We sure were traveling on our recent Bay Area California trip. I actually didn’t mind the traveling too much, because every drive was so incredibly beautiful, gazing out the windows took on a whole new meaning. I thought I’d share some fun things to do in a few places we stopped (other than San Francisco and Napa – coming soon!) on our trip.
{PALO ALTO}
Our jaunt to Silicon Valley was quick, so I’ll share the highlights: our hotel had a robot delivery service, my sister and I got blowouts at DryBar, and I tried my first Sprinkles Cupcake. Oh, and I also ate possibly one of the best pizzas I’ve ever had at Terún Pizzeria, and I sort of dream about it all the time.
{BERKLEY}
On one of our traveling days, we stopped in Berkeley, a city that any Parenthood fan would appreciate. They have the cutest little downtown with fun stores (the Anthro is beautiful, and I am now obsessed with all Flight001 products) that we stopped in while waiting over an hour to dine at the acclaimed Bette’s Oceanview Diner. The restaurant was a fun experience, and we all really liked our food. Plus, there’s a few Philly/Jersey references in this Eater article about the owners.
{MUIR WOODS}
One of the best days of our trip was our Muir Woods excursion. When I reached out to my friends asking what I should do on my trip, this gorgeous redwood forest was my most frequent recommendation. I did a lot of research before we went, and the biggest piece of advice I can give is this: if you’re driving, arrive e-a-r-l-y. Since you’re literally parking on a mountain, lots are limited, and the walk from our car to get to the front gates of the park took us around 20 minutes. But boy, is it worth it!
Once you arrive and pay your $7 entrance fee, the visitor center staff will help go over what trails make the most sense for your day. Since one of my family members (who shall go unnamed) did not bring sneaks, we decided to give the basic history stroll a go. Off of this course, there are various, much longer offshoots to tackle if you’re feeling extra adventurous. But don’t worry if you just take in the park: the history is interesting, the animals are freakin cute (chipmunk central), and the forest is so. darn. beautiful. 
After spending a few hours wandering in basically wonderland, the only logical stop was In-N-Out (finally!). First observation: we had to park a decent distance away, and there was a line out the door. Second: as our family of four was experiencing/ordering for the first time, we were a little annoying. Yet the staff was pretty much the most patient group of youngsters ever. Third, it was everything I could have wished for, and more. #animalstylefolife
Stay tuned for my upcoming Napa recap! xx
