Nothing but Mountain Air

In February, I went to California for the first time to celebrate my birthday a little early. Thank goodness, I had with everything having been locked down in March due to Covid-19. We landed in San Francisco , with South Lake Tahoe and Yosemite National Park on our itinerary.

San Francisco

EAT

Surisan

First stop was for brunch at Surisan which is a Korean twist on some American classics, located near the pier. I ordered a matcha mojito and the pimped up ramyun that came with a piece of the millionaire’s bacon. I have to admit, everything that came out of the kitchen looked mouth watering. All I could do was suck down my mojito while watching others food get delivered around us. I love Shin Ramyun by Nongshim, so when I saw it on the menu it was without a doubt what I was ordering.

Wesburger ‘N’ More

The place had an old school diner vibe and depending on when you go expect wait times. We went in the middle of the day and it was quiet. We ordered the Hot Wes and the Nashville Hot Chicken. If you like food with a little kick, then go with the Hot Wes. The jalapeños and special sauce… Yes, please!!

DO

The Pier

Walk around, eat, take some pictures from different view points, and see the San Francisco Bridge, Alcatraz Island, and the seals.

Lands End Lookout

Starting point at Lands End Lookout is a great spot to view a sunrise or sunset. Wear comfortable shoes, if you plan to walk the trials. (highly recommend)

San Francisco Bridge

This was a must on the trip. Bridges are such architectural and engineering feat that I had to experience the magic of it. Next trip I plan on biking across the bridge.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE

EAT

We had a list of places that we wanted to eat at, but narrowed it down to three since that was all the time we had.

Bert’s Cafe

There is very limited parking and the place packs up fast. Be willing to wait for a spot to open for parking , so have your cup of coffee before hand if you can. The portions are large and the owner is out and mingling with customers. I was full and ready for the day after the Ranchero Burrito.

Lake Tahoe AleWorX Stateline

Pizza is always a great meal for me , but when you load it with all the toppings and add a little spice to it. You know it had my name all over it. We ordered the “Avventure” without pine nuts due to my allergy. I was a happy girl for the night.

Izzy’s Burger Spa

Sadly, I forgot to snap a picture of our burgers . We sat outside, relaxed our aching muscles from our trail during the day, and chowed down on our meal. We ordered the Bonsai Burger, Giant Burger, and a side of Nacho Fries.

DO

Heavenly Village

We visited Heavenly Village and partook in some non ski/snowboarding activities. On my list to learn ski though. We enjoyed tubing (5x) with a break in between for the coaster ride , which gave spectacular views of Lake Tahoe if you took the time to look and wasn’t speeding to catch up to your friend.

Cascade Falls

We decided to do a trail as well for the day. There are many to choose from , just make sure to check ahead to see if they are open .

Yosemite

DO

Drive about the park and explore, stop take pictures along the road, and tackle some trials. We went during a winter month so make sure to check which trials and roads are open before you head out in the morning.

We decided on the Mist Trial , that would have views of Vernal Falls and Nevada Falls. This was a very strenuous hike for me. Till this point a hike for me had been long walks through flat terrain. Go with a patient partner in crime , stop as much as you need, and keep encouraging one another. Making it to the top was so worth it.

STAY

Rush Creek Lodge

This was a great find . There were so many activities for children to do on the grounds and even a large indoor play area. There was also a room for lounging , playing board games, and reading a book if you needed. Our favorite activity was making s’mores before dinner every night. (Disclaimer: NO TV in rooms) both nights we were so tiered from the days activities that we were ready to knock out!

The trip was a great taste of California for me , but I definitely plan on exploring it a few more times.