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7 Ways to Feel Like You Really Went to San Francisco

06/15/2015 By: CCPearson4 Comments

San Francisco cable car lg.

 

 

 

 

 

 

(This is a print we bought as a souvenir.  It hangs in a place we pass frequently to remind us of our wonderful time in the City by the Bay.)

1) Ride a cable car.  It’s a must!  Every movie or television show you’ve ever seen that is set in San Francisco shows them.  The views are wonderful. The drivers are entertaining. It doesn’t cost very much.  You’ll kick yourself if you don’t.  Steve and I both rode UP, then he chose to walk back down through Chinatown and the Crooked Street.  I wish I’d been with him.

California trip April 27-May 11, 2013 030

 

 

 

 

 

2) Stroll around Fisherman’s Wharf.  See what’s for sale.  Smell the fresh seafood.  Savor the feeling of being on the Bay.  People watch.  Enjoy the colorful boats docked there.

California trip April 27-May 11, 2013 007 California trip April 27-May 11, 2013 040

California trip April 27-May 11, 2013 015

 

 

 

 

 

 

3) Eat sourdough bread SEVERAL TIMES.  Crusty on the outside, soft on the inside.  So yummy! Boudin’s is the place at Fisherman’s Wharf.

California trip April 27-May 11, 2013 011

 

 

 

 

 

 

4) Eat chocolate at Ghiradelli Square.  Yes, it will cost more there than at your local grocery store, but just do it so you can say you did.  There are other neat things to buy there, but don’t by-pass the chocolate.  I’m telling ya.

5) Take a narrated bay cruise to Alcatraz.  Even if you don’t actually go into the former prison, it is still eye-opening to understand where it is, who was housed there, what an escape would have involved, etc.  Let’s just say it will enhance your understanding in novels and old movies.

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6) Drive up to Napa Valley and Sonoma to tour a vineyard. It’s only a few miles up the road.  Steve and I are non-alcohol people, but we still enjoyed seeing the gorgeous fields of grapes and learning about the wine-making process.  Somewhere in my mind, I knew that yeast was involved, but it wasn’t until I walked into the Gloria Ferrar Winery and started looking for the homemade bread (without finding any) that I knew for sure that yeast was a part of the process.  And, just so you know, there are plenty of sodas, juices or flavored waters available while the rest of your group has their wine-tasting.

California trip April 27-May 11, 2013 061 California trip April 27-May 11, 2013 062

 

By the way, everyone scattered for lunch in the town of Sonoma.  We happened upon a Mexican restaurant called “Maya.”  Here is the review I shared on Trip Advisor about it: The Best Mexican We’ve Ever Eaten  “My husband and I were in Sonoma for a few hours recently and happened upon Maya for lunch. We were so pleased with the results. We shared “Oh-So-Good” Nachos and Chicken Enchiladas. Both were absolutely bursting with flavor and fresh ingredients. Our service was good, and the prices were very reasonable. We would highly recommend that you give it a try.”

7) View the Golden Gate Bridge from every possible angle.  It truly is a beautiful symbol of the city, and what a serendipity for Auburn fans that it is painted ORANGE.  We happened to be on a tour bus by the time we headed out of San Francisco.  The tour director brilliantly made sure we heard Frank Sinatra croon “I Left My Heart in San Francisco” as we drove over it for our final time on this visit.  A perfect moment in my book.

California trip April 27-May 11, 2013 080 California trip April 27-May 11, 2013 076 California trip April 27-May 11, 2013 048

 

 

 

 

 

 

For a hotel in a great location, we liked the Hilton Fisherman’s Wharf.  See the website here.

Several restaurants we recommend are:  Alioto’s, Beach Street Grill, and Joe’s Crab Shack.  All three are reasonably priced with good food.

On our next visit to San Francisco, I’m sure we’d repeat numbers 1, 2, 3, and 7 again, and maybe even 4, 5, and 6.  Why skimp on fun??

