After a whirlwind, jam packed few days in San Francisco, I am back to share another segment of my Eat, Play, Run series. After my Ragnar Napa race was canceled due to the fires, my husband and I decided to head out to California and have a mini vacation together. I was determined to pack as much fun as possible into our Eat, Play, Run San Francisco adventure.
Eat, Play, Run San Francisco
Eat
Who knew there was so much great food in San Francisco? Between the sourdough bread, the coffee, the pizza and the chocolate I certainly ate my way through town. I’ve been trying to watch my bread consumption lately but no one could resist the smell of the sourdough bread. Seriously, they must pipe the smell of bread throughout the city.
There are never ending choices of coffee and one place is better than the next. I was told by a barista that the rich latte taste is due to the high protein content of the milk. I’ve never heard this before so who knows!
Favorite foods I tasted: veggie spring rolls from Slanted Door and Wood Fired Pizza atA-16
Play
We really played tourists and soaked up all that this city had to offer. First up, a visit to Alcatraz. Very cool experience to learn about all the historical aspects of the old prison. We enjoyed the self guided tour and the view from the ferry.
Our Segway tour through the city was crazy fun. I was a little uneasy at first on the steering of the Segway on such hilly streets but quickly got my bearings. We even went down the famously steep Lombard Street. The tour also included a stop at a famous pizza spot in Little Italy for a slice and a pop into a real fortune cookie factory in China Town.
Of course we had to ride the Cable Car which was more fun than I imagined. I referred to this as our Rice-A-Roni moment.
I almost forgot to mention the walking Chocolate Tour! We took a 3 mile walking tour of 7 small batch chocolate shops. I was sure I had this one but I totally tapped out after the 3rd stop. The chocolate was delicious but I was just sugared out. Disappointing!
Run
So I’ve been fantasizing about running over the Golden Gate Bridge since we had planned our Ragnar race. Once the race was canceled, I was determined to find a way to do just that. I booked a running tour with City Running Tours to guide my friend and I on our route over the bridge. Our guide, Coleman, provided a “running dialogue” pointing out historical spots and offering bits of interesting info to us as we ran. He was absolutely fantastic and even carried our waters and acted as our personal photographers.
I highly recommend City Running Tours if you are traveling to one of the cities they operate in. This run really was the highlight of my trip and I feel so lucky that I had the opportunity to run it. Next year, I will be back with my Ragnar team.
Tell me-Have you run over the Golden Gate? Done a Segway Tour? Chocolate Tour?
linking up
Sounds like a great trip! I went to San Francisco when I was in college and just starting to run. Thats so awesome that you got to run over the bridge!
It was epic!
My family went to San Francisco a few years ago and it was such a fun city to explore! I definitely want to go back. The chocolate tour sounds like so much fun.
The chocolate tour was a blast-wish I could have kept up more. Have to pace yourself 🙂
Your trip to San Francisco looks like a last! That is one of the cities on my list to visit. How fun riding a cable car. I would love to go by the Full House house, even though I know it looks nothing like the one on the tv show now.
Oh I did not even remember the full house house was there! So much to do there for sure
I’ve been to SF multiple times but I’ve never run over the bridge. Next time, I’m going to book that tour. It sounds like you had a wonderful trip!
Wendy you would love it!
I’ve toured several chocolate factories, done a tasting at a local store, and toured a chocolate farm in HI, but haven’t yet done a chocolate tour — I am quite sure I could make it through all 7. 🙂
As I mentioned, running over the Golden Gate is definitely a bucket list item! I’ve done a City Running Tour in Central Park with Darlene & a running tour (different company) in LV.
Your trips sounds amazing — and that pizza looks amazing, too!
I thought I would make it through the chocolate tour but I had overload. I need better pacing! The running tours are fantastic and I would definitely do it again
I love San Francisco. It’s such a great city! I’ve done the SF Marathon and Half many times. They do a cool thing with the half, you can either choose the first or second half. The first starts super early but you get to run over the Golden Gate Bridge. The second starts later so you get to sleep in! I’m sorry your Ragnar got canceled but I’m glad you had a great time in San Francisco.
OH wow did not know there were so many options with the half. May need to add that to my list!
I have never really explored San Fran before- or not that I can remember at least! But um, I LOVE that you and your husband decided to take a mini vacation – it’s so necessary and important for couples to escape and I am TOTALLY noticing this after months upon months of being in LA and being exhausted and just wanting to spend ALONE TIME with my husband!! It looks like you had a blast! Did you get one of those fortune cookies cause man they looked tasty!
We had such a nice time and yes we realized that we don’t spend that much time alone anymore. I don’t like fortune cookies-is that weird?
Ahh love San fran! This looked like an amazing trip! Especially love the fortune cookies!
It is a great city to visit
I have only used the car to go over Golden Gate. I think my next goal is to run too!
You definitely need to!
Ooh, that running tour sounds amazing! I’ve never done one of those. Was it a big group or just the two of your with the guide?
