We arrived in the city of sin just in time for sundown but, given our long drive, weren’t really in the mood to hit the casinos just yet.
Tag Archives: USA
Hiking in Yosemite – steep slopes and spectacular scenery
After many days of eating and drinking I was keen to get out and about and see a different side to California. Luckily (or meticulously well planned depending on how you look at it) our next stop was hiking in Yosemite National Park.
The French Laundry
Feeling surprisingly spritely after our tastings the day before our next stop was an early lunch at three Michelin starred the French Laundry.
Wine tasting in Napa – from Cab Sav to sparkling wine via fried chicken
Given our penchant for fine wine and food we couldn’t pass through California without stopping off for a spot of wine tasting in Napa. When we woke up, we were sad to see that the rainy weather had finally followed us from the UK – I guess this was bound to happen at some point! Still, what better place to be than an area where its acceptable to stay inside and taste wine from an hour that would more frequently be considered breakfast time…
The last supper in San Francisco – Frances and Bar Agricole
Before waving goodbye to San Francisco, we managed to fit in one last meal. Having heard very good things about Frances, we turned up as it opened at half five hoping to nab a spot at the bar.
San Francisco sightseeing – day two
Having packed in so much the day before, we decided to take our second day of sightseeing in San Francisco at a slightly slower pace. First taking advantage of the central location of our hotel to pop into a few shops and then riding the cable car over the hill to Fisherman’s Wharf.
Saison
Having been the year before, the boy couldn’t wait to go back to Saison so we booked as soon as we decided to head to the West Coast. Given his high praise, I couldn’t wait to taste the delights of this two Michelin star establishment.
San Francisco sightseeing – day one
San Francisco has been hovering near the top of my must-visit cities for a while, so I was really excited to be able to spend time here as part of our trip to the States. With a jam-packed itinerary we set out to fit in the best of the sightseeing in San Francisco in two days.
Aubergine
Being firmly of the view that to stave off jet lag you should stay up as late as possible, we booked ourselves in for dinner on our first night at Aubergine (at the Relais & Chateaux hotel, L’Auberge Carmel). Having heard great things about this restaurant, I was very excited for my first taste of gourmet Californian cuisine and this was definitely worth fighting through the sleepiness for!
Cruising the California coastline – Carmel and Big Sur
Determined to pack in as much as possible on our trip, we planned to start our trip on the California coastline. I met the boy straight off the plane and we drove down to Carmel. The drive from San Francisco to Carmel wasn’t in itself particularly scenic (the dramatic coastline was on hold until the next day) but in no time at all (or so it seemed to me given I promptly fell asleep…) we arrived in the picturesque sea-side town of Carmel.