This Pacific Catch is located right by Golden Gate Park. I plan to get there early and take a stroll through the park like I used to. I love Golden Gate Park! It has a little bit of everything: a museum, botanical gardens, the California Academy of Sciences, the Conservatory of Flowers, trails, soccer, frisbee & football fields, picnic areas, play structures, the Japanese Tea Garden, a lake with boat rentals, and so much more. On Sundays they even close the streets for pedestrians, bikes and roller blades. I used to love roller blading in the park! Wish I still had my roller blades.

I remember roller blading on a Sunday in 1995 when there was a memorial going on for Jerry Garcia. Right as the memorial was ending I skated by quietly. Since I was distracted looking at all the deadheads, I was not paying attention to the ground and rolled in to a pothole and did a face plant! Yep, there I was face first on the asphalt right in front of Jerry Garcia’s memorial. People looked at me and said, “dude face plant” but nobody asked if I was okay. 

Of course I was okay except a few scratches on my face and my very bruised ego.

I’m off to San Francisco now to get my FourSquare swarm badge! Hopefully I won’t do a face plant this time.

Photo taken by flickr user battyward

I wonder what Jerry Garcia would think of FourSquare?

Happy FourSquare Day!

]]> http://sallyaroundthebay.com/2010/04/happy-foursquare-day/feed/ 0 http://sallyaroundthebay.com/2010/04/farm-animals-in-marin/ http://sallyaroundthebay.com/2010/04/farm-animals-in-marin/#comments Wed, 14 Apr 2010 16:49:41 +0000 Sally http://sallyaroundthebay.com/?p=2450 Did you know right over the Golden Gate Bridge in Marin County you can find all sorts of farm animals?

You can happen upon them in Tennessee Valley. See yesterday’s post about the Turkeys.

Or you can go to Slide Ranch right off of Hwy 1 on the way to Stinson Beach where you can visit goats, sheep, chickens, and ducks.

Happy (almost) Wordless Wednesday!

I wanted good quality rain gear but I didn’t want to spend the money I would have to if I went to REI. Instead, I went to the Sports Basement in San Francisco. The Sports Basement is an awesome place for getting great deals on quality brand name athletic clothing. A few years ago I bought a big puffy down Northface jacket from the Sports Basement. I called REI first to compare prices and it was $50 cheaper at the Sports Basement.

The Sports Basement in the Presidio is located in one of the most beautiful spots in San Francisco.  It’s right across the street from the Crissy Field Beach located below the Golden Gate Bridge. The views are breathtaking.  You can see the bridge, Alcatraz and the city skyline. We were lucky because when we got to the store it was not raining so we took a walk on the beach before doing our shopping. The boardwalk was full of happy people walking, jogging, rollerblading, biking and playing with their dogs.

It’s fun to shop at Sports Basement. It has a very casual friendly feel. There are couches throughout the store and they encourage you to hang out and chat. There is even a play area for kids. Lot’s of community stuff going on there. I found a great rain jacket and a pair of convertible pants I love! We’re back to walking or hiking everyday and it feels great!

Mountain bike enthusiasts around the world are invited to hit the trails in and around the birthplace of the sport for a four-day cross-country mountain bike tour of Marin County and the San Francisco Bay Area.

Mountain Biking Marin has organized an unforgettable tour taking place from May 27-31, combining daily bike rides with the exploration of popular local tourist attractions.

Founder and CEO of Mountain Biking Marin, Celia Graterol, warns this event is not intended for beginners. She states, “To enjoy this tour, riders should have an intermediate to advanced technical level and the ability to handle a moderate to strenuous climbing level.”

Graterol and her team of fun experienced guides will expertly lead riders through the Redwood forests, lakes, rock gardens and rolling hills of trails through Marin County, Mt. Tamalpais, the Marin Headlands and West Marin. Bikers will enjoy panoramic views of the Pacific Ocean, the Golden Gate Bridge, San Francisco Bay and the mountains of Marin.

After a tough day on the trails (lots of singletracks!!!), enjoy the optional excursions including world-class wine tasting in the Napa Valley and exploring the world famous streets of San Francisco.

This is an all-inclusive mountain biking adventure that includes airport pickup, deluxe accommodations, transportation, breakfast and lunch daily (dinner not provided) and the professional guiding services of 2006 Downhill US National Champion, Celia Graterol.

For this ultimate bike adventure, much care went into the choosing of the hotel. Guest are sure to enjoy their stay at the new remodeled Larkspur Hotel Mill Valley with a core focus on health, sustainability and getting people outside to connect with nature. Each morning of the tour, they’ll be serving healthy, sustainable breakfasts such as whole grains, healthy proteins and good carbs.

“We knew this was the right hotel to choose because they even provide bike parking,” remarks Graterol.

This mountain biking adventure is limited to only 15 participants so anyone interested is strongly encouraged to register early. Early Bird Prices are in effect until April 15 with the cost of this inclusive mountain biking vacation at $1,150 per person ($1,350 if adding a bike rental). After April 15 the price will be $1,300 ($1,500 if bike is needed).

For more information, visit MountainBikingMarin.com

About Mountain Biking Marin
Owned and operated by 2006 Downhill US National Champion, Celia Graterol, Mountain Biking Marin offers fun, guided tours and clinics on the best mountain bike trails in the San Francisco Bay area. Celia’s experience and training give her the skills needed to lead and teach all levels of bike tours and clinics (cross country, freeride and downhill racing).

Contact: Celia Graterol
www.mountainbikingmarin.com
P 415-717-2263
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Beautiful views from our hike today! This is what I woke up to after the big storm last night. Amazing! I love the Bay Area!

1. Take ferry to San Francisco and walk around the ferry building and then go ice skating in the Embarcadero.
2. Walk around Tiburon.
3. Take a ferry to Angel Island and go for a hike.
4. Go shopping on Telegraph Avenue in Berkeley.
5. Visit the Camera Obscura in San Francisco. (The giant camera)
6. Walk around Chinatown, be adventurous and try some Dim Sum.
7. Visit a farm in Petaluma! Learn about where your food comes from.
8. Walk across the Golden Gate Bridge.
9. Go to Golden Gate Park Japanese Tea Garden, Botanical Gardens, Conservatory of Flowers and so much more.
10. After Golden Gate Park you can walk around Haight Street and see the famous Haight/Ashbury neighborhood.
11. Go for a Mountain Bike ride in Marin County
12. Tuesday Night Comedy Night in Mill Valley with Mark Pitta.
13. Take a drive to Stinson Beach and keep driving to find the secret town of Bolinas.
14. Go wine tasting in Napa and then try some delicious vegetarian food.

Happy Holidays!

If you have any suggestions for fun and unique things I didn’t list here please leave a comment letting us know.