Thursday, December 22, 2011

San Francisco: Round 2

Today I'm guest posting over at Chrsitina's Pop Life. It's all about Christmas in San Francisco so please stop by and check it out. And be sure to read her other posts while there - she's great!

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Continuing with my San Francisco recap, let's pick up with Alcatraz. My dad and I headed to "the rock" early Friday morning and the weather was perfect. Sunny and clear skies. Plus, nothing says father-daughter bonding like a maximum security prison haha.

Definitely a must-see when you visit SF. This was my second trip and I enjoyed it just as much this time around. It's incredible that the families of the guards lived on the island and had a peaceful existence as if the prison wasn't even there. And the views from Alcatraz are incredible. We heard stories about how the city of San Francisco was so close yet so far away for the prisioners that it was a form of punishment in itself. On New Years Eve they could actually hear the city celebrating at the stroke of midnight - that's how close the island is to the mainland.


After our tour we picked up my mom and headed to North Beach (the Italian neighborhood) for some pizza at Tony's Pizza Napoletana. We ordered a traditional NY pepperoni pizza and a side order of deep fried garlic string beans which we all loved.


Before heading to Lombard Street for a ride down the crooked road, we stopped in at an amazing hat store called Goorin Bros. Hat Shop. It seriously felt like stepping back in time in to the 1920s. They have been around since 1985 so they know what they're doing. I walked out with a Liam flatcap (or newsboy cap) and am loving it. It's the one I'm wearing in the pic below.


After driving around for awhile we ventured into Chinatown for some authentic food. It was quite the experience. There are so many shops and most of the restaurants are hidden but we managed to find Sam Wo's, a tiny place where you walk directly into the kitchen before heading up the stairs to a small dining area. I'm not a huge fan of Chinese food but for the cheap prices and amount of food served it was worth the experience.


The next morning we went back to Chinatown to pick up some fresh fortune cookies at Golden Gate Fortune Cookie Factory. It is located in small side street called Ross Alley (no joke, it was like a Jackie Chan movie!) and there was no parking so I stayed in the car while my parents went inside the shop. They said it was a cool experience to see the cookies being made. And you can choose from traditional or adult cookies with naughty fortunes! Unfortunately I don't have any pictures of the inside but my dad did snap an alley photo.


All in all, I'd say our trip to San Francisco was pretty awesome! If you've been, what your favorite thing about the city?

21 comments:

Mel said...

It's been a LONG time since I've been to San Fran. Thanks for recaps!

Lyndsay said...

I loved touring Alcatraz. It's a neat place to see! Great pictures...thanks for sharing! :)

Leesh said...

I have been to San Fran three times in the past three years and I have yet to make it to Alcatraz. The trick is, I need to buy tickets before I arrive. I always forget and then they are sold out. My hubby wants to take the night tour and that might freak me out a little.

C said...

Alcatraz is awesome! When we got home from our trip I rented a bunch of documentaries about it. Such an interesting place. Chinatown is insane. We were there over Chinese New Year so we just drove through, but it’s so cool and so huge. It puts Seattle’s International District to shame! I want those green beans now!!! And I love your hat. So cute!

Audrey Allure said...

Alcatraz is definitely interesting & it was fascinating learning more about it -- I went at night for a more creepy feel :)

Michelle said...

Looks like a great trip! That prison is so creepy/cool. I need to get there at some point. Your hat is adorable. :-)

his little lady said...

oh my gosh, i'm seriously obsessed with san francisco, even though i've only been there once. and i saw alcatraz, but i didn't get to go!
xo TJ

Miss Angie said...

I LOVED Alcatraz. Really, it was such an experience! :) That food looks good!

Loving the new header too! :)

Sabrina said...

I've always meant to do alcatraz... gotta get there.
xx-
sabrina
www.samplesize16.com

Christianna said...

With all the times that I've been to SF, I've actually never gone to Atcatraz, but I'll have to make that happen! I've only ever walked down the windy street, but that was fun too! Looks like you hit up all the good spots!

Elle Sees said...

did you see the bush man? i hear he makes like 60k a year!

Couture Carrie said...

Gorgeous post!
Love the hats!

xoxox,
CC

Punctuation Mark said...

love all these images of SF... merry christmas!!!

Miss Sweet Tea said...

I love your San Francisco recaps! It looks like you had such a good time! That pizza looks so yummy! I am interested in checking out Alcatraz next time I go up north...does it have a creepy feeling??!

Julie (Little Pink Rain Boots) said...

Looks like a fun trip. It's so awesome you got to see Alcatraz.

Josie said...

Being a candy freak, I of course loved Ghiradelli Square when I visited SF -- but I think the whole city is so beautiful! Looks like you had a blast!
xo Josie
www.winksmilestyle.com

bananas. said...

i've never been to alcatraz...can you believe it?! i really, really, really, REALLY must go!!!

ooh and pizza in north beach is the bomb!

Unknown said...

beautiful pics!!!

Nicole Marie said...

i love alcatraz

Crazy Shenanigans-JMO said...

I loved seeing your photos on instagram!!! I was there in July and we did the Alcatraz tour too. It was so interesting. Glad you had a great time.

Jules said...

That's so cool that you got to visit Alcatraz again. I can't imagine being confined to a cell let alone on an island so close to a major city. It definitely sounds like torture on top of torture.

I love your cute hat from the shop!

I'm not big on Chinese food either, but would have gone to Chinatown for the experience.

I'm so glad you guys had a great time!