San Francisco. I absolutely love this place. Bridges connecting cities and counties, cable cars connecting districts, and old prison bars connecting the past with the present.
Back in the day, I had the pleasure of living in the Bay Area for a couple of years, and spent most of my days off getting to know—as best I could—this town. Fast forward to today, I recently rediscovered my fondness for SF by discovering something(s) new.
Bridges
Ready for a little fill-in-the-blanks? 1) The Golden Gate Bridge takes its name from:
A) the strait that passes under the bridge
B) the official name of its paint
C) the naval ship that first entered San Francisco Bay
Answer: A! The Golden Gate Strait, so named by an army captain in the mid 1800s, became the name for this famous landmark.
I’ve driven over the Golden Gate Bridge a handful of times, stopping at one end or the other to record photographic evidence—my “proof I was there” shot. My something-new discovery on this trip? When one of my travel companions suggested we walk it. Whoa. I love to walk—what a great idea!
Everyone was onboard. Even the weather agreed, providing ample sunshine and just a hint of a breeze. Not bad for winter. And the view! So much easier to enjoy while walking.
The Bay Bridge visible to the east, and the Pacific Ocean to the west. And the spectacular view of The city itself. Ahhhhh… wonderful!
Another fun bridge—albeit a much shorter one—the Drum Bridge. We found this enchanting structure in the Japanese Tea Garden, located inside Golden Gate Park.
All that walking made me feel a lot less guilty about enjoying great food, beverages and desserts. The new restaurant discoveries for me?
Bites
Staying at the Argonaut provided us with more than just an excellent location, wonderfully appointed rooms and great service, it also gave us a terrific bite to eat at its own Blue Mermaid Restaurant.
We enjoyed the atmosphere of their patio as we nibbled on tasty appetizers and wet our whistles on custom beverages. The service was wonderful! They very kindly crafted the drinks we described to them.
The Commissary. Fresh and delicious, the food was unique, celebrating both Spanish influence and local ingredients. The menu featured so many one-of-a-kind creations, our server deserved a gold star just for patiently (and happily!) answering all our questions.
Although not a new discovery for me, The Stinking Rose was new to our companions. Located in San Francisco’s North Beach neighborhood, this garlic restaurant is in good company with many Italian restaurants, but has a way of standing out. Vampires beware! If you love garlic, you owe it to yourself to dine here.
After a wonderful but breezy-chilly tour through the east side of Golden Gate Park, it was time to warm up at the Japanese Tea Garden. What wonderful service and treats—and tea! And the setting couldn’t be more perfect. We scored a great table (open seating, so we put on our eagle eyes) next to the pond. We warmed up instantly.
Later, we ventured to Chinatown to enjoy the shops and decor, and to warm up a bit (again) with more hot tea and noodles. We chose the Utopia Cafe on Waverly Place. Authentic and unpretentious, this place really hit the spot.
Bars
Our breezy-chilly wonderful tour through the east side of Golden Gate Park involved handlebars. No, not on a bike, although we did encounter several. If you’re looking for a different set of wheels to carry you around, I suggest a Segway.
This was my first time on such a device, but it only took a few minutes of instruction and practice to be ready. What a blast! And what a fantastic tour too. Our expert guide, Johannes, took us through the grounds, sharing with us how it all came to be.
Ghirardelli Square neighbors the Argonaut, so picking up souvenir chocolate bars—squares—was very convenient. Talk about a lively corner of town! We quickly learned that the best time for shopping here is early in the day—right when the stores open. (Shopping here later in the day equates to loooong lines out the door.)
In my blog post “Wave meets rock,” I shared my bucket list—just a few locations for starters—of places I’d like to visit in the near future. Enter Alcatraz, the second item on that list.
For all my curiosity about this infamously historical island, I was surprised by its beauty. And how peaceful it was, despite the groups of tourists. I was equally surprised by what quickly became my favorite part of this visit: the audio tour.
Narrated by former prison guards and inmates, this feature really helped us understand what it was like to live and work and experience “The Rock” by those who were employed and their families—and those who were imprisoned.
As each day became evening, I was privileged to share my favorite watering hole with my companions: the Buena Vista. It soon became their favorite too.
Finding room at the bar or a table any time of day requires watchful eyes and quick reflexes, but once you’re seated, the service is fast. And what is everyone ordering? The Buena Vista’s signature menu item: Irish Coffee.
If you manage to secure a place at the bar, then you’re in for a show. They receive so many Irish Coffee orders at a time, the bartenders create this drink in assembly line fashion. Quickly. So delicious! I added a bread pudding to my order, which made my taste buds do backflips. Goooood stuff!
My connection to this town is a fun one, and it’s always tough to leave. But I take away the bonus of new discoveries (including a bucket list item!) balanced with the happiness of revisiting old favorites. Is San Francisco on your bucket list? I highly recommend it.
Until next time, wishing you safe and pleasant travels. J 🌉
The Ugly Scarf 
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Great article, as always!!!😻
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