
My lovelies, I'm excited to share our San Francisco vacation photos, if you like to see. We had such a great time and are in love with the city!
As I mentioned before, we were lucky enough to swap apartments with Victoria from SFGirlbyBay. Well, she also let us borrow her sky-blue convertible VW Bug! The only challenge: It was a stick shift, so San Francisco's steep hills definitely tested our driving skills. We may or may not have bumped another car (we did), which Victoria may or may not have been amazingly cool about (she was).
One of the first afternoons, we went to the California Academy of Sciences, where we saw giraffes, dinosaurs and a rad aquarium. Alex and I took turns watching the dizzying 30-minute film in the planetarium; the giant curved screen made you feel like you were actually flying through the solar system. It was, as Alex would say, a trip. 
Meanwhile, Toby was in heaven watching the eels and sharks swimming underneath us. Alex and I joked that it might be the best day of his life thus far, and I think it actually really might have been.
One night, Alex and I went to Foreign Cinema, an fabulous restaurant that plays movies on a wall their back garden. (Aren't the ivy-covered walls beautiful?)
We ordered bright green asparagus soup...
...and bright pink rose wine...
...and had a wonderful breezy evening.
The next day was rainy, so we took shelter in the Ferry Building with its cheese shops, gourmet groceries, fish markets...
...gourmet donut stands...
...and flower shops.
Alex and I also had literally, no exaggeration, the best sandwich of our lives (braised brisket, and I don't even usually like brisket)...
...at this place. If they ever opened a shop in New York, I would eat there everyday.
Afterward, we chilled on a bench behind the Ferry Building and watched the waves. Toby is obsessed with all water other than baths, and he was so enthralled that he didn't even mind his soaking wet socks.
Afterward, Alex suggested we walk up to Fisherman Wharf's Musee Mecanique, an old-school arcade with tons of coin-operated games, fortune-tellers (like in the movie Big!), and musical instruments that play old-time-y music when you put in a quarter.
One of the most famous arcade machines was "Laughing Sal," who had a crazy cackle.
The sign said she had "terrified children for over fifty years."
I figured Toby was too young to be scared of her...
I was wrong.
That night, on my sister's recommendation, Alex and I did a taco crawl (just the two of us) through the Mission district. We stopped into a bunch of different taquerias for beers, margaritas and, of course, tacos. 

Pork carnitas was our favorite. P.S. Did you know there is a Michelin-starred taco truck?
On our final night, we went with my sister and her husband to a party at SFMOMA. We drank cocktails in the giant lobby...
...and then had our run of the place. It was cool to explore the museum after hours and get to see all the art up close and casually.
Other highlights of the trip: Walking out to Point Bonita lighthouse, hanging out at Dolores Park, going to Tartine for croque monsieur (three times), getting Korean-style massages and salt scrubs in Japantown, and checking out San Francisco's beautiful toy stores.San Francisco, we love you! We can't wait to come back. :)
P.S. 10 tips for traveling with a baby.



What fabulous pictures. I don't blame Toby one bit - Laughing Sal is scary. :)
ReplyDeleteThat last pic of Toby leaves no doubt that you are his momma!
Great post!
all those photos made me smile! :) what a wonderful time and a perfectly captured trip!
ReplyDeletehttp://www.pinkpeonieswithlove.blogspot.com
The Ferry Building is my favorite place! Cow Girl Creamery always rocks my socks. So glad you enjoyed "my people." Beautiful photos.
ReplyDeleteYay!! You did it right, lady!
ReplyDeletexo,
A
wahooooo! so fun. my husband and i were there the same week you guys were! i'll admit, i was sort of hoping to bump into you strolling around :) we got the croque monsieur too! however, we missed some of the restaurants you're recommending...hmm. ahh, it's such a lovely city :)
ReplyDeleteJoanna--your trip looked wonderful! We were in San Francisco last August (we live in San Diego), and visited the Musee Mechanique also. My "kids" (17 and 19) loved it! We have the same picture of that scary lady!
ReplyDeleteAre those donuts from Dynamo donuts?
We saw them on the food network and tracked the store down. The flavors are so creative and the donuts taste like pastry! yum.
Nice photos. Glad you showed so many. Gave me a real thrill to see them all.
