As promised in a previous post, the deviantART gallery and portfolio are updated with a number of photos from 2016 when I visited San Francisco. It was an adventure and I can’t wait to get the chance to go back.

I made the trip from Mississauga, Ontario to California to visit my boyfriend (who is now my husband) and his family for a couple weeks around the Canada Day holiday and Independence Day. On July 4th, a group of us went to San Francisco to meet another friend and explore the city.

San Francisco is gorgeous.

It feels much like Toronto, except with a much steeper incline and more dramatic weather. There is an interesting difference being in Toronto and next to a lake, versus being in San Francisco and next to the ocean. The weather was much cooler, humid, and the overcast with a drizzle of rain was a welcome change of the otherwise oppressive heat of California. (Which, being Canadian and from the Greater Toronto Area, I’m not used to at all.)

We made sure to visit a few key tourist places, like the Ghiradelli Square. I don’t think it’s much of a secret that I’m a fan of chocolate.

After lunch, we walked toward Pier 39. We didn’t have specific goals for the day, so we were content to wander around, explore, and get a feel for the city.

I have only ever been near the ocean once before, when I visited my sister when she lived in Newfoundland. I took far too many photos of the water, ships, and fog over the bay. San Francisco is definitely a city I would not mind living in… if I were able to afford it.

Later on in the day we had some time before searching for a restaurant to have dinner. We checked Google Maps, spotted a large patch of green to the south, and set out for the California Academy of Sciences. However, we failed to check the opening hours and arrived just before closing. Oops!

We started walking back toward the gardens and spied the Japanese Tea Garden, and again we arrived with a half hour before the place closed for the day. We were a bit dejected, thanks to our poor planning, as these are two places that appear to be worth visiting. Next time!

Thankfully, our quest for dinner was not so easily thwarted. We drove to Cliff House for a meal and, after, saw some whales (whales!) off in the distance. My camera was in the car at this point, unfortunately, though I doubt even with zoom that I could catch more than a blurry blob. Here is a photo of a seagull instead.

Overall, it was an enjoyable trip despite missing out on the tea garden and science museum. It’s just a another reason to go back. We were only there about a day and a half, though the next visit will be longer and allow for more time to explore and appreciate the ocean.

Have you ever been to San Francisco? Is there a place you’ve been that seems to just call you back? Let me know in the comments, I would love to hear from you.

Want to see more photos? Check out my gallery! ❤