Find your heart in San Francisco

Who doesn't love the hustle and bustle of Union Square, the kickback vibe of Haight/Ashbury, the delicious wonders of Pier 39, the magnificent glory of Nob Hill, the excitement of Chinatown, and the natural beauty of the Golden Gate? What I love most about this city by the bay is its versatility. I've spent so much time in San Francisco, this time I was determined to seek out the less known (at least to me) and find the hidden hot spots of this vibrant town. But first, I had to start with a place to sleep and after my wonderful experience in Seattle, the only logical answer was the W. From the moment you walk into the lobby of the W San Francisco, you are transformed into an out of this world experience. There's a cosmic energy here that is both tranquil & outrageous at the same time. Relax in one of the many lounge areas in the morning or hang out at night with music at the bar that really lights up! All this & you can't beat the W's "whatever, whenever" service. It's out of this world... !

Room with a view

For the first time, I actually used a car as my mode of transportation. I know this is so anti-green and the city does have wonderful public transportation, BUT if I was going to find the unknown, a car was my best option. If you've never driven in a big city before, this is not the best idea however. Traffic, one way streets, & lots of noise can be very distracting! Lucky for me, I had a built in chauffeur. I can't tell you how many times I've been up to Nob Hill and visited the infamous Fairmont Hotel with its spectacular views, but I had never known about the little beauty that is perched right up the street ... the glorious Grace Cathedral. A mini replica of the notorious Notre Dame, this Cathedral is full of warmth and light. On a bitterly cold San Francisco morning, a walk through this chapel is purely delightful. Enjoy the stained glass, the architecture, the labyrinth that encircles the front entrance, the fountain, & yes, even Peets coffee inside by the gift shop. 

On my quest for hidden gems, I came across some stairways in the city that lead to the most fabulous panoramic views. These weren't the easiest stairways to find, hidden mostly in local neighborhoods on narrow side streets. It is true what they say, determination conquers all, and with that I came upon The Vulcan steps and the Saturn Street Stairs. Okay, yes, after my return home, I found an entire website on these stairways but while in the city, it was all search and find. And the find was magnificent!

 

The steps are close enough that you can walk up one and down the other. It's a bit of a hike, but worth every step...

 While checking out the view from above, one of my boys happened to notice a few people standing on a large "rock" in the distance. It looked pretty amazing so off we went to search out the "rock". One might think it'd be easy to keep sight of something that stands out, except in this city, winding streets & rows of houses tend to make you lose sight of things. We eventually made our way to the rock otherwise known as Corona Heights Park. Located on Roosevelt and Museum Way, the park has one of the most amazing views of the city and a children's museum of trains down below. The hike to the top is absolutely stunning with fields of wildflowers and um, poison oak. Yes, you better know what poison oak looks like before you enter this climb but don't let that scare you or you're going to miss this.... 

This spot is a photographers dream and there were quite a few cameras perched up here. I'm no pro, but the best way to describe this place is in pictures.

After this discovery, it was hard to imagine I was going to find anything quite as stunning, but boy was I wrong. A bit of a drive over to the Golden Gate Park which may not be a hidden gem in and of itself, but because it's so big, some of the smaller attractions fall by the wayside. My favorite, Shakespeare's Garden. What a beautiful spot for a wedding or summer picnic. The trees that line the pathway here are absolutely gorgeous! 

 There is so much beauty in San Francisco, it's hard not to leave your heart here. Lucky for me, San Francisco is the gateway to where my heart lies ~ in the most beautiful wine country of the U.S. Next time, I'll cross the Golden Gate into world famous Napa Valley where the hidden gems come in a bottle.



You know what San Francisco is? (It) is a golden handcuff with the key thrown away.(John Steinbeck)