Ferry Plaza Farmer’s Market

On the morning of Saturday, May 30th, we made our way to the Hotel Triton lobby to speak with our trusty advisers, the hotel’s front desk hosts.  We planned to go down to the infamous Ferry Plaza Farmer’s Market for breakfast before embarking on our journey to the Golden Gate Bridge.  With their directions, we made our way south a few blocks to Market Street and caught the F-line streetcar for a mere $1.50 to the Ferry Building.

The Ferry Plaza Farmer’s Market boasts an impressive array of local Californian produce, wines, artisan cheeses, and breads, just to name a few of the hundreds of services and products available.  On-going since 1993, it is organized by the Centre for Urban Education about Sustainable Agriculture in order to promote environmentally sound agricultural practices, production and distribution methods.

The market is open until 2:00pm on Tuesdays and Saturdays, as well as Thursdays in the summer months. Saturday’s selection of vendors is much more vast, with tents spilling past the Embarcadero main-drag and onto the stretch of park out front at the edge of the downtown core, as well as along the water-front pier behind the Ferry Building. We first languidly perused the park grounds and picked up a few souvenirs.  The vendors vary from painters to potters, unique jewelry and organic clothing designers, and there seemingly is something for everyone.  The smell of the multifarious food tents located in and around the Ferry Building itself, though, were drawing us in, so we headed indoors for breakfast.

Studies have shown that too many options strain the brain, turning a simple choice into a tough call. As was the case with our palates that morning, and we opted for fresh-shucked oysters to tide us over, before departing the market and catching a streetcar towards Fisherman’s Wharf.

Biking the Golden Gate Bridge

Oysters do not exactly suffice as a filling, well-balanced breakfast. So upon hopping off the streetcar we stumbled inside Jack’s Cannery Bar, located in Del Monte Square- a historic factory built in 1907 to house the Del Monte fruit canning company- for some beers and appetizers.  Finally, with food in our stomachs, we located a bike rental shop a few blocks down.

At Blazzing Saddles for approx. $30/person we rented our rides and biked towards the water-front. We passed a few picturesque piers and public parks, weaving through clusters of pedestrians as we rode along the well-marked and maintained path to Golden Gate National Park.

Golden Gate Bridge

Upon reaching the park near the base of the bridge around Fort Mason, the sense of community outweighs the feeling of the spot being namely a well-known tourist draw.  Sure, we the tourists pass on through on our way to the main event, but there in Crissy Field, with big red looming over-head, were picnicking families, dogs roaming unleashed, even a few surfers skimming the small waves, creating a strong semblance of kinship. But of course, we were merely witness to these common neighbourly gatherings, and were on our way up the steep, windy turn-up ramp to the edge of the Bridge.

Biking the Golden Gate Bridge is a one-of-a-kind and enthralling experience, that I must recommend to any visitor of San Francisco. The 2.7 Km (1.7 Miles) path stretched along the Western side of the bridge is dedicated strictly to the plethora of cyclists, while the Eastern path caters particularly to pedestrians, so there is little chance of collision.  The entire round-trip tour takes under a couple of hours, but provides you with the exhilarating experience of traveling 220-meters directly above the bay, while taking-in the expansive views of San Francisco.

San Francisco Giants Baseball Game

After ditching our bikes we walked back east down the palm-tree-lined promenade, passed the Ferry Building where our morning had begun, towards the home of the San Francisco Giants.

AT&T Park is a 41,000 seat open-air venue over-looking the San Francisco Bay. The ballpark itself is worth checking-out, even if you’re not partaking in a Major League Baseball game.  5 life-like statues of former baseball greats line the outside, while behind the field next to the ample brightly-lit scoreboards are an oversize baseball mitt and an 80-foot Coca-Cola bottle.

The Giants were playing the St. Louis Cardinals that night, and pitcher Barry Zito kept up with the league’s fan-favourites very well until the final innings.  They ended up losing the game 6-2, but the experience of my first baseball game- including prime 10th-row seating with personal waiters, a multitude of over-priced American beers and hotdogs, and a genuine 7th-Inning Stretch while singing “Take Me Out to the Ball Game” was one not to be forgotten.

The Rest and the Best

The remaining few days in San Francisco were spent flying solo, while Dylan attended his purpose for the trip- the Atlassian Summit in the stunning 18th-century Palace Hotel.

"Painted Ladies" of Alamo Square Park

My first lone journey brought me to the hip Haight-Ashbury and Hayes Valley areas as I scoped out Alamo Square Park, famous for it’s oft-seen postcard shot of the “Painted Ladies”, and in the opening credits of 90’s hit TV show “Full House.” I hiked Buena Vista Park briefly, for views of the bridge and the San Francisco Bay below, before catching the metro back towards town.  While passing through Union Square on my way to the hotel to call it a night, I partook in my only stint as a shopper that week, since the magnitude of the Macy’s Department Store suckered me in. Rarely do I embark on a shopping expedition without a purpose, but I can’t say I didn’t enjoy myself!

Over Monday, June 1st and Tuesday, June 2nd- my last couple of days in the city- I managed to kill an afternoons worth of time in the Yerba Buena Gardens and across the street, inside the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art.

The SF Museum of Modern Art has housed 20-century artwork since it’s opening in 1935, and continued through to the move to it’s current location in 1995.  I chose to start on the 5th Floor, and make my way back down, with the fabulous newly-opened Rooftop Garden. From there I started indoors with the current contemporary sculpture and painting collection entitled “Between Art and Life,” then down the remaining floors through the various photography and artwork exhibits, including journal projects, Robert Frank’s “the Americans” and Henri Matisse’s paintings and sculptures.

My last few hours in the city consisted of failing to convince a couple of security guards to allow me access to the top floor of the TransAmerica Pyramid.  But at least the views from below, outside in the adjacent redwood park were lovely!  I then met Dylan for lunch at the fabulous California Pizza Kitchen before catching the metro back to the airport.

Sitting in the airport, I was sad to leave San Francisco behind after my week-long journey. I think when I do go back next, having now enjoyed a huge handful of it’s many sights, activities and tours for the first time, I will spend a quick weekend get-a-way there. It is only a mere 2hr and few minute direct flight from Vancouver Island, and the city’s laid-back and charming atmosphere cater to all needs.

Whether you are looking for a shopping retreat (see the vintage stores in Haight-Ashbury or couture shops surrounding Union Square), in search of family-friendly activities (see Pier 39’s Aquarium, 3D Rides or arcades), or you’re a history buff (see Alcatraz or the world famous cable cars and streetcars) or an avid fan of the outdoors (did I mentioned how great biking the bridge was? Maybe try kayaking, mountain biking and see Napa Valley for a winery tour), San Francisco has something for everyone.  The city has an unmatched energy that needs to be felt first-hand to be believed, and I am most happy I have visited it and to have taken these unforgettable experiences back home with me to Victoria.