Bucket list item: Bioluminescence Tomales Bay

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Activity: 4 hour night kayaking tour in bioluminescence Tomales Bay

Rating: 5 of 5 stars

Website: Bioluminescence Kayaking

Description:  Bioluminescence is defined as:  "the biochemical emission of light by living organisms such as fireflies and deep sea fishes."  There is no easy way to describe the experience except to see it in person. In the meantime I can attest that it is by far one of the coolest things to see in nature. 

First, you arrive at the point of departure for the tour (bundle up!). There are only a few places in the world that have these bioluminescence tours so if you live in the bay area you have no excuse because there is one close by- Tomales Bay/Point Reyes. The other locations include Maldives and Puerto Rico. From pictures these locations are more spectacular because conditions lend themselves to brighter beaches full of bioluminescence, however I still recommend going to Point Reyes for this tour.

Once you arrive at the destination there is a safety and introductory section. Then you and your partner (kayaks are tandem) suit up in jackets, pants, and skirts (that go around the kayak to prevent water from coming in) and start the journey to the beaches. If you go from Point Reyes you will pass Hog Island. As you are kayaking it becomes very dark (this is standard as these tours only go during the summer and into Oct). After a few hours of kayaking, you arrive on a beach to take a break and learn about bioluminescence with some hot chocolate. Once the instructor has described the experience (ours said it would look like "fireworks, diamonds, or glitter!") you get back into the kayaks to go to the cove with the most activity. Once your paddles are in the water again, the area starts to glow. You can put your hand in the water to see it light up and make designs of your own.  There are even fish that swim around in bursts of light. I can not describe how incredibly beautiful and interesting it is to see this in action. 

Recommended: couples, groups of friends, outdoorsy people who are not afraid of the dark

 

Trampoline park for adults

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Description: Trampoline park for kids and adults...but mostly adult children

Rating: 3.5 of 5 stars

Cost: $25/hr

Website: http://www.houseofair.com/

Description:  You can pre-register for one hour increments to the Open air section of the trampoline park. The one hour includes a brief tutorial on how to land and jump correctly. I recommend booking the open section as there will likely be many small children in the other arenas, especially on weekends for birthday parties.

The venue is located in the presidio in an airplane hanger. On a nice day they open the main doors to let in fresh air. The staff was mostly nice and helpful. 

Recommended:  Couple, two-three friends, families, 

Outsidelands: Music Festival in Golden Gate Park

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Activity: Outsidelands Music Festival Golden Gate Park

Rating:  3 of 5 stars

Cost:  Daily tickets for GA $135 or $325 for the weekend

Website: http://www.sfoutsidelands.com/

Description: Outsidelands is a popular music festival in Golden Gate Park. Over the years it has become even more popular and therefore even more crowded. This festival is unlike others due to the scenery. For example, Coachella is hot and dry, Outsidelands is in a lush part of the park and can get pretty chilly. There is also a greater presence of wine vendors considering the proximity to Sonoma/Napa. 

Pros: line up was full of popular artists new and old (Elton John included), the food was delicious, the wine tent was a nice calm break from the music

Cons: in the late afternoon/early evening the park becomes VERY crowded and lines for the bathrooms are ridiculous-- essentially the same problems of any mainstream music festival

Recommended: Post college group of friends

Do you like fine cooking?

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Activity: Cooking class at Sur la Table in San Francisco

Rating: 4 of 5 stars

Website :http://www.surlatable.com/category/cat2211278/Cooking+Classes

Cost: Originally $65-79 and on sale for $35! (subscribe to newsletter for sales or wait for last minute discounts)

Description: I took a 4 course cooking class that focused on Mediterranean cuisine.  The menu included Baklava ice cream, chicken skewers, Greek Salad, and grape leaves stuffed with feta. The meal was delicious! Do not go hungry or you will be starving at the end of the 2-3 hour class. 

I highly recommend Sur la Table because they have last minute deals on classes, all the prep work is done beforehand, there is no cleaning, and you get the recipes and full meal at the end. 

I will say space was tight and you had to take turns in groups of 3-4 to prepare the meal, but the recipes are simple enough that you can watch along and feel comfortable trying at home. 

