San Fran Snapshot - Day 2

On our second relatively free day in San Francisco, my coworker and I decided to spend it... well, mostly outside of San Francisco. With a rental car from a close location, we set out to drive the 101 across the Golden Gate Bridge. It truly is a spectacular monument.

The bridge has been standing since 1937. It must be repainted nearly constantly. 

After traversing the bridge, we headed to Muir Woods National Park to see giant California redwoods. It's a fun, winding drive (if you aren't a Queasymodo or Pukahontas type...) through farm lands, forests and near coast lines. It's a relatively short drive too. I think only 30 minutes out of the city. My favourite part is rolling down the windows and letting the fresh sea air and scent of eucalyptus trees in. 

Parking is usually full on the weekends at the park site, but we lucked into a spot. Entry was $7 for an adult pass at the time. What I really enjoy about the woods is that there's not much to them. It's truly about quietly experiencing the redwood forest. 

There are a few interpretive signs and a boardwalk. Coincidentally, I spotted a beautiful yellow goldfinch just above the sign on local birds. He was being a cheeky bugger and would sit still for a good shot. Can you spot his yellow rump?

Last time I was in Muir Woods, there were quite a few white tailed deer hanging out in a grove of particularly big redwoods called The Cathedral. No such luck spotting deer in the park this time, but the other residents are still stirring. 

After the enchanting forest, we zipped off to visit the seaside town of Sausalito. It's just across and nearly under the Golden Gate. 

The main draw is the seaside boardwalk and restaurants and residences on stilts in the water. It was very picturesque but very difficult to park. 

Next we headed to the Marine Mammal Center about 15 minutes away from Sausalito. It's a nonprofit organization dedicated to the rescue and rehabilitation of sick or injured marine mammals. Local residents include harbour seals, California sea lions, and elephant seals. 

And some crazy tourists.

They had about 188 patients in residence when we visited. They often rescue other species, like otters and other seals, but it was Harbour seals, California sea lions, and elephant seals on-site this visit.

What struck me most about the residents was the astoundingly loud, monstrous and absurdly funny noises juvenile seals make. A great docent gave us a fun trivia fact: the harbour seal sounds are featured as monster sounds in three movies. Listen up and guess which three!

 

If you guessed Jurassic Park (raptors), Harry Potter (some creature/character I don't remember), and Lord of the Rings (Orcs), you win at movie sound guessing! What? I had saltwater taffy as prizes, but it mysteriously disappeared.

Just down the hill from the Marine Mammal Center was the iconic Rodeo beach. Even with strong winds and very brisk temperatures there were surfers braving the waves. 

I didn't get any surfer or seal photos because I got totally distracted by a corgi puppy! Who's a fluffy boy?! Who's a good fluffykins?! Who's a fluffy, schmoopy, cutey, pooper schnookums?!?! SQUEE! My coworker did not need to see that side of me...

*not the actual corgi, too busy squeeing to take a photo

I finally managed to reign my uncontrollable love of corgis back in long enough to get in the car and head back into the city for a detour to a certain famous set of houses. Back in the city, we went to Alamo Park. The houses surrounding Alamo Park are of the Victorian style, quite old, and a few of them are well recognized from TVs Full House.

The houses are actually called the Painted Ladies. And are not the only beautiful Victorian houses around.

On the recommendation of a new local friend, we were off to Valencia street. It was lined with artisan coffee shops, international food markets, custom bike shops, quirky furniture stores, and consignment or boutique clothing shops. 

And one very weird, very special, totally amazeballs shop: Paxton Gate. For unusual nerds such as yours truly, it was a delight! 

Stuffed to the rafters with curios, it catered to a number if my stranger sensibilities. There was a whole wall of framed insects. Little known fact: I've started collecting framed butterflies and moths in the past few years. Their selection made it extremely difficult to pick out the newest edition. 

Noteworthy is the small collection of taxidermied mice dressed and posed in Renaissance garb. I had to tell the staff about Alberta's own Torrington Gopher Hole Museum, which is a small building in a small town just north of Calgary. It's wall-to-wall display cases of taxidermied gophers in quaint rural situations. 

They also had a workshop space for building your own terrarium. Too bad live plants are generally a no-no at international border crossings! 

With that final shopping excursion, it was pretty much off to the airport and home. Until next time, San Francisco, stay hipster! ;)