ReplyDeleteWow, Joanna ... what a great recap! I loved reading about your adventures ... I almost felt like I was there :)
ReplyDeleteToby was more brave with Laughing Sal than I would have been ... she sure is creepy looking {and I didn't even here her cackle}.
Don't you just love stumbling on things so randomly ... like the "best sandwich of your lives", so rad! The best thing about traveling are those things "off the beaten path".
xx Cat
ps. I drive stick and don't envy stick-shift driving in the HILLY roads of SF at all! Talk about testing your clutch to gas skillz!?!?!?
I love seeing your family photos, it's so nice of you to share! What a gorgeous family you are.
ReplyDeleteIt looks like you guys had the most amazing time! I'll write down all your recommendations!
ReplyDeleteToby is just precious!
xx,
www.alegallegos.com
Jeepers, you hit most of my favorite places: way to go! Oh Tartine....!!
ReplyDeleteCongrats (from another mum with an 11-month-old) on a cross country adventure - you rock!!
I'm pretty scared of laughing Sal myself!
ReplyDeleteGreat photos--looks like a terrific vacation.
lovely photos specially the ones with Toby wearing diaper haha so cute
ReplyDeletehttp://girlynote.blogspot.com
omg your son is the most adorable baby on this planet. THOSE EYES!!!
ReplyDeletesweetest photos. Thanks for sharing! I adore SF and love being around such gorgeous places. If only I was able to bump into you while you visited (in a non-stalker way!). I adore your blog!
ReplyDeleteSuch great memories. I wish we could go back tomorrow. PS--Funny to see that flower shot in a Cup of Jo context. I actually took it for a few of my friends as a winking reference to "Invasion of the Body Snatchers." People who have seen the movie will know what I'm talking about.
ReplyDeleteOh I loved seeing those pictures! And I don't blame Toby for being a little freaked out by Sal... eeek!
ReplyDeleteOMG Joanna, that last photo of Toby! I could drop dead. He is that cute!
ReplyDeleteSo glad you had such a nice time in this wonderful city!
why are baby butts so cute?! also the mission is my fave place for tacos! it ruins other mexican food for me since none can compare!
ReplyDeleteaw, I grew up in San Francisco so I'm getting so nostalgic! Love the pictures.
ReplyDeleteJoanna, looks like you guys had a wonderful trip! You went to some of my favorite places in this lovely city that I'm so lucky to live in. I hope you visit again soon- there's always oh so much to do here!
ReplyDeletePS Toby's getting so big- that picture of him showing off his cute baby teeth- SO ADORABLE! What a happy guy you have.
great photos! looks like y'all had an amazing trip! just out of curiosity, do you ever get recognized when you're out and about? i'm sure you do, but do people ever come up to you? that would be sort of strange, i bet!
ReplyDeleteI love vacationing vicariously through your pictures! Looks like a great trip.
ReplyDeleteA taco crawl?!? That sounds A-MAZING! Will have to remember that one if I am ever in SF...
ReplyDeleteI'm moving back to the States from Europe this summer, and one of the things I'm looking forward to the most is traveling within the country. I'm headed to California for vacation in July and am so excited for another trip to SF! It really is one of the best cities.
ReplyDeleteSo glad you guys had a great time! Again, it was so neat running into you guys. Such a treat.
ReplyDeleteAnd how CUTE is that last pic of Toby. Oh my gosh.
Katy
WOW!! You packed a lot into that short visit! Looks like fun too! Especially the 'eats'!! One day I'm going to get to the West coast...ONE DAY!!! ^_^
ReplyDeleteOh my goodness what a fun time! loving watchign Toby grow up, adorable:-)
ReplyDeleteOh my goodness! I have been anxiously waiting for this post ever since I offered my SF resident advice!
ReplyDeleteI was so very happy to see that you also loved some of my SF city "bests"! Thanks for sharing your trip with us - I hope SF was very kind to you and your beautiful fam!
These pics are beaut! you guys must of made such great memories on this trip!! Toby is such a cutie! I love the last pic of him!!
ReplyDeletePs: laughing Sal is damn scary!!!
http://missmollyfashions.blogspot.com/
oh joanna! toby is the cutest, but YOU look so smiley and gorgeous in these photos!