The classes also vary quite a bit depending on the season so there is constantly new genres to try!

Recommended: two friends,. couple, small group

SF summer stay-cation. Oysters & live music.

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Activity: Saturday adventure to Hog Island Oyster Co. and Sunday free Symphony in Embarcadero

Rating: 4.1 of 5 Stars

Website:

Description:  Hog Island Oyster Co has an Oyster farm in Marshall, CA. It is about 1-2 hour drive from SF and it is right on the water. You can bring your own snacks and drinks and purchase oysters and appetizers. The oysters are fresh and delicious! They sell BBQ or raw oysters. If you reserve ahead of time you can have a picnic table for a large group and shuck your own oysters. If Hog Island is  booked check out Tomales Bay.

On Sunday my friends and I went to a free concert from the SF Symphony by the Pier. I recommend to arrive early for a spot and bring some food because it gets very quiet during the concert. 

Recommended:  Both are great summer activities for a group of friends. I also would recommend the concert for families without very small children, as I mentioned it was a quiet and relaxing environment. 

 

Throwback adventure: roller disco

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Activity: Rollerskating or blading to disco music in a former church

Rating: 3.5 of 5 stars

Website: http://www.churchof8wheels.com/ 

Cost: $10 to skate + rental

Description:  This is a former church that is converted into a small roller skating arena. There is a DJ that plays oldies and new music upon request. 

Pros: It is conveniently located in SF. It is a relatively inexpensive activity. The decor was interesting and on theme. There were pews to put on your skates and old stained glass.

Cons: the building is small and not well maintained. During the day there are lots of children so you must feel comfortable as a novice or avoid the children

The last image is a picture of Dolores Park during Pride weekend. There was a lot of celebration after the federal decision to uphold gay marriage. This added to the fun atmosphere that weekend.

Recommended: Families with children 8-14 during the day. At night only adults are allowed which makes for an interesting dynamic

 

SF's wildest part: Bay to Breakers 12K

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Activity: Bay to Breakers 12K race in San Francisco

Rating: 3.7 of 5 stars, with high variance depending on who you ask

Website: http://zapposbaytobreakers.com/

Cost: $60 to enter online via Zappos (2015 host) OR about $15 dollars if you work in a Bay Area company and pay through work

Details: One of the most famous days in SF has to be Bay to Breakers. I  had heard about it for years and it was finally the time to experience it myself. There seems to be two parts:

Part 1: Runners. Over 100 years of races.

This is the group of people, including myself, that were willing to run a race starting at 9am in costume. This is not a novelty in SF if you know how many people like to celebrate, exercise, and stand out all at the same time.

Traditions include tortillas in the air to be caught and thrown back up like frisbees. Extreme costumes are a must. Nudity is rampant. The "salmon" are an intense group of well dressed fish that swim against the current of the race.

Best costumes included an entire boxing ring with two fighters, Chruch of Wheels rollerskaters, and Oompa Lompas.

Part 2: The partiers

On the course of the race there are residential areas with house parties. These parties have what looks like people who started drinking before 7am. Mostly young adults, the parties start early and are aggressive.  A few people tried to sneak in the race while drinking, but the police caught on quickly this year and escorted them away. Apparently that was atypical in prior years.  

The runners may finish the race, but the partiers consider it a marathon. The entire day was flooded with people in costume bar hopping, running or walking the race at all times of day. 

The city did have an excitement and commitment to an even that I had only correlated to the antics during the World Series win. 

Overall, it was a good run with good friends that completed the race as Shark week. I was "Saturdaze" get it :). I am glad that I participated in the race, but I would have to warn small children and sober adults to sit this one out. 

Recommended for: adults, > 21 and runners

 

How to sightsee while enjoying delicious food

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Activity: Chinatown food tour in San Francisco

Rating: 4.3 of 5 stars

Website: http://www.foodtoursofsanfrancisco.com/

Cost: $60 full price, but discounts can be found on website or online vendors such as Groupon

Details: This food tour was unlike other food tastings I have heard about. Typically, you go to one location and try a variety of dishes and then the night is over. Food tours of San Francisco was unique because the tour incorporated the history of the city. We went to a total of 6 restaurants to try both traditional chinese food as well as a modern day interpretation of some more popular dishes. In between each tasting we  walked around and the tour guide pointed out city landmarks. We managed to have time to stop into a temple and the famous Golden Gate Fortune Cookie Factory where they hand make fortune cookies and can customize fortunes.

