Summer Vacation - Part 5

The evening we arrived in San Francisco it was so foggy we didn't even realize till we were half way through that we were on the golden gate bridge.  I knew that San Francisco was known for its foggy days but I never knew it was as heavy as it actually was! 

The next day we ventured out into the windy foggy weather for our first day of exploration in the city of San Francisco.  

Our first venture was Lombard Street.  It is known to many as the most crookedest road.  It has a one block section where it is very steep and yields very sharp turns.  Cars (including ours of course) were taking turns driving down this road.  Many tourists (like me..hehehe) got out of their cars to get pictures.

Can you believe people actually live in those houses? 

Our next stop? - Ghirardelli Square

This was once home of the Ghirardelli Chocolate Factory during the Gold Rush but has moved since.  What remains is a Ghirardelli Chocolate shop where you are greeted by a sample of oh so yummy chocolate and you can buy oh so many kinds of Ghirardelli Chocolate.  Also in the square are many cute little shops and boutiques.  A tourist's delight!

Next Stop... The Cannery

This was Del Monte's old cannery which is now home to shops and restaurants. 

Hubby found an In-N-Out Burger right across the street..which is where we stopped for lunch.  We were super excited for lunch here because we don't have an In-N-Out anywhere near us..so this was a special treat..hehe. 

That takes us to halfway though our first day..stay tuned tomorrow for the second half of our day :)

Summer Vacation - Part 4

On our second day of driving we drove down the northern California coast. Basically its 2 million acres of redwood forest. This sounds really nerdy but these trees are humongous..so humongous that you can drive through them in your car...which is exactly what we did.

Before that as we were driving we saw this huge Paul Bunyan..so we had to stop and see what that was all about.

Hubby and dad grabbing Paul Bunyan's bull's privates..hehe

The huge Paul Bunyan actually would talk to people and he could wave his hand and wink..he actually flirted with my little sister for a bit and made her sit on his giant boot..keke..my sister loves paul bunyan now...keke..

We drove through the avenue of the giants which has some of the biggest trees in the forest.

We found a huge hollow tree..

And saw an "immortal tree"

Then we drove THROUGH a tree!!

And finally we went in some tree houses.

Huge trees are cool! 8-)

Summer Vacation - Part 3

Our next stop on the Oregon Coast was the Tillamook Cheese Factory. 

Tillamook Cheese was established in 1909 and is known for its quality dairy products in the states.  At the factory you can go on self guided tours and also watch how cheese is is made at the cheese factory.  We had to stop here..afterall who doesn't love cheese?

Silly times with cut-outs...

The Cheese Factory

Cheese Sample Bar...YUMMY!

And we couldn't leave without getting ice cream..DELISH!

Summer Vacation - Part 2

I've been wanting to see the Oregon Coast for some time now because everyone has always told me how beautiful it was.  So on our way down to San Francisco we decided to drive the coast so that we could see what everyone has been boasting about.  

Everyone was right.  The Oregon Coast is definitely a must see. We stopped at Arcadia Beach because the sand was so beautiful and the beach looked endless.  I never would have imagined that we had beaches like this in the pacific northwest. 

Mom and dad...

Hubby and me..

Sister and me...

Our time on the coast was short but hopefully we'll be back really soon.

Summer Vacation - Part 1

Last week the hubby and I went on our summer vacation.  We were supposed to go to Mexico for our friends' wedding but unfortunately plans fell through.  Instead we visited our neighbours to the south and went on our annual family camping trip at Larrabee State Park.  After that the whole family packed up for a roadtrip to San Francisco.  So this post and a few posts after this will be about our trip.  

Part 1 - Camping at Larrabee State Park

Every year for as long as I can remember my family packs up on the long weekend for a camping trip.  Always at Larrabee State Park.  We go shopping (woohoo!), and do go to the beach, roast marshmallows and hotdogs, and just chill with family (direct as well as extended).

Some of our tents..

 

Walking to the beach..

The View..

Enjoying the sunset..

Cousin and sister..

Moi..

The Parentals...

Goodbye Larrabee..until next year!