3 Days in San Francisco

 

Hey all!

Do you only have three days in San Francisco? No worries! This itinerary is jammed packed, so let just jump in.

Transportation: 

From and to the airport/ hotel, we used uber. We traveled late and very early so public transportation was not an option. 

Around the city: Public bus - you can get a day pass for about $5. The bus can take you anywhere you want o go!

Day one:

Pier 39: Check out the shops, and grab breakfast or snacks. You can view Alcatraz from the pier, take great pictures, and see live performances. I personally love the Christmas Ornament shop and candy store! Don't miss out on seeing all the seals relaxing a little left of the pier. 

Alcatraz Island: Buy your tickets ahead of time, and catch a ferry ride to Alcatraz. You can wander around the island (the parts they allow) or take a guided tour. You can stay as long as you want, it takes about 1-2 hours to fully see everything and check out the shop.

Punch Line Comedy Club: For some nighttime fun, check out the Punch Line Comedy Club for fun laughs. There is a two-drink minimum even if it is water. 

Dinner: Get some great ramen from Hinodeya Downtown.

Day two:

Wake up early and head to MyMy's. They open at 9am. You can sit outside and the food is delicious.

Asian Art Museum: Reserve your time and ticket online and immerse yourself in Asian culture.

Golden Gate Park: Take a walk through the giant Golden Gate park and enjoy seeing flowers, art pieces, and playful animals.

Japanese Tea Garden: In Golden Gate Park, stop and enter the Japanese Tea Garden. Along with all the beautiful flowers and trees, they have a wonderful cafe with tasty tea and cookies.

Beach: The water in northern California is a little cold, but enjoy walking in the sand while you head to your next location. 

Sutro Baths: There is a steep hill to walk from the beach to get here, but the ruins of the old bath house near the ocean are something to see. Don't miss the cave! Walk through to hear and see the ocean hit the rocks below.

Golden Gate Bridge: If you are in San Francisco, you need to see the Golden Gate Bridge. We took some amazing photos, walked a quarter of it, and checked out the gift shop. 

Dinner: Halal Wing Plus - Best wings I have ever had!

Day 3:

Breakfast: Honey, Honey Cafe & Creperie - I got the burrito and it was amazing!

San Francisco Zoo: Next to the beach, enjoy the animals and walk around. P.S. they have penguins!

Japanese Mall: Located in Japan town, there are a ton of cool stores, food, and desserts.

Dinner: Marfuku Ramen - Best Ramen I have ever had. They have different spice levels, and it is just an experience. 

I hope you enjoy!

Thanks for traveling with me!

-V

Colorado Weekend Trip

 

    Only have Friday afternoon through Sunday for a vacation? Perfect! Let's go over some things you can do for a quick road trip to Colorado.

Stay: For this trip, you will want to stay near Old Colorado City. There are great small stores and restaurants. We stayed in an Airbnb that was comfy and peaceful. Old Colorado City in Colorado Springs is also a good in-between location for all of your activities.

Friday: Get to your Airbnb and relax, check out some shops in Old Colorado City

Saturday: After having a good breakfast, hit the road, because you'll be driving for one hour to Canon City to ride the Royal Gorge Route Railroad. Ticket prices vary depending on the class and time of year, but the view is beautiful no matter what. The train follows a quiet river, through a gorge. There are open-air train cabs that give you the opportunity to take in the fresh air and snap a good picture. 

The service inside serves hot food, signature drinks, and Colorado brews. On our ride we purchase the sample tower, to test all of the local brews offered. The total ride takes 2-3 hours but is relaxing and an irreplaceable experience.

After the train makes sure you spend some time walking around. There is a park area next to the river, stunning wood bridges, and even areas to get right next to the water. For all the coffee buffs there is a caboose coffee shop next to the train station that has a variety of options.

Next, Denver!

Remember we are on a road trip, and this time, there is a lot of driving. There is so much to do in Denver, so take your pick of anything you want to do. We went to the aquarium, then walked downtown. When we were there they had free public transportation downtown, so make sure you look for that. If you are traveling in November
there is a street downtown decorated straight from a Hallmark movie. If you find or know the street name, comment below!

My boyfriend and I are not much for nightlife. So after a warm dinner and stroll, we headed back to our Airbnb.

Sunday:

Time to pack up the Airbnb, but don't worry we have one more adventure. Get a filling breakfast, because we're headed to the Great Sand Dunes National Park in Alamosa Colorado. These sand dues exceed their title as great
and are massive. The sand is soft and can be sled down. The pictures taken here look fake, but it is just one of those places you need to see to believe. 

Last, but not least, drive 45 minutes to the Colorado Gators Reptile Park. For a small entrance fee, you can feed tortoises, hold a baby alligator, and see a TON of reptiles. The park is such a blast and you get a certificate of bravery for holding the baby alligator. 

After all that fun it's finally time to head home and get ready for the week!

Thank you for traveling with me!

-V