Balmy Alley, San Francisco

Throughout the summer, when I was a camp counsellor, we took a couple trips into the Mission District of San Francisco to see the famous Balmy Alley. The alley is right off 24th Street, and around a 10 minute walk from the 24th and Mission BART Station. This alley is a special area that has been dedicated to the paintings of murals. This stretch of road is full of colour, with each mural having its own story.

We took a tour with Precita Eyes, a business dedicated to getting muralists involved in the community, teaching children about painting murals, and leading mural tours around the area. It was so wonderful to learn all the stories behind the murals, and you may even get a tour by a muralist featured in the alley! The stories behind the murals are especially wonderful to hear, some old some new, its like a visual history guide.

Another great thing about the area surrounding Balmy Alley is the plethora of Latin American cuisine. I would especially recommend La Paz (1028 Potrero Ave). They have an AMAZING pupusas, and the staff are incredibly friendly (when visiting the restaurant with 20 nine year olds, they let us all come and sit inside while eating bagged lunches while we waited to try some pupusas).

San Francisco: Marin Headlands

If you wanna see the Golden Gate, this is the place to do it from. The view is so incredible, and if you have a car around the bay I would highly recommend taking the drive up through the hills to stop by the headlands.

A Californian Christmas

There's pretty much 3 places that I consider "home" nowadays. Along with Seattle and London, I'm in San Francisco a ton (my boyfriend goes to school in the Bay). I spent all last summer working in Berkeley and exploring the Bay Area, and honestly fell more in love with it every single day.

Before coming to London for Christmas I went down to San Fran for a week and did some of my absolute favourite Bay Area things

Ferry Building I'm a sucker when it comes to little speciality shops for cheese, meat, flowers, ect. The ferry building is full of fun little stores to look around (especially if you're a little hungry!). On Sunday's there's also an awesome farmers market. Whenever Ryan and I go into the city we always come here to go to Cowgirl Creamery and get some delicious cheese.

Exploritorium: When I was a camp counselor with Girls on the Go over the summer we went to the Exploritorium 3 times and I kid you not, I fell more and more in love with it with every single visit. IT IS SO MUCH FUN. Maybe its because I'm a total science geek, but everything was so cool and presented in such an intriguing way. Everywhere you look is another amazing exhibit. I would come here 100 more times.

Homemade Cafe, Sacramento Street, Berkeley: Just a little breakfast spot, but so delicious.

Ghiradelli Square: I know I know, not exactly a secret spot, but I'd go pretty much anywhere for a free square of Ghirdaelli. The restaurant/cafe attached is also so good if you're in the mood for an after dinner treat. If you're there during the day, walking down the hill to the park and beach is a must.

Happy Holidays!
Megan