Only an hour away, yet we never go.

Today we did something we very rarely do. We went into San Francisco.

My husband and I agree that it isn't a city we really enjoy. Maybe it is because we both grew up around here and have visited many of the sights already. Or maybe we are just home bodies that get busy doing or normal things and don't take the time to enjoy the sights in our own area very often. Or maybe it is just that driving in San Fran is a bit scary with the thin narrow streets that are often one way and people everywhere walking, biking (I don't know how they do it with all the steep hills) and even Segwaying their way through the busy streets. Then there are all the busses and cable cars and such that bustle about and we have to dodge. Parking in SF is also quite a chore and often very expensive. For what ever reason we usually try to avoid going into the city unless we have to.

So what would cause us to drive an hour up the Peninsula and endure this city? We went today because some blogging friends of ours happened to be in the Bay Area, so we went to the Wharf to hang out with them for a little while. I haven't had the opportunity to meet any of the new friends I have made through blogging so this was a special treat.

We meet at Pier 39, one of the most busy places in San Francisco. And we spent a few hours walking around and looking at the sights around the pier. The kids loved the Aquarium of the Bay where they got to see some of the sea creatures that are found in the bay. But most enjoyed touching the rays and, if lucky, a tiger shark.

We mostly just walked along taking in all the sights, sounds, and smells of the wharf.



The kids climbed on anything they could.

And we just enjoyed being out in the sun with friends.


We said good bye to our friends and then drove up to Coit tower,

to see the view from up there. It was beautiful.

We could see Lombard Street from where we were on Telegraph Hill so the kids decided we had to drive down it.


Ian didn't much care for the steep hills we had to drive up and down in order to find Lombard, but the others thought it was quite a fun roller coaster like ride.

We didn't ever make it to a trolley ride. We had thought that sounded like fun. One day we will take the kids on a ride up and around SF on a real cable car but for now they just got excited about spotting them out the window as we drove around.

No, we don't make it into the city very often. But once in awhile it is worth the time and effort to head out on an adventure. This is how my kids referred to our day. They called it "a fun adventure". Maybe we should plan more of these excursions into the jungles of San Francisco more often.

Thanks Cellista, and family, for heading our way. We had a great time.