Adventures in the City

I absolutely love San Francisco! We have done a lot of different things in the city, but this trip topped them all. After Emily and Allen's wedding I was able to stay with Mom and Dad and drive down to California for their adult Lyon's reunion. We were invited to also tag along on this fun adult reunion, along with Ryan and my cousin Jason who just got back from a mission to France. We stayed at the Wyndam Resort in the city that was right by Union Square. The resort was beautiful! We stayed in a two bedroom room that had a middle family room, dining area and then a kitchen. We got there on Thursday afternoon and hung out at the hotel till Sharon and Steve got there and had a wonderful BBQ ribs dinner that Grandpa and Margaret made. The next day we started the adventures!

These photos are of Mt. Shasta from the car as we drove down to California. Preston was actually really good in the car for the 14 hr drive. I was a little bit worried about what it would be like with him, but we put in the Wiggles DVD's and he was happy! Thank goodness for technology...haha.



China Town was where it all started for us. We walked several blocks from our hotel to the from gate and just browsed the streets checking out all the little shops. We stopped at the Fortune Cookie Factory. Now, when I was told we were going to the Fortune Cookie Factory I was surprised that I had never seen this place before, but when we got there I knew why. It was in a back alley and a very tiny building. Itwas one room where you walked in , watched a lday working on the machine, got a free sample, and then walked out. It was very intresesting for sure! China town always has such fun things to look at and play with and some great bargains too! There was so many colorful things for Preston to look at and fun statues to take pictures by.

After China Town we went to a French restaurant for lunch and then Ryan and I went home so that Preston could nap. While I stayed home the rest of the clan were able to go see Lands' End, which is the furthest jetty on the West Coast and a beautiful park with some fun things to see. Grandpa and Margaret came back early to pick up Tom, Cindy, and Jason and then we all met up to go to dinner later that night.

It was nice to be close  to where Neil works. He was able to meet up with us for dinner on Friday night. We went to a nice place near Union Square that was delicious! Then afterwards a few of us took the trolley from Union Square down to Ghiradelli Square for dessert! I love that place...the chocolate is amazing! I shared a brownie sundae with Ryan and it was delicious.  I don't think I have ever been on a trolley either, so that was fun. I was able to hang out on the side on the way back with Ryan. Neil was so nice and took Preston back to go to sleep for the night and let me go with the gang.

Saturday was a whole new day full of fun in the sun. Literally though, the sun was shining and it was so hot. A few of us got sun burned by the end of the day. We started off going to the Golden Gate Bridge. We stopped to take a few photos and then went over to the visitors center, which was recently updated. We walked over the bridge a little bit and then walked back. It sure was beautiful!

After the Bridge we went over to the Presidio and into the Walk Disney Family Museum. This museum was huge! It didn't look very big from the outside, but there was so much inside that I was amazed. It started with the Disney family history, which was very interesting...and we noticed that there was a family name in there. The next Sunday Neil figured out the family connection. Walt Disney's mother was Flora Call. If we got back 6 generations from Walt Disney and 8 generations from me our family lines meet up at Samuel Call who married Abigail Sprague. I was impressed the Neil figured it all out! How neat is that...we are related to Walt Disney. I think that means we should get discounted prices to the parks...haha. Anyways, the Disney museum was really cool. Mom and Grandpa stayed out with Preston while he napped a little and then played with him after he woke up.

After the Museum we were able to play on the grass for a while and eat lunch and just chill. Later that afternoon we went to Pier 39 and then on a Bay Cruise! I have never been on a bay cruise and it was really cool. We went out and around Alcatraz Island and then to the bridge and then back around. We were able to see a cool skyline of the city and even a Naval ship returning to dock. After we got back from the cruise we went to dinner on the Pier and ate some fresh fish! Tom and Ryan had the crab special and got all messy, while we ordered Preston a hot dog and then ended up eating my fish instead. He would rather have fish almost any day. He's such a funny kid.

After dinner we all headed back to the hotel and most people called it a night, however...we had to drive back to Fremont since we needed to teach our Sunday School class the next day. The rest of the family stayed up there through mid day on Sunday. It was fun to see more of the city and also spend time with family. We are really blessed to be able to be close with those we love and do fun things like this with them. Thanks so much Grandpa and Margaret for inviting us!