The Best of the Bay Area

I just finished up a whirlwind 10 days in the Bay Area and have some suggestions for your next visit!

My first time in San Francisco was 2013 and I spent about two and a half days there for a conference and had no time to explore at all.  The only few things I saw were Pier 39, the Ferry Building, and the Bay Bridge.  I didn't even get a glimpse of the Golden Gate!

Well this time around I got to spend plenty of time exploring and my family came along which (like any family vacation) has its ups and downs, but overall I am happy I got to spend that time with them.

After arriving at SFO, we got our rental car and stopped for lunch at In & Out, like a true Californian.

I asked for a veggie burger, which just so everyone knows, is just a bun with lettuce and tomatoes and some thousand island dressing…pretty lackluster to me.  Also the fries weren't that great.  Overall, I was pretty let down by my In & Out experience, but maybe it's better if you eat meat.

Some highlights of my Bay Area visit…

1. The Farmer's Market at the Ferry Building
So fun!  Super busy and crowded so I suggest getting there early so you're able to navigate the booths and really have a chance to see everything.  I was ecstatic to see King Knish with a small booth at the Farmer's Market because he was one of the vendors from the conference I had been to back in 2013.  Romni, the owner, is incredibly nice and his Knishes, though expensive, are delicious!

2. Angel Island
Not originally a planned stop, we ended up buying combined Angel Island and Alcatraz ferry tickets.  What a blessing!  Angel Island was BEAUTIFUL! I felt like I was on a tropical vacation or in the French Riviera with all the sailboats and the stunning scenery.  Angel Island also has some great history (often called the Ellis Island of the West because of its role in immigration).  Hiking, picnicking, camping, etc. is allowed on the island and I highly suggest you participate in a tram tour of the island because it was entertaining and educational.

3. Muir Woods
Before this visit to the Bay Area, I had never seen a Redwood.  I was SO excited to visit Muir Woods and get a chance to hug some trees.  The roadway leading to the park is up a mountain inches from pretty intense drop offs, so I'd suggest making sure you go early enough in the day to leave while it's still light out.  My family only got to spend a short amount of time here and I wish we could have walked the trails further.

4. Sausalito
If you're familiar with the Northern NJ/Rockland County, NY area, you may know Piermont, NY.  Sausalito I would call the Piermont of the Bay Area.  Basically it's a super cute town that you can walk around and eat at, while being by the water and being surrounded by really nice views.  Great place to visit, but keep in mind that shops close pretty early in the evening here!

5. Crepevine Restaurant
Crepevine is DELICIOUS.  My family went to the one in Burlingame 3 times during our visit, and honestly would have gone more if we could have.  Crepevine has delicious savory and sweet crepes, huge salads, sandwiches, and even pasta dishes.  It was a crowd pleaser for sure and the wait staff was friendly and very knowledgable.  My mom has a gluten intolerance and they were so helpful making sure what she ordered was gluten free.  The food was very fresh, fast, and made you so full.  I HIGHLY recommend Crepevine.

Overall my trip was great.  I saw sea lions, rode the cable car (waited on line FOREVER for it, disappointed by the service, enjoyed the actual ride), met up with some people from my favorite organizations, got to explore a new city and see all the typical touristy things (parks, famous houses, etc.) and even got to do some digging through history trying to trace back to the original owner of a SFFD Speaking Trumpet from 1889 that my dad has come to own.

Until next time, SF!