San Francisco

So my parents decided to fly into San Francisco for Christmas this year and make an extra little vacation out of the trip (not to mention the tickets into SF were $200 cheaper than flying in to Fresno). They flew in on Tuesday and had a night to themselves, then we drove up Wednesday to pick them up. Here are some pictures of our adventures in the city yesterday. We started off in North Beach (a day of parking there is only $8 vs. $20 or more in Union Square), walked over to Washington Square and went inside St. Peter and Paul Church, then walked the stairs up to Coit Tower. Of course, as adults, we soak in the gorgeous view, stand in awe of the murals painted on the inside walls of the tower...what did the kids think was amazing? The self-cleaning toilet stall in the parking lot! And, no, I didn't take a picture of it. Back down the stairs. Lunch at Il Pollaiao...YUM! We tried to get the sign in the background. While waiting for our table to be set up Isaac saw a face in the rain-soaked street. Do you see it? After lunch it was up Columbus Avenue to head to Chinatown. But first, a stop at the Italian Bakery for a bite of cannoli for dessert! Isaac is NOT pointing to the cannolis, rather a squid in the window. The kids thought the hanging fish and poultry in the windows of Chinatown was QUITE interesting. At the start of Grant Avenue. Right after we took this picture it started to pour down rain...but we were prepared! We made it all the way up the street to the entrance gate. After a quick stop at Starbucks for hot coffee and a dry place to sit a while, we headed up Nob Hill. In front of Mark Hopkins hotel, overlooking the city. We walked into the Fairmont Hotel to see the 2-story gingerbread house in the lobby. At the top of Nob Hill stands Grace Cathedral. As if all that walking wasn't enough exercise, Randy and Isaac had to have step-jumping contests to burn a little extra steam. Now, down the hill back towards Washington Square, with a stop in the Cable Car museum to see the big sheaves. A stop in Woh Hei Yuen Park to play awhile. It was mostly dry by then. We made it back to our car around 4:30 and decided to leave the city for home rather that stay for dinner. At 6 p.m., after an hour and a half of singing, making up songs, sampling all the small candies we'd collected throughout the day, and generally trying not to go crazy (or wet our pants...can't stop for a potty break when you're stuck in the middle of traffic) we finally made it onto the Bay Bridge! But who can complain when you get to stop in Castro Valley at your favorite pizza parlor, Pyzano's, for dinner? And now, with full tummies, we made it home with my parents, safe and sound, ready to celebrate Christmas together!

We hope your families are enjoying adventures of your own, ready to celebrate Christmas together!