Fisherman's Wharf. Within this area is the famous Ghiradelli Square as well as beautiful views of Alcatraz and the adorable sea lions. If you aren't a fan of tourist traps, this area doesn't have a lot to offer. There are a lot of chain restaurants, it's crowded, and extremely commercialized. However, the sea lions are worth a visit. We also stopped by Musée Mécanique - a neat little stop full of antique arcade machines and games located a little further on Pier 45. Admission is free, so it's worth a stop if you appreciate bizarre, beautiful, and often creepy automatons.

Grace Cathedral

If you are into Gothic architecture, the Grace Cathedral is hard to miss. It is a very beautiful building in the heart of San Francisco. At the time we were there, the cathedral was hosting a wedding party so we could not get inside for more than a second or two.

China Town

We spent our final night and day on the West Coast in San Francisco visiting China Town. It is a great place to get out of your car and walk around to take in the atmosphere. It is a double edged sword as there are many tourist traps but the scenery makes you feel like you're in a different part of the world. We really enjoyed walking around, getting some delicious Chinese food as well as bubble tea, which are in abundance in the area. There are many shops full of trinkets and Chinese souvenirs if that is your thing.

Check out Part One here.

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CALIFORNIA: San Francisco | Part 1

On our way to San Francisco from Napa we decided our first venture in the area should be into the Muir Woods. This was quite a congested and slow drive but it was our first time really getting to see the beautiful views that CA 1 (the Pacific Coast Highway) offers.

John Muir Woods Park

We were very limited in our time in the area so we made the best of it and took a short hike through Muir Woods. Its a very peaceful place to hike, and very quiet in contrast to the loud & busy city it neighbors. You are engulfed under the Redwood's canopy so there is little light that shines through and it is quite cold. Seeing these amazing Sequoia's in person is something that should be on everyone's bucket list. They are rare, ancient, and honestly mind-blowing in size. Photographs can never quite capture the full scale of these things. Unfortunately we had to make our way out quite quickly to be able to enjoy the cities attractions.

Golden Gate Bridge

Coming into San Francisco over the Golden Gate can be just as intimidating as passing the Queensboro Bridge into Manhattan. The Golden Gate Bridge is an amazing piece of engineering and it is very surreal to be able to drive over it and see the landscape of the city in the distance. The bridge is often partially covered by the surrounding fog which adds to the dreamy appearance. We decided to take a drive around Golden Gate park to get some great views of the bridge and bay. 

Palace of Fine Arts
Built in 1915 and rebuilt in 1965, this amazing structure was made for the Panama-Pacific Exhibition. It is easy to access and at the time we were there they were filming something inside the structure. Quite an iconic structure, it is notable for being featured in many films including Hitchcock's Vertigo. 

Check out Part Two here.

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