Dishes included but not limited to: green onion buns, spicy (schezwan style) noodles, red bean bun, shrimp dumplings, potstickers, egg custard, and of course fortune cookies.

Check out the website for the Mission tour (not just Mexican food) and North Beach (Italian food) tours in SF. They also host tours in NY and are expanding!

Recommend for: tourists, locals, spicy food eaters, and families

 

 

 

 

 

Rock climbing: fun for all levels

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Planet Granite has a fun introductory rock climbing class for new members. It is an hour long and you learn the proper rope technique to go up the rock wall and to spot a friend while they go up. After about 30 min of training you take turns going up the beginner wall. The class gives you a day pass to continue practicing  even after the hour long class. They have a variety of walls based on difficulty so you can work your way up to the hardest. They also have an area where you do not need a harness and you can free climb.

Before you leave they offer promotional deals for a membership. A membership includes the rock wall and access to their gym. I booked my first class through a Groupon offer and they still honored any additional discounts. 

I chose Planet Granite over Mission Cliffs because of the discounted class, location (right by the water in Presidio), and nice instructors. Although I have heard great things about both companies, from experience I can say Planet Granite  is worth a try.

Until next time. Stay tuned.

 

Hiking: beach, trees, and waterfalls the best of SF

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Alamere Falls is one of my favorite SF hikes so far. In a previous post I mentioned this hike was highly recommended and I finally had a chance to go. 

The hike starts in Bolinas and is about 4.5 miles each way from the parking lot. It is not a loop so roundtrip it comes out to 9 miles. The hike is relatively flat by SF standards. My friends from NY who went on the hike with me would disagree and felt slightly misled by the word "flat", however a SF native would understand after one too many grocery trips up a steep hill that this hike is pretty flat.

The views are gorgeous! The trail starts in a parking lot where you can leave your car and immediately veers to a hill overlooking the water. After a few miles you are in tall trees with vegetation (3rd picture). Right before the waterfall you have another beautiful view of the ocean (4th picture). Then the final part is a steep hike down the side of the mountain to get to the beach. The side is eroding so it is slippery (5th picture), but it is not long so no need to worry.

As the reviews all mentioned I would pack layers, bring plenty of water, bring a snack, and eat a full meal before the journey. We stopped at the Grove for a hearty brunch before heading out. It was delicious and filling but we still needed some snacks.

Additional Reviews:

Until next time. Stay tuned.

16 things Batman can and can't do on a Saturday in Buzzfeed community

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Pre race photo session

Pre race photo session

Batman can get a clean cape at the dry cleaner

Batman can get a clean cape at the dry cleaner

Batman can make friends with law enforcement

Batman can make friends with law enforcement

Batman can't cut the line at Walgreens

Batman can't cut the line at Walgreens

Batman can't use Apple products

Batman can't use Apple products

If you have not worn a costume for an entire day (not halloween) then I recommend trying it. I started the day at the Super Run where my friends and I ran a 5K for charity.  The Super Run is exactly like what it sounds, hundreds (maybe thousands?) of people dress in a full costume and run around Crissy Field. The Super run calendar is online here and includes dates for: Dallas, Chicago, LA, Las Vegas, Philly and many more! 

I dressed in a full batman (batgirl) unitard including a hood and gloves. I even found a man in a full Batman costume that I took pictures with. Overall, people were very committed to the costume and the best part was watching young children participate and get very excited by the costumes and props. 

After the race my friends and I stopped for a coffee in the Marina at which point multiple people asked to take a picture with me. This was only the beginning. It was hilarious to see people's reactions.  I thought it was so amusing that I acting like it was just another Saturday doing errands. 

The results were that I figured 8 things that Batman could do and 8 things Batman could not do. For the full list including pictures checkout Buzzfeed Community section. The pictures above are the highlights.