It was just the 2 of us this time and I highly recommend it!
San Fran is arguably the greatest food city in the US! I love eating my way around the city. Especially because it’s also a great walking city. When we were there last summer, we walked from our hotel near the Embarcadero alllll the way across the bridge and took the boat back. It was a blast!!
We walked so much my feet were killing me! So much to see and eat 🙂
What a fun trip! Visiting San Francisco is definitely on my bucket list.
It’s such a great city to visit hope you make it there soon.
I have never heard of running tours! Oh, that sounds so fun! I ran across the Golden Gate almost two years ago…but I think I may have been on the “wrong” side (I later heard that walkers/runners get one side and cyclists get the other #oops #mybad)
Hmm ok I am not sure about that! There were some very aggressive cyclists on the bridge with us
Running over the Golden Gate Bridge is my dream thing to do, Deb. Do I have to book a guided tour or I can just do it on my own?
You could certainly do it on your own. Since I was not familiar with the city and where the place to start was, we opted to do the tour
Wouldn’t it be fun to be the guide on a running tour of your own city/town??? I’m glad you had a wonderful time in San Fran. When we went, we did Alcatraz and found it fascinating. I did not run across the GGB but we rode our bikes across and then down into Sausalito. We rode the ferry back.
My friend and I were saying we could lead tours of DC!
Sounds like an amazing time! So many good eats! 😀
For sure yes
This sounds like so much fun!! I’ve never been to San Fran and I’ve always wanted to go! Thanks for sharing 🙂
Hope you get to visit sometime and run across it yourself
I’ve been wanting to go to the Slanted Door forever. Was it as good as I think?
It was really fantastic!
Oh, how amazing! I’m sorry Ragnar was canceled, but you certainly did make the most of it.
We went to San Francisco and Napa Valley as part our honeymoon, 11 years ago. I wasn’t running then, so running over the Golden Gate Bridge never occurred to me, but we did go to Alcatraz and the cable car and did tons of walking around the city. Our favorite restaurants were Boboquivari’s and some little Italian place we found near the Pier. Everything was so awesome there and I would love to go back.
It’s such a great city to explore!
Best vacations involve eating through town. Enjoy yourself and the sourdough!
I agree and we did!
OMG you just made me realize that it’s been over 10 years since my last trip to SF. I totally miss it now. It’s such a hilly place to get my runs in so I might be taking a run break when there haha
I had not visited since I was in HS. I loved it there!
Oh how much fun! San Francisco is definitely one of my favorite cities and it definitely looks like you made the trip worth it. Oh and the food! I wish I could reach into your pictures!
We had a really fun and event packed weekend
So, I just found your blog via Pinterest (Sprint Tri training). I’m hooked!! As a mom of 5, I’m always looking for inspiration. I run out of steam and get bored easily. But, swimming and spinning/biking are my loves- running is my escape in my dreams. I want to love it so bad and my brain says I do but, my brain says no! Anyway- I’m grateful to have stumbled across you blog and appreciate the things you’ve taken the things to share. As a fellow Veggie… I’m interested in your meals also! SanFran is so awesome and now I️ need to google the City Run stuff! I appreciate you!
Courtney thanks so much for the feedback on the blog. So glad that you have connected with me. I cannot even imagine how you fit in training with 5 kids!! Running is a struggle for all of us sometimes and yes as you say it is an escape. Thanks for reaching out and I appreciate you too!! Have a fantastic day
A walking chocolate tour sounds amazing! I have always wanted to visit San Francisco, one day.
The chocolate tour was great fun I only wish I could have lasted longer.
I’ve always wanted to visit San Fran! Looks like such a fun city!
So much to do we had a great little vacation
Looks like you guys had a blast! I went to San Fran about 5 years ago – we did the China Town fortune cookie place too. We biked the Golden Gate instead of running it, but either way – amazing experience.
It sure was!
What a great trip! San Francisco is on my bucket list and now I’m going to have to revise that to: run one hill spring in San Francisco. Very cool.
I hope you make it there soon!
SF is such a great city and looks like you had a blast! side note, the coffee looks amazing
All of the coffee was so good as was all of the food
What an amazing time! I’ve been to SF a few times and love it– such a cool city!
It really is a fun city
San Francisco looks like so much fun! It’s definitely a place that is on my list to go, and that pizza! YUM!!
All of the food was amazing! Hope you make it there soon
It looks like you had a great time! I love San Francisco!! I have not run over the bridge, but I will have to next year when I go back 🙂
You will love it! Hope you get back there soon
Oh, how fun! I’ve never been on a Segway! I wish I’d had more free time in SFO. You sure did have a lot of fun.
We did pack a ton of events into a short amount of time!
San Francisco is one of my all time favorite cities. We love visiting.
there is a ton of fun stuff to do there for sure
It looks like you had a blast while in San Francisco. I haven’t been there in years and would love to get back there sooner than later. Its such a great city to stay active in.
definitely! Such a fun city