【Departure】
Christmas 2017, some friends visited Los Angeles and invited me to join them on a drive on California’s Highway 1.
For the drive up, we took the freeways to San Francisco, saving the picturesque drive for the way back.
And yes, Los Angeles is a sprawling rural-like area.
【San Francisco】
I have always liked the name “San Francisco” more than its more direct Chinese translation.
Day and Night
San Francisco emerges from the ocean and into steep hills, which can make driving very difficult. Your feet can really start to hurt from the pedal work. But that’s the San Francisco I wanted to see. The steep hills and houses stacked on top of each other, cable cars, road chairs, nice graffiti, or a classy church around the corner. Go into a café, grab a coffee and keep going.
We walked a lot and spent a lot of time at our hotel with the lovely weather to Lombard Street and Fisherman’s Wharf. There is one big downside though: the hotel was pretty old and its age showed in the facilities. The InterContinental San Francisco is located in the SoMa district and stands 32 stories tall. This glass-enclosed building is a non-smoking facility and is conveniently located near the Moscone Convention Center, Union Square, and Chinatown, as well as the Powell Street cable car stop. The hotel is also well situated to access the San Francisco Bay Area hotels. San Francisco has a few attractions you might expect from other waterfront cities, like Fisherman’s Wharf. Pier 39 is one of the most popular piers due to its abundance of restaurants, bars, shops, and entertainment options. When we arrived at Pier 39, we experienced a beautiful sunset with many restaurants to choose from, and we’ll describe our dining experience in a future post. The Golden Gate Bridge is easily the most iconic structure in San Francisco. The orange-red color is easily identifiable in photos, so seeing it in person was special. After walking down from the bridge, we arrived at a small lookout where we could see the bridge from one end, while seals swam around the lookout. Some Golden Gate Bridge facts: The bridge was built with over 100,000 tons of steel and spans from the San Francisco Bay to the Golden Gate Strait, marking it as the biggest landmark in the city. The name comes from the Gold Rush when the strait was viewed as the gateway to the goldfields.
The best complete views can be seen from the viewpoint located before the bridge.
The bridge has been featured in various American movies including X-Men and Rise of the Planet of the Apes.
There are pedestrian paths on either side of the bridge, which makes the walk (or bike ride) across the bridge a wonderful experience.
Coffee It's Everywhere
It's tough to pinpoint an optimal coffee shop in Los Angeles, whereas in San Francisco, options are visible everywhere with a short walk.
Mazarin Coffee
After sleeping in, we came here for brunch. The smell of coffee wafting through the air instantly confirmed we had made the right choice. I recommend the small dish meal because all of them turned out great. If you have the choice, it’s recommended to sit outside because the sunshine, blue sky, and passing clouds along with the view of the street are all part of the appeal.
Website:
720 Market St, San Francisco, Ca 94102
HOURS
Mon - Fri 7:00 am - 6:00 pm
Saturday & Sunday 8:00 am - 6:00 pm
Caffe Central
This coffee shop is located on the lower level of the shopping center in the department store. Even though it was busy and had high ratings on YELP, my assessment is that it's on the contrary: good coffee shops are average, and you can skip them.
Blue Bottle Coffee
I have fond memories of Blue Bottle. I couldn’t pass it up while it was located only a few minutes' walk from our hotel, not even at night.
Blue Bottle Coffee (Mint Plaza)
This coffee shop is known for its siphon coffee, which is usually associated with Tokyo, and uses handcrafted coffee brewing devices.
Poached eggs with morel mushrooms and European-style sandwiches are also crowd-pleasers.
Eating Without Pause
While restaurants may seem the same in California, plenty of good Chinese food, and especially Cantonese food, can be found because of the large Chinese population in San Francisco.
R& G Lounge
Christmas Day was our first day in San Francisco, which meant that most restaurants were closed. Even the hotel restaurant was fully booked. Increasingly hungry and desperate, we decided to try this very popular Chinese restaurant. Not only was it busy on a normal day, but on Christmas a crowd was waiting to be seated. We took a number and crossed the street to eat some Vietnamese pho while waiting.
We didn't sit down until after 10 pm and by then I was so hungry that I forgot to take photos and I can't remember how many dishes we ordered and how they tasted, but I'm sure it was good if the restaurant has a good reputation.
R& G Lounge
R& G Lounge has been located in the heart of Chinatown in San Francisco for a number of years and has received multiple recommendations from the Michelin Guide. It has refined Chinese cuisine that appeals to both picky international tourists and discerning Chinese customers. The restaurant is especially known for its signature dish, salt and pepper baked Dungeness crab, which is a must when in crab season.
