Instead of a big party, we opted for a family vacation to San Francisco for Hayden's B-Day. Jason and I both LOVE the city. And the kids hadn't been there or been on a plane ride. So, we decided it was time. Here's Hayden on the flight up.
Then we took the Bart into the city.
It was fun to tell the kids how Snow Papa helped build part of the Bart!
After checking into the hotel we got some brunch in Little Italy.
Afterwards we started walking and found this great park.
Urban parks are so fun!
This beautiful old church bordered the park.
Hailey on the slide.
I do apologize for his moppy hair. He was going though a phase (hopefully a phase) where he was refusing to get his hair cut (kind of like Snow Papa during high school maybe). Any ways, I choose not to fight it at the time. Although, shortly after this trip I just couldn't take it any longer and bribed him to get it cut- which worked. One hair cut in exchange for a Rainbow Loom kit (the new craze with kids- it's a rubber band bracelet making kit).
We walked all the way from the Financial District/China Town area where our hotel was to Ghirardelli Square! On the way, Hayden spotted a toy store and used his B-day money from Angela to get this Whale.
Hailey, waiting for her Ghirardelli Hot Fudge Sundae.
Then we got in line to wait for the cable car. This was the view looking back at the square.
And the view of the Golden Gate Bridge.
First cable car ride!
And it was still decorated for Christmas!
I love San Francisco (oh wait, did I already mention that?).
We loaded the family up on the cable car with all the other crazy tourists!
And no joke, 2 min. after I took this picture, Hayden fell asleep. We rode it all the way back to our hotel and he missed all of it. It stopped at the top of Lombard Street which had an amazing view of the city and bay. And he missed it. I kept trying to wake him but he was out!
Then when we got back to the hotel, Hailey crashed. I thing we calculated that we walked about 3 miles that day. And we had an early flight- the kids work up a 5 am.
Jason and Hayden walked to Union Square while I stayed with sleepy head. But while she slept, Hayden found the Disney Store where he spent the last of his B-Day money. And to my surprise, he spend some of HIS money on a doll for Hailey! Princess Anna from Frozen. Hailey LOVES it. She brings it to school almost every day. What a nice big brother!
The next day we took the bus. We basically got on the wrong one and went in the wrong direction! You have to do that once as tourist, right? But is was fun just to see the different neighborhoods. We ended up not too far off track and the bus driver pointed us in the right direction.
Which was getting on the Green Line heading towards the kids Exploratorium at Pier 15.
The old trolleys on the Green Line are so cool. San Francisco has such character. And great public transportation!
The Exploratorium was amazing. We spent a few hours there and probably only saw 1/4 of the exhibits. The science based, hands on exhibits were really top notch.
They were on par with my college level lab classes. And the hands on, interactive nature of it kept the kids interested.
We got to watch a Cow Eye dissection.
Hayden wasn't bothered by it at all (Hailey was with daddy in the restroom and missed it).
Over all it was very good, except the presenters (a couple young college age kids) totally botched the explanation of Cataract Surgery and it took everything in me not to speak up and correct them. I'm sure it was over the kids heads anyways. But I made sure Hayden heard the right explanation after we left.
Hailey kept asking Daddy to carry her. But we kept trying to make her walk herself. Hayden was also whining about how bad his shoes hurt (Converse).
Here's our reluctant walker!
Lunch at Boudin! Sour dough bread bowl.
Then a cable car back to the hotel.
And to the kids surprise...
We were upgraded the 2nd night to the Omni Kid's Fantasy Suite!
I read about it online but it wasn't available when I booked the room.
So during check in, I inquired again.
And to my delight, it was available starting the 2nd night!
It was perfect! Two adjoining rooms, one with bunk beds, one with a kids size bed.
The kids room had everything the kids could want: toy basket, books, stuffed animals, and even stools for the bathroom sink! And rubber duckies in the bath tub!
They were in heaven! It really made the trip extra special. They loved coming back to play in the room. Plus, every night the staff brought cookies and milk to the room!
Just up the street from our hotel was this great urban kids park.
When I asked Hayden what his favorite thing was about the trip, he mentioned this park! He calls it the train park.
The park was build on top of a parking garage! But due to the steep slope of the street, it was basically at street level (I think we walked up maybe one flight of stairs).
It had such nice views of the city.
Miss Hailey.
It was so well done. You couldn't tell it was the top of parking structure.
Hayden inside the train. He didn't want to leave.
A pretty old church on the edge of the park.
Teeter-totter.
Hailey's turn.
Thank you SF for building great parks for the kids to enjoy!
Next we wandered through China Town.
We ended up in a Korean-owned yogurt shop. While choosing her flavor, Hailey kept pointing to Black Sesame. Jason was basically ignoring her chose, since it didn't sound appealing to him. Finally the shop worker, gave Hailey a little sampler. She loved it. Here she is, enjoying her flavor. Miss Independent!
Here we are killing time before House of Nanking opened. We got drinks at an old Irish Pub. It was early enough (and they served food) that we could bring in kids.
And we finally reached our destination- House of Nanking. It's a favorite of ours. Chinese fusion.
Earlier in the day Hayden said he wanted apple pie instead of a birthday cake. And while the kids rested in the room, I went to a half dozen restaurants/bakeries and couldn't find one that served apple pie,
But lucky for us, right across the street from House of Nanking was a Frank Coppola restaurant that serve... Apple Tart (close enough!). He was one happy 7 year old!
So, it ended up being one fabulous b-day for Hayden. A special room, a great kids museum, and apple pie!
Day three we went to the zoo. Which normally we wouldn't have wasted a day on since we have great zoo's in So Cal but Hayden has been obsessed with bears lately. And when we looked up where to view bears, the SF Zoo came up. They have 2 female Grizzly Bears.
So, basically we came to the zoo to see these two girls.
But it ended up being a great day trip. The zoo has a new, really nice kids park and petting zoo.
Here's Hayden in some cave-type play structure.
Part of the play area from a wider angle.
At the petting zoo. Hayden is on a saddle.
Making friends with a goat.
And a llama.
And we took that Bart back to the hotel. Hailey crashed. We wore these kids out!
Walking back to the hotel.
Then we ate at California's first restaurant (according to their menu)- Tadish Grill. They have a great Cioppino.
And the bar tender gave the kids cherries in their orange juice!
After dinner we walked around Union Square. Hayden, on his own, posed by these statues.
He is such a goof!
People were walking by saying, "look at that little boy" and laughing. Which I'm pretty sure is just the response he was looking for!
Union Square was still decorated for Christmas and looked amazing.
They even had an ice skating rink. We didn't try it. Maybe next time.
Hailey on the flight home. It was fun SF! Thanks for having us.
NOTE: These are all iPhone pictures. We didn't bring a camera.
