Welcome to Beyond Ordinary Guides, where we curate gorgeous imagery, locally cherished spots, and accessible stories. We hope you enjoy!
All in San Francisco
I had seen pictures of the Big Sur coastline before and thought that was the big draw to the area. To be sure, it is, but what was fantastically unexpected was that Highway 1 takes you along sheer winding cliffs one minute and then through deep redwood forest the next. Little Mom & Pop gas stations, dark wood cabin style inns, and general stores show up every 1/2 mile. It feels slightly Route 66 - a highway passing through a classic tourist town, the way touristing used to be.
Have you ever biked across the Golden Gate Bridge? After a year and a half in the city, we decided it was time for us to try out this tourist staple.
As far as I could tell from google maps on my phone, we essentially wanted to take Bay Street to Lyon Street and then Pacific Avenue along the Presidio. What I couldn't see at the time under the blue line of the directions was that Lyon Street dead ended and turned into steps about halfway to Pacific Avenue.
"I'm a San Francisco resident," I say as I get out my wallet to show my ID.
"I can always spot 'em," he replies with a smile. I'm flattered. He offers me a map and off I go.
I’m always on the lookout for cool, free things to do in the city. I mean, who isn’t? So when I discovered Neighborhood Days at the California Academy of Sciences, I couldn’t have been more thrilled. Neighborhood Days provides free entrance to the California Academy of Sciences for people who live in a certain San Francisco zip code on certain days of the year. No matter your feelings about corporations, a big “thank you!” to Target for sponsoring these free days at the Academy. General Admission on a normal day is $35 per person, making it quite the savings.
