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Photo Essay: The San Francisco Bay Area
This week’s guest post and photo essay takes you to the San Francisco Bay area thanks to Cathy Sweeney of Traveling With Sweeney. You can also follow Cathy on Twitter and Facebook.
Enjoy the sights through Cathy’s eyes.
I often think about how lucky I am to be living in the San Francisco Bay Area where I expect I’ll never run out of nearby places to explore.
The following photos were taken in places around the Bay Area that I’ve visited recently.
Iconic symbols of San Francisco’s skyline: Coit Tower on Telegraph Hill and the Transamerica Pyramid seen from the bay near Pier 39.
The San Francisco skylin
Where’s the street? I never cease getting a thrill from driving on the steep hills of the city. The feeling that you’re about to drive off a cliff is always a big hit with out-of-town visitors.
San Francisco steep street
Although I don’t have the patience to watch baseball games on television, I love going to the ballpark to cheer on the World Champion San Francisco Giants. From these seats you can watch the game while seeing the bay, sailboats and hills in the distance. What a view!
ATT Park
The gate to Chinatown at Bush Street and Grant Avenue is a widely-recognized San Francisco landmark.
The Chinatown Gate
Many people visiting Chinatown stick to the tourist shops and restaurants on Grant Avenue, but there is more beyond the famous gate on streets like Waverly Place, called “The Street of Painted Balconies” for its colorful and decorative buildings.
Balconies at Waverly Place
Further into Chinatown, there are hidden alleys rarely seen by tourists.
Old Chinatown Lane
The panoramic views of the Golden Gate Bridge and San Francisco from the Marin Highlands are hard to beat. It’s another one of those places we make a point to visit with guests.
Panoramic view of the Golden Gate Bridge
The world-famous wine-producing areas of Napa and Sonoma counties are short drives from San Francisco and one of my favorite places on earth. This photo was taken at Ferrari-Carano Vineyards in the Dry Creek region near Healdsburg.
The Ferrari Carano vineyard
While in wine country, you can spend some time with Charlie Brown and friends at the Charles M Schulz Museum in Santa Rosa.
Interior of the Schulz Museum
The think that the Bay Area’s activist culture is represented well with Big Piece IV (2008), a sculpture by Cuban-born artist Tony Labat. It brightens the view of the city of Oakland and hills from the tiered terrace of the Oakland Museum of California.
OMCA Sculpture
The serene vistas of the Livermore Valley in the East Bay are a striking contrast to the crowded highways, large cities and suburban population centers nearby.
Livermore Valley vistas
Livermore’s historic downtown area has a diverse selection of shops and restaurants. This mural titled “City of Livermore, Wine Country Since 1849” depicts historical scenes. Wine lovers may be surprised to learn that the Petite Syrah varietal was first produced in the Livermore Valley fifty years ago.
Livermore Mural
Surfers love the challenges of the waves along the coast at Half Moon Bay, south of San Francisco on the peninsula.
Surfer
Nearby Maverick’s Beach, in particular, is a haven for extreme surfers and is currently featured in the movie, Chasing Mavericks.
Giant waves for the extreme surfers
But it’s not all about the ocean in the Half Moon Bay area which has many farms that grow flowers, Christmas trees, fruits and vegetables.
Pastorino Farms
This is just a taste of the San Francisco Bay Area. There’s so much more!
Have you been to San Francisco or some of the near by communities?
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About Hike Bike TravelAvid world traveler. Craves adventure - & the odd wildly epic day. Gardener. Reader. Wine lover. Next big project - a book on 100 Canadian outdoor adventures.
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16 Responses to Photo Essay: The San Francisco Bay Area
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About
I’ve been all over the world – to all continents but Antarctica and to a grand total of 53 countries. I’ve always got some sort of an adventure planned – even if it’s only a weekend. I thrive on change and travel provides that.
Feel free to email me at
leighmcadamtravels at gmail dot com
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San Fran is such a fun city. Thanks for sharing your photos.
Sam recently posted..Don’t Get Eaten! Bear Safety Tips
@Sam It’s a city with a lot to offer. I’d like to revisit and visit some of the places Cathy suggested.
Northern California and San Francisco photos are always a treat!
Pola (@jettingaround) recently posted..Photo Focus: Streets of Montmartre
@Pola It’s certainly one of the most beautiful cities in the US – at least if you ask me.
Great summary of what the San Francisco area has to offer. I love Cathy’s suggestions. I haven’t been to the Ferrari-Carano winery but have heard its gardens are gorgeous.
Jenna recently posted..Delights of Tuscany at Mercato Centrale in Florence
@Jenna I also haven’t visited that winery – I’ve just cycled on by. Had dinner last night with people that are just back from their first visit to San Francisco. They raved about the area and want to return to cycle the city.
Thanks for the post. A fond reminder of where I left my heart….
If your heart is still there I hope you get a chance to return one day.
Great photo essay – it touches on so many unique things the SF offers!
Raul (@ilivetotravel) recently posted..Photo Essay: The Tiled Roofs of Dubrovnik
Great photos, I love the Golden Gate Bridge and Chinatown Gate!
Angela recently posted..I want to “Go With Oh” to Paris
Amazing captures of a place I have never ever visited!! Loved the bridge as also those waves…
Wonderful post Cathy
Arti recently posted..Driving Through Nara, An Ancient Town of Japan
@Arti I agree – Cathy posted some beautiful shots.
I love San Fran. The city really has so much character. Haven’t made it north to wine country though, hoping to soon!
Koren @ City Gal recently posted..Channelling our Inner Blair Waldorf
@Koren California wine country is one place I could visit time and time again. I biked there for 10 days and wrote a guide to the area should you go – http://hikebiketravel.com/eguide-store-bike-tours-adventure-travel-hiking-walking-tours/usa/california-wine-country-bike-winetasting-tour/
Nice vineyards in the Dry Creek region near Healdsburg. And… good luck to the Charles M Schulz Museum in Santa Rosa!
Calogero Mira recently posted..A photo on Mount Hor caves in Petra, Jordan
I agree – love the wines in the Healdsburg region and wish they were more reasonably priced in Canada.