California Dreaming
Flying into San Francisco we drove north on the rugged oceanroad of Highway 1, over the Golden Gate Bridge and Sausalito up to Bodega Bay. We stayed nearby & dined at the infamous 'Tides Wharf & Restaurant', where they filmed the famous Alfred Hitchcock movie the 'Birds'. I even met a friendly resident seal who liked to pop by & call out for food from the local fisherman.
After a quick overnight we headed inland towards the rolling hills of Napa Valley & the Sonoma Wine Country. Book up the foodie 'Napa Wine train', or a private wine tour, these guys really know their stuff so let them know what you want to experience & you'll soon relax into the slower pace of California's world famous vineyards & dining scene.
Onwards to Lake Tahoe for my first taste of skiing! We headed to aptly named 'Heavenly' in South Lake Tahoe, this stunning resort is exactly how you imagine a picture perfect ski resort to look. Close your eyes and think of the crispest white snow, ski lifts disappearing into the thick forest... all with a buzzy bar at the bottom to deliver you an ice cold beer! During the summer months the lake offers all the beach & watersport/active experiences you should wish for.
Back to San Francisco for the trips finale. We stayed close to the main shopping & tourist centre on Union Square. Having visited San Fran before I knew my favourite spots to beeline for, I adore live music & all things nostalgia so headed to the home of the hippies, Haight Ashbury. Centre of the long-gone hippy culture of the 1960s, this trendy neighbourhood is now a whole new scene with upscale boutiques, vintage shops, cafes & hipster dining, this is one not to overlook. Looking for a fun place for a nightcap, head across to the oldest bar in San Francisco 'The Saloon', not only is it the coolest place to people watch it is also a fab blues bar. Sure, it is a little 'wild west' on first glance, but doesn't that sum up everything a dive bar should be?
San Francisco isn't massive & like many big cities it has lots of cool neighbourhoods to explore, but as with all good tourist sites, they must be ticked off & the most important not to be overlooked, the Golden Gate Bridge of course. Start your cycle at Fishermans Wharf, ride along the beautiful waterfront for all the best pics. As you get closer to the start of the bridge this quickly gets steeper, so you may be grateful for an E bike. The bridge is 1.7 miles each way so for anyone cycling with families most definitely opt for the E Bikes.
My last stop a visit to infamous Alcatraz of course. This small island was once a fort, a military prison, and a maximum security federal penitentiary, listen to the stories & embrace the history.
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