At the tail-end of summer 2017, I decided to take a last minute trip to San Francisco/Oakland to visit my good friend Erin. California has always been on my list but I could never get over the prices. Most airline prices from Atlanta to the west coast can run you up to $400. For that amount of money, I could go to Jamaica or Cuba for even cheaper! However, I made it a point to see what all of the hype was about and it's the perfect a place for a spring time trip.
The Golden Gate Bridge
Definitely try and see the bridge! I was in complete awe of this beautiful structure. Here are the most interesting facts I learned about the Golden Gate Bridge:
- The cables that suspend the bridge are long enough to circle the Earth's equator three times.
- The color of the bridge isn't red. it's considered "international orange."
- The lead engineer was so stressed out that he died within a year after the completion of the bridge.
One tip: it's EXTREMELY windy and can get pretty cold no matter what time of year you visit.
My first night we went to the really great seafood spot that specialized in crab legs, shrimp, and crawfish. The food was AMAZING but the prices were incredibly expensive. For years I heard about how expensive California can be and I received that humbling reality on the very first day.
Facebook HQ
Apple HQ
Tech Tours
One thing I highly recommend while in the Bay area is to take a tour of a tech company. If you have a friend that works at Airbnb, Facebook, Google, LinkedIn, Apple, Pinterest, or any other tech giants, have them take you on a tour of the campus. You'll see wine on tap, nap lounges, and other cool amenities that'll sure to leave you green with envy. One campus that I visited was Apple. Check this - Apple has their very own Apple store that you can explore! Maybe it's not that exciting to you, but I'm a country girl - so I'm easily impressed lol. Because I visited the campus on the weekend I wasn't able to go inside, however, seeing those tech giants in person had me giddy.
P.S. If you tour AirBnB please send me pics! I would love to see their headquarters.
Stanford Business School
Erin, at Stanford University
Stanford University
Stanford Business School
Visiting Campuses
Did you know that the movie, Legally Blonde (one of my all-time faves) wasn't filmed at Harvard but at Stanford?
On a serious note, this campus is HUGE!! It's exceptionally beautiful and a great way to get a taste of west coast college life. Not to mention that Stanford Business is on my list of schools to apply for business school :)
The infamous Fruitvale Station where Oscar Grant was shot
Modern History
Fruitvale Station is the infamous train station where Oscar Grant was brutally shot on New Year's Day in 2009. Oscar Grant's assassination was one of the first police shooting that was recorded and has left the family of Oscar Grant still searching for answers.
It was at this train station where the public became an eyewitness to the police brutality that the black community has been speaking out against since the dawn of time. Our everday locations are slowly becoming modern day landmarks of civil injustice. Sad.
Intercontinental Hotel. Gorgeous View
Intercontinental Hotel
Looking for a rooftop bar with a view? The Intercontinental, Mark Hopkins, is the place to be. I'm a sucker for older architecture, so this place was perfect for my taste. They have delicious food (get the churros) and strong drinks. The top floor has a live band that overlooks the city of SanFranscisco with a glittering view of the Bay Bridge.
Portal Oakland - Egg Benedict
Scott's Seafood: Jazz Brunch
Brunch
Who doesn't love brunch? There are two places I went:
Portal Oakland
This place has a hipster vibe and can get extremely crowded on the weekend. I went on a Saturday and the place had a 45-minute wait. But I'm happy to report that the wait was totally worth it! The prices were extremely reasonable and great for meeting up with friends.
Scott's Seafood - Jazz Brunch
Scotts Seafood is located at Jack London's Square with a beautiful view of the water. It's the perfect atmosphere for a Sunday morning. The seafood was extremely fresh and not overly crowded with masses of people. Oh yea, and the food was absolutely second to none.
China Town *Migos Voice*
I lived in China for a year and became infatuated with the food while I was there. Naturally, whenever I visit a new city I have to find the Chinatown. This particular restaurant was called "Human Homes Restaurant." Be sure to order the dumplings - they're delicious!
Burma Superstar
I met up with one of my line-sisters that's a native of Oakland and a fellow traveler. She chose the restaurant, "Burma Superstar" that serves Burmese food. Burmese food is similar Thai with a little influence of Indian food. The cuisine incorporates curry, spices, and fragrant herbs. When you go try the Shan Noodles, Sesame Beef with Coconut Rice, and the Old Ceylon (issa burbon drink).
The Painted Ladies
Me at the famous Painted Ladies
The Painted Ladies
This is the famous strip of the Victorian style homes that you see in the opening of "Full House." They consist of seven multi-color homes that stand on an inclining hill.
The term painted lady defines a row of homes that have various colors to demonstrate that architectural details. If you're from my hometown, Cincinnati, we actually have our own "painted ladies" as well.
Fun Fact: The famous black author, Alice Walker, who wrote: "The Color Purple" lived in the blue painted lady at one point. Cool, huh?
Me at the Painted Ladies
Let me know what you think!
Have you been to San Francisco or Oakland? Let me know what you think of the city and things you would recommend to other visitors.