New Adventures on the West Coast
Leisure time leads to seeing iconic sites, eating local, and visiting more little bookstores
Hello, my friend. I hope you are well and have been kind to yourself since our last visit.
Although I’m sending this after returning home, I’m writing you from Sacramento, California, where I’m filling my brain with scientific research about emerging technologies in electric transportation. Although transitioning from Eastern to Pacific time has gone well, I’m awake ridiculously early to complete tasks or attend virtual meetings before the day starts at 8 a.m., attend sessions until 5 p.m., and then catch up and respond to emails for a few hours after.
This work trip is different than others this year because my husband—whose publication schedule finally aligned with my travel schedule—has joined me for some time to realign and breathe.
When booking our flights, I was surprised that we could fly into San Francisco—instead of Sacramento where I needed to be—at about a third of the airfare. We’ve always wanted to visit The Golden City, so this was an unexpected opportunity to check off a destination while saving money.
We flew in a day early, so I booked lodging separately as a personal expense. We chose the boutique Hotel Zetta through Airbnb—half the cost of any traditional hotel in downtown San Francisco—specifically for its location and free parking (or so we thought). Arriving with the rental car, we learned that parking was not free, but front desk guru Diane quickly comped valet parking because of the listing error.
The retreat vibe at Hotel Zetta—with its art-clad walls and unique mechanical statues—jazzed up our creative mojo. My only regret is that we had just one night to stay. If (or when) we return to San Francisco, we’ll stay at Hotel Zetta.
After we were settled into our room and had a chance to breathe, we decided to wander the downtown area in search of a nice place to sit and have a drink. On the way out, Diane suggested Executive Order, at the end of the block and around the corner. Great suggestion—moody ambiance, hip-hopping music, and double-pours of bourbon that were nearly worth the exorbitant price—almost.
If there’s one meal my husband and I (and our sons) love, it’s breakfast—regardless of the time of day. Just down the street from Hotel Zetta is Mel’s Drive-In, giving off that nostalgic 1950s drive-in vibe when bobby socks and Wolfman Jack and hot rods defined the adolescent journey. Throw in a perfectly cooked New York Strip and eggs, and I’m all in for this morning feast.
My husband and I are skilled at seeing lots of sights in little time, while still having a fulfilling, unrushed experience. To walk off our breakfast, we walked and walked and walked, getting a good view of San Francisco on a micro level.
Once we packed up the hotel room and loaded the rental car, we were off to my number one, must-see attraction—Golden Gate Bridge (with Fort Point) that iconic landmark in countless movies and television shows, which was much grander than I expected.
From its vantage point overlooking the Golden Gate, Fort Point defended the San Francisco Bay following California’s Gold Rush through World War II. — NPS.gov
Located in the middle of the San Francisco Bay, Alcatraz Island is most well-known as an infamous federal prison. The island also served as a Civil War fortress, active bird sanctuary, the first lighthouse on the West Coast, and the birthplace of the American Indian Red Power. — NationalParks.org
My second must-see was a high-slope city street with townhouses lining both sides. I charged my husband with planning any after-work activities, and he interpreted my description as The Painted Ladies—a lovely view and park scattered with blankets, picnics, music, friends, and lovers.
Along the eastern side of Alamo Square Park are pastel-colored homes called The Painted Ladies, standing shoulder-to-shoulder on the gentle slope of Steiner Street. Also known as "postcard row" for their scenic beauty, these Victorian homes (still occupied by locals) are a reminder of the San Francisco of old, while the gleaming downtown skyline of new San Francisco shimmers in the distance. This location has been featured in some of the most popular stories set in San Francisco—perhaps most famously, "Full House." – sftravel.com
From there, we were off to Sacramento, where my leisure time was limited. Highlights from that city for me were dining in local eateries—Cafeteria 15L and Tank House—and exploring independent bookstores—Amatoria Fine Art Books and Time Tested Books.
If I insist on packing lightly when I travel, I probably need to stop visiting independent bookstores across the country. Maybe in a future post I’ll share about all the wonderful spaces, rare finds, and happy memories I’ve experienced walking into these extraordinary spaces filled with new and used books.
While that wasn’t the end of our trip, it is the end of this letter, because the final adventure—which involved careful planning and a lot of driving—was to the Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias, and they’re just too special to me to share space with other attractions.
So, for now, my friend, I will leave you with my ramblings about San Francisco and Sacramento, and hope you take the chance to explore and experience all the popular and hidden places in your world.
Be well, my friend.
Sounds like an awesome trip ♥️