Blog Ventures to San Francisco!
Step it up
Grab your phone
Get your suitcase
There is no time to waste
A big adventure awaits
(Tori Amos, 500 Miles)
Did you miss me?! I have been AWOL for afew days. It was not planned, but what happens when one of your friends from SoCal Lady Bloggers, Melissa of Miz Meliz, is searching for a partner in crime to drive up the coast with in order to attend the book launch party for Evan of Better Man Project? Well, if you’re me, & in need of a getaway, you say YES. We left last Friday & returned Sunday, but within that time frame, we: Got pea soup, wine tasted in Solvang, searched for garlic ice cream, got amazing food in the Castro district, saw Golden Gate Bridge, Went to The Walt Disney Family Museum, The Snow White Exhibit, met up with Susan Cooper from Finding Our Way Now, ate breakfast for dinner, partied it 
up in Palo Alto, got lost trying to drive Susan back to her hotel, had a wonderful breakfast interview with Evan, a playdate ‘Stroller Adventure’ with Maribel, ate amazing gluten free pizza in San Luis Obispo, blasted great 80s music, learned neither Melissa nor myself can sing AND we made a great new friend in one another 🙂
The rest of the ride was absolutely gorgeous. With some rain & sprinkles making for perfect photography weather. When we finally did arrive in SanFran, it truly took awhile to sink in that I was once again in one of my favorite cities, woot!!!! Saturday am was perfect & we found a bistro that I cannot say enough great things about: The Squat & Gobble. While there are afew locations in the city, we hit up the cafe on Market, right in the heart of the famous Castro District. With patio dining, you give 
your order at the counter after looking over a massive wall board menu then are given a number for your table….what to choose?? I even teased the waitress I would take one of each 😉 I went with the smoked salmon scrambler & it did not disappoint. At. all.
A major highlight, of course, was seeing The Golden Gate Bridge. A wonderful spot to see it from a distance above the water & amidst gorgeous trees, is just slightly down from The Cliff House & Sutros Bath House. If you turn into a parking lot, there’s ample parking & you can even take a little hike trail to get more breathtaking views….in the coming weeks, get ready to see lots of photos that I took of it.
We then set out to find The Walt Disney Family Museum. A newer museum that i’ve been wanting to get to, I have had many ask me what it was like, I plan to do a separate post about how magical & inspiring it was. 
Next up, the ‘real’ reason for our adventure. Melissa & I are avid followers of fellow blogger, Evan Sanders, from The Better Man Project. He recently wrote his first of many books that features highlights from his awesome project. (Which, is basically, LIFE!). Along with that Disney feature, look for one on Evan as well. Whom we had a great breakfast with Sunday morning. When we arrived in Palo Alto, we met up with someone
I was very ecstatic to meet…Susan Cooper! Susan has become one of my best followers of Along Comes Mary & is always there to promote & support me. I am so happy she was able to join us, along with her gal pal, Deborah, for a night of great food, drinks & fun.
It’s always great to soak in the local color on a trip, which is just what we did at the launch party held at The Old Pro Bar in Palo Alto. Margaritas, anyone?? 😉
Sunday morning, was, of course, bittersweet. We hung out with Melissa’s friend & our Hostess, Mary Ann, who could not have been more kind to us. After we went to meetup with Evan, I finally got to meet Maribel Reyes in Santa Clara. You might recall that Mirabel was one of the first bloggers to welcome me to do a guest post on her Stroller Adventures page 🙂 New friends all around!
This trip was such a wonderful reminder at how good it can be to be SPONTANEOUS in life. Yes, while you need those weeks to hit the mall, do errands, etc, sometimes, nothing can be better than hitting the road & taking a risk (Which for me, was…hoping I hit it off with Melissa, This was the most time I had spent with her & we’re already planning what is next for us!).
Thank you to everyone who made this past weekend so AWESOME! xo
MizMeliz
February 13, 2013 at 2:56 amIt was an AMAZING trip and the best part was making a new friend! I can hardly wait for our next Blog Venture!!
