4 Days in San Francisco

We retired at the end of 2019, and it still feels a little surreal to say that out loud. After years of planning and talking about “someday,” we finally reached the point where someday became now.

So, we celebrated the best way we know how - by traveling.

At the beginning of January, we set off on our retirement trip, and one of our stops was the beautiful city of San Francisco. We had been there once before, but only for a couple of days, and it just wasn’t enough. This time, we gave ourselves a few extra days to really enjoy it. 

Settling In

We stayed at Hotel Riu Plaza Fisherman's Wharf, and it turned out to be the perfect choice for us. Close to everything, but just far enough away to be quiet at the end of a busy day.

When it comes to accommodations, we’re pretty simple:
clean, comfortable, updated, and good value. That’s it.

This place checked all the boxes.

We didn’t take advantage of most of the amenities (we were hardly in the room), but the outdoor seating areas with the fireplaces? Those we did use. There was something really nice about coming back in the evening, sitting by the fire, and just unwinding after a full day.

A Crooked Start

After getting settled, we headed out to one of the city’s most famous spots - Lombard Street.

Lombard Street is known as the “crookedest street in the world,” with its tight turns winding down a steep hill. It’s lined with beautiful homes and perfectly kept gardens, and yes… it’s just as charming in person as it looks in pictures.

Wandering Without a Plan

The next day, we spent our time around Fisherman's Wharf.

Years ago, it was a working fishing and shipping area. Now, it’s full of shops, restaurants, and things to see, but it still has that waterfront charm.

We didn’t have much of an agenda that day, which is one of my favourite ways to explore. We just wandered. Took our time. Stopped when something caught our attention.

From the waterfront, we enjoyed the beautiful views of Alcatraz Island, Golden Gate Bridge, and the city skyline. 

We spent quite a bit of time at Pier 39, wandering through the shops and lingering over lunch. No rushing, no schedule… just enjoying being there.

And of course, we couldn’t miss the pier’s most famous residents - the sea lions. They’ve been calling Pier 39 home since 1990, and they are the star the show. They were loud and playful, not to mention very smelly.  

A Visit to Alcatraz

One of the things we were most looking forward to was visiting Alcatraz Island.

It is one of those places we'd heard about for years, and we finally got to see it for ourselves.

Alcatraz is situated in San Francisco Bay. It was once a military fortification and a lighthouse. In 1934, it was transformed into a federal prison.  It gained the reputation of being inescapable, due to the strong currents in the bay and housed notorious criminals like Al Capone and George "Machine Gun" Kelly.  The prison closed in 1963, and the island has since become a popular tourist destination.

the shower room

the clothing issue room - inmates could exchange their dirty clothes for clean and new inmates would be issued their uniforms

After taking the ferry across the bay, we made our way up the hill to the prison. It’s a bit of a climb, but worth it.

Inside, we followed an audio tour through the cellhouse, starting in the old shower room. As we walked through, we heard stories from former inmates and guards, which made the whole experience feel incredibly real.

cell block

a cell

the kitchen

administrative office

recreation yard

Walking past the cells, the dining area, and the yard was fascinating, but also a little haunting.

What really stayed with us, though, was the view.

From inside the prison, you can see the city. You can hear it. Life going on, just across the water. So close, yet out of reach.

It’s hard not to think about what that must have felt like.

the Warden's house

inside the Warden's house

the officer's club

the view of the city

Once we stepped outside the cellhouse and walked the grounds, everything felt so different. The gardens, the open space, and the views of the bay were beautiful. 

We were captivated from the time we landed on the island to the time we left.  Alcatraz is a fascinating place.  One day I would love to go back and do some of the other tours they offer.

Among Giants

On our last day, we did something a little different. We headed just outside the city to Muir Woods National Monument.

If you’ve never seen redwood trees in person, it’s hard to describe just how massive they are.

Walking along the paths, surrounded by trees that are hundreds of feet tall and over a thousand years old was an incredible experience.

Ending on a Classic Note

We couldn’t leave without one more stop at the Golden Gate Bridge.

It’s iconic for a reason.

Seeing it up close, with the fog rolling in and out, was the perfect way to wrap up our time in San Francisco.