ReplyDeleteyou guys did alot! and looks like everyone had a good time. What a treat that you had a car to use as well! I've never been to San francisco so I enjoyed seeing it through your eyes.
ReplyDeletevery interesting donut flavors, the mango chili caught my eye!
Love it all! You make me want to go so badly. ^_^ Toby is so sweet!
ReplyDeletehttp://pitatewer.blogspot.com
I've visited San Francisco for but a week, and still feel as though I left my heart there. Looks like a fantastic time!
ReplyDeleteBecca
PS. Loves the "Invasion of the Body Snatchers" reference - "There's some more flowers kids. Go pick them" (among many!)
OMG,I want to bite Tobys cheeks ;)
ReplyDeleteWonderful pictures! THat last one of Toby is to eat!!!
ReplyDeleteI love people's retelling of their San Francisco visits - you guys sure pack a lot of city into a week (way more than I do in a month for sure!). :)
ReplyDeleteDid I see a salted caramel donut? Oh. wow!
ReplyDeleteOh, Toby is SO cute! I know this is sort of the entire point of genetics, but he looks SO much like you and SO much like Alex, at the same time! Glad you had a wonderful trip! :-)
ReplyDeletewe went to san francisco on our honeymoon and i adored it! but, i can not imagine navigating that city in a manual car! kudos to you, i drive stick and would not be comfortable with that! thanks for sharing, i do love that city.
ReplyDeleteToby is growing up so fast! He looks more like a little boy in that last photo than a baby. : ) This really made me want to visit (and dine in) San Fransisco.
ReplyDeleteThat looks like so much fun! I live in the city and I haven't done all those things (yet).
ReplyDeleteThanks for the inspiration.
Yay! A fabulous "trip", indeed! I love seeing the city from an outsiders perspective. And yes, we take our tacos very seriously. 7x7 magazine even did an issue on the search for the best burrito! :)
ReplyDeleteSeriously, MOST. HANDSOME. BABY. EVER. He looks like a perfectly hand drawn kiddo from a vintage children's book!
ReplyDeleteAnyway..
The whole trip sounds like so much fun :) lovely pics!!
xoxo
Looks and sounds like you guys had a wonderful time. All the photos and the details of your trip mae me so nostalgic for sf! I remember going to the opening of Foreign Cinema, and one of my first dates with my now husband was at the mechanical museum. And of course, those carnitas tacos, that I drool-dream about all the time. Hooray for great cities!
ReplyDeletehttp://nomadic-d.blogspot.com/
Ohhhh I am so glad you did the lighthouse walk- magical. Isn't it such a special city? Sometimes, when I read your tales of NYC, I miss it so much...my heart gets caught in my throat a little, but one glimpse of the bay and I feel a little better. x
ReplyDeletethe scared toby picture is so hilarious in a sad kind of way.
ReplyDeletethis is one of my fav cup of jo posts, btw.... i love when you post about the family. and now i wanna go to SF and just re-live your vacay.
oh and the gourmet donuts.....i'm almost angry at how hungry that just made me.
ReplyDeleteNice pics... Toby is so big and lovely.
ReplyDeleteOMG at Laughing Sal and then Toby's reaction. Priceless!
ReplyDeletesounds like you had a lovely time! those donuts look soooo good... as do the tacos!
ReplyDeletedid you know you can get a korean massage and scrub in flushing at spa castle?? it's a 4-story building of spas, saunas, relaxation rooms, pools and a cafeteria. it's quite an experience!
That taco looks phenomenal! San Francisco is a place I've been dying to go to so thanks for the good tips!
ReplyDeleteThat first picture is wonderful. It reminds me of the images you shared with us of your mother in Paris.
ReplyDeleteso much i want to comment on, regarding sf, but all i can say is your baby is soooooooooooooo cute. like, gosh, how do you get anything done all day? lovely trip!
ReplyDeleteHow fun to see the city through your eyes! I'm impressed you went to Tartine 3x for the croque monsieur (though I can hardly blame you). Next time you're in the Mission, head for Balompié Cafe for Salvadoran pupusas, or better yet the plato tÃpico #1: a pupusa revuelta, pastel de pollo, and yuca frita con pollo (a flat, meat/cheese-stuffed masa tortilla, a deep-fried; a chicken/veggie-filled crunchy-soft empanada-cousin; and fried yucca--Salvadoran tater tots--with chicken on top, respectively).
