A boat cruise is one of the best ways to experience San Francisco's cityscape.
Last summer my parents, my husband and I flew to San Francisco, rented a car, and took a week to drive along the coast to San Diego.
It was only our second trip to California, so we chose to visit as many seaside communities as possible to get a taste for each one, with overnight stays in San Francisco, Half Moon Bay, Carmel-by-the-Sea, Cambria, Santa Monica and San Diego.
Each city was so wonderful and unique. I gladly would have stayed the entire week in our San Francisco boutique hotel, Half Moon Bay luxury resort, Carmel historic inn, Cambria cozy bed and breakfast, Santa Monica swanky bungalow, or San Diego quintessential summer retreat.
It was truly the trip of a lifetime and a very special experience to share with three of my favourite people on the planet.
To read more about our California adventures, check out:
- The Province – A California feast for the senses, October 2013
- BCLiving.ca – California Coastal Road Trip, July 2013
Below are some of the highlights from our incredible whirlwind trip. Click the titles to visit their respective websites.
[Stay tuned for California Road Trip Part 2 – Cambria, Santa Monica and San Diego]
STAY: Mystic Hotel by Charlie Palmer
STAY: Ritz-Carlton Half Moon Bay
STAY: Cypress Inn
EAT: Burritt Room + Tavern
EAT: It’s Italia
EAT: Half Moon Bay Brewing Co.
EAT: Navio
EAT: Terry’s Lounge
VISIT: Alcatraz Cruises
VISIT: Red and White Fleet Golden Gate Bay Cruise
VISIT: City Sightseeing Bus Tour
VISIT: California Coastal Trail (San Mateo Sections 5, 6 and 7)
(All images: Aaron Barr)