We’ve been anticipating this vacation for over a year now since we first started planning it with my parents! People thought we were crazy planning a vacation during the middle of wedding season, but we knew that it would be exactly what we needed, and indeed it was! My parents have two time shares they use to vacation each year and every other year we go on a vacation with them! Adam and Rachel really wanted to visit Napa, and Mike and I wanted to see San Francisco (and knock two ballparks off our list), so we found a resort in Napa that we fell in love with and booked it at soon as we could! Last week, we spent our time exploring the city of San Fran and its outskirts out to Napa Valley! We tried lots of wine, ate lots of food, visited two ballparks, biked across the Golden Gate Bridge and spent time as a family of 7 (something that only happens about 3 times a year). We had such a great time, and as always, it’s time make our way through the photos of the first half of our trip! Check back tomorrow for the second half!

Day 1:

Our trip started with a 2 hour delay, but I had a cup of coffee and an amazing new book to start reading, so I was one happy camper! If you haven’t read this book, I highly, highly recommend it!

Our two hour flight delay followed by a two hour wait in the rental car line gave us a late start getting to Oakland for the A’s game, but we made it just in time for the first pitch!

Probably the ugliest stadium we’ve been to so far (sorry, Oakland) but it’s older and doubles as the Oakland Raider’s football field, so it was to be expected. It actually reminded us a lot of the good old Three Rivers Stadium.

At each stadium we try a hog dog and try to find a specialty food stand or ballpark favorite. Here we got a delicious pulled pork sandwich!

Such a gorgeous sunset that night!

Day 2:

We woke up early and jet lagged to start our San Fran adventures!

First up, ride on a trolley!

Until we realized we got on the wrong one and ended up walking an extra 20 minutes to our breakfast destination!

Then waited two hours in line along with about 50+ other crazy people. What’s even crazier is that the couple behind us went to Grove City College! Small world! 

It tasted as amazing as it looks…best french toast of my life!

A little photo op with the trolley as they were waiting in line to turn around…

Then our 8 mile bike ride began…

We stopped several times along the way to take in the views and for some photos! 

Not sure how Chicago got the old “Windy City” nickname, but we’d have to argue that San Fran is right up there with it!

Nothing better than some good old 24mm distorted selfies!

Looking up during our bike across the bridge!

Seriously though, biking across the Golden Gate bridge was one of the coolest things we’ve ever done! It was such a thrill, SO windy, and we are so happy we did it!

Alcatraz! 

After our bike ride throughout the city, across the bridge, down to Sausalito and taking the ferry back, we drove up to meet the rest of my family in Napa…the place we’d call home for the rest of the week.

Day 3:

This was our first day of wineries! We started at Cakebread Cellars (a recommendation from many people)!

This was before I was told not to hold a glass of white wine like this!

Then onward we went to Prager and Grgich Hills (the winery that put Napa on the map for good wine by beating the French in a blind tasting of their Chardonnay in 1976)

We took a little break and visited some shops in St. Helena with mister Isaac before heading to dinner at Rutherford Grill and back to the resort!

Day 4:

We  took a day to relax and were poolside at the resort for about 6 hours.

Grammy and Isaac time in the pool!

Stay tuned for part II of our west coast vacation on the blog TOMORROW!