by Susan Smeder
Photographs by Carol Moreno
Photographs by Carol Moreno
The last two days of the Epic Mother-Daughter California Road Trip were filled with Pirate Ships and Chocolate, Underground Caverns and Giant Trees! What more could an eight-year old ask for?
Now, San Francisco is a beautiful and sophisticated city full of places adults love to visit, so where would you head for some child-friendly fun? Fisherman’s Warf and Pier 39 of course!
Now, San Francisco is a beautiful and sophisticated city full of places adults love to visit, so where would you head for some child-friendly fun? Fisherman’s Warf and Pier 39 of course!
Pier 39 is filled with fun arcades, shops, attractions and even a colorful carousel, but M.s favorite site was a pier filled with sea-lions. The sea-lions at Pier 39 began arriving in 1990 shortly after the devastating Loma Prieta earthquake and they can number up to 900 members now during the winter months. In the summer, they migrate south to the Channel Islands for breeding. A small year-round group has made the pier their home year-round and they were there to greet M. as she gazed out to where they lazed in the sun.
You can’t visit San Francisco and miss out on the colorful history of its maritime past. The tall 19th century sailing ships docked at the Hyde Street Pier, are part of the San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park and kids of all ages love to explore them, dreaming of pirates and peg-leg sailors dancing jigs. The visitor’s center has a wonderful collection of exhibits to explore telling the stories of voyage and discovery that took place from what was called “Frisco” by the sailors.
Playing pirate on tall ship can really work up the need for ice-cream, so Ghirardelli Square should be your next stop for a Salted Caramel Sunday or a Cookie Dough Ice Cream Cone. Ghirardelli Square is filled specialty shops and restaurants, but what makes place so special and picturesque is the fact that it was originally a chocolate factory established by chocolate and coffee merchant, Dominico Ghirardelli.
Lured by letters filled with “gold-rush” tales from his friend James Lick, Ghirardelli decided to come to San Francisco to open a general store. Since he had apprenticed as a confectioner in Italy as a boy and spent many years as a chocolate merchant, setting up a factory was next.
By 1895, after a few moves, the factory was finally located in what had been the Pioneer Woolen Mills on North Street, and that is where you find Ghirardelli Square today. Just a note: Factory Tours are not available at Ghirardelli Square, you must go to the San Leandro factory site to have a tour.
Lured by letters filled with “gold-rush” tales from his friend James Lick, Ghirardelli decided to come to San Francisco to open a general store. Since he had apprenticed as a confectioner in Italy as a boy and spent many years as a chocolate merchant, setting up a factory was next.
By 1895, after a few moves, the factory was finally located in what had been the Pioneer Woolen Mills on North Street, and that is where you find Ghirardelli Square today. Just a note: Factory Tours are not available at Ghirardelli Square, you must go to the San Leandro factory site to have a tour.
While the amusements of the city are exciting and shouldn’t be missed, California’s unique natural sites are M.’s favorite places, so the last part of the Epic Mother-Daughter California Road Trip was dedicated to California Caverns and the Big Trees National Park.
What is now known as California Caverns, was discovered some time between 1849 and 1850 by Captain Joseph Taylor when he was target shooting on a rocky outcropping. He noticed that his targets were being moved by a breeze which seemed to emanate from the rocks. When he investigated this curious phenomenon, he discovered the entrance to a cave which he named Mammoth Cave.
In 1850, Captain Taylor opened the cave for public tours, making it the first cave through which people could take tours, in the state of California. Early visitors included, famous author, Mark Twain and explorer-environmentalist, John Muir.
In 1850, Captain Taylor opened the cave for public tours, making it the first cave through which people could take tours, in the state of California. Early visitors included, famous author, Mark Twain and explorer-environmentalist, John Muir.
As the website indicates, ”experienced, professional guides lead groups into the recently discovered "Jungle Room," named for the array of crystalline "vines" covering the ceiling, many of them several feet long. Groups learn about the rich history of the cavern and the surrounding countryside, and cavern formation and geology”.
The tour for that day was the “Trail of Lakes” tour due to the lakes that form in the caves during the wet winter months. M. was truly a middle-earth explorer on this trip into the depths of the earth!
The tour for that day was the “Trail of Lakes” tour due to the lakes that form in the caves during the wet winter months. M. was truly a middle-earth explorer on this trip into the depths of the earth!
As if exploring underground isn’t amazing enough, you can also check out California’s “Big Trees” at the Calaveras Big Trees National Park. These giant Sequoias are the earliest visited by tourists and the area became a State Park in 1931 to preserve the giant sequoias. The very first Sierra redwood was discovered and noted by Augustus T. Dowd in 1852. Giant sequoias can grow to be about 30 feet (9 meters) in diameter and more than 250 feet (76 meters) tall.
The park is a magical and awe inspiring place for kids. It’s a place where they can feel so tiny compared with the majesty of the tall redwoods and can learn to appreciate humanity’s small place in the huge world of nature. I know M. has learned how important it is to protect and preserve these beautiful giants while discovering the Big Trees National Forest.
A fun day with an important lesson is the perfect way to end The Epic Mother-Daughter California Road Trip!
A fun day with an important lesson is the perfect way to end The Epic Mother-Daughter California Road Trip!
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