ReplyDeletewow Jo, how awesome, i actually just moved to san fran a couple months ago and youve given me some great tips and have definitely seen more of the city than I have :) I'm a Journalism major and aspiring magazine writer and freelancer- which is how I happened to stumble across yuor awesome blog ;) thanks for the oodles of inspiration :)
ReplyDeletethese are beautiful! and i'll have to find out if there's something like Foreign Cinema here in L.A.
ReplyDeleteIT'S A SEXY PROPERTY
That last pic, those teeth! Adorbs!
ReplyDeletethat seems like the most fabulous vacation :) absolutely perfect.
ReplyDeleteOh, thank you so much for sharing with all of us... this was a blissful and happy few minute journey for me! Your family photos and beautiful smiles always feel like a great big group hug.
ReplyDeleteLooks like the most perfect vacation. Toby and his sweet little teeth - that picture is beyond cute. And all of that food. Well, esp the donuts....look divine!
ReplyDeletexo trina
So jealous of your taco crawl...that's right up my alley! And how can Toby possibly be THAT adorable, even when he's so upset!?! :)
ReplyDeleteI guess this is one of the many perks of living in a place like NYC where people actually *want* to swap houses 20 times!
ReplyDeleteLooks like you all had a great time in SF!
that was awesome! thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteSo glad you liked our city. And Toby holding the bars by the sea is adorable. He's starting to look like you when he smiles, it seems.
ReplyDeleteWhat great pictures! It looks like the trip was amazing. And I love your tips for traveling with babies.
ReplyDeleteI adore SF, used to live there, now I live in downtown Seattle, the hubs and I do home exchanges too through Homeexchange.com. If you ever want to swap with us in Seattle we'd love to visit NYC again. In fact I used to live in NYC too :) P.S. Toby is a d o r a b l e !
ReplyDeleteawesome photos! beautiful family! love San Francisco! that toby is gosh darn gorgeous!
ReplyDeleteOh I love the closing photo!!
ReplyDeleteTen tips for travelling with a baby? Funny, doesn't sound like you had your baby with you much at all.
ReplyDeleteThis post makes me super excited to take my 7 month old to the Academy of Sciences. We were waiting till he can fully appreciate all the crazy creatures. Seems like that's pretty much now. Glad you had so much fun here!
ReplyDeleteWow, looks like you had an amazing trip! That "taco crawl" sounds like a ton of fun!
ReplyDeleteWe're still having the rainy and overcast skies out here in SF. Looking at Laughing Sal takes me back a few years. She really did creep out everyone out at Playland. She had one of those big, cackling belly laughs... Glad you were able to do and see so many great things. The Ferry Plaza is quite a place that I never tire of going through on my way home to Marin . . .
ReplyDeleteomg Toby is so cute, his cheeks are adorable!!! So happy you had fun in Sf I love it here!
ReplyDeleteYou and Alex are so cute - of course, Toby is adorable. Lucy and Paul look like such a fun couple. All in all a great family and a great trip by the looks..
ReplyDeleteMy husband and I went there on our honeymoon and we had a great time -- we loved the Ferry Building as welll!
ReplyDeletewhat an amazingly fun trip!!! Looks like you all had a blast. Love that last photo of Toby!
ReplyDeleteLooks amazing! Definately my kind of holiday!
ReplyDeleteLiz x
PS Toby is the most divine little person. ever.
http://kartepaper.blogspot.com/
SF is one of my fave cities! Glad you all are having a good time!
ReplyDeletewww.nydontleaveme.com
These pictures are awesome. When we lived in California we lived right out of Sacramento and we would take turns one weekend Lake Tahoe the next San Francisco. I love Tahoe but San Francisco is my favorite! I don't think you would ever run out of things to do or see there.
ReplyDeleteYou had the best vacation didn't you?!?! San Francisco is the best. You are such a beautiful young family.
ReplyDeleteSpeaking of San Francisco, I was just thinking about going there! I think I'll go to some of the restaurants you went to. They just look so lovely!
