What is Chinese New Year anyway? When does it start? When does it end? What do people do to celebrate? I’m going to give you some answers! I love the pageantry of Chinese New Year, and one of these days, I’m going to San Francisco’s Chinatown to see their celebrations. I did get a taste in Los Angeles, however, enough to whet my appetite.
[Read more…] about What Chinese New Year is All About! It’s the Year of the Pig!On my recent visit to downtown Los Angeles I was able to see things in the city I had never seen before! It was amazing, and I thank my friends Flo and Suzanne and Craig for great tours of the city! Let me take you along!
San Francisco is one of those cities that once you have been there, you have to go back. And back again. I love the city, and on my last trip I was only able to spend one day because of the San Francisco weather. My flight out of Denver to San Francisco was canceled, so I only had one day to enjoy the city. And enjoy it I did!
I stayed at the Hyatt Regency San Francisco at the foot of Market Street and Embarcadero Center, a great location in the city. I have never seen a bigger lobby and atrium…and I quickly discovered that it holds the world record for largest lobby with a length of 107 meters, width of 49 meters and height of 52 meters, in other words, 15 stories! It is huge! Also, if you are an empty nester or midlifer, you might be interested to know that the Hyatt Regency San Francisco lobby is where The Towering Inferno, starring Steve McQueen, was filmed back in the 1970s! It is still spectacular.
So, one day in the city! What to do first? We arrived at the airport at 11 a.m., so we had to get going quickly. The first thing we did was check in to the hotel, and kudos to the Hyatt for having our room ready! I had alerted the staff that we had been delayed a day, and it was a relief to have our room ready so early. Next, off to the Hop On Hop Off San Francisco Bus Tour. As I always say, one of the first things I do in any new city is to do a bus tour, and even though I know San Francisco from having been there so many times, I decided to enjoy the city from the top of the double decker bus.
First stop: Fisherman’s Wharf and Scomas Restaurant! I ate at Scomas for the first time in 1989, when I was there for a conference. Every trip I take back to San Francisco I eat at Scomas. The restaurant was founded in 1965, and I’m not sure it has been updated much since then…but that is a major part of its draw. The walls are covered with photos of Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, and the rest of the rat pack, along with other Italians of note. The waiters still wear their white dinner coats, and the seafood is always fresh. For a trip back in time, head to Scomas! (Be sure to have Dungeness Crab! YUM.)
With little time in the city, we enjoyed a bus ride and took in the sights! It was impossible to hit every district in the city…but we certainly went through many of them.
I love the murals in San Francisco…they are everywhere. But the Mission District has the most.
My all time favorite thing to do when in San Francisco is to go to Chinatown. I don’t know why, but just entering the gates is a thrill for me. (Also, our favorite Chinese Restaurant is there…Hunan Home. No frills, just good family food. Try it!)
10 months ago, my husband, Randy, went through the struggle of his life: a double lung transplant. It happened FAST. Life is precious. Want to know more? Transplant: An Unexpected Journey.
Randy and I just returned from an unbelievably wonderful and enjoyable trip…we flew into Orange County (John Wayne Airport) and drove up the Pacific Coast Highway, stopping in Santa Barbara, Carmel, Big Sur, Monterey, Moss Landing, San Francisco, and all the way to Shelter Cove, CA! Then we headed to Lake Tahoe to round out the 3 week trip. We saw old friends and beautiful new scenery along the way, and Randy, 10 months post double lung transplant, really advanced his recovery!
When the trip first started out, I believe he was a bit tentative, and he had every right to be. 10 months ago, when Randy woke up from his double lung transplant, he could barely lift his index finger, he could not speak, and certainly he could not walk. He has traveled a long road since then, and this trip helped him, not only with physical challenge, but with his confidence.
Randy ordered walking sticks before we left, to be delivered in Shelter Cove. They were never delivered, so Randy fashioned walking sticks out of redwood tree branches he found on the ground. We walked beaches, casinos, vista points, streets, hills, steeper hills, and a lot of stairs! Every day seemed to add to his abilities, and now that we are home, he finds that he is much stronger, and better able to navigate. It is amazing what a little physical challenge can do! And there were plenty of them! Here’s a recap of activities:
Santa Barbara has to be one of the most perfect spots on earth (in our humble opinion!)
San Luis Opisbo and the Madonna Inn!
Big Sur, big sounds and a big ocean! Big Elephant seals were a highlight along the way.
Carmel never fails to charm! The downtown area is just perfectly quaint and full of art!
Beautiful Monterey and its incomparable aquarium!
Monterey Bay is full of Humpbacks, seals and dolphins!
Chinatown, always a San Francisco Treat!
Shelter Cove is as remote as it gets, and the Avenue of the Giants is nearby!
Lake Tahoe was full of fun: rafting, beaching, renting a boat, going on a helicopter tour, and enjoying fireworks on the water on the 3rd, and over the water on the 4th!
And I must leave you with the most beautiful image of all: Emerald Bay, Lake Tahoe!
