Bay Area Excursions

Today I’d like to share with  you three Bay Area excursions Sam and I have taken since Christmas.

Point Reyes and Sonoma

The road leading to the beach at Pt. Reyes. I marveled at the vivid colors of the ocean and vegetation.

On Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Sam, our friend Rebecca and I took a daytrip to Point Reyes and Sonoma. We braved the chilly wind on the beach at the Point Reyes National Seashore; ate goat and lamb burgers at the Marin Sun Farms Butcher Shop; slurped oysters at the Hog Island Oyster Farm; tasted some very good Chardonnays and Pinot Noirs at Marimar Estate Vineyards & Winery; and ate disappointing baked goods at the Downtown Bakery in Healdsburg (I guess it’s hard to top Tartine). I can’t wait to go back to the Hog Island Oyster Company for a picnic. They have picnic tables, barbecues and stalls where you can buy oysters to take home or eat on the spot.

The Hog Shack at the Hog Island Oyster Company, where you can buy fresh oysters to complement your picnic.

Oysters! We opted for raw oysters, but you can also buy barbecued oysters.

Bike Ride Across Golden Gate Bridge

Golden Gate Bridge at Sunset, taken from the ferry.

A few weekends ago, Sam and I took advantage of the unseasonably warm weather and rode our bikes across the Golden Gate Bridge to Sausalito. The nine-mile ride was surprisingly quick and easy. There are a few big hills, but I grew up at the top of a very big hill and have learned to power up the hills. We were lucky to have a completely clear, sunny day—no fog spoiled our views. I finally fulfilled my goal of eating a whole crab when we had lunch at Horizons on the pier. Yum! We took the ferry back to Fishermen’s Warf and got to enjoy a beautiful sunset behind the silhouette of the Golden Gate Bridge.

Golden Gate Bridge at sunset.

Fort Point

Right before New Year’s, Sam and I rode our bikes to Crissy Field and went inside Fort Point for the first time. Fort Point is an old army fort at the base of the Golden Gate Bridge that was completed right before the Civil War to protect San Francisco from invaders. You can take a self-guided tour for free or stop by for an organized event, such as a weekly candlelight tour or a Civil War day featuring Civil War Re-enactors (this Saturday, January 28, 10am-5pm). The stone corridors and narrow staircases reminded me touring castles and cathedrals in England. San Francisco may not be a very old city, but it does have its share of history. On the way home, we stopped for lunch at the Warming Hut Cafe and Bookstore, which has a great selection of soups, salads and sandwiches. The Warming Hut is also a great place to buy good quality San Francisco souvenirs, guidebooks and cookbooks.

I love the Bay Area and feel so blessed to live right in the heart of San Francisco. Whether I’m exploring the shops in the City, visiting historical monuments or soaking up the natural beauty, I know there’s always something fun to do—and something good to eat.