I visited S.F. yesterday! (photos) -Beach and G.G. Bridge too

[Hermosa11]

Drove to San Francisco for the day with DS(19today!). We first went to oulet stores on our way to get some tennis shoes for us both. I gave the camera to son to take some shots as we drove over Bay Bridge.
Coit Tower off in the distance:

Slightly closer view:

Instead of taking 5th street exit to get to our parking garage, my son spoke up and said he would like to go to ocean area...........it's been a few years and he wanted to remember the 'old days' when he was younger and we went there as a family and he romped in the water without a care in the world (he was just out of 8th grade! , and you were thinking he was 7 yrs. old !!! )
On our way, we catch a view of St. Mary's Cathedral (so pretty)

Well, we found our beach area - near the Cliff House.
See map of S.F. area.
map
I arrived where I80 arrives and drove all the way to the end of Golden Gate park (see to the left?)....
so here arrive at ocean .....

Now, the Cliff house is nothing that it once was:
Cliff house memories

We had fun walking ...and watching the dogs chase the balls....
Then it was time to head on BACK to where we were when we got off the bridge and park at 5th and Mission near Market St.

Gap Store

 

[Hermosa11]

Another shot of Coit Tower

I saw a goofy huge double decker bus with very few riders

Some guy was making noise on his bagpipe and trying to earn money to go to Ireland and learn how to play properly maybe?

I was walking towards the Serrano to take a photo for a fellow DISer who is staying there this summer---here it is in the distance...--tall building

Closer view of the Serrano

Another cable car

Here is a great store for young people

Then I came across a new Neman Marcus store

Beautiful, gold everywhere ...about 4 floors ....
I took a little video with my camera but cannot share here, unfortunately.
stores everywhere...

what is funny, is that I was taking lots of photos and my son is like:
what are you taking that photo for? I respond: "for my people"!!!ha ha ha ha (my fellow DISers!!!), he does not understand.
Old Navy on Market Street

Saturday was a rainy day, and Sunday was nice and sunny....so everyone and their mother was out and about. It was crowded. Especially trying to get into the parking lot at 5th and Mission........gosh, it took us about half hour to go around the entire block to get INTO the lot...People trying to cut in..........Not in front of me and try to Live!!!! geesh..
I took this as just a suggestion of places to stay...Hotel Pickwick and Hotel Milano -5th and Market...

Pickwick Hotel

 

[Hermosa11]

Continued
Pickwick Hotel seems real nice and close to Market Street and Union Square.
I would not mind staying here at all.
http://images.snapfish.com/34666%3A4%3A6%7Ffp346%3Enu%3D3243%3E498%3E984%3EWSNRCG%3D32335%3B697%3B46%3Anu0mrj[/IMG] ]Milano Hotel
And the Milano Hotel is right next door. Very pretty both hotels from the street the check in area..........Just thought I would share from my vantage point.

Ha ha ha ha, son spied a Farrari....

My son then wanted to drive over the Golden Gate Bridge....
drive by shot of the Palace of Fine Arts

We drove over the bridge....and turned (immediate sharp right turn) toward Fort Baker Beach area...

View of San Francisco from the other side

This area has alot of history....
Fort Baker
Roam this site and you can find some great photos!!

A Discovery Museum is here too!
Museum site

That was the end of our adventure....I crossed the bridge ($5 toll!)
and took a wrong exit....I headed towards 19th Avenue and should have headed towards downtown....I was way off base! and ended up en South San Francisco...and then had to get back on 101.........I was pretty darn upset to say the least. So frustrating when I get turned around..........
I believe I will be back in the area on Mothers Day. Union Square and the Warf area. DD from Hawaii is coming out for 2-3 weeks and wants to go here ....
If there are any personal requests for info or photos of Union Square area (shops? ,etc) and Warf, let me know.

 

[RanStak65]

Great pics! We will be there in a little over a week and I can hardly wait.
Thanks for posting the photos.

 

[laurabelle]

Deb,
Thank you so much again for taking those pics for me! I want to see the Palace of Fine Arts while I'm there, it just looks so romantic! I'm looking at wine country tours...are you familar with any? This is one I'm looking at: http://www.starlinetours.com/SF_tour_8.asp

 

[Hermosa11]

That tour sounds great! You don't need to do Golden Gate bridge since I already posted photos..........
seriously, sounds terrific. I have never taken a tour but have gone there in my past and had some nice tours.