In the small town that I live in, there’s really only one thing that the younger generation does for fun:
We leave.
After a long week of almost being fired, having way too much homework and two exams for school, and dealing with family issues, what better way to refresh yourself than to do just that. Traveling is a love of mine, discovered recently. After my week from hell last week, my boyfriend decided that we needed to get away for the weekend, and we did just that. Most people have heard of San Francisco at one point or another, and it happens to be one of my favorite places to go. The weather is always amazing (I love the cool, the fog, and the rain), you can hold hands with someone of the same gender in the streets and rarely get a dirty look, and the diversity and rich culture of the city means that there is a huge variety of things to do. I’d like to share a number of places we went with you all.
The Hilton Hotel
If you’ve ever stayed at a Hilton hotel, you’ll know why I enjoyed this part of the trip so much. But more than ever before, I was impressed with our hotel. Entering the lobby after having our car valet parked in a private garage out of the not-so-friendly San Francisco streets, we were greeted by a very friendly staff in a surprisingly plush lobby. Check-in was thankfully fast (as drinking two bottles of water halfway through a 2 hour drive and getting lost in downtown San Francisco isn’t too friendly on the bladder) and we got to our room in record time. The room was extremely nice for a standard room, lending itself well to businessmen with a full wall-length desk with power outlets and plenty of space to work from. The bathroom was also extremely nice with a black stone counter, bright lighting, and a unique sliding heavy wooden door. The shower had a great high-pressure showerhead and all the hot water you could want. Also, due to the presence of a professional salon in the lobby of the hotel, called “tru,” the traditional Hilton branded single sample shampoos and soaps were replaced by professional feeling hair and skin products, which was a very nice touch. We also ordered our dinner via room service while we were there, which was prompt with great service. When the waiter walks into the room after the two boys inside make him wait for 5 minutes while they noisily get dressed and doesn’t miss a beat, that’s always a plus. The food was great, pizza and cheesecake. Finally, they had the zip checkout where in the morning all that we had to do was call the front desk and leave our key cards in the room and take off. It was quick and easy, and saw us in our car and on our way in minutes.
San Francisco Museum of Modern Art
For my review of the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, click here.
Cioppino’s Restaurant on the Wharf
For anyone who visits San Francisco and even marginally likes Italian food, I have two words for you: GO HERE! This is some of the most satisfying Italian food that I have ever had. The service is always good, the food is always great, and if you sit on the patio out on the Embarcadero, it is one of the best places that I have ever experienced for people watching. There’s not a whole lot more to say, because the place is just simply great.
Ghiradelli Square Soda Fountain
If you’re a chocolate lover (as I am), you’ll want to make Ghiradelli Square a destination at some point. The ice cream shop/soda fountain serves one of the best hot fudge sundaes around. The main drawback to this place is it’s sheer popularity. At the peak times, the line can get extremely long and take up to 30-40 minutes to get to the register. Pay for your choice of many different treats (and grab a free sample of chocolate) and sit yourself down at one of their many tables (if you can find an open seat). If you get bored waiting for your ice cream you can walk to the back of the shop and see their exhibit of how chocolate comes to be. The best part is that this is actual chocolate being made for use in their ice cream treats, so you’re seeing the process in action and then eating the result. In the end, despite the often extremely long wait, this is a very worthwhile stop.
