bayarea https://48houradventures.com/tag/bayarea/ Weekend getaways and bucket-list road trips with Bryan & Shauna Wed, 02 Sep 2020 15:44:46 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.9 178144920 San Francisco, Ca. ~ The top 5 sites to see in 48 hours https://48houradventures.com/2019/07/northern-california/san-francisco-ca-the-top-5-sites-to-see-in-48-hours/ https://48houradventures.com/2019/07/northern-california/san-francisco-ca-the-top-5-sites-to-see-in-48-hours/#respond Fri, 19 Jul 2019 16:41:00 +0000 https://48houradventures.com/?p=1061 Whether you’re planning several days or a quick weekend getaway, we’ll show you our favorite San Francisco sites. San Francisco is one of our favorite cities to explore on foot. From just about anywhere in the downtown area, you can easily access all of these locations. Fishermans Wharf Plan on spending several hours at Fishermans Wharf, as there is plenty to see within walking distance. This landmark San Francisco site, and tourist attraction has the super touristy places like Ripleys Believe it or not museum and endless souvenir shops to world class art galleries, retail stores and a wide variety of restaurants and live music clubs. There really is something for everyone here. Ghirardelli Square is a short walk and a visit to the chocolate factory will satisfy any sweet tooth. The central location offers a great jumping off spot to so many San Francisco sites and adventures. Tours leave from here for visits to Alcatraz and bay tours. You can drop into the Blue Mermaid Chowder house for some of the best corn and crab chowder ever. A short walk up the street to The Buena Vista for an Irish coffee or jumping on the Powell-Hyde cable car are all easily accessible from the Wharf.  Bike the Bridge One of the best experiences the Bay city has to offer is a bike ride across the Golden Gate Bridge.  You can rent an electric bike at www.blazingsaddles.com. The path from there is easy to access and has minimal car traffic. The electric bikes make the hills easier to navigate and make this ride available to all levels of athletic skill. The ride will take you past the marina, Fort Point and over the bridge into Sausalito. From here you can either grab a ferry ride back to the city. Or if you’re up to it, do the return trip over the bridge. Be sure to budget plenty of time so you can stop along the bridge to enjoy the view and take some pictures.  Alcatraz Island So many people visit San Francisco and never make it to Alcatraz Island. Do yourself a favor and make this a priority for your visit. Not only is the historic component compelling, the view from the island looking back at the city offers a unique perspective you can’t get anywhere else.  Alcatraz was once home to the likes of Al Capone, George “Machine Gun” Kelley, and Robert “The Birdman” Stroud. The audio tour that guides you through the federal prison will give you the background of these criminals and allow you to experience what their lives were like in lockdown. There are lots of great places for a picnic on the island. One of our favorite spots is just across the “yard.” There is a small door with a walkway and the view of the Golden Gate Bridge from here is magnificent.  La Misión San Francisco Mission Dolores is the oldest surviving structure in San Francisco. The chain of Missions in California are such an important part of this states history. Located in the northwest area of the neighborhood, the mission was founded on June 29th, 1776 by Father Serra just days before the signing of the Declaration of Independence. The culture and history are incredibly rich in this neighborhood. And then, there’s the world class Mexican food! A favorite is the 50 year old La Taqueria, they basically invented the local taco and burrito style found here. One of the more emotionally moving sites in all of SF is here in Clarion Alley. Located between Mission and Valencia Streets and 17th and 18th Streets, the murals are painted by the Clarion Alley Mural Project. This space of free expression is a grass roots project started in 1992 and produces art that is socially engaging, controversial  and powerful.  Chinatown One of our favorite hotels in SF is the Hilton Financial District. Not only because it has a foot bridge to Portsmouth Square in the center of Chinatown but also because of the views of Alcatraz, the San Francisco Bay, and Coit Tower. It’s less than a mile from the Ferry Building, Union Square and Coit Tower. The Italian restaurants, the iconic City Lights book store and  North Beach are just three blocks away.  There is an unending amount of history in Chinatown, SF. The Golden Gate Fortune cookie factory is said to be where the cookie was invented and the machines used to make them are from another era as are the ladies working them. The buildings along Grant street still retain some of the magnificent Oriental architecture that built this community. The herb and produce stores feature items that are rare to see in an American city and the likes we’ve only seen in Chinatown, Honolulu. Dig deep and venture into the fish markets, food plazas and herb stores and you will get a truly memorable experience of this amazingly rich culture.  Check out our blog on our favorite places to eat in SF!

