Go to Alcatraz – just do it. We recommend alcatrazcruises.com & do the recorded tour with the headsets… it’s creepy & very interesting. 

We figured we’d better do a wine tour since we were in Wine Country. We recommend greendreamtours.com as they were reasonably priced, fun, the bus was air conditioned & it was well organized. We went to clinecellars.com & homewoodwinery.com two little vineyards that are quaint & good at what they do. 


We visited Carmel and within minutes thought we’d seen former Mayor Clint Eastwood… we didn’t but it was funny. The beach is unreal. The town is adorable. I wish we could have spent more time there or even stayed there. 

This is a great central place to park (although $40-$50 a day but that’s the case in any parkade in SF). Here is a HUGE tip ✍🏼 shop anywhere in Anchorage Square & get your parking pass validated. We didn’t realize this was the case & paid full price. Lesson learned for the future – ask about parking validation juuuust in case. 

Muir Woods is cool but set aside more time than you think. There are LOTS of people & it doesn’t have the best parking situation… there are plenty of places TO park but they aren’t close by if it’s busy… but of a rugged walk from the parking area when busy. Wear comfortable shoes etc & take lots of water as it is full of trails (short & easy to longer & more difficult)