Stephanie & Norman
Things To Do
7 Leaves Cafe
7 Leaves is home to Stephanie's favorite boba spot! Legend has it, she once went here three times in one day!
Ten Ren Tea
Another top boba spot for Stephanie!
Napa Valley
Napa Valley (and Sonoma County) is home to some of the most famous wineries in America. For wine tasting and Sunday brunches, you can't really go wrong with a visit here. Some of the best wineries include Schramsberg and Spring Mountain Vineyard. Please be responsible and have a designated driver! It is also home to some of the best fine dining in the country for those who are comfortable with shelling out big bucks for a meal. Thomas Keller's French Laundry, Bouchon Bistro, and Ad hoc are all in this area. You'll need reservations if you plan to go to these wineries and restaurants.
Yosemite National Park
For nature lovers, Yosemite is a must see for those having their first stay in Northern California. Yosemite is a three and a half hour drive from the Bay Area. The most famous of the Yosemite trails is Half Dome which is a punishing 15 hours long and a permit must be obtained via a lottery system (which closes March 31st!) in order to take it on. Some other difficult trails which breathtaking views are Vernal Falls and Four Mile Trail (both of which Norman have completed and highly recommend). Light trails (Glacier Point and Lower Yosemite Falls) which can be completed in less than half an hour are available for those who just want to relax and take in the amazing scenery.
Santa Cruz
About an hour south of our wedding spot, Santa Cruz is home to the best beach in Northern California. It is home to a world famous boardwalk. Cowell's is a short 5 minutes from the beginning of the boardwalk and is home to beginner surfers (ie Norman).
Capitola
For those wanting a more relaxing beach day than Santa Cruz, Capitola is a beach town with famous colorful beach houses. It is one of Stephanie's preferred photography spots on the beach. (peep the photoshoot of Norman above)
Lands End Trail
This is our absolute favorite hiking spot in all of San Francisco. It is a great spot to view the Golden Gate Bridge as well as the Pacific Ocean as you get a vantage point on the northwest side of the peninsula. It is often an overlooked spot for SF visitors, but make sure you don't miss this on your trip into SF!
Muir Woods
Home to giant redwoods, Muir Woods is Norman's favorite hiking spot in the Bay Area. It is a short 30 minute drive north of San Francisco.
Googleplex
Google has one of the most famous and recognizable campuses in Silicon Valley! You can check out colorful google bikes on weekends, ride around campus, and pose with droids.
Golden Gate Bridge (Touristy)
The iconic Golden Gate Bridge connects San Francisco to Marin County. Many times guests like to walk across the bridge on the east side or bike along on the west side.
Palace of Fine Arts (Touristy)
The Palace of Fine Arts is an obligatory picture spot for those doing the San Francisco tour. Amazing photo opportunities can be have at sunset. It is close to the Golden Gate Bridge and fairly far from other typical tourist locations.
Fisherman's Wharf (Touristy)
Fisherman's Wharf is about as touristy as it gets. It will definitely be crowded (definitely mask up!) and parking may be difficult to find. It is home to Ghirardelli's Square for our sweets lovers. Stop by Boudin's for their famous sourdough bread and clam chowder. Pier 39 is full of amusement and home to sea lions.
Lombard Street (Touristy)
Lombard Street is home to the windiest road in America. Be careful driving around the area as it will be congested with tourists. Additionally the steep incline/decline may be worrisome for those not used to driving on inclines (remember to use your handbrake while parked!). It is a typical stop for tourists either before or after Fisherman's Wharf.
Union Square (Touristy)
Union Square is home to one of the most popular shopping districts in SF and will definitely be crowded. It is a short 10 minute walk to SF Chinatown from this location, we recommend walking to Chinatown from Grant St. to avoid steep inclines.
Chinatown (Touristy)
SF Chinatown is the biggest chinatown outside of Asia and home to the first fortune cookie factory. It's a must stop for those doing the San Francisco tour.
Embarcadero (Touristy)
The Embarcadero is home to piers and outdoor spaces where you can expect to see art being sold and farmers markets on the weekend. It is also home to the ferry building which hosts a variety of merchants (it is similar to Reading Terminal for Philadelphians).
Twin Peaks
Twin Peaks is a great spot to relax and enjoy a view San Francisco.
Dolores Park
Dolores Park in the Mission is a hangout spot for young hipsters with a great view of the City. You can expect to see crowds of young folk laying out blankets for a picnic and merchants walking around selling ice cream and edibles.