This past weekend Ella Kate and I flew to San Francisco to meet Dave and spend a long weekend. Dave had been out there all week at a work conference so we decided to take advantage of the opportunity. I was so very nervous about how Ella Kate would do on an airplane for 5 hours. Ella Kate did perfect. It did not seem to phase her at all. The plane ride was a little bumpy to San Francisco so the fasten seat belt light was on almost the whole time. Ella Kate sat in my lap the entire trip and played with all the Dollar Store junk I had bought to keep her entertained and watched Barney (her new favorite) on the DVD player. When we arrived in San Francisco Dave met us at the airport picked us up and off we went. The first day we drove down the Pacific Coast Highway enjoyed the beautiful views and went to Stinson Beach. We found a great place to eat on Stinson Beach and then let Ella Kate run around on the beach and put her feet in the Pacific Ocean. She loved it! There were also tons of birds so she wore herself out chasing them. After Stinson Beach we went to an old military base which was up on a hill and took in some great views of the Golden Gate Bridge. The next day we got up bright and early and checked out the Sea Lions at Pier 39. After the Sea Lions we hopped on a Ferry boat and toured Alcatrez. Alcatrez was so cool!! After Alcatrez we went back to a Farmers Market on Pier 39 walked around and had lunch outside at a restaurant on the Pier. Pier 39 is one busy place but Ella Kate loved sampling all the fruits especially the oranges. We had to buy a few oranges b/c Ella Kate had taken so many samples I was feeling a little guilty. :) After lunch we walked from Pier 39 to Pier 1 (yes 39 blocks) and then Dave talked me into climbing the Coit Tower (20 flights of steps w/ child, backpack, and umbrella stroller). Needless to say we were exhausted by the end of the day!! After the Coit Tower we went back to the hotel room freshened up and did what I think was one of Dave's favorite tourist stops. Dave loves the TV show Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives and one of the recent episodes featured a place called Rocco's. The owner of Rocco's was working the night we went and he actually seated us and played peep eye with Ella Kate. The food was great and the atmosphere even better! We had a great dinner and it was fun getting all of the special treatment from Rocco's grandson (who was the owner). Our last day in San Francisco we toured Muir Woods and saw the most amazing Redwood trees, took a few trolley rides, did some shopping, and ended the day with a visit to Jap Town.
We had a wonderful family trip and it was fun having Ella Kate as our little entertainer. She had us laughing the whole trip with some of her antics. She wants to be sure that everyone knows what is hers and so she often holds her shoe, etc. and says Ella Kate's. She thinks all names should be plural and now refers to me as Momma's which sounds like Mommaz when Ella Kate says it. And of course Dave is Daddyz. It is pretty funny to hear her calling our names. Since she was born Dave has always called her Pooks or Pookums. He will often say something like "aww Pooks." Well sometimes when she is just playing by herself we would hear her say "Aww Pooks." Pretty funny. 
Ella Kate and Daddy along the Pacific Coast Highway.
Walking down to see the great view.
Ella Kate loved the water in California. We stopped by Stinson Beach for lunch one afternoon and let Ella Kate run on the beach and stick her feet in the Pacific Ocean. Unfortunately we did not get pictures but she had a great time! She has absolutely no fear of the ocean so the beach this summer should be extra fun.
These were some street performers we saw near Fishermans Wharf. Ella Kate was amazed. They were actually really good and hilarious.
The performers were a family 2 brothers and 1 sister from England.
Ella Kate and Dave in Muir Woods looking at the beautiful and amazing Redwood trees. It was sprinkly rain while we were in the Muir Woods National Park which was actually kinda cool b/c it gave it a rainforest feel. Ella Kate loved the rain and she especially likes wearing her raincoat.
She wanted to jump in all of the puddles and of course her Daddy let her. :) Her Daddy likes to jump in mud puddles too.
Posing in front of one of the huge redwoods.
Crossing the Golden Gate Bridge. It was absolutely beautiful.
This is the house that was filmed in one of my favorite TV shows - Full House.
Ella Kate loves dressing herself these days and she wanted to take her raincoat off and put it on herself a million times.
A view of San Francisco and Alcatrez from the top of the Coit Tower. Yes, we climbed 20 flights of stairs with a baby, Backpack, and Umbrella Stroller. It was quite a workout but the view was worth it.
Ella Kate and Mommy at the top of the Coit Tower.
One afternoon we stopped and had lunch at Pier 39. We found a cool restraunt and we ate outside. While we were waiting on our food Dave and Ella Kate fed the birds. Ella Kate loved the birds.
Daddy and Ella Kate at Alcatrez. Ella Kate thought the audio equipment was pretty cool.
Family Pic outside Alcatrez.
Ella Kate and I inside one of the cells at Alcatrez. It was such a cool tour.
Checking out more birds.
We got really lucky and the day we visited Alcatrez one of the original guards from when the prison was open was there speaking.
A view of Alcatrez from our Ferry boat.
Sweet Ella Kate was such a trooper. We toured the city non-stop and she napped on the go the whole weekend.
The Sealions at Pier 39. This was so cool to me. You could see them swimming in from the ocean into the pier area and then hop up on the doc. Loved it!!
Ella Kate and I watching the sea lions.
We climbed up a hill which I believe was an old military base and saw an awesome view of the Golden Gate bridge.
The beautiful Golden Gate Bridge. Quite a site!
Ella Kate and Mommy looking at the Pacific Ocean. Some of the view driving along the Pacific Coast Highway reminded me of Hawaii.
Family Shot
Ella Kate was such a good girl on our trip to California. She was old enough to really enjoy seeing some of the sites. She was our little buddy. She of course rode in her stroller alot but when she wanted to walk she would want to hold both of our hands. So sweet!!
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