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August 1, 2013

Taking it Easy in San Francisco, CA

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Of course during our 2013 road trip, we had to stop in San Francisco, but by the time we got there we wanted nothing more than to take it slow, keep the activities to a bare minimum, and try simply to enjoy the sites without forcing ourselves into traffic – which as far as West Coast traffic goes, started in San Francisco for us. We felt it immediately as we tried to maneuver our Yukon Denali through the busy city streets. The public transportation system is supposed to be really good in San Fran, everyone told us so, but without really know where to get buses, how long the waits for them were, and not really wanted to deal with the traffic and crowds, we just didn’t even try.

Yes. We were that tired.

Last time I was in San Francisco I was able to stay in a hotel that was pretty central to most major shops and eateries, which made it really easy to walk to some pretty great stops. I also went when tourist season was low, so I got to do fun things like ride the world-famous cable cars all the way up to the San Francisco Maritime National Park and take in the views. This time however, I avoided it and with my husband and three kids joining me, we decided to rent a beautiful home in the neighborhood of Richmond in search of our solitude and peace. The rental was gorgeous (note, it comes with a cat, so if you are allergic, it might not be for you), and you can easily access parks and other attractions we were told even via public transit.

We did venture out and still managed to find peace at Golden Gate Park, a short drive from the house we rented, where we admired the small herd of American bison as they grazed in a gated meadow in the park. We sat on the cool grass surrounding one of the Dutch windmills at the edge of the park, hidden away from the busy-ness of it all. We sank our feet in the cold waters from the waves that came in on Ocean Beach and spent a little time just walking on the sand.

But, our real time in San Francisco was mostly spent in two places. One was in our Airbnb rental and its neighborhood, where we went to the store, took a walk, and even went to the movies.

The second place where we spent most of our time in San Francisco was while standing in line at Mama’s in the neighborhood of Washington Square. Let me start off by saying that as a true New Yorker, the whole standing on long lines to eat anywhere is just insane to me. I just won’t do it…and often times as a local, I don’t have to. But, I wasn’t a local here and my husband really, really wanted to try this place. (Travel Tip: the way to get along with your honey or anyone you are traveling with is to compromise. Just give in and let the other person choose sometimes.)

The line was for an hour and a half wait by the time we stood at the back of it. I wanted to die. But I didn’t. Instead, I left my husband and kids and walked around and checked out the Coit Tower, though didn’t go up because of, again, long lines. The views from Telegraph Hill are so great, I could see everything – did I tell you how it was incredibly beautiful and sunny in San Francisco? Oh yeah…we were winning with the weather!

I toured Saints Peter and Paul Church, which was gorgeous and also cool in that it is the church that has been in some big movies (i.e., Dirty Harry) and is where Joe DiMaggio and Marilyn Monroe took their post-wedding photos (on the steps of the church because they weren’t actually allowed to get married there). I mean, really, it’s so Hollywood, isn’t it?

When we finally got into Mama’s (2.5 hours later), we were not only starving, but also tired. You would think that it would be enough to turn you into a monster. But something amazing happened. Once in, we were mesmerized by the sight of orders being quickly filled with some of the most appetizing brunch combos ever.

We made it!

The Paisano Benedict with prosciutto and grilled tomato. French toast with house baked bread made with cranberries, fresh orange juice and walnuts battered in egg whites and served with berries. Dungeness Crab Omelette  with avocado, tomato and Havarti.

Spinach and mushroom Benedict. So yum.

And then to boot, the staff was really sweet and most of them all members of Mama’s family. I met Mike, one of the grandsons who also gave me a tip of when it was best to come (after work hours, during the week, not during tourist season), as well as his favorite dish (the Monte Cristo) and the most popular one in the restaurant (the Paisano Benedict). Suddenly, the long wait didn’t matter because the food was incredible – I have to admit, it really was – and the service was pretty stellar. No one rushed us, we received really attentive service and lots and lots of smiles. It cost the five of us a pretty penny to eat there because of course we ordered half the menu, but I would eat there again, just when Mike suggested it was best to return.

Aside from standing on long lines at eateries, the other touristy thing we did was visit the Fort Point National Historic Site, where we got super close to the Golden Gate Bridge, and climbed the steps of the fort placing us directly underneath this beautiful bridge while providing us with informational tidbits of the area’s history in the process. It was a windy, foggy time of day, very close to closing when we arrived, which meant very few people, and one of the best (free) attractions of the city almost all to ourselves!

Friends we met up with in San Francisco and every one with whom we connected online who is from this wonderful city speak of it with the same love and passion as we New Yorkers speak of our wonderful city. And I get it. San Francisco is really great, with tons to see and so much to do, but on this trip we chose to do a little less. Nonetheless, we had a good time and because we weren’t in hurry to fit a lot in, we got to take in our experiences a little deeper and connect with people a little more. A lot of our time there was great, from our Airbnb rental in Richmond (check the listing for it here), to our half day in line at Mama’s, to our late afternoon excursion to the base of the Golden Gate Bridge. Seems every time I go, I am left with a lot to love about San Francisco and even more reasons to return.

All photos are from the GirlGoneTravel Instagram page. Follow me there for more photos! You can also see all the images of our 2013 Road Trip adventure on our Storify!

All photography is property of GirlGoneTravel.com and may not be used without consent of the publisher.

