In order for Brydon to maintain his Public Health Certification, he decided to try to attend a conference this year. The Air Force was kind enough to send him to the Public Health Convention in San Francisco this year (an opportunity that will problably never happen again). He was so excited to go to a conference and visit California for the first time. After a little planning and saving, we decided to make the trip a couples retreat and so I got to go too! Yeah for awesome grandmas who help out :)
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| Our Hotel |
I love BIG cities!! Salt Lake City and Philadelphia kind of ruined me and now I am addicted to the big city world. It was so fun to get off the airplane and immediately find the subway to head to our hotel. Then we lugged our luggage through the busy sidewalks a few blocks to our amazing hotel. Subways, busy sidewalks, skyscrapers, and big city craziness should not make this country girl so happy, but it really really does!
The views from our hotel were amazing. The bay is just gorgeous!
After arriving and getting settled, we headed out to find a place to eat. We found this Gourmet Burger Restaurant and decided to try it out. The hamburgers we were ordered we ok, not great for the cost, but the dessert was fun. A cheesecake hamburger! Obviously my kind of hamburger!
On Saturday, Brydon only had to do a few check in things to get ready for his conference so we ended up getting to spend some time together exploring the city. We decided since our time was short, to just pay for a guided bus tour and try to see as much as we could. It was a great way to go and the day was amazing!
Getting ready to load the bus. Check out all the palm trees.
The rolling roads, a bit of fog, and a beautiful view.
October was a great time to visit San Francisco. The weather was just right, there was little fog, and the city wasn't too crowded.
Lombard Street
"the crookedest street in the world"
The first stop on the tour was the famous Lombard street. What a cute neighborhood! The houses were so beautiful and the street is most definitely crooked. The gardens are so well kept. The shadows make it hard to see how neat this place is and how crooked the street really is.
Love this blue house!
Parking on these steep hills would be problematic for me!
Our tour guide!
She was a unique character. Very knowledgeable, very Californian, very artsy, and very Liberal. We got a kick out of her.
Chinatown
We loved Chinatown in Philadelphia and San Francisco's Chinatown was also really neat. I am always amazed at how it can seem like you are stepping into a different country.
Grace Cathedral
We love the insides of these beautiful cathedrals. It just so happened that during our tour of the church, there was a funeral in progress so it was a bit awkward but nice to at least get the chance to go inside.
We were impressed by the number of parks in the city. They were so beautiful!
Golden Gate Park
California Academy of Sciences
Views from the top of the DeYoung Museum. Golden Gate park was one of my favorite places. I wish I could have come back here but I didn't want to come back by myself. You could spend hours in that park. It is much than just a park.
Nob Hill
The Victorians
These houses are so gorgeous! Of course they cost a ton but they would be amazing to stay in.
The Famous "Painted Ladies"
Which movies have these houses been in?
Palace of Fine Arts
This beautiful park was host to the World's Fair in 1915. It is now a great location for weddings and quinceaneras. There was a girl getting pictures for her quinceanera while we there and she had a large hot pink hummer limo waiting for her. Wow!
This place reminded us a bit of the park in Philadelphia that hosted the World's Fair as well. The architecture was very similar.
Soon we were about to see the famous Golden Gate Bridge and head into the riches county in the United States, Sausalito.