ReplyDeleteBy the way, your son is way too cute! *pinch cheeks*
-Abby
Your trip sounded fantastic, particularly the taco crawl! I love reading other people's travel plans- they always make me so excited to visit a new city, someday.
ReplyDelete-Meredith
that last photo of Toby is too adorable for words... He's looking more and more like you as he gets older.
ReplyDeleteHa! I grew up in SF...and I was terrified of her as a kid, too. Her and Lizzie Borden at the Wax Museum. Ah, wholesome childhood entertainment.
ReplyDeleteJoanna! I scared my cat because I laughed so hard when I saw the photo of Toby crying. Priceless photo!
ReplyDeleteLooks like you had a great time. ;)
oh, i absolutely positively loved this post! heading out to sanfran in about a week and this just got me so excited! love that city! glad you had so much fun!
ReplyDeleteOh my goodness, those doughnuts look FANTASTIC! also you're baby is such a dear. you're blessed!
ReplyDeletethesully.blogspot.com
Aw! So Big was my daughter's favorite book when she was a baby. Our copy is battered silly from all the times she read it. :( I miss little chubby cheeks! Your vacay looked terrific.
ReplyDeleteThese are lovely!! My family and I are headed to SF in a couple of weeks and seeing the pics just made me more excited to go!! Loved your pictures!! Specially the last one!! I mean come on, that smile! Just melted me!!
ReplyDeleteI'll take your word for it with the sandwiches!! I'm gonna look for the place and try them! Thanks for sharing!!
Oh, that last picture melts my heart.
ReplyDeleteWhat a fun trip! You and Alex certainly know how to have a good time. Toby must have been in heaven at the aquarium, there's a dome with sharks and fish in the ceiling at the one in Seattle, too. :) I'm glad you had a good time. P.S. Where oh where did you find your grey sweater I saw in a couple of those pictures? It looks so cute!
ReplyDeleteLove this post! I'm bookmarking it so I have some ideas for my next trip to SF!
ReplyDeleteAmazing pictures! Your son is adorable. I am obsessed with short trips to SF.
ReplyDeletepicture of toby crying was the saddest thing ever.
ReplyDeletelooks like such a great trip, joanna! love it, as always!
ReplyDeletethis looks so fun, joanna!
ReplyDeleteyour family is beautiful (as always!).
i can't wait to get to san francisco sometime this summer, and i'll definitely be checking out foreign cinema. thanks for the recommendation!
Oh my goodness- look at that smile!! He's growing up so fast!
ReplyDeleteGreat SF pics! That is one of my favorite cities to vacation in- so many great sites to see :)
Your trip sounds so amazing!!!! And your baby is so sweet :)
ReplyDeleteYou have the cutest baby in the world!!!
ReplyDeletelove love love point bonita light house. my sister and i walk out there from rodeo beach all the time.
ReplyDeleteso glad you enjoyed your trip.
but i'm serious about trying gamine next time! favorite restaurant ever. :)
xoxo
Oh my! How grown up is Toby looking now. I remember the posts of when he was born. Actually, I remember the posts of when you were carrying him, and when you announced your pregnancy!
ReplyDeleteHe looks like an absolute treasure... Plus i LOVE his jacket ;)
Great post and photos!
Niki @ http://little-quaint-moments-and-memories.blogspot.com/
xx
I live in SOMA, across the street from the Ferry Building, so lucky me :) & I'm not a foodie like so many people who live here... but Foreign Cinema is my favorite restaurant of all, particularly because of its wonderful atmosphere - relaxed, beautiful and romantic.
ReplyDeleteThe picture of Toby after seeing laughing Sal is precious! He's so cute!
ReplyDeleteso happy to see these photos :) i just moved from san francisco to india and wasn't feeling homesick one bit until i saw this post! next time you kids are out that way you should stop by flora grubb gardens...its kind of magical.
ReplyDeletewhere was Toby when it was you and your husband's night out? :)
ReplyDeleteLove these pics! Looks like you guys had a blast---taco sampling sounds divine. I love the 1st and last pic of toby the most! In the first one, I love that you can see his little baby belly. The last one is so painfully sweet! I love his sweet, sincere expression and all of his little baby teeth:) If you ever need a free sitter in NJ, let me know! He is an angel:))))
ReplyDeletethat looks like a blast!! that tobester is so so cute!! oh mygosh. love him!
