San Francisco (part 2–bike day)

Day two in San Francisco with kids was bike day, and we decided to bike the Golden Gate Bridge with kids and ride all the way to Sausalito. After our biking and exploration we ended the day with chocolate and the city lights. If you’re planning your own San Francisco itinerary with kids, I’ll just say that this day was pure magic.

This is part 2 of our San Francisco trip with kids:

• Day One: San Francisco with Kids: Walking Tour, Chinatown & Cable Cars
• Day Two: this post about our biking adventure
• Day Three: Steps to Get Your Kids to Want to Go to Stanford, plus a visit and the GGB at sunset

When I look at these pictures I get a little lump in my throat thanking my lucky stars that we got to do this.

It is a trip none of us will ever forget. (I know that sounds dramatic but it’s true…even if our memories start to let it slip, the hundreds of pictures I took won’t let us ever, ever forget 🙂

Also, who can forget a trip that is as colorful as this one. Ha!

Day 2: Biking San Francisco with Kids

We rented some wing-dinger bikes and set off on what turned out to be our favorite adventure—biking the Golden Gate Bridge with kids. We were pleased as punch about this because our feet were ready to take a break after walking all over creation the day before.

Biking the Golden Gate Bridge

Our first adventure was to bike the Golden Gate Bridge (or the “GGB” as Charity likes to call it). And this was one of our favorite things to do in San Francisco with kids.
Now, I must preface this part by saying the GGB is one of my favorite structures ever. I don’t know what it is about it…the color, the ingenuity of how it was built, how it stands out against the beauty surrounding it…probably a mixture of all of the above.

I love that thing.

So needless to say I was pretty excited that we got to ride bikes across it.
We rode along in single file as cars whizzed by (with a good, strong barrier between us) and the wind whipped through our hair. I couldn’t wipe the smile off my face.

We stopped for a little break at both of the towers.
Claire was a little trooper with her scarf flying out behind her in front of me standing up to pedal hard every so often. My heart swelled up into my throat as I watched her and took it all in.

Gotta love that color.
Elle did her report before we left on the GGB. (Our kids are assigned to do “reports” on different things we will be seeing every time we head on a trip.)

Little known fact that she shared: The navy had initially wanted to paint the bridge black with yellow stripes.

Yeah, I’m glad someone vetoed that.

Here we are on the other side:

Riding to Sausalito

After we biked across the bridge, we made our way to Sausalito—a perfect reward after biking from San Francisco to Sausalito with kids.

We crossed under the bridge…: (it looks cool under there, right?)

…and headed over to the completely picturesque town of Sausalito.

This was where the bike ride got a little hairy…no bike lane and my seven-year-old in front of me with traffic…but she was a little dreamboat on that bike. Thank goodness for bike helmets that made me feel a bit better.

I had to remind myself she can ride circles around me. I’m the one who crashed into a stop sign a couple years ago with Lucy on the back.

Ouch.

Sausalito was gorgeous.

Ferry Back Across the Bay

We ate delicious hamburgers and grabbed some hot cocoa to help us brave the biting wind on the ferry we loaded our bikes on and took back across the bay:

Taking the ferry back after biking the Golden Gate Bridge made the whole experience feel like an adventure from start to finish.

It was a beautiful, fun, cold ride.

Grace was excited to pass Alcatraz (she did her report on that thing):

The skyline looked cool in all the haze as we neared the ferry building on the other side.

Exploring the Ferry Building Marketplace

We parked our bikes at the Ferry Building…

…and explored all the colors and sounds and tastes and smells it had to offer.
We loved this street performer:
Talk about talent with garbage cans.

Pier 39 & Sea Lions

After the Ferry Building we biked over to Pier 39 to see the sea lions.
Unfortunately this was our view:
I guess they were shy that day.

Fisherman’s Wharf + Sourdough Stop

And with that, we were off to Fisherman’s Wharf where we went to the sourdough bread factory and snacked on some baguettes:

Chocolate at Ghirardelli Square

And what would be a trip to San Fran without a quick stop at Ghirardelli Square?

We savored the taste of our free chocolate as we rode our bikes back to the bike place to greet the sunset.
After all the wonderful things we got to do that day, I think those ten to fifteen minutes were my very favorite part.

We were all so happy and tired and fulfilled after an exhilarating day.

We snuggled back into the car and drove past this on the way to dinner:

Dinner in Mission District

And filled up on some Mexican food and delicious fruit drinks at this place in “The Mission.”
Mmmmm, that guacamole is making my mouth water 🙂

All these pictures are making me want to go back!

And making me miss my dear sis.

Love you Char!

It was one of those days where everyone fell into bed completely exhausted AND completely happy. The kind of day that makes you so grateful you said yes to the trip in the first place.

Tips for Biking the Golden Gate Bridge with Kids

• Rent bikes near Fisherman’s Wharf

• Plan to bike to Sausalito and take the ferry back

• Dress for wind—it gets cold on the bridge

• Make stops along the way (the views are so beautiful!)

Our San Francisco with Kids Itinerary

• Day 1: Walking tour, Chinatown, cable cars

• Day 2: this post of our biking day through all that glory

• Day 3: Visiting Stanford with Kids and the GGB at Sunset

→ Continue to San Francisco Day 3.