California

Len and I went to California to see my best friend from high school, Ann and her husband Tyler. We flew in Saturday and spent the day touring Berkeley. We got up the next morning and headed to Yosemite. The drive was beautiful - the landscape is very different from the South. In Yosemite we saw beautiful waterfalls and wildlife. As soon as we got there we saw a black bear. We hiked Mist trail - I didn't realize when I planned this trip how much walking I would be doing uphill. My favorite part of the hike was THE END!! Just kidding once we reached Vernal Falls it made the hike worth it. Plus I couldn't let all the retired people out do me. Next we headed to Wine Country - Sonoma and then Napa. I think this was my favorite part. It was beautful! We had a great time learning more about wine and tasting different types. We stayed at a quaint B&B called the Old World Inn in Napa. I wished we had one more night there. Then we toured San Francisco. We saw all the sights - Golden Gate bridge, Alcatraz, Fishermans Wharf, Ghirardelli Square, Cable Cars, Lombard Street (the curviest street), Filbert Street (the steepest street - Len loved driving down this one), Chinatown, Little Italy, The Painted Ladies and lots more. Our last day we drove down to Carmel on Highway 1. It was beautiful!!! We had a great time and I am glad I got to see Ann and Tyler. Thanks for letting us stay with you.

Beach in Carmel - there was wedding going on.

Beach in Carmel - Beautiful



Muir Woods - Redwood trees were really tall!!



Golden Gate Bridge - our bus was open top and it was so much to ride across!



The flowers were absolutely gorgeous!!




Len and I getting ready for our San Francisco tour.

The Painted Ladies - this is the opening scene from the TV show Full House

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2_Tv5f3agDw\

here is a link to opening credits for Full House incase you are curious.

Cable Car

Pier 39 Sea Lions - there were sea lions all over this dock it was very entertaining to watch them.

Alcatraz - one of my favorite parts of the trip.

Alcatraz

Hall Winery - we toured this winery and this is when we were in the caves - they were beautiful!

Wine Country - we ate lunch at Auberge De Soliel it had great views of the vineyards but it was raining so we had to eat inside.

Grapes Vines

Yosemite - Yosemite Falls

Yosemite - Vernal Falls- I hiked over a mile uphill to see this. Needless to say, I was very proud once I got to the top. We could have continued up to another waterfall but I decided one accomplishment for the day was enough.