ReplyDeleteIt looks like you guys had a great trip! Your photos are fantastic and show what an amazing city San Francisco is.
ReplyDeleteoh it looks like you had a lovely time! :) San Fransisco... I've been dieing to go for years and your beautiful pictures just inspired me a little more!
ReplyDeletegreat pictures! i love how they are so timeless!
ReplyDeleteis it just me or your sis looks just like katherine heigl in that pic??
ReplyDeletehaha, So Big is toby's fave book of all time!! :)
ReplyDeletethanks for these lovely comments :)
ReplyDeleteI am so excited to get back to San Francisco in August now! Great pictures, you have such a beautiful, happy family!
ReplyDeleteI love these pictures! I miss San Fran! looks like a lot of fun :)
ReplyDeletemakes me want to go to san francisco!
ReplyDeleteHow did you deal with jetlag? Did Toby adjust or did you keep him on NYC schedule?
ReplyDeleteSo fun! We're taking a trip out to San Fran in August, and these pics made me even more excited!!!
ReplyDeleteOh my goodness that last smiley photo is too much! Beautiful photos, looks like a great trip. I've only been once and that was for a work visit to our SF office, but this makes me want to come up with another reason to go soon.
ReplyDeleteI went to a wedding at Foreign Cinema last September, such a fun yet classy venue. Gave me so many new ideas for turning my favorite spots into wedding venues. I'll have to share the photos.
ReplyDeletewow what a great trip! bravo for cramming so much in with a baby! i think it's time i pay SF another visit...
ReplyDeleteclaire, thank you! the cardigan is from anthropologie, from years ago xo
ReplyDeletefor jetlag, we adjusted toby to the SF schedule. it only took one day on either end, luckily. xo
ReplyDeleteTaco crawl is a great idea! Love the art museum photo.
ReplyDeleteI ADORE San Francisco! Looks like you guys had a great time :)
ReplyDeletexo,
susannah
http://stylepourlavie.tumblr.com/
http://lavieetme.blogspot.com/
It sounds like you had an amazing trip! This post makes me want to do everything exactly like you did it! Keep sharing :) BTW, Toby literally has to be one of the most beautiful baby boys I have ever seen, you could just get lost in his eyes. Nice work ;)
ReplyDeletewhat fun photos! my kids liked the musee mechanique last time we went; we blew a lot of money there. + those doughnuts look crazy good!
ReplyDeleteLovely pics as ever. Intrigued by the border. How were they shot?
ReplyDeleteWhat a perfect trip! I live in SF and may need to recreate this itinerary some weekend. We had our wedding at Foreign Cinema, such a special place!
ReplyDeleteThat last photo of Toby is so precious.
ReplyDeleteJ'aime bien cette forme de prospection/introspection avec visuels vraiment sympas
ReplyDeletegreat photos! :)
ReplyDeletei like the vintage feel .. what did you use to edit them?
Looks like you had a wonderful time in SF, loving all the fun pictures. Hopefully the weather wasn't too harsh on ya!
ReplyDeletehttp://justfaabulous.blogspot.com
Toby's hoodie is very awesome
ReplyDeleteToby is so darn cute! So glad you had a fab time! That foriegn cinema looks positively intriguing! I may have to check it out on our next trip there!
ReplyDeleteit sounds like such an amazing trip! so glad you had a good time.
ReplyDeletewent to foreign cinema with my boyfriend last sunday based on your recommendation. so good!!
ReplyDeletethanks for the tip :)
kai
roadlifestyle.blogspot.com
Looks like you had such a lovely time!! I'll definitely keep this post in mind for my next visit to San Francisco... :)
ReplyDeleteToby looks like you in that last picture! Good for you for taking some alone time with your hubby!!! Parents who go on vacation with their toddlers often forget to take time to themselves! Love the pictures, especially the one of Toby watching the waves.
ReplyDeleteThat last photo of Toby is one of the most precious things I've ever seen. What a beautiful, beaming smile!
ReplyDeleteWhere did you go on your taco crawl? We are visiting SF in a few weeks, I would love to know!
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you had fun in San Francisco!
ReplyDelete