Yakiniq
Please don’t ask us why we chose to have Korean barbecue in San Francisco. This was an real authentic experience. You should make a reservation because we waited over 30 minutes to get seated.
Upstairs, I heard the trademark excitement of a Korean restaurant. \nAddress: 1640 Post St, Fl 2, San Francisco, CA 94115\nPhone: (415) 441-9292\nHours: Mon-Thu 5:00 pm - 12:00 am, Fri 5:00 pm - 1:00 am, Sat 4:00 pm - 1:00 am, Sun 4:00 pm - 11:00 pm Zen Izakaya \nKeeping track of your meals in San Francisco can prove difficult, Japan is a cuisine, for sure a danger. I could not place my finger on the food we ordered or on the quality of the food, all I could remember was sitting next to large windows soaking in the lovely sunlight. No food pics either, it was as if the entire experience was wiped clean from the memory. I guess we were just suffering from the late-night revelries typical of that segment of the trip.\n From this minuscule snippet of memory, I was able to track down the restaurant on YELP. A small victory.\nBistro Boudin \nThe restaurant is located at Pier 39, and has a bakery on the ground floor and an upper level dining area. It has an undeniably nostalgic ambiance. Being by the ocean means that seafood is a must-select. Combine that with some drinks and a meat dish and you are all set.\nLuce \nThe last meal we had in San Francisco was at the restaurant in the hotel. The options were few since it was lunch, but the food was good in that reliable way that hotel dining tends to be. Once again, the weather warranted the true accolades.\nLuce \nNapa The Hess Collection Winery\n\n If you’ve ever drunk red wine, you know Napa.
Considering the multitude of wineries, we picked this one almost randomly and were quite happy with it. Back then, a tasting experience was about 20 to 30 dollars per person, which included five to six pours. On this occasion, we had the good fortune of meeting a wine steward from China and encouraged us to buy some wines, and also recommended a restaurant that we would rate the full score.
For us, it was almost sunset during the winter, so we missed the views of the vineyards spread across the hills. However, we discovered a small contemporary art gallery on the site, including an exhibit by a Chinese contemporary artist.
There was a considerable temperature difference between the morning and evening, so you will need to dress warmly.
The Hess Collection Winery
The Hess Collection Winery is based on one of the oldest sites from the 1860s winemaking era in Napa. Its original stone building that was completed in 1903 houses a contemporary art collection. It has been ranked by ARTnews as one of the world’s top 200 art museums and, at that time, had Chinese staff to assist visiting Chinese clients.
COLE'S CHOP HOUSE
I must say I am very thankful for the winery recommendation. This steakhouse was phenomenal. Napa wine speaks for itself, but the cocktails, salad, steak, and roasted potatoes were all superb. We enjoyed dessert so much that we ended up ordering two more drinks and two more desserts.
You can make a reservation by calling them or booking through OpenTable.
Location: 1122 Main St, Napa, CA 94559
Contact: (707) 224-6328
Business hours:
Monday 5:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Tuesday 5:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Wednesday 5:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Thursday 5:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Friday 5:00 pm - 10:00 pm
Saturday 5:00 pm - 10:00 pm
Sunday 5:00 pm - 9:00 pm
【Stay】
In Napa, we decided to stay at the IHG property Staybridge Suites Fairfield Napa Valley Area. It was an easy choice; every room was a suite, and included a living room and kitchenette. Why opt for a suite? It makes drinking a lot easier. And why drink? You've traveled all the way to Napa.
【Apple Park】
It might seem odd to give this stop its own section, but I am an Apple fan, so I will. 😂
This was Apple’s new headquarters, an enormous spaceship-style campus. While visitors were prohibited from entering, there was a gift shop next door that sold overpriced tees and other pointless things. I thought the merch was so ugly that I didn’t buy anything.
While I was gleefully sprinting around the building, my travel buddies More and more messages were entering: “Are you finished?” “Where are you?” “We have to go!” “The authorities are coming to move us along!” 🙄
【California Highway 1】
National Geographic once included this road among “50 Places of a Lifetime.” It is best to do Highway 1 from San Francisco to Los Angeles, but we chose what is considered the most beautiful part. My memory isn’t what it once was, so the order may be a little off—unless it isn’t. 😂
Monterey Bay
We were rewarded with a magnificent sunset as we drove towards Monterey Bay.
With memories of an unforgettable barbecue meal from a previous Grand Canyon trip still fresh, we embarked with our essential chili powder for another barbecue restaurant. We purposefully picked one with a smoker that looked like a miniature train engine; that seemed to be a good sign. Upon arrival late at night, we found the place packed, which only confirmed the judgment.
