I mentioned we’re having an unusually mild winter so far and when the sun shines in January, we get the itch to go exploring.  So Sunday the family and I headed to the Big City to chase those rare blue skies and spent a splendid afternoon in North Beach. It was one of those weekends where even the locals were surprised by the fair weather and took to the streets to walk their dogs and dine in the cafes.

North Beach (or Little Italy) is a fantastic collection of shops, cafes, delicatessens, and cool landmarks in north eastern San Francisco, bordered by Fisherman’s Wharf to the north, Chinatown and the Financial District to the south, Telegraph Hill to the east, and Russian Hill to the west. 

map from here

We started in Washington Square Park at the famous landmark Saints Peter and Paul Church. The twin spires of this church (originally a parish for Italian fisherman) can be seen from blocks away, and the intricate detail inside the church’s interior with its altar, ceiling, and painted dome will transport you to Europe.

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What a weekend!  I haven’t seen such amazing weather on a visit to the City by the Bay in a long time.  79 degrees and perfect!   Short sleeves and no sweater in San Fran?  Rare indeed!  What a great time we had playing tour guide for the in-laws.  Here is the gorgeous view from atop Fort Scott, looking towards the Marin headlands.

On a beautiful day in San Francisco, it’s fun to take a driving tour past famous stops like the Palace of Fine Arts or Coit Tower.   Personally, I love to drive the neighborhoods and admire all the painted Victorians!

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I love a big city Christmas just as much the charm of a small town Christmas.  We are having the most amazing weather this week in Northern California which makes for a spectacular day spent in downtown San Francisco.  With out-of-town family staying with us again over the Thanksgiving holiday, we couldn’t resist playing tour guide in the City by the Bay. 

Amidst blue skies, the bustling Union Square was aglow with window displays, holiday decorations, and lights from all the big retailers and the grand hotels. 

We even had a celebrity sighting – we caught Mrs. Claus as she was hailing a cab.

Come on along on our tour through Union Square and Chinatown.

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My cousins are staying with us this week, and they’ve traveled all the way from Tucson, Arizona.  Of course, we had to show them a spectacular day in San Francisco.  Despite the typical fog, it was a great day to be in the City by the Bay.  What’s better than clam chowder and crab at Fisherman’s Wharf, a Columbus Day parade, a Blue Angels show, and ending your day with some Ghirardelli chocolate ?  Dungeness crab season has almost begun, so there was no shortage of great seafood dining in the northern part of the City.

Take a tour of the City with me and experience some San Francisco hospitality. 

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Exploring the big city of San Francisco is one of our favorite things to do.  Since the Golden Gate Bridge is about 40 minutes from our house, we took Friday afternoon to adventure across the bridge to visit the renowned Ferry Building Marketplace. 

Those who’ve visited the Bay Area recently may be familiar with this European style indoor bazaar, filled with vendors who feature the finest of California’s bounty.  We arrived at the lunch hour, with the marketplace filled with young executives from the financial district, mingling with the visiting tourists. 

Any food lover will simply love this place.  While you’ll pay big dollars to take away some of these artisan products, it’s still worth a visit just to sample California’s culinary best.   Here’s a peek at some of the displays:

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