San Francisco: The Farewell Tour

Yes, it's true, after just 11 short months I am leaving San Francisco to go home and start preparing for my mission. It has been such a neat experience to live here. But my biggest problem when living here was that there were so many San Franciscan things I hadn't experienced yet, and I couldn't find anyone who would want to do all the dorky touristy stuff with me.

Enter Ben. He's my (former) coworker in Salt Lake City from Atlanta (coincidence?!?) that I became friends with after some networking magic led to us talking about fun things to do in SLC. We bonded over bad boss experiences and Harry Potter. After months of conversation, we made the connection that he had never been to California and I had no one who wanted to do touristy things with  me.

LIGHT BULB. A plan was formed for Ben to come visit over Memorial Day and would do ALL the touristy things!

And in just 4 short days, we were able to accomplish the following touristy feats:

• Coit Tower to view the Bay Bridge Lights
• Twin Peaks for a view of the city 
• Baker Beach
• Golden Gate Bridge- walked all the way across and back
• Fisherman's Wharf
• Lunch at Boudin Bakery
• Alamo Square
• Giants Game complete with Gilroy Garlic Fries
• Brunch at Park Chow
• Santa Cruz Boardwalk and beach
• Dinner at Goat Hill Pizza
• Angel Island and Alcatraz tour
• Palace of Fine Arts
• Dinner at Pearl's Burger
• Brunch at Squat and Gobble
• Attempt to go to Muir Woods- FAILED (way too busy and road was too windy and brunch was too filling) 
• Union Square
• Chinatown
• Lunch at Ike's 
• Oakland Temple

Conclusions: Ben and I are really alike. Our tastes and habits are eerily similar, which made things like only eating 2 meals a day not a problem. We both really enjoy the historical aspect of tourism and random facts. And thank heavens we still had time to watch the new season of Arrested Development when we got home from our adventures!

And WHY HAVEN'T I DISCOVERED BRUNCH BEFORE?!? Brunch is DELICIOUS and I've never felt so sophisticated in my life. Where have Eggs Benedict been all my life? But maybe it was a good thing... I saved myself a lot of calories and moolah.

Oh yeah, the important stuff. Pictures.

A typical cell at Alcatraz. 5' by 9'. I would go CRAZY. 

Giants game! 

View of Alcatraz from the ferry

Gotta love the sunbeams. Palace of Fine Arts

Chinatown Lanterns and architectural coolness

Chinatown Gate

Baker Beach (and oh my gosh I'm such a dork)

Golden Gate's fantastic view of the city (hey, I live here!!!)

The picture that got the tourist ladies drooling over how cute we are (not a couple, ladies!)

Yes, our weekend was completely action-packed. But I thoroughly enjoyed my stay-cation. I feel like I can say that I left San Francisco with no regrets.