Weekender in San Francisco

A few weeks ago my husband Josh and I spent the holiday weekend in the City for Valentine’s Day. We scaled the steep hill to park at Hotel Drisco in the Pacific Heights neighborhood. Amid the three and four story, 100-year old houses that command full blocks, Hotel Drisco makes its home perched on a hill with views of the city and a peak of the Bay.

Turn of the century old world charm greets you from the minute you ascend the steps through the ornate archway. Low ceilings and rich woods welcome us into the cozy hallway, and the single elevator takes us to the third floor, transporting us to San Francisco 1920. Of course, all finishes are modern and polished with sophisticated taste. Dreamy muted hues and a sea of white sheets frame the bay window that provides views of the city and a peak of the ocean.

I could sit at the bay window in our room for hours

After settling in and taking all of the photos of the room, we lock the room with an old fashioned key and join the legendary wine + cheese hour - let me tell you, worth the hype! We stocked up on all of the savory treats and sipped wine from one of our favorite Paso Robles wineries, then ran outside to catch our Uber (literally the third time we’ve ordered an Uber for these small town kids).

We made reservations at Trestle, a dimly lit restaurant with only a couple dozen tables. Highly recommend for a romantic evening. The menu is pre fixe, with delicious offerings that you probably would not have tried otherwise - and only $39 for three course! Also, my best friend somehow manged to surprise us with champagne to really cap off the meal.

After dinner we walked to the Top of the Mark. Maybe a little cliche, but I really wanted to make a pilgrimage here after my Grandma spoke so highly of coming to this “it” spot in the 1950s. Fully dressed with hat, gloves, and coat, she remembers taking the train and grabbing a drink at the Mark with her girlfriends. Channeling this old world charm, we took the elevator to the top floor and ordered a couple of drinks. Down below a scene from a movie was being filmed, and we watched as they filmed below.

Not ready to call it a night, we met a couple of friends at Last Rites, which is a tiki bar with an airplane-crash twist. I can’t admit to being to many tiki bars (count ‘em: 1), but my first experience was incredible. It felt like hanging out in the Indiana Jones ride at Disneyland. We toasted castaway-themed cocktails into the night, then finally headed back tot he hotel after a few rounds.

DAY 2

Soft light illuminates our room at Hotel Drisco as the morning outside begins to stir. After quickly getting ready, we take the stairs to the first floor to indulge in the complimentary breakfast - do I have you sold on this hotel yet? Breakfast classics and local selections pair off into hot and cold tables, and I load up on yogurt, toast, bacon (obviously) and a couple of pastries. We eat our breakfast by one of the windows facing the street and enjoy this quieter part of the city.

Note: We did see someone suspiciously looking into car windows in broad daylight - so make sure you take any valuables with you into the hotel! Comes with the territory of staying in a busy city.

After breakfast we head back to our room to get ready for the day. I haven’t spent much time talking about the bathroom, but it is definitely worth highlighting. Beautifully fitted with marble floors and all modern finishes, the bathroom is very narrow and long. I loved the preserved character! Instead of expanding the bathroom into something you see at every hotel, the original footprint was considered.

Once we have packed up, we head to Golden Gate Park with our sights set on the Exploratorium. We finally finding parking (hello holiday weekend) and walk through the park to make a stop at the Elf Door. Yep, an elf door. You never know what you will find in San Francisco, and this tiny treasure is a mystical surprise. In front of the Exploratorium, in the Music Concourse, there are rows of trees. At the base of one of these trees a small door has been fastened to a little knoll (apparently the Elf’s home). Passersby leave small trinkets and gifts at the door.

From the Elf Door we move towards the line to get into the Exploratorium. As luck would have it, a nice man with a membership graciously offered to bring one of us inside as his guest, meaning we only had to purchase one ticket! The crowds kept us from the rain forest exhibit, but we did enjoy the various exhibits on history, animals of all kinds, and nature! The albino alligator was my favorite stop, and the aquarium displayed fantastic sealife, including jellyfish. Overall, it was an enjoyable stop but probably something I would wait to do again with kids.

As I watch the skyscrapers fade into the distance on our drive home, I am already looking forward to our next trip to the City.

Na-pa Valley Girls (We’re Undeniable)

24 Hours in Paso Robles