The meat was juicy and smoky from the charcoal grill, along with our chili powder, it was really something.Address: 700 W Market St, Salinas, CA 93901
Phone: (831) 758-2227
Hours:
Mon 11:00 am - 9:00 pm
Tue 11:00 am - 9:00 pm
Wed 11:00 am - 9:00 pm
Thu 11:00 am - 9:00 pm
Fri 11:00 am - 9:00 pm
Sat 11:00 am - 9:00 pm
Sun 11:00 am - 8:00 pm
【Stay】
We were just traveling through, so we chose a hotel pretty quickly.
Holiday Inn Express & Suites Salinas
Holiday Inn Express & Suites Salinas is situated in central Salinas, less than 5 minutes from the Salinas Sports Complex and the National Steinbeck Center. It is 3.1 miles (5 km) from the Northridge Mall and 11.4 miles (18.3 km) from California State University Monterey Bay. It has a fitness center and free WiFi. There is a shared TV area. There is a grocery store/mini market on the premises; breakfast to go is free Monday-Friday from 6:30 to 9:30 and Saturday-Sunday from 7:00 to 10:00. There is free wired internet in the business center, 24-hour access, express check-in, and self-parking is free. All 76 rooms have microwaves and flat-screen TVs. Wired and wireless internet are free. Rooms have satellite TV. Bathrooms include a shower and a bathtub and free toiletries. Hairdryers and safes are available. There are also desks and phones with free local calls.
Every seaside location has to have a Fisherman’s The old fisherman wharf offers unique shops and restaurants along with whale-watching opportunities. It has cruise services on the bay as well as remaining old fishing and marine tourism businesses. If you are near the ocean, have some seafood again. The crab and mussels were sweet and fresh and the restaurant’s signature crab chowder deserved its fame. The memorable part was the unspectacular bread and amazing butter served with it. Address: 20050 San Pablo Ave, Crockett, CA 94525 Phone: (510) 787-3323 Hours: Mon - Sun 11:00 am - 10:00 pm They say the 17-Mile Drive has its name because it has the most beautiful stretch of highway one for its 17 miles. I agree. The 17-Mile Drive is a world-famous scenic route in Monterey County, California, and goes around Pebble Beach. The western and southern parts face the Pacific and the eastern part combines the Del Monte Forest. There is coastal road winding with beautiful pines and rocks, grand homes and empty lots for golf courses. Pebble Beach is considered one of the best golf courses in the world. Carmel is my top favorite town. The hill and sea side town is full of lovely houses in varied design. The beach was full of people walking their dogs and sunbathing. It seemed like every other step was another art gallery or shop in the town. We also picked an Italian place to eat and it was great.
Carmel-by-the-Sea
Carmel-by-the-Sea is a gem along Highway 1 and the 17-Mile Drive. Other than the raw beauty of the area, Carmel also has a captivating artistic charm. It has a great selection of fashion boutiques, antique shops, candy shops, art galleries, toy shops, and craft stores.
Carmel has been an artist haven for more than 100 years. In 1969, the famous Chinese painter Zhang Daqian lived in Carmel and named his house “Ke Yi Ju,” which means “A Place Fit to Live.”
The bohemian vibe attracts unconventional artists and writers. The town has a fairytale feeling, and many of the residents have resisted modernization. The city has also kept a ban on advertisements, and services like neon lights and fast-food restaurants. At the end of West Ocean Avenue, you will find Carmel Beach, which is highly rated in the 17-Mile Drive.
Bixby Creek Bridge
Do you recognize this bridge?
If you have seen Big Little Lies, you probably remember this bridge from the opening scene! It features in many movies and TV shows. The fog gave us a unique insight into its beauty.
Bixby Creek Bridge
In Big Sur along California’s Highway 1, Bixby Creek Bridge is an open-spandrel concrete arch bridge. With a span of around 100 meters, it is the longest concrete arch bridge along the California state highway system. Its doors opened in 1932, and it was the world’s highest single-span concrete bridge, and it still is one of the most popular attractions in the region.
Big Sur
People often mention 17-Mile Drive and Big Sur together. We arrived in heavy fog and roadworks, but even the small section that was revealed was stunning.
Big Sur Beach Park
【Return】
Before writing this guide, I thought about the trip along Highway 1, and I assumed there wouldn’t be too many standout moments, and there were a few here and there that were documented, which were fortunate. I could have said a lot, and the best parts of the trip were captured in photos. The trip is documented in photos. I hope you enjoy them.
【A Text-Only Record of Traveling Around the United States】
There is so much more about the United States, and it especially concerns California. I will leave this unfinished promise and fill it in later.
Six Days on Foot: Boston Has More Than Lobster, and New York Has More Than the Statue of Liberty
Boston
Downtown
9625224
Travel Guide
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