Things Batman can do:

  1. Take pictures with fans
  2. Ride the Muni to brunch
  3. Make friends with the police
  4. Get dry cleaning done
  5. Go shopping for #tight clothes
  6. Get a coffee
  7. Go to the gym in costume
  8. Jaywalk

Things Batman can not do:

  1. Cut the line at Walgreens
  2. Shop for home decor
  3. Use Apple products
  4. Get money at ATM
  5. Get a psychic reading
  6. Eat donuts
  7. Get a manicure
  8. Shop for eyewear

Hope you enjoyed the trials and tribulations as Batman. Until next time. Stay tuned.

 

 

Sailing in Sausalito: Breezy like Sunday morning

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too cold for comfort :)

too cold for comfort :)

I was really looking forward to sailing from Sausalito around the Golden Gate Bridge. Unfortunately, I did not chose the best day. I think i jinxed myself since it was an odd coincidence that the  first adventure not to go smoothly was also the first adventure on a Sundaze...All so suspicious.

I arrived early Sunday am ready for a nice day on the water with Bay Breeze Charters. Although, the company did warn about cold wind and potential rain, I did not think it would happen during the trip. The forecast looked gloomy with low chances of rain. Apparently, this was one of few days where the weather in SF was nicer than Sausalito- go figure!

We started the trip with mimosa, hot chocolates, tea, and blankets. I have to admit the view was beautiful as we sailed to the bridge. About 3/4 of the way through the trip to the furthest point it started to drizzle. Based on the video you can tell that it was also pretty windy. 

Once we got close to Alcatraz and the city we headed back. In total the tour was about 2.5 hours, 45 minutes of which was raining. I  can not fault the company for the inclement weather and they did emphasize to come prepared. However, I will say that the allure of a day on the seas is entirely dependent on the weather and to make sure to book at during peak season. 

  • Pros:
    • Nice view
    • Friendly crew
    • Punctual adevnture
  • Cons
    • Website booked far in advance 
    • Owner was unfriendly
    • Did not take calls for questions
    • highly dependent on good weather

Despite the mixed review for this trip, I am still optimistic that the next time will be much better!

Stay tuned.

Unique work outs that are fun and affordable

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SF Surfset at the beach

SF Surfset at the beach

SF intro to aerial silk

SF intro to aerial silk

LA anti-gravity aerial yoga

LA anti-gravity aerial yoga

NYC Row house picture repost:@transformingmommy

NYC Row house picture repost:@transformingmommy

I am constantly looking for new workouts that are both challenging and achievable. When I signed up for ClassPass I was excited to try new routines. Below is a short story of the most unique work outs I have tried in SF, LA, and NY!

San Francisco

  1. Left Coast Sweat: Surfset at the beach: this workout includes a surfboard, two balls and some ropes to tie it together. The surfboard lays on the balls so that when you stand on the board it moves to simulate waves based on your body weight and positioning. I first tried a class in the Marina (Sweat Republic) and enjoyed it. I thought it would be much more fun to do it outdoors the second time. Luckily it was a gorgeous day which made the workout even better.

  • Type of exercise: squats, push ups, lower body, plank

  • Unique moves: mix of yoga moves and surfing techniques. Think downward dog meets duck dive.

  • Length: 1 hour

 2. Aspen Aerials- this was a great class because it was small and the instructor paid a lot of attention to each student. We were all first timers in the class. We started with some warm up exercises on the floor including planks and then moved to the silks where we learned about 6 moves

  • Type of exercise: upper and lower body. When done properly: lower body, as a novice: upper body

  • Unique moves: mermaid

  • Length: 1 hour, 15 min

Los Angeles

1. Coolhotyoga: Antigravity aerial yoa- yes, more circus moves. This one was slightly easier since everyone had their own station to practice with rather than using the silks. 

  • Type of exercise: mostly yoga type moves with some opportunities to flip upside down

  • Unique moves: chandelier (pictured above)

  • Length: 1 hour, 15 minutes

New York

1. Row House- This was the first time I tried a rowing class. It felt very much like a spinning studio with loud music and an instructor yelling commands. I mean that in a good way actually, the instructor did come around to make adjustments. He also made it challenging for the veterans in the group by encouraging us to go faster than our previous time. There is a monitor on the machine that allows you to tell Rows per minute to benchmark your progress. Additional workout benefits of rowing here.

