Last weekend we all packed up and headed to Central California (Fresno area) to visit our college friends. They hadn’t met BabyTravels yet and it had been since July 4^th weekend the year before since we had seen them.

There is something to be said about friends who you haven’t seen in a very long time but once you see them it’s like you have never been apart. Granted things were a little different this time- as Babytravels was not a part of our adventures the times before.

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When Hilarye left town a few weeks ago for a her scrapbooking retreat, I took advantage and planned a little outing my own. A quick day trip to San Francisco sounded nice to me. What could be better than a balmy 65 degrees and lunch at the wharf?
San Francisco is a really great city for a quick trip, it has access to BART right from the airport and its super easy to hop on a cable car or MUNI once you’re downtown. Because I went with a friend that hadn’t seen much of the city after we hitched a ride on BART to Powell St. we hoofed it around town. It was a long day of walking but it included sites like Chinatown, the Bay Bridge, Fisherman’s Wharf, Ghirardelli Square, Lombard St. and city hall.
The highlight of a trip to San Fran for me is always the wharf. I love the crowds the smell of the sea, all of the touristy shops and the distant views of Alcatraz and the Golden Gate Bridge really top it off. Plus before I forget to mention it, the awesome sourdough bread bowl of clam chowder for lunch at the Boudin Bakery.

A weekend at the beach would top just about anybody’s idea of a great summer getaway. I know it does for those living in Fresno and Bakersfield California because as we headed into Pismo Beach, a central california coastal community, we found it to be packed and bustling with excitement.

There are many things to do in this beach town besides lay out and get a tan. There are shops, excellent dining choices, and of course surfing and boogie boarding opportunities. I do find California ocean water to be a little cold for my liking but Reid and his friend Kevin braved the cold for some body surfing. There are also some interesting tide pools and caves you can explore on the right side of the pier. We had some fun collecting sand dollars and observing sand crabs.

A trip to Pismo Beach should not exclude a visit to Splash Cafe which is world famous for their clam chowder served in nothing better than a sour dough bread bowl. It’s so popular that you will probably have to stand in quite the line and may end up eating your chowder on the sidewalk or in your car. We got there and ate at 10:30 am and there was still a line!

We were there for fourth of July weekend, but only stayed at the beach the day before. I do know they have an excellent fireworks show and we were a little sad to be skipping out, but were very glad for our time there!