Los Angeles via San Francisco

San Francisco is an eclectic city and a magical place.  When our friends asked if we could join them for a vacation in California, I was beyond excited. I have been to San Francisco previously, but it was always a quick visit and never stayed in down-town San Fran.  I always accompanied my husband on business trips and we stayed around Palo Alto which is another beautiful town.

I always had a "must see" and "to do" list if and when I visit San Francisco.  The list had relaxing tours of Napa and Sonoma valley, stay in down-town San Fran and spend a day in Sausalito. 

Inside an old building in Union Square we stayed at the Clift Hotel.  Clift is an edgy boutique hotel and you can't beat the location.  Convenient to walk to shopping, market street and a short cable car ride to the Fisherman's Wharf.

Day tripping in Sausalito is a magical escape.  It is a chic seaside village with amazing restaurants and quaint shops.  You could just spend days walking around and taking in the beauty of Sausalito.

 

Beautiful homes overlooking the sea in Sausalito.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Imagine overlooking this scene from your home every day...Sausalito.

 

The food at the Sausalito Bakery and Café is uhhhhmazing.  It is a farm to table concept café with all fresh ingredients.

Next on the agenda was a trip to Napa and Sonoma Valley.  We were so lucky, that when we arrived in Frisco, my friend's cousin had arranged for car service to pick us up.  The service was excellent, and we took a road trip with the car service through the spectacular rolling hills of Napa and Sonoma valley.  Great wine tasting and fabulous food. 

Indulged in a lovely lunch at a boutique winery restaurant. 

The interior design style at Brix was as good as the food.

While at the topic of culinary pleasures, a special mention for an Indian restaurant "Amber".  The atmosphere and the food were outstanding.

What would a trip be without visiting a design store!  We browsed around Caitlin Wilson's SF store.  Absolutely beautiful similar to her designs.  Caitlin Wilson (@caitlinwilsondesign) • Instagram photos and videos

Through the gates of Charleston, I fell in love!

I had no idea that I would fall in love!  I fell in love with "Charleston" a drop dead gorgeous city with southern charm and glamour.  Returned from a trip with my bestie cousin from Sydney Nova Scotia. 

Stay
We stayed at the Restoration.  It is a boutique hotel right in the middle of shopping, eating and site seeing.  The Restoration is an outstanding restored hotel with southern hospitality, modern fresh décor, well appointed rooms, bicycles to ride around town, happy hour with cheese and wine and cookies when you return from dinner.

Our favorite was the breakfast basket delivered to the room.  Very charming and southern.  I actually booked this hotel for the breakfast basket, it sounded like a novel idea and didn't disappoint. 

Wine and Cheese time...

See


Carriage Tour - even though this is one of the touristy event that I would have generally passed, but in Charleston it is a must.  I would recommend a horse drawn carriage tour the first day so you get to plan your walking tour. The horses are treated better than the people due to regulations.  When you get on a carriage you won't know the route until they randomly provide the route guidance.  This is the process so the same streets are not congested with carriages. 

Boone Hall Plantation...I am sure this must be the most photographed avenue of Oaks.  The Boone Plantation was featured in several movies which includes "The Notebook", "Gone with the Wind" etc. 

The next stop was at the Magnolia Plantation saturated in beautiful gardens and ponds.  You could still see the remnants of rice plantation in which slaves worked and you feel the past.  The reflections on a still morning...

 
Through the gates of Charleston.  We were in awe of the beauty, history and the architecture of Charleston.  I will let the pictures speak for itself.  My cousin and I stopped every few feet to take photographs, we were surprised we didn't get arrested for house stalking.

Notice the light blue ceilings in most of the porches.

 Around town...

Small things make a big difference

Eat

Eating our way through Charleston was easy.  We both had the same goal...EAT!!!  The restaurant scene here is exploding with unbelievably great food.  We get up in the morning and while having breakfast we discuss our culinary plan.   Most people would discuss site seeing, but not us, it was food front and center. 

Some of the great restaurants are Blossom, Low Country Bistro, Fig, Husk, Xia Bao Biscuit (Asian restaurant in an old gas station) and an amazing Italian Le Farfalle. I always forget to take pictures as I am too eager to eat...here are some.