San Francisco Baes

With stunning scenery of the hilly terrain, candy colored homes, warm days and chill nights, this enchanted city has Caitlin and Danielle’s hearts. The Dolls stopped in America’s Favorite City on our way to wine country with our girl squad for an impromptu adventure. San Francisco is a city beckoned to be visited with your bae. Here are the Dolls’ 8 Favorite things to do in this city.

Caitlin and Danielle are wearing dresses from fab’rik in Wicker Park

Golden Gate Bridge

The iconic Golden Gate Bridge was one of our first stops on the Doll itinerary.  Despite the postcard-worthy backdrop, the history behind this man-made creation is something to marvel at. The epic engineering feat to build the world’s longest suspension bridge (it’s now the second longest in the country) changed the history of San Francisco.

Fisherman’s Wharf

Fisherman’s Wharf has to be seen at least once in your lifetime. The waterfront strip coined this name from generations of fishermen who used to dock their boats here. There are still about 30 fishing boats that set out from this location, but the area is now famous for the shopping and entertainment square. This was a highlight of our trip and we recommend visiting on a sunny day!

We loved frolicking around the shopping district – there are plenty of fun activities to experience, including a majestic carousel, ice cream, a fairy tale boutique and the Pearl Factory, where you can crack open your own oyster to reveal a beautiful pearl.

You may know our two favorite F words by now… fashion and food.  We knew that our visit to Fisherman’s Wharf would result in some savory seafood. Our Doll dreams of dungeness crab and sourdough bread bowls full of clam chowder were fulfilled at The Franciscan Crab Restaurant. This restaurant first opened in 1957 and offers panoramic views of the bay, including the Golden Gate Bridge,  the San Francisco Skyline and even Alcatraz.

The most famous residents of Fisherman’s Wharf are the hundreds of California sea lions hanging out, barking on the docks at Pier 39. This amusement held our attention while we sipped morning coffee, and to be honest, we could stay here all day.

Ride the Trolley

We couldn’t resist the historic trolley cars in San Francisco! For only a few dollars, this ride provides plenty of entertainment. These trolley cars are painted in the colors of the originals from the 1920s and ’30s and you can ride them all over town.

Haight & Ashbury

All boho babes need to put Haight & Ashbury on the itinerary. Smack dab in the center of San Francisco – this is the epicenter of the Summer of Love.  Free spirits flocked to this neighborhood, and the area became known as a mecca for musicians. It was not uncommon to run into artists like the Grateful Dead, Janis Joplin, members of Jefferson Airplane – because they all lived within a few blocks of one another.

Caitlin and Danielle are wearing dresses from Bazar Boutique in Chicago and fringe boots from AMIClubwear.

There are some lovely places to shop on Haight and Ashbury. If you’re curious about crystals, check out The Love of Ganesha – the emporium is filled with all kinds of stones and even houses a quiet meditation center. Our favorite psychedelic store was Love on Haight. This shop is a must-see for any Dead Heads, tie-dye lovers and sparkle enthusiasts…. Yes, there is a pot of glitter at the counter everyone is encouraged to sprinkle on themselves. The area is also filled with a plethora of high-end boutiques and resale stores that will have you ready to go for festival season.

In-N-Out

Whenever we visit California, our double trouble takes on new meaning. That’s right – we get down on the famed In-N-Out like every out-of-towner has to. Add this as a must on your travel itinerary.

The Doll Order: Double double burger, animal style with grilled onions. Fries. Chocolate-strawberry shake. Extra spread to take home.

China Town

San Francisco’s Chinatown is the biggest in the US – and the second famous (after NYC).  An ornate gate decorated with dragons and a jade roof marks the entry to Chinatown at Grant Avenue and Bush Street.  Red lanterns hang across the street and glow as evening settles in. This is a great area to indulge in some delicious pho or pick up some souvenir trinkets. Doll highlight: we stumbled across a gorgeous crystal shop, Juno,  filled to the brim with delicate gemstones and rough stones from Madagascar to Brazil and beyond.

Full House

The front of the house we see on the show, is from the house located at 1709 Broderick Street in San Francisco. Fair warning: for all of our die-hard fans, this may seem off when you go to visit, because it is not in Alamo Square, where the family is seen having a picnic in the iconic opening credits. The real Full House is not a part of the Painted Ladies – it’s about a mile away!

Half Moon Bay

California Highway 1 makes for the ultimate road trip.  You’ll see a string of beach communities with their own take on surf shops, bait stands and scenic restaurants.   Seasonal whale-watching is a popular pastime and when the last wisps of summer fog burn off, the beaches fill with swimmers and surfers.

On our way to Paso Robles, we decided to take our time and cruise the coast. We got an affordable luxury car from Sixt Rental (check this company out) that accommodated all of our outfit changes and comfortable seating. We soon found ourselves in a beloved artists colony on the coast.

Caitlin and Danielle are wearing outfits from Bazar Chicago and shoes by LIUID (a charitable brand)

Half Moon Bay may be the largest and most visited of the coastal communities, surrounded by natural resources and beauty.  Galleries, shops, and cafés occupy renovated 19th-century buildings, championship golf courses and sunsets to savor are a few of the reasons to stay in town. We spent the night at a charming hotel, Half Moon Bay Lodge.

The quaint lodge at Half Moon Bay has all kinds of amenities including genuine wood-burning fireplaces to keep you cozy at night. We opted to stay in a suite overlooking the golf course.

We loved the atmosphere of this cozy hotel in Half Moon Bay and enjoyed some much-needed relaxation near the over-sized Jacuzzi with a cozy fireplace.

See the rest of our California adventures here and here.

 

 

A very special thank you to Katie Kinney and Ashley Barba – our two fantastic friends and photographers who joined us on this trip. We love you both dearly and are excited for more adventures to come