After my week in Seattle, I continued my journey down the west coast to spend the weekend in San Francisco with Kira, my oldest friend. This was my first time in California – I can't believe it took me this long to visit – and I can now say I finally understand the appeal. California truly is a paradise.
Kira and her husband Ben live in Tamalpais Valley, a small community in Marin County. Tam Valley, which is part of the greater Mill Valley, is a beautiful place to live. Despite it’s close proximity to San Francisco (only a twenty minute drive), it seems worlds away; bound my coastal hills, hiking trails, and extraordinary nature reserves, Tam Valley is a peaceful oasis on the other side of the Golden Gate Bridge.
Kira and I spent the majority of the weekend outside the city, enjoying the beautiful weather –something that is quite rare in San Francisco this time of year. To celebrate Canadian Thanksgiving, we visited the Crystal Bay Farm pumpkin patch in Watsonville, not too far from Santa Cruz, and prepared a Thanksgiving dinner with a group of Kira and Ben’s friends. I now believe the hype about California food – everything we ate was delicious. From contemporary Mexican food at Playa Mill Valley to fresh artisan sandwiches at Surf City Sandwich in Santa Cruz, the quality of ingredients in California is bar none.
After saying our goodbyes, I spent my last morning wandering through San Francisco proper. I saw the famous Lombard Street, meandered through Chinatown, walked along the beautiful waterfront, explored the downtown core, and climbed up the Coit Tower, which took more effort than I had hoped for such a leisurely morning. The highlight of my day, however, was my lunch at the Ferry Building Marketplace, where I got to eat an amazing grilled cheese from Cowgirl Creamery overlooking the sparkling blue bay. I couldn't think of a better way to end my weekend in San Francisco. Next up – Los Angeles!