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]]> https://48houradventures.com/2019/07/northern-california/san-francisco-ca-the-top-5-sites-to-see-in-48-hours/feed/ 0 1061 San Francisco, Ca ~ The best restaurants in 48 hours https://48houradventures.com/2019/07/northern-california/san-francisco-ca-the-best-of-the-city-in-48-hours/ https://48houradventures.com/2019/07/northern-california/san-francisco-ca-the-best-of-the-city-in-48-hours/#comments Mon, 15 Jul 2019 22:44:00 +0000 https://48houradventures.com/?p=962 It’s no wonder that so many claim to leave their hearts in this magical city. There is so much to do and see here, you could easily spend a week and not run out of places to explore. But if your time is limited, we will show you how to make the best of your visit. These are our favorite places to eat in San Francisco. Our favorite places to eat & drink in San Francisco Sam Wo: We always made it a point to visit to this restaurant when it was in it’s original location where it had been since 1907. In 2005, it moved to it’s current location on Clay st. The food is still distinctively authentic and they serve some of our favorite noodles in the City. House of Prime Rib: There is no shortage of “foodie” steak houses in the Bay Area but if you’re looking for possibly the highest quality of corn-fed beef, this is it. Aliotos: This historic location dates back to 1932 and features some of the freshest shrimp, crab and seafood the bay has to offer. Molinari’s deli: Established in 1896, this bustling Italian deli in North Beach is the perfect place for stocking up on snacks and sandwiches for a picnic or to enjoy on your walk around town. Blue Mermaid chowder house & bar: Residing in the lobby of the Argonaut Hotel is the Blue Mermaid. Not only do the have some of the best chowder in all of SF, this is a great place to pop in for a quick lunch or stop by the bar for a beer or cocktail. The Buena Vista: No visit to San Francisco is complete without an Irish coffee at The Buena Vista. Serving this iconic drink since 1952, they’ve served more Irish Whiskey here than any bar in the Country. Sam Wo’s The oldest restaurant in Chinatown was built in 1907 by three Chinese immigrant brothers. The original 3-story building on Washington was erected shortly after the 1906 earthquake. For decades, every trip to SF included dinner at Sam Wo’s. The place was always packed and the energy was always lively. Often, there was a line out the door and down the street. The menu once said that the Chow Mien was the only good thing there and everything else sucked. It literally said that. In the 1980’s some notoriety was gained for being known locally as having the “Worlds rudest waiter!” Edsel Ford Fung became somewhat of a local legend. In 2012, the restaurant was shut down and the cost to reopen it in the original location became prohibitive. Fortuantely for all of us, the family didn’t give up and re-opened on Clay st. The food is tasty, reasonably priced and portions are large. We LOVE Sam Wo’s! House of Prime Rib Serving the best quality of beef available since 1949, The House of Prime rib is a dining experience not soon forgotten. Reservations are highly recommended and should be made as far out as possible. The atmosphere inside the restaurant is always buzzing and the aroma of the food will make you salivate as soon as you walk in. The use of the custom made chef carts allows service of your steak the moment it is cut. Salads are tossed table side in a spinning bowl above an ice bath and served ice cold. Even though the side dishes are limited, the creamed spinach is classically delicious as is the Yorkshire pudding. Be sure to arrive early for a pre-meal drink in the bar. Take a step back in time when drinks were strong, portions large and service was entertaining. Aliotos The Alioto’s family name is synonymous with Fishermans Wharf. This San Francisco landmark restaurant started as a fish stand in 1932 and has become a mainstay of the Wharf. Their highly talented seafood buy assures that only the best seafood is served. You’ll find traditional items like clam chowder, Dungeness crab and the calamari is some of the best in the city. The Seafood tower for two is an all-in experience. However, be sure to check out some of the Sicilian dishes that are made with years old recipes passed down through the Alioto family. Molinari’s Deli Since 1896, this small deli in North Beach has been serving locals and tourists en mass. It is always packed so be ready to stand in line. Service is fast so be sure you know what you want when you get to the front! The counter is staffed with a loud chattering group of guys who make huge, delicious sandwiches. Stock up your backpacks with fresh bread, some cold cuts and cheeses for a picnic later in the day. Blue Mermaid chowder house and bar Housed in the Argonaut hotel on Jefferson, this gold rush themed restaurant has the best Corn & Crab chowder you’ll ever have! Selections like the Wild Salmon, Rib Eye steak or Fishermans platter are beautifully presented and service is spot-on. On our most recent visit, we were lucky enough to be stuck inside during a rainstorm, which made it a storybook San Francisco afternoon. The Buena Vista An iconic cafe located in Ghirardelli Square overlooking Fishermans wharf and the Powell-Hyde cable car turn-around, has been serving Irish coffees since 1952. The history within these walls runs deep. To date they have served over 30 million Irish coffees. The recipe is pure perfection. We’ve tried Irish coffees at other places and none come close to this. They serve breakfast lunch and dinner. Everything on the menu pairs well with the Irish coffee. A stop here makes sense any time of day and you’ll be so happy you did. One of our favorite afternoons in SF was a rainy morning breakfast at The Buena Vista and then we jumped on the cable car and took a tour of the city. Check out our blog on our favorite sites to see in San Francisco!

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