San Francisco continued ....

Nordstrom  in the Westfield Shopping Centre

Treasure Island RV Park is somewhat different to many of the parks we stay in. A large number of permanent residents live in park models and old trailer homes. It is a way of life for a percentage of the population; there is not much interaction with other travellers.
Not that it worries us. The days are busy, busy!

Of course the kids want to look at some of the shops!
Fin finds a pair of Converse boots which are a 'must'. They are a leopard pattern and come up to her knees.  They look very good on her long legs.

Macy's of course!

Mace wants some jeans - no difficulty in finding a friendly and helpful sales assistant - and - he scores 2 pairs.
Kim spends time looking for books and clothes. Trevor is more than happy to 'people watch'  in Union Square.

A few 'Painted Ladies'.

Has Faith found some new friends?

Union Square is a lively and energetic place. Sometimes there are art exhibitions on display or musicians playing.
We had nice sunny weather on the days we were in the city which made sitting in Union Square most enjoyable.

The paved square is nothing special in form but it provides an armchair view to the goings on in the city - clanging cable cars, traffic congestion in narrow streets, throngs of visitors, office workers meeting up for lunch in the sun - and - street people. They are the most fascinating of all!

Union Square was named after the pro-Union rallies held here during the Civil war of 1861-65.

Alcatraz Island

Two days are taken up with purely sightseeing. The kids visit  Alcatraz Island, the Aquarium,  California Academy of Sciences and the Japanese Tea Gardens.

We thought we had allowed enough time to catch the ferry to Alcatraz by 10.00am.

We missed the first BART; then had a wait for a cable car; the walk to Pier 33 took much longer than I remembered - but they caught the ferry.

There they go!

They were intrigued by Alcatraz; seeing the waters  Trevor and Kerry swam across also added to the mix. Finlay bought a book of short stories on some of the former inmates.

After visiting Alcatraz they went on to the Aquarium at the Bay, visited Fishermans Wharf  and Pier 39.

Sea lions at Fishermans Wharf

Possibly Kim's 'pick me up'?

It looks wonderful!

The California Academy of Sciences is one of the largest museums of natural history in the world. Founded in 1853 it is San Francisco's oldest and most popular science museum. Several years of planning and rebuilding have recently given the museum a modern home after it suffered earthquake damage, making it now one of the 'newest' natural history museums in the US.


And while they are busy seeing the must sees, I have a haircut! Again a disappointment and - shock horror from Trevor. I put off going to a hairdresser for so long that when I finally get there I am over it and say 'cut it all off.
I  must be saving heaps on hair dressing but that doesn't help every time I look in the mirror! It is one of the little issues that goes hand in hand with being on the move all the time. I think I can manage!!
Mace - bless his heart - says it looks OK.


The kids also visit the Japanese Tea Gardens in Golden Gate Park.

Since 1894 this beautiful 5-acre garden and bonsai grove has brought delight to those who visit, especially in Spring and Fall.

On Kim's list of must do's is a visit to Napa Valley. We take a rental car for a  day and drive out of the city over  the Bay Bridge on I-80.  It is a lovely sunny day.
Napa lies at the heart of California's wine industry. It is a 35 mile sliver of land encompassing 5 towns and includes 250 wineries scattered across hillsides and valleys. Some wineries date from the early 19th century.












We stop in at the Visitors Centre in Napa and pick up maps and brochures for the area. We then set off on the Silverado Trail - so many beautiful views, the scenery is incredible.
Prominent among the wineries is the Mumm Napa Valley winery, partly owned by French champagne producer GH Mumm. We have a voucher to  a tasting at Mumm- 2 for 1. Trevor isn't fussed and Mace and Finlay are happy to wait - they are promised a visit to the Jelly Belly Factory in Fairfield.

So Kim and I sit out under umbrellas and enjoy a very substantial tasting. We look out over a panorama of vineyards while we savour several glasses of champagne!










I was in heaven; beautiful countryside; Kim  having fun - what more could you want.

Each tasting was $18.00 but as we had a 2 for one voucher it wasn't so bad - there was plenty to taste!!

We continued on our tour stopping at several wineries but no more tastings.

Kim found a neat poster of wine cellar doors which we will see on her wall at home I am sure.

Our favourite every day red wine!

We stop for lunch at Gott's Roadside, a restaurant at 3 locations in Northern California, a family-owned company providing fast food made with ingredients from local producers and cooked to order.
It was fun.

Our own waitress!

And then we are rushing to get to Fairfield and the Jelly Belly factory.

We did promise!! Peak hour traffic now on SR 29. We get there with about 12 minutes to spare. No time for the factory tour but still time to make some purchases!

Jelly Belly - the gourmet jelly bean; the favourite of Presidents and the first jelly bean in outer space.
There are officially 50 flavours made year round.

But did she need 2 and a half pounds!!!

The homeward trip is a bit tense - traffic wise - but it was a great day.
I am so glad that Napa was on the list!