Flowers in Our Hair and Tequila for Thom.
Our California road trip both began and ended in none other than San Francisco.
The one the city that seems to embody both the magic of the Pacific and the spirit of every ’60s song you’ve ever heard.
We’d spent our first day in the city soaking up the colors and flavors of Chinatown, but for our final days, we wanted to dive deeper into the city’s truly unique vibe.
There’s a reason so many movies are set here!
Between the wild, rollercoaster streets and constant views of the Pacific, with that notorious island of Alcatraz lurking in the distance, San Francisco feels like a whole experience unto itself.
Naturally, we kicked things off with a ride on the famous cable car, the ideal way to get a feel for San Francisco’s quirky personality and postcard-perfect views.
Despite the high-end restaurants and shiny skyscrapers, the city somehow still keeps a piece of its flower-power soul.
It felt like we could practically hear the echoes of “If you’re going to San Francisco, be sure to wear some flowers in your hair.”
With a bit of that spirit in mind, we hit the streets, wandering wherever they led us.
Thom, however, found her own slice of heaven in the city’s enormous candy stores.
Growing up in a house that firmly believed “no sweets allowed,” she looked like she’d walked into her own version of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory—only real, and seemingly endless.
Imagine barrels upon barrels of bright, colorful candy; her eyes were wide as saucers.
Each time we passed one of those stores, we couldn’t resist stepping inside, if only to watch her amazement as she mentally added each piece to her dream stash.
Every day seemed to end at Fisherman’s Wharf, which, with its lively atmosphere, quickly became our go-to spot for both lunch and dinner.
We couldn’t resist the city’s signature clam chowder served in bread bowls.
It didn’t matter if we’d already had it once that day—it was like our official San Francisco ritual, enjoyed with a view of the waterfront and its chaotic, lively mix of tourists and street performers.
While we managed to check off most of the must-see spots, our favorite by far was the Japanese Tea Garden in Golden Gate Park.
We lost track of time, wandering through its peaceful, blossoming gardens, completely immersed in the tranquility they offered.
It felt miles away from the city, though just minutes before, we’d been surrounded by bustling streets.
To our surprise, we stumbled upon an art and sculpture festival happening within the garden—a perfectly timed bonus!
The art installations only added another magical layer to the experience, making it feel like a discovery we’d somehow lucked into.
On our last night in San Francisco, we decided it was time for a little celebration.
We found a quirky, character-filled restaurant, the perfect setting to toast to our amazing road trip.
The evening was filled with laughter and stories, and at some point, Thom had her first taste of a “grown-up drink”—tequila.
The resulting face she made was an instant classic, and we figured this experience might keep her away from the hard stuff for a while… though, as we’d later learn, that was wishful thinking.
As our last evening wrapped up, it was clear that San Francisco had woven a little magic around our memories.
Between the flower-power vibe, the endless sweets, and the cable cars rattling up and down those rollercoaster streets, we’d tapped into a special part of California history and character.
It was the perfect way to wrap up a summer adventure, full of fun, flowers, and the timeless, unforgettable spirit of San Francisco.