Susan Cooper/findingourwaynow.com
February 13, 2013 at 3:04 amIt was a blast. It was just so much meeting up with you and Melissa while you were in SF. I’m just sorry I missed Maribel. :)))
MizMeliz
February 13, 2013 at 3:08 amReblogged this on Miz Meliz and commented:
I had such a wonderful adventure over the weekend!! I shared it with my So Cal Lady Blogger friend, Mary, from Along Comes Mary. She just posted this fantastic and detailed overview of our experience! I asked Mary if it was okay to invite you over to her blog to check it out. So, c’mon now! Don’t be shy! All you have to do is click on the link and you will get the skinny on our super fun trip to San Francisco! Enjoy! Please let me know what you think!
Along Comes Mary
February 13, 2013 at 8:40 pmSo honored to get a re-blog!!!! THANKS<3
TimGreaton
February 13, 2013 at 4:04 pmSounds like it was a a great trip, Mary. Enjoyed the post!
Along Comes Mary
February 13, 2013 at 8:40 pmIt was, Tim! Thank you for reading!!:)
eschelle
February 13, 2013 at 8:19 pmsounds like a great time!! I love that snow white banner it is really cute!
Along Comes Mary
February 13, 2013 at 8:42 pmThe Snow White exhibit at the museum was amazing! Learning the process of the making of the FIRST cartoon film, then to see how we’ve come SO far in less than a 100 yrs, is pretty cool!!
Amanda
February 13, 2013 at 8:23 pmLooks like you had a blast! So glad you had a great time.
Along Comes Mary
February 13, 2013 at 8:42 pmThanks, Amanda!!!! xo
Melissa (@SippyCupMom)
February 13, 2013 at 8:43 pmSounds like it was such an amazing time! Love the pictures!
Michelle Cantu
February 13, 2013 at 9:11 pmLooks like loads of fun. I am in need of a spontaneous trip.
Alaina Bullock
February 13, 2013 at 9:41 pmWow! Sounds like a wonderful time! My mom used to live out in San Francisco, and I loved it there…so beautiful!
Mandee
February 13, 2013 at 10:13 pmLooks like FUN! Garlic Ice Cream though? Yuck! Did you find it? And as I scrolled down and saw the pic of my friend Maribel I was super jealous—I too would LOVE to meet Maribel in person some day, however we are on other sides of the US….sigh. So glad you had a great trip! 🙂
amber whitehead
February 13, 2013 at 10:22 pmOh wow sounds like a wonderfully fun trip. Well except for the garlic ice cream EEK. We love road trips here!
simplysherryl
February 14, 2013 at 3:31 amWow.. this looks like a wonderful time was had by all. I love the picture of the bay and bridge! Road trips with friends are the best! Lots of great memories made…
Cindra
February 14, 2013 at 6:32 pmFirst itme I’ve been here! What a great blog…love the pics. It sounds like you all had such a great time! “Jealousy Button” <>
MizMeliz
February 15, 2013 at 9:07 pmJealousy button . . . what a clever idea! I am usually the one wishing I had one! It was a super fun time because Mary was so easy going and neither of us had a need to control the plans. We just lived in the moment and rolled with it!
Vonni
February 14, 2013 at 7:18 pmWow! Friends and road trip….what a great combination. Hope the rest of your trip is just as adventurous! Our family’s last road trip lasted 30 hours straight…..:)
MizMeliz
February 15, 2013 at 9:10 pmOur trip was three days and two nights and it was nonstop fun and relaxation! We didn’t make too many hard and fast plans and we made the priority the people we wanted to spend time with. it was a blast! We hope to go on more “Blog Ventures” – – where should we go next?
Kristin Wheeler (@MamaLuvsBooks)
February 15, 2013 at 1:48 amI LOVE San Fran!! One of my favorite cities to visit!
Kerry Dwyer
February 15, 2013 at 8:56 pmI love it when it all works out. How great to be able to support your friend this way.