Thomas is in the City!

Thomas stopped by to visit us on his way to Seattle. It was a short two day layover on his way to a family reunion for Zach's family. Being his first time in the Bay Area and San Francisco, especially, we did a 'Hot Spot' tour of the area.

Our day began, as all good days should in the Bay Area, on the B.A.R.T. Bay Area Rapid Transit. The Train! I LOVE it. Natalie not so much. She has no problem with most of the trip, but the idea of 'subwaying' under the San Francisco Bay freaks her out. Something about earthquakes and water. 😨 We got n the B.A.R.T. at the Dublin/Pleasanton Station (after Ubering there) to the Powell Street Street in San Francisco. 

The Powell Street Station exit out directly under the Westfield Mall. Natalie and I have ridden the train in there many time just to go to the Mall. We stopped for fish tacos before heading up to the cable car turnaround at Powell and Market Streets. We watched the cable cars for awhile It is interesting to see how they are turned around by hand. 

Then, we walled up to Union Square and got onto one of the cable cars up there to ride out to Ghirardelli Square. It is a much shorter wait to walk up the road and catch a ride, than to wait through the throngs of tourists at Powell Street. 

A belly full of chocolate later, we went out to just take sometime and enjoy the bright California sunshine. Nothing like 60 degrees and sunny at the end of January. I miss the 80 degree January days of SoCal, but this sure beats the forty below winters of Minnesota.

Next, we strolled down to Aquatic Cove where we could see the ships from the San Francisco Maritime National Historical Museum off in the distance. A few photos and we headed up Jefferson Street. 

With Natalie and I as the seasoned experts, this being our fourth time at the Wharf, we gave Thomas our rather random tour of what we knew. "We've been here." "We've done that." It was a quick tri[, as we didn't go into any of the shops along the way. 

It wasn't long before we ended up at the iconic Fisherman's Wharf sign. I love this whole area. The energy and activity that just buzzes around constantly. I don't understand the idea that locals say, "Stay away. You can find quieter places." My home is quieter. I want to be out and about. Just like Ariel, from The Little Mermaid, "I want to be where the people are."

And, speaking of Disneyish topics, we had to being Thomas to Boudin's Bakery at the Wharf. Having worked at the Wharf for a couple of years at Disney California Adventure, Thomas needed to see 'his' home base. Though he hadn't worked there in years, it is still full of memories. Perhaps a little tug on the heartstrings to head back home from New York City.

It's the original Rock...Alcatraz Island. 

America's premier maximum-security prison, the final stop for the nation's most incorrigible prisoners. Today, Alcatraz is a place of contradictions, with a grim past and an enduring future as one of San Francisco's most prominent landmarks and tourist attractions. link

Though a couple of weeks late, we celebrated Natalie's birthday at Bubba Gumps on Pier 39. We had a booth right at the end of the pier over looking the Bay. The view was fantabuluos. Wow! The food how ever, not so much. This was the second time Natalie and I have eaten at this particular Bubba Gump restaurant, as we came here for her actual birthday, as well. Both times the food was sub par. 

I have been to Bubba Gump Shrimp Company restaurants in Time Square, New York City, The mall of America, Minnesota, Santa Monica Pier, Southern California, and others, this is the only one where the food has been bad like this. They don't seem concerned about return business...tourist only. But, the places I listed above would haven the same tourist business. Hummm. 

Anyway, with prices already high, there is a cute little fish and chips shop, halfway down Pier 39 called T's Fish and Chips. Definitely worth the stop and overly expensive. Relatively speaking.

Our next stop was the Candy Baron for salt water taffy. They have buckets of flavors from caramel apple to frosted cupcake to cinnamon. My favorite will always be vanilla. I know, simple but tasty. Beware of how quickly you can fill up their super large buckets. The price adds up fast. 

Price check: (revised March, 2021)

Candy Baron -- Fisherman's Wharf      $4.50 for 1/2 pound

Balboa Candy --Newport Beach, CA   $7.00 for 1/2 pound

Sweet Candy Company -- online         $11.70 for 3 pound bag

Have fun and enjoy the atmosphere. We always buy candy from the Candy Baron when we are at Pier 39. We also order online. 😉 

Finally, my very favorite part of the Wharf. The sea lions!!! Livecam I could sit and watch these guys all day long. 

They looks so peaceful as the sun sinks lower in the sky. I can hear their honk, honk, honking as I look at these photos. Occasionally you will see them fight each other for the prime spot, but mostly they just lounge around in the warm California sunshine. 

This pair of sea lions wandered down into the Marina to claim a more solitary spot among the yachts in the harbor.

Greg arrives after a long day at work.  We stop for a few scenic photographs looking back over the stretch of Fisherman's Wharf towards the tip of the San Francisco Peninsula. With a car now at our disposal, we head off to the one main landmark that no seeing San Francisco for the first time should ever miss.

Yep, there she is, the Golden Gate Bridge. Only three miles from Fisherman's Wharf, we managed to drive around in circles for way longer than we should have driven. Thomas saw side streets and neighborhoods that were not planned in our quest to find the Golden Gate Welcome Center. By the time we arrived, darkness had truly fallen. The view, however, was still stunning.

Again, pictures were taken and memories were captured. Then, after long day of touristing, we headed out of the City. Without even planning it, we passed one more beautiful landmark. Chinatown's Gateway Arch or Dragon Gate. 

We drove home via the Bay Bridge into Oakland, past Alameda Island, the Oakland International Airport, Coliseum and Zoo. All the way back to Dublin where we had sushi at our favorite restaurant, Little Madfish.

Thomas' super trip came to an end too soon as stopped for pizza at the Village Host in Burlingame on our way to drop him off at the San Francisco International airport the very next day. Then we stopped at a cute little shop called Nuts for Candy, just because we could.

But, alas, our time was running out and it was time to say goodbye. One last photograph, and we headed to the airport. Come back to visit us again soon, Thomas!!!