G Adventures is the proud sponsor of the Cain Family Road Trip, with Onstar as our vehicle sponsor! Stay connected via Twitter, as well as on Instagram, Vine, and Facebook!

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Carol Cain

Brooklyn native Carol is happiest when on an adventure, whether close to home or farther away. She is a small business owner and travel writer. In addition to creating Girl Gone Travel, she is the Founder and Principal of Brave World Media, a social media marketing, communications, and branding agency. She's mom to three wonderful sons and wife to a handsome Irish/Scot. She lives, works, and plays in the beautiful Finger Lakes region of NY.

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2 Comments
  • Dee
    August 3, 2013

    It's such a laid back city until you also don't feel pressured to do 150 things like you do in NY. When I lived there and out of town visitors would come I would target a few sights and leave it at that. Usually the regular touristy places and a local spot or two. Fisherman's Wharf, Chinatown, North Beach, Lombard Street, Union Square, Market Street, Embarcadero are all convenient to each other so that are on the list. More local attractions might be Japantown and Historic Fillmore, Ocean Beach, GG Park, GG Bridge, The Presidio and the Palace of Fine Arts, Castro, Mission, Twin Peaks…such a wonderful city!
    My recent post Review: Flat Top Bistro Soft Opening

    Reply
    • caincarol
      Dee
      August 3, 2013

      So true! It's horrifying to some people that we were in San Francisco and didn't do a lot – like we wasted our time or something. Truth is, there is value in travel when not doing everything too. I don't look back at my time in SF and feel I missed anything because we really enjoyed our relax time there.

      Reply

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About me

Hi! I'm Carol! I am an award-winning travel blogger, a keynote speaker, and the Principal and owner of Brave World Media, a social media marketing, communications, and branding agency. I a wife to a handsome Irish/Scot and a mom to 3 sons. Welcome to my blog where I share stories of my travels and professional public relations insights and advice. Thank you for reading and for your support!

Carol Cain

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A message about yesterday’s event: Happy Monday A message about yesterday’s event:

Happy Monday, y’all. Woke up in time to enjoy the soft glow of sunlight that shines its way around our house in the morning, and sipped on a cafecito without being rushed for anything. So already today is a win. 

Yesterday we worked our longest day yet for our little coffee cart that could (7 hours!!!) at the Heritage Fiesta in Ithaca, NY. 

Though we were ready for a crowd, the reception was also unexpected because there was a popular coffee shop just steps away. 

But we had Cómodo Fam stop by, family (who also fed us 🙏🏾), and soooo many members of the Latinx and BIPOC community who were just excited to see a small business like ours representing. 

I want to share that we were ALL worried about potential harassment and assault by 🧊and fliers were handed out to prepare us. And you would think that it would’ve intimidated the community enough to not come out…BUT WE DID. In numbers. 

And for hours that little parking lot next to Press Bay Alley was packed with all sorts of Latinx and non-Latinx community members, eating, laughing, dancing, singing, and drinking all the cafecitos and refreshers we had to offer. Literally. We went home cleaned out!

All this to say that we are all aware of the threats but we also understand the power and importance of coming together as a community and a people. By no means are we all the same, and Lord knows a lot of Latinos have a lot of self-reflecting to do based on the choices they made, but yesterday was a testament to the best of us, and I thank @yenospina and @lcatompkins for putting together such a wonderful event, for inviting @cafecomodony to be a part of it, and to all the friends, old and new, who came out to support us and la cultura. 

#fingerlakes #newyork #cafecomodo #coffeelover
Finally taking a break to enjoy one of my favorite Finally taking a break to enjoy one of my favorite lazy day pastimes of the season: market shopping for fall goodies - which in the Finger Lakes is especially bountiful. 

📍Joseph’s Wayside Markey, Naples, NY

#fingerlakes #newyork #octobermood #fallday
Our neighbors are harvesting the grapes. The proce Our neighbors are harvesting the grapes. The process is busy and noisy but also exciting and fun to watch. 

This cloudy morning seems to have calmed things down a bit, but not for long I am sure. These families work hard!

Bonus: they set up roadside stands so we can purchase and taste them 🍇 I highly recommend picking some up if you see some in your drive. 

#fingerlakes #lifeinthecountry #newyork
The rain has been so good. More, please. ❤️ The rain has been so good. More, please. ❤️
I want to take moment to send out love to my fello I want to take moment to send out love to my fellow Latinx and immigrant community. 

To send strength to my community of glorious misfits who are out in the world making good trouble and emboldening us to not give up hope on our dreams, our livelihoods, our future, our country, our people. 

The country our parents worked so hard to get to so that we could fly. A country they helped build and bring to prosper. A country our communities help to feed and house and care for. 

I am my immigrant parents dream come true, and my children are a continuation of that dream. 

I just want to remind all of us who represent the targeted, of our worth. Of the value of our contributions. In our languages, our culture, our insights, our work ethic and skills and knowledge. Of the things we bring to the table.

I don’t know what will happen tomorrow, or to us. But, as someone whose family lived through a dictatorship, I have an idea of how this story will end. And all I can advise is that we remain on the right side of it, our convictions unaltered, our core values untethered. Our spirits unbroken. In these stories, the monsters might scare us, and even harm some of us, but they never, ever win in the end. 

I am living proof of that. ❤️ And every time you succeed and feel joy, you are too. Pa’lante, mi gente.
Signs of autumn 🍂 in the Finger Lakes. Signs of autumn 🍂 in the Finger Lakes.

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