 

 

 

Balloons and Big Bob’s

05/20/2015 By: CCPearsoncomment

Shirley's balloons 3

 

 

 

 

 

 

My Silver Fox is a Morgan County boy, a card-carrying River Rat, and a ’66 graduate of Decatur High School.  He “speaks” Morgan County.  And the culinary route to his heart goes through Big Bob Gibson’s Barbecue with all of the smells and memories associated with it.  When we lived in Ecuador, especially after several meals in a row of “interesting” foods, we would often play a game with each other.  “Close your eyes.  Pretend like you’re sitting at Big Bob’s.  Describe what’s on your plate.  Are you eating a pork sandwich with chips or are you biting into a chicken quarter drenched in white sauce?  What pie are you going to get for dessert?”  We would drool and laugh and add a stop there to the itinerary for our next visit home.

Ask thousands of people in North Alabama what comes to mind when they anticipate Memorial Day Weekend, and they will say “Balloons and Big Bob’s!”  They are referring to the Alabama Jubilee Hot Air Balloon Classic held at Point Mallard Park in Decatur, Alabama, and to the world famous smoked pork, chicken, ribs, beef, and turkey from Big Bob’s Barbecue.

This year’s dates are May 23 and 24, so you’re not too late to head in this direction.  You can see the schedule of events and photos of all the balloons planning to participate by clicking here.  If the weather cooperates, you can view early morning and late afternoon balloon races, and spectacular balloon glows when the sun goes down.  The Decatur Art Guild will host an Arts and Crafts show during both days, and various musical artists will perform (one of my favorite groups is Natchez Trace).  On Sunday night the event closes with an amazing fireworks display.

Shirley's balloons 1

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

You should expect to park at Point Mallard and walk several blocks, but you might go early enough to find a closer spot.  Naturally, you can pack a picnic and tailgate, spread a blanket on the ground, or luck up on an available picnic table.  But, now that I’ve put the Big Bob’s notion in your mind . . .

You can choose to eat-in or drive-through for carryout. Big Bob’s has great coleslaw, potato salad, and baked beans, but my, oh my, the pies!!!!  Coconut and chocolate with their mile-high meringues are probably the top sellers, followed very closely by lemon icebox and pecan.  All are made in-house and worth every calorie.  In this part of the South, you can expect to find both white and red sauce, as well as the hot sauce.  If you haven’t tried white sauce on barbecue before, give it a try, especially on chicken.  Eat like the locals for a meal or so.

The Festival organizers and participants hope and pray for no rain and oh-so-slight winds.  Many of the events happen no matter what, but you won’t see the balloons flying unless the officials determine that conditions are safe.

It’s usually pretty warm, so dress comfortably and slather on the sunscreen.  I hope to see you there. I’ll be the one with my mouth open gaping at the gorgeous balloons or wiping a telltale trace of meringue off of my upper lip.

Shirley's balloons 4 Shirley's balloons 2

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(The wonderful balloon photos in this post were made by my friend Shirley Boster Hallman.  They were actually taken at Calloway Gardens last year, but most of the balloonists there also participate in the Decatur event.  Thank you for sharing these, Shirley.)

 

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Connie Collier Pearson, travel and food writer and blogger

Connie Collier Pearson, travel and food writer and blogger

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9-11 Memorial Asheville Bed and Breakfast Association Asheville NC Bay St. Louis Birmingham AL Brooklyn Tabernacle cajun Canton OH Cartersville GA Charleston SC Charlotte NC Cleveland Indians Cleveland OH Columbia TN creole Denver Florence AL Franklin TN French Quarter fried green tomatoes GA Georgia restaurants Gervasi Vineyard grandchildren Gulf Shores AL Gumbo Love by Lucy Buffett Hartselle AL Helen GA Huntsville AL Matthew 7:12 N.C. New York City Niffer's Old 96 District Orange Beach AL Radio City Music Hall Rockefeller Center seafood Smoky Mountains The Church at West Franklin The Plaza Times Square TN Toomer's Corner World Food Championships

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