One last Raw Oyster, Dim-sum, Green-chili Chevre, Maple-glazed Donut, hurrah!

When we found out the girls summer

would extend by two weeks,

we knew we wanted one last trip to the bay area!

First stop,

The Ferry Market Building for a first:

Raw Oysters!

I've got to tell you,

I'm not a fan!

I won't write them off altogether though... 

next we'll have to try them grilled... 

It wasn't a total waste though,
it's not often you can gross out

every single one of your kids at the same time!

Trekking to Chinatown we found some great pocket parks!

Another welcome sight?

All the yummy restauants!

 

This time we tried dim-sum...

a first for us all!

Sesame balls...

...a favorite of you-know-who!

After lunch we wandered throughout the city in search of

The Golden Gate Fortune Cookie Co.

It's a teeny tiny factory that you're allowed to step in (literally)
and see how the cookies are made!

I can't undertand a word they say,
but they love kids and are generous with samples!

Check out the architecture of this park!

Love it!

What Samuel and I loved about this place was the
great sense of community.

There were tons of folks out
visiting, laughing, and playing games.

It was a sight to see a park really...jumping!

I had read great things about this Buena Vista Park,

which was described as a kind of urban hiking oasis
near the Haight & Ashbury district.

The park is basically a huge tree-covered hill/mountain
with paths that literally twist and turn all over the face!

There were dogs galore (plus their owners),

so we got plenty of petting in!

But the best surprise of all,

and what put a serious slow down on our exploring,

was the blackberry bushes!

They were everywhere!

Plus huge yellow spiders so we

had to be careful!

But still...

B L A C K B E R R I E S !

I love them.

Can you tell?

Ah ha!

What do we spy!

Another hill!

This one made of...dirt?

Book mark that for next time. 

Whereas we're in a jungle,

that is a naked hill, my friend.

The views have got to be incredible over there!

Of course,

Buena Vista Park wouldn't be much of a park,

at least in our kids opinions,

if it didn't have a play area.

We searched and searched for it,

when finally, just as we were leaving

-and I mean, we were driving away!-

we found it!

The downside,

this is a park you do not want to go to alone.

Or after dark.

Or without a man.

Or without mean karate skills.

There are, let's just say, a number of questionable characters about...

...

Let me reiterate:

The park is amazing!

Go visit it-but keep your peeps peeled!

...

No one ever actually entered the park area,

but Samuel and I kept our spidey-senses on...

Well,

I did anyway...

Maybe he's doing reconaissance from an arial perspective...?

A girl after my own heart!

I LOVE to eat and read!

...

And what is she eating, you may ask...

Yummy french bread, salami, cheeses, sweet nectarines...

In other words,

a signature San Francisco picnic!

And that picnic would not be complete

without a treat just for mom and dad:

F R E S H  G R E E N  C H I L I  G O A T  C H E V R E

One of many wickedly delicious concoctions from

The Cowgirl Creamery!

And on a green olive loaf no less!

B R E A D + C H E E S E
 
H E A V E N !

{And yes, there is such a place...}

Still at it...

Iris,

learning the hard way that the baby swings are for...

B A B I E S !

By the way,
I spared you the plumbers crack that peeked out moments later...

We made it out alive!

{Just kidding...}

But since it was freezing outside we did a quick drive-by of

our next stop: 

Alamo Square!

All in the name of catching a glimpse of the famous

Painted Ladies!

{You remember, from Full House!}

They are delightful,

but perhaps not so much as...

B O B ' S  D O N U T ' S ! ? !

Yup,

sugar-filled puffs of goodness win hands down!

What can trump donuts, you say?

The temple, of course!

Especially our beloved Oakland Temple...

Truly the place where our family began!

...

In a nutshell,

this was a great trip!

It was everything we want for our kids...

teaching them principles of traveling on a dime,

taking advantage of the unexpected,

being adventurous (but also cautious),

and the importance of spending time with that

funky group of people that happen to be your lot/blessing in life!

Park Days

I love when they wear themselves out!

SF: The Mission District, Dolores Park, Buffalo Paddock, Sutro Baths, & Mile Rock Beach

With the kids on spring break,

we headed to the Bay Area to explore

some new places in S.F.,
namely the Mission District, Mission Dolores Park, the Sutro Baths,

and Lands End trails.

The Mission District is a prime example of how best

to tour the many neighborhoods of S.F.:

Park & Walk

Is this not the most beautiful pocket park EVER?

I love, love, love the colors here!

Everything is so vibrant!

Not to mention...

tasty!

These pastries are what I grew up on!

If you've never tried Mexican pastries,

they're colorful, drier in texture,

and far less sweet.

A perfect addition to our picnic basket!

On our way to the park,

a photo shoot!

Mission Dolores Park

In the heart of the city,

it has sprawling green hills,

and a throwback playground

complete with a killer old-school slide!

The first thing we did was use the facilities.

Every inch was covered in grafitti and other colorful tidbits

and it's the only time I've encouraged

my children NOT to read!

I mentioned the hills...we can't resist!

Alright, already!

It's time for some ice cream!

Down the street is a local fave with supper yummy flavors!

What did we order today?

Salted Caramel

Brown Butter Pecan

Brown Sugar with Ginger Caramel Swirl

They never fail to impress with something different

and utterly delicious!

Time to explore!

And just be silly!

Next up:

Golden Gate Park: Buffalo Paddock

{ Featuring what isn't even Buffalo at all, but American Bison! }

We were so excited to take the kids here,

unfortunately they thought it was lame!

All they wanted to do was hit the beach!

While Samuel forced the kids to ooh & ahh over the buffalo,

I sat in the car.

Can you guess why?

Coming back they noticed something 1000 times

more exciting than 500 + pound animals.

3 lb. rodents!

Next we took a walk down to the Sutro Baths.

On the way we met a guy who let us peek through his

scope to see two of the rarest birds on the west coast!

I wish I could tell you what they were,

but I can't!

And they flew away two seconds later anyway!

It is beautiful here!

At the bottom of the steps and to the right is

an awesome cave.

As the waves thunder against the rock you feel (and hear)

the pounding in a surreal and almost creepy way!

Owen was anxious to get out of there,

and I'll admit,

I think we all were!

But first,

a peek at the view.

As we began to explore the bath ruins,

we saw the filming of a music video!

They quickly wrapped things up,

and just in time because

you-know-who

were on the loose!

Don't they always go in the tub?

I remember coming here with my grandparents when I was small. 

It was awesome to introduce my little family

to places I used to run around as a kid!

...

Speaking of kids...

 

I'm totally partial,

but they are

G O R G E O U S !

Iris could play in the flowers all day,

but we're off to Lands End,

"San Francisco's wildest and rockiest coast."

Lands End connects to the California Coastal Trail,

1,200 miles of California coastline trails that span over 15 counties!

Making our way off the trail to Mile Rock Beach!

It's 112 steps down...

...but well worth it!



Our kiddies are never happier than at the beach!

It was the
piece de resistance
of our trip!

It's tradition!

Up and out with a great cardio workout!

And plenty of kisses!

On the trail we met up with two brothers visiting from Michigan
(the birthplace of Samuel's mother!).

They were in awe of California,
and did a terrible job of upselling Michigan!

I quote,
"You don't want to go there."

We gave our must-see recommendations and...

...they were off!

It's fun meeting people discovering this state for the first time.


It reminds you to appreciate all that we have!