There's one thing all of my holidays have in common: a sense of adventure. In fact, we're not on a holiday... we're on a mission.
Especially when travelling with my husband, we're always exploring. Our destinations are chosen by an event that's on or a landmark we've always wanted to see. And whilst that always makes for an incredible trip, it can sometimes feel like our packed schedule makes the holiday fly by twice as fast.
Our latest adventure was a week in
California. It was a bucket-list trip for my husband, and whilst we were absolutely going for the sightseeing, this time, we did something different. We used the power of a twin-centre to make it last longer. It quickly became one of our favourite holidays yet, which is quite a task for two people who need a getaway to look forward to at all times.
Now that we've tried travelling this way, I think it'll be difficult to go back. It feels like you're away for longer because it's essentially two holidays in one. But also, for people like us who like to adventure, it means you can have some guilt-free 'doing nothing time'. You've still had the full-on days of guided tours, and you're still coming back with stories to tell, but you've also set aside some time to just soak it all in.
We paired the exciting city of San Francisco and its long list of famous landmarks with its much calmer neighbour of Napa Valley. The two are very easily paired, with the drive being part of the adventure too! But there's a massive contrast between the two destinations, and that's what made it all the more memorable.
San Francisco
I feel like San Francisco needs little introduction. It's a staple of the USA's West Coast, and very rightly so.
There are so many things to do in San Francisco. Most are world-famous, and each is a unique piece of the city's history and culture. There are two obvious sites for your San Francisco itinerary - Alcatraz and the Golden Gate Bridge. We'll dive into these in a bit more detail later. But there are many more must-dos aside from these.
San Francisco Sourdough
San Francisco is credited with the creation of its own kind of sourdough, and I was not leaving without trying clam chowder in a bread bowl! We found a Boudin's Bakery - which created San Francisco's original sourdough bread bowl - in Fisherman's Wharf, so I could try it.
Coit Tower
For 360 views of San Francisco, you have to head to Coit Tower. I hadn't heard of it before our trip (full credit to my husband for this hidden gem). It's a bit of a walk, with around 300 steps to climb, but the views from the top are incredible. San Francisco is considered to be one of the hilliest cities in the world, with most of the streets being steep, but Coit Tower is a vantage point from which to see the whole city.
One of the volunteers we met was a lovely amateur photographer, striking up conversations and taking pictures of people at the top. This is definitely my top tip for your visit.
Spend Time in the City
Even when you're not exploring something in particular, there's still plenty to do. One of my favourite mornings here was spent sipping coffee and playing cornhole in Union Square before jumping on a cable car to some of the museums.
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Coit Tower
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Cornhole in Union Square
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Cable cars
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Alcatraz Island
Alcatraz Island has so much interesting history. Its prison days are its most famous, with many a movie portrayal and famous inmates like Al Capone. As we toured the island, we learnt more about this era, but we also learned its beginnings as a military fort to protect the area, and its post-prison connection to Native American protests.
Road Trip Over Golden Gate Bridge
We had timed our trip to Golden Gate to be part of our road trip over to Napa Valley. Having hired the car from the city and taken a quick detour to test our driving skills down Lombard Street, we drove over the bridge and parked up at a viewpoint on the other side. This was not only a bit of a twist on a typical tourist trap, but meant that it was a bit quieter.
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Laura in Alcatraz exercise yard
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Driving over Golden Gate Bridge
Napa Valley
It has been a dream destination of mine for a few years now, but making it a twin-centre with San Francisco just made it feel all the more luxurious. After all the walking that comes with a city break, wine country was well deserved! The drive was super easy, only about an hour and a half on mostly straight roads. You also drive through Sonoma before reaching Napa, which is super scenic.
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Welcome to Napa Valley sign
Wine Tasting
Whilst there's less 'to do' here, a wine tasting is obviously a must. We tried a couple of places in downtown Napa. This area had a really quaint feel to it, and both distilleries we went to were so welcoming, as was every local we were chatting to.
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Reserve Flight tasting with area guide
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Laura and Harrison at Vintner's Collective local wine tasting
Most hotels here will also have their own vineyard too. We spent some time just strolling around it, enjoying the scenery, and learning about the growing of different varieties.
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Tractor in vineyard
Farm-to-Table Dining
It's not just for vineyards either. There's a big focus on farm-to-table in Napa Valley. The food culture here has naturally grown to complement the wine production, emphasising fresh and local ingredients, and making the most of the climate.
All the Extras
Napa was, in a word, indulgent. On top of the wining and dining, we also treated ourselves to a massage at the spa to soothe our aching legs, and spent some time soaking up the sun by the pool. Each activity is accompanied by a glass of local vintage.
My Must-Know Holiday Hack
I have no plans to leave my adventure or sightseeing holidays behind. But next time you're drawn to a destination for its hustle and bustle, make sure to add a stop at a calmer option nearby. You will not regret it!