Heath Ceramics Factory Tour

Last month I flew up to San Francisco and while I was there, I got the opportunity to tour the Heath Ceramics factory in Sausalito. I've always been a huge admirer of their clay dinnerware, so this tour was honestly the highlight of my weekend! It lasted for about an hour, and we got to see all sorts of behind-the-scenes processes from the types of clay they use to how their plates are shaped and later glazed. I really enjoyed it and plan on touring their second factory (the Heath Ceramics tile factory in San Francisco) the next time I'm in town.

Point Bonita Lighthouse

I have this thing for lighthouses. Particularly, lighthouses that are on cliffs with suspension bridges. 

San Francisco: Grand View Park

So last weekend my friend and I drove up to NorCal to celebrate my birthday! San Francisco is one of my favorite cities, so I couldn't imagine a better place to spend my birthday exploring!

On Sunday morning, we drove over to the 16th Avenue Tiled Steps. The staircase has 163 steps that are beautifully decorated with mosaic panels, and we climbed every single one of them. And if that wasn't enough exercise, we continued on to Grand View Park once we reached the top. Little did I know that we'd have to go up even MORE stairs to access the park! I was pretty out of breath by the time we reached the summit, but the panoramic views of the city were most definitely worth it!

Mr. Holmes Bakehouse

So for days before my trip to San Francisco, all I kept talking about was a bakery that I just HAD to visit called Mr. Holmes Bakehouse. They're famous for a dessert called the cruffin (a cross between a croissant and muffin). Unfortunately, the cruffins sell out almost every morning. Apparently people start lining up an hour beforehand just to purchase them! I wasn't able to get there in time to buy one, but I did get a Mexican hot chocolate donut and it was surprisingly spicy and delicious! And just so you know, I'm seriously planning another San Francisco trip just so that I can get to Mr. Holmes Bakehouse early and fall in line. Trust me, it's happening haha.

Pier 39

To be perfectly honest, I wasn't that excited to visit Pier 39 on my second day in San Francisco. I generally try to stay away from tourist traps, but the pier was much more enjoyable (i.e. less crowded) than I thought it would be! It really helped that I went on a weekday morning haha. I strolled along the pier, explored a few of the souvenir shops, ate a delicious (but overpriced) pasta lunch, and even saw a few sea lions! It's a good place to bring any first-time visitors to SF, but I'd strongly suggest going during non-peak hours.

+ Visitor tip: Use this coupon to get a free Pier 39 Fun Pack at the California Welcome Center. It comes with all sorts of coupons, including free 2-hour parking. Most of the restaurants on the pier will only give you one hour of free parking, so this is a great deal!