  • Type of exercise: upper body mostly but your legs are tired from pushing your weight when done properly

  • Unique moves: floor work off the machine was included such as side planks and push ups

  • Length: 1 hour

 

And yes I  have a lot of black sport leggings and white workout shirts :)

Until next time. Stay tuned.

Learn to fly in an hour or less

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Learning to fly was an incredible experience. I booked a class through BelAir International with an online discount. The class included an hour flight for two people on a small charter plane. It was also about 30-45 minutes from San Francisco which made it very convenient. 

When I arrived we went through safety checks including: fuel gauge, propeller, etc. It was helpful to ask questions directly to the pilot in a private setting to feel comfortable before take off. 

During the flight the pilot gauged how well I was learning and gave me additional responsibilities. For takeoff I was allowed to steer the plane to the runway with the pedals similar to a car. Then once we got to over 2,000-4,000 ft elevation I was able to use the controls to steady the plane and make turns. The 30-40 minute flight seemed longer than I expected given that we got to see a variety of landscapes- sea and mountains. 

The lesson was a perfect combination of learning and feeling in control, while still feeling at ease that the pilot could take over at any point. I did get some selfies in while flying the plane.

Bel Air International has a few options for first time flyers. Other tours include: Half Moon Bay, Golden Gate & Alcatraz, and Crystal Springs. The most appealing was the sunset tour over the golden gate bridge. I will save that for the next trip!

Until next time. Stay tuned.

Theme parks: tips & tricks

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After a six year hiatus from Six Flags it was time to get back in the theme park game. I had grown up going to Six Flags Magic Mountain and I had no idea there was one so close to the city (SF). Granted it is much smaller than I remember but a day trip is still fun if you do it the right way. 

The worst part about amusement parks:

  1. The lines. They can take up to 2 hours for 1 ride of 30-90 seconds! 
  2. The ticket price. Theme parks can cost almost $70 pp which can be expensive for a family or group
  3. The food. It is expensive and incredibly unhealthy. Although Funnel cakes, dippin dots, and frozen lemonades are a tasty tradition, they are not a good when combined with roller coasters.
  4. The temperature. Most people go when school is not in session, so if you live in CA you probably went when it was over 100 degrees

The solution:

  1. Arrive on time- yes, this is as obvious as it sounds. However, most people still do not arrive as soon as it opens. It makes all the difference! The park opens around 11am and the ride technicians offer double rides until 2pm. Because the park is not very busy not only are the lines shorter (about 15 minutes each), but you get to go twice in a row. Double the value.
  2.  Book online- Tickets are usually expensive. However, if you book in advance online you can save $25 per ticket. The caveat is that you have to make sure you attend the day you sign up for and everyone has to register so they can not be resold. However, this should not be a problem if you plan in advance. It can even be a few days in advance and still get the discount. 
  3. Pack snacks! Even if you do not like soggy sandwiches that you probably sat on during the ride, bring a bar that you can keep in your pocket or purse. The earlier you arrive the earlier you will have finished all the rides so you can leave the theme park for a decent meal. 
  4. Avoid peak season- If you do not want to go when it is very crowded or very hot then avoid peak times. Again, this is obvious, but not so obvious that people are actually doing it. Schedule in advance in late February or early March (before Spring break) and you can cross off 2 & 4. Just make sure you check the rain forecast before going in January/February to avoid rain showers in line. At least we have the CA drought to thank for something. I went in February and it was nice and sunny. 

Some other important tips:

  • Bring some cash for lockers. They no longer allow bags on the ride. Keep a few dollars and your locker combination and you do not have to go back and forth to your locker during the day. We forgot to pack cash and had to ask a stranger to open our locker to repay them. Whoops.
  • Go pro is no go. Well if you get caught. 
  • You can and will lose your sunglasses. Be careful to hold them. Even in jacket pockets they come lose. 

Enjoy the ride!

Until next time. Stay tuned.