We headed down the coast to check out Santa Cruz, it was super beautiful and I got a terrible sunburn. My nose is still red, it’s been weeks. My goodness what a beautiful day, though! Clear skies, ice creams, seaside. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
![\"\"](\"http:\/\/99.79.54.239\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/IMG_9482-683x1024.jpg\")
First order of business, ice cream.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/li> ![\"\"](\"http:\/\/99.79.54.239\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/IMG_9577-1024x683.jpg\")
“Us”, 2019<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n The next day, we headed up to Muir woods to check out the MASSIVE <\/strong>trees. I’m talking three people wide, at least, and so tall! It was really incredible. A friend who we met up with down there described it as “like the Night Elf forest, but real”. It so was! It was really wonderful, I can’t recommend it highly enough. We don’t have anything remotely like it around here!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
![\"\"](\"http:\/\/99.79.54.239\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/IMG_9690-683x1024.jpg\")
Me!<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/li> ![\"\"](\"http:\/\/99.79.54.239\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/IMG_9745-1024x683.jpg\")
Clovers<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/li> ![\"\"](\"http:\/\/99.79.54.239\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/IMG_9738-683x1024.jpg\")
Trees<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n Into the city of SF, we explored the touristy places: Pier 39 and Fisherman’s Wharf, which were so crowded and unpleaseant! I think we’re going to stop hitting the “points of interest” because we don’t enjoy them. We walked up around the lesser-trafficked areas and enjoyed it a lot more. A detour up to the house featured in Season Two of the OA was a major highlight – there is a park (Ina Coolbrith Park) across the street with incredible views over the city, and the Bay. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
We ambled around Chinatown and the Tenderloin, where our hotel was, and all-in-all had a wonderful time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
![\"\"](\"http:\/\/99.79.54.239\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/IMG_9890-1024x683.jpg\")
City series – Pier 39<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/li> ![\"\"](\"http:\/\/99.79.54.239\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/20190513_132648-1-1024x768.jpg\")
<\/figure><\/li>![\"\"](\"http:\/\/99.79.54.239\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/IMG_9883-683x1024.jpg\")
Flowers! <\/figcaption><\/figure><\/li> ![\"\"](\"http:\/\/99.79.54.239\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/IMG_9873-683x1024.jpg\")
Long walks and difficulty getting up.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/li> ![\"\"](\"http:\/\/99.79.54.239\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/IMG_9820-1024x683.jpg\")
Alcatraz<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/li> ![\"\"](\"http:\/\/99.79.54.239\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/IMG_9812-683x1024.jpg\")
The OA house in Russian Hill<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/li> ![\"\"](\"http:\/\/99.79.54.239\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/IMG_9747-1024x683.jpg\")
Silly tourists in the middle of the street (we didn’t stop!)<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/li><\/ul><\/a><\/a><\/a> <\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\nAnother highlight was the Museum of Ice Cream! I wasn’t 100% sure (OK, at all sure) what I was getting into with this one – was it a museum with some ice cream history? <\/p>\n\n\n\n
No.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It’s basically an instagram haven. There’s a sprinkle pool with a slide, a mirrorball room, everything is pink or turquoise, and they feed you sweets at every turn. It was super pricey, but I loved <\/strong>it, so worthwile. It was really nice to be indoors, too! <\/p>\n\n\n\n
![\"\"](\"http:\/\/99.79.54.239\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/IMG_9903.jpg\")
You’re allowed to climb on the horsies – it was difficult.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/li> ![\"\"](\"http:\/\/99.79.54.239\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/IMG_9902.jpg\")
But I prevailed! <\/figcaption><\/figure><\/li> ![\"\"](\"http:\/\/99.79.54.239\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/IMG_9909.jpg\")
In the forest of pink trees<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/li> ![\"\"](\"http:\/\/99.79.54.239\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/IMG_9913.jpg\")
Cotton Candy!! <\/figcaption><\/figure><\/li> ![\"\"](\"http:\/\/99.79.54.239\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/IMG_9916.jpg\")
Sprinkle pool slide!!<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/li> ![\"\"](\"http:\/\/99.79.54.239\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/20190513_164103.jpg\")
Sprinkle pool rest<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/li> ![\"\"](\"http:\/\/99.79.54.239\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/IMG_9919.jpg\")
Getting out of the sprinkle pool was a challenge.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/li> ![\"\"](\"http:\/\/99.79.54.239\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/20190513_161133.jpg\")
The selfie set follows<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/li> ![\"\"](\"http:\/\/99.79.54.239\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/20190513_162011.jpg\"\/)
Selfies<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/li> ![\"\"](\"http:\/\/99.79.54.239\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/20190513_163010.jpg\"\/)
Selfies<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/li><\/ul><\